Yogic practices

The widely practiced yoga sadhanas (practices) are: mudras, shat-karmas, yukta ahara, mantra japa;

Yama (attitudes toward our environment, moral disciplines).

There are five Yamas: 

  • Ahimsa (non-violence)
  • Satya (truthfulness)
  • Asteya (non-stealing)
  • Brahmacharya (right use of energy, control of the sences)
  • Aparigraha (non-greed, non-possessivness)

Niyama (how to treat ourselves)

  • saucha (cleanliness)
  • santosha (contentment)
  • tapas (self-discipline)
  • svadhyaya (self-study, as well as study of spiritual texts)
  • isvara pranidhana (surrender to a higher source)

* Yamas and niyamas are considered to be pre-requisits for the next yoga sadhanas. As they are the foundation, the root of yoga, ignoring them will not bring results in practice.

woman practices yoga and meditates in the lotus position on the nature.

Asana (physical postures)

Pranayama (restraint or expansion of the breath)

Pratyahara (withdrawal of the senses)

Dharana (concentration)

Dhyana (meditation)

Samadhi (complete integration, bliss or enlightment)