Niyama (individual disciplines):

Niyama are also five:

1. SAUCHA ( purity, both external and internal)
2. SANTHOSHA( contentment)
3. TAPAS ( austerity)
4. SWADHYAYA ( self- study)
5. ISHWARA-PRANIDHANA ( surrender to the Divine)

Sanskrit explanation

• SOUCHA OR PURITY : SAUCHAT SVANGA-JUGUPSE PARAIH – ASAMSARGAH From ( practice ) of Purity, disillusionment and detachment from gross bodies SATTVA-SUDDHI-SAUMANSYA-AIKAGRYA-INDRIYA-JAYA-ATMA-DARSANAA-YOGYATAMCHA From mental purity Sattva, cheerfulness, concentration, mastery over senses and capacity to ‘see’ the Self
• SANTHOSHA : SANTHOSHAT-ANUTTAMAH SUKHA-LABHAH From Contentment, superlative happiness
• TAPAS : KAYA-INDRIYA-SIDDHI-ASUDDHI-KSHAYAT TAPASAH From Austerity, destruction of impurity and perfection of body and sense organs
• SWADHYAYA : SWADHYAYAT- ISTA-DEVATA-SAMPRAYOGAH From Self-study, union with the desired deity.
• ISHWARA PRANIDHANA : SAMADHI-SIDHI-ISWARA-PRANIDHANAT from Surrender to the Divine accomplishment of Samadhi

Asana( Body posture):

Sthira Sukham Asanam ( Posture shold be stable and relaxed) Prayatna Saithilya Ananta Samapatibhyam ( (Relax it) by withdrawing the effort and attuning to infinity) Tath Dvandwa Ana-abhi-Gatah ( Then freedom from the pairs of opposite)

Pranayama(Science of breathing):

Tasmin sati svasa prasvasyoh gati vicchedah pranayama(II-49) After mastering posture, one must practice control of the prana(pranayama) by stopping the motions of inhalation and exhalation. The breath may be stopped externally, or internally, or checked in mid-motion, and regulated according to place, time and a fixed number of moments, so that the stoppage is either protracted or brief

1. Two results: Tatah ksiyate prakash avarana(II-52), i.e. The inner effulgence is uncovered and
2. Dharanasu ca yogayata manasah(II-53) i.e. The mind becomes capable of Dharana(Pre-meditative state).

Pratyahara

(withdrawal of sense organs “Jnana Indriyas and Karma Indriyas(action organs) SWAVISHAYASAMPRAYOGE CHITHASWAROPANUKARA IVENDRIYANAM PRATYAHARAH When the mind is withdrawn from sense-objects, the sense-organs also withdraw themselves from their objects and are said to imitate the mind. This is known as pratyahara. TATAH PARAMA VASHAYATHENDRIYANAMRA Thence arises complete mastery over the senses

Dharana(intense concentration):

DESHA BANDHA CHITTASYA DHARANA Holding the ‘mind’ at one point is Dharana

Dhyana (Meditation):

TATRA PRATYAYA EKA-TANATA DHYANAM (In the state of meditation) the ‘object’ is retained continuously ( un-interrupted) ( in mind) (Un-interrupted flow of consciousness towards the object)

Samadhi (State of Superconsciousness):

TADEVA ARTHA MATRA NIRBHASAM, SWARUPA SUNYAM IVA SAMADHI (When) the same object only shines, as if(you) are not there, it is Samadhi ( In the state of samadhi only the object remains, the self is, as if, not there) This is called Triputi bhanga i.e, the merger of the Seer ( Subject), process of seeing and Seen ( Object)

• Yama( You will learn social discipline and comfort life in the society)
• Niyama(You will learn self discipline and enough preparation to continue yoga journey)
• Asanas( Remove physical deformities to make body healthy and to sit with stability and comfort)
• Pranayama( channelizing prana for connection purposes)
• Prathyahara( withdraw sense organs to stop mind from peeping out .Before coming to Dharana we have to learn Ekagratha ( Focusing-Single Object, Multiple thoughts) to tame the randomness of mind ( chanchalatha-Multiple object, Multiple thoughts))
• DHARANA ( Single object, Single thought with effort along with distractions )
• DHYANA ( Single object , single thought effortlessly without distractions)
• SAMADHI( Only the object with single thought shines-oneness-enlightenment stage)