09/11/2025
The Journey Through the Eight Limbs of Yoga so far at Bhav.
We’ve just completed another powerful week in our journey through the Eight Limbs of Yoga—this week focusing on Pratyāhāra. Everything we’ve covered so far has been preparation, steadily guiding us deeper within ourselves.
The first two limbs, Yama and Niyama, establish the foundation. They cultivate clarity and stability of mind—qualities essential for any inner journey, especially one that leads toward self-realisation.
The third limb, Āsana, when approached correctly, is not merely physical movement. It is a refinement of the body so that stillness and steadiness can be maintained. When the body becomes steady, the breath and mind naturally begin to follow.
This leads us into the fourth limb, Praṇāyāma—the conscious regulation of the breath. The breath reveals the state of the mind and, when skilfully guided, becomes the vehicle that carries us inward.
This inward turning is the essence of the fifth limb, Pratyāhāra—the withdrawal of the senses. It is the process of shifting awareness from the external world to the inner landscape, so that the mind becomes more refined, subtle, and available for deeper states of practice. Through Pratyāhāra we begin to sense the possibility of experiencing our true nature, which lies beyond the fluctuations of the mind.
Next week, we move into Samyama—the three stages of meditation:
1. Dhāraṇā — Concentration
2. Dhyāna — Meditation
3. Samādhi — The merging of awareness with its object
We’ll begin with Dhāraṇā, the cultivation of concentration. Our ability to concentrate is everything—it’s what allows us to hold steady to our deepest desires, our goals, our purpose, and our journey toward inner freedom.
Join us next week in the studio as we explore the art of concentration and strengthen the mind’s capacity to remain focused, grounded, joyful, and free—just as Yoga describes our true nature to be. 🙏🏽
