- Yama (see below)
- niyama – Commitments to practice, such as study and devotion
- asana – integration of mind and body through physical activity
- pranayama – integration of mind and body through breathing
- pratyahara – withdrawal of the senses of perception from their objects
- dharana – one-pointedness of mind
- dhyana – meditation (quiet activity that leads to samadhi)
- samadhi – the quiet state of blissful awareness
Practice of these precepts is said to result in a state in which one’s behavior spontaneously follows the five ethical precepts (Yamas)
- Ahimsa – refraining from injury (non-life supporting action)
- satya – truthfulness
- asteya – freedom from stealing
- bramacharya – living within the Self (moderation; abstinence)
- aparigraha – freedom from attachment to possessions
All these precepts might not be reached in a lifetime, but trying to practice them will for sure give one the possibility of living truly in the moment and beeing all one can be for oneself and for others.
My deepest respect and love to Guruji, Sri K. Pattabhi Jois and his family for bringing us the system of Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga as a tool for the journey.
Opening prayer
Guruji
I bow to the lotus feet of the guru
who awakens insight into the happiness of pure Being,
who is the final refuge, the jungle physician,
who eliminates the delusion caused by the poison of samsara [conditioned existence].
I prostrate before the sage Patanjali
who has thousands of radiant, white heads and who has, as far as his arms, assumed the form of a man holding a conch shell [divine sound], a wheel [discus of light, representing infinite time] and a sword [discrimination]. To Patanjali I salute.