The Yamas are primarily concerned with one’s ethical standards and sense of integrity, focusing on our behaviour and how we conduct ourselves in life. By considering; non-violence (ahimsa), truthfulness (satya), non-stealing (asteya), correct use of energy (brahamacharya) & non-greed (aparigraha) in our daily practice on and off the yoga mat, all of our decisions and actions come from a more considered, aware and ‘higher’ place. This enables us to become more authentic towards ourselves and others.

Cleanliness (saucha), contentment (santosha), discipline (tapas), study of the sacred scriptures and of one’s self (svadhyaya ) & surrender to a higher power (isvarapranidaha). ‘These are duties directed towards ourselves, but can also be considered with our actions towards the outside world. The prefix ‘ni’ is a Sanskrit verb which means ‘inward’ or ‘within’.’ (Ekhartyoga.com)

In the West this is the aspect of Yoga that people recognise. Building strength & flexibility is vital for our everyday living in order to live a steady (sthira) & comfortable (sukkha) life. Much more important is how we feel in the postures & how we are breathing.

The breath (energy, prana, life-force) works on balancing all levels of human existence - body, mind & spirit. It can increase longevity & energy in daily life & calms mental & emotional agitation. A strong breathing practice can strengthen your immune system.

This withdrawal allows us to objectively observe our cravings and habits that are sometimes detrimental to our health and are likely to interfere with our inner growth. This can be obtained during savasana (corpse pose). A time to relax, rest your body, calm your nervous system & develop your ability to feel your energy, your prana. In corpse pose you are withdrawing from the external world without completely losing contact with it.

As each stage (limb) prepares us for the next, the practice of pratyahara creates the setting for dharana, or concentration. Having relieved ourselves of outside distractions, we can now deal with the distractions of the mind itself. No easy task! In the practice of concentration, which precedes meditation, we learn how to slow down the thinking process by concentrating on a single mental object. We, of course, have already begun to develop our powers of concentration in the previous three stages of posture, breath control, and withdrawal of the senses. (Yoga Journal)

Is the uninterrupted flow of concentration. Although concentration (dharana) and meditation (dhyana) may appear to be one and the same, a fine line of distinction exists between these two stages. Where dharana practices one-pointed attention, dhyana is ultimately a state of being keenly aware without focus. At this stage, the mind has been quieted, and in the stillness, it produces few or no thoughts at all. The strength and stamina it takes to reach this state of stillness is quite impressive. But don’t give up. While this may seem difficult, if not impossible, remember that yoga is a process and we benefit at every stage. (Yoga Journal)

This is the final step of the journey of Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras. After we’ve re-organised our relationships with the outside world and our own inner world, we come to the finale of bliss. ‘Sama’ means ‘same’ or ‘equal’, and ‘dhi’ means ‘to see’. Samadhi is not about escapism, floating away or being abundantly joyful; it’s about realising the very life that lies in front of us, without our experience being conditioned by likes, dislikes, habits or conditioning.

Samadhi isn’t a permanent state…. Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras tell us that unless we are completely ready, without ‘impressions’ such as attachment, aversion, desires and habits, and with a completely pure mind, we will not be able to maintain the state of Samadhi for long: (Ekhartyoga.com)