The Eight Limbs or States of Yoga is a hierarchy of states that one experiences in adhering to a yoga practice. Each state and its characteristics are discussed below.

YAMAS

The five yamas or abstentions (or sometimes labled universal principles) are the first part of what I term yoga's moral code. These practices can be viewed in two ways:

• They are guidelines that one practices to keep oneself healthy in body, mind, and spirit.
• They are means of acting in the world when one has experienced the ecstasy of the divine. The yamas could also be viewed as the negative freedoms we should obey (thou shall not) are:

Ahimsa - Abstention from injury or violence to living things most importantly no violence to yourself as in overdoing asana and hurting yourself.
Satya - Abstention from lying to others or to oneself. Note that Truthfulness comes after No harm. (Words are of service to others)
Asteya - Abstention from stealing.
Brachmacharya - Abstention from abusive sensuality (note the word "abusive" which denotes a negative intent) or misuse of one's creative energies.
Aparigraha - Abstention from greed or avarice. (Non-coveting)

NIYAMAS

The five niyamas or observances are the second part of what I term yoga's moral code.
These observances are positive freedoms or (thou shall) we should obey.
They provide a means for us to live consciously free of negative influences (which have been discussed in the yamas).
The five niyamas are:
Sauca - Observance of cleanliness.
Santosa - Observance of contentment.
Tapas - Observance of self-control or right effort. (Tapas can mean heat and so it is looked at as the self-control or discipline/effort of transformation.
Savdhaya - Observance of contemplation of the divine or self study through reading spiritual material, study of the sutras, vedas, upanishads, etc.
Ishvara pranidhana - Observance of study (or conscious living, experimental method).

ASANA

Yogic postures that begin to hone the awareness and focus intention. As the adherent continues their study, they bring their intent to their practice. Thus in observing the first two limbs one's practice becomes focused and "pure" (that is free of greed, ego, abuse, etc.)

PRANAYAMA

The practice of breath control. With control of one's body/physical self and with pure intent. The adherent begins to enter the psycho-physical realm of existence through breath control. The practice of pranayama has three dimensions. They are:Practice of controlling PURAKA or inhalation.Practice of controlling KUMBHAKA or retention.Practice of controlling RECHAKA or exhalation.

PRATYAHARA

This limb is focused on controlling sensory input through withdrawal of the senses from the object perceived. This is the psychological realm where one has gained control of the physical, psycho-physical, and now the psychological realm of yoga. This limb teaches the adherent to ignore sensory input in order to fix one's gaze within.

DHARANA

This limb focuses on steadying the mind and hone the skills cultivated during PRATYAHARA. In this limb the adherent begins to use single-pointed concentration to look within.

DHYANA

This is the limb of meditation. There are many forms or techniques of meditation used in yoga. Examples of yoga meditation are Yantra meditation (looking at a sacred symbol) or Mantrum meditation (using a sound).

SAMADHI

The final and ultimate state of consciousness where the adherent experiences "chit, sat, ananda", consciousness and bliss. There is no longer a duality of knower and the known, it is resolved into unity. "The perceiving self merges into the self-perceived". At this moment, we annihilate time, and the duration of time; we are no longer in time, but time or rather eternity is in us."In yogic tradition, the liberated individual is called Jivanmukti: A "deadman" who is alive. This is the state of being liberated while still in the body. Ones acts do not create new karmic seeds and so they are no longer subject to the wheel of samsara (suffering and sorrow). To reach this state it takes about 20-30 yrs of intense study/practice so don't get impatient. If you do, well, then go back to the first two limbs and start over again. Its the journey not the goal that's the fun part.

Duis autem vel eum iriure dolor in hendrerit in vulputate velit esse molestie consequat, vel illum dolore eu feugiat nulla facilisis at vero eros et accumsan et iusto odio dignissim qui blandit praesent luptatum zzril delenit augue duis dolore te feugait nulla facilisi. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut laoreet dolore magna aliquam erat volutpat.