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8 Limbs of Yoga Detoxify, To counteract or destroy the toxic properties of.  To remove the effects of poison from.  To treat (an individual) for alcohol or drug dependence, usually under a medically supervised program designed to rid the body of intoxicating or addictive substance.  This is the definition found in the dictionary for Detoxify. We all have toxins, poisons or addictive substances in our lives.  This is a reflective time of year and one that we usually promise ourselves that we will “once and for all” rid ourselves of these things. How do we do it?  There are many ways, we can seek the help of others, seek the help of a higher source, make a vow that we can and will do it ourselves without any ones help. We all want to be happy, healthy!  Cleanse our body, minds, souls and lives from the old and start with a clean slate.  To do that we often decide we will eat healthier, exercise more (or start), stop the bad destructive habits that we have. The only true and effective way to change is to set intentions!  The Universe will join in.  Live life each day the way you dream and want it to be!  See yourself there!  Be there!  Use your intuition, vibes, or the third eye to keep you in that place.  Do not loose sight of it.  Believe that you and the father (your higher being) are one!  All things he has are yours!   To achieve a healthy and fulfilling life we can evoke the ancient text, Yoga Sutras of Patanjali that provide the philosophy of Yoga.  This text gives us the Eight Limbs of Yoga.  In the West Yoga is considered as a form of exercise, physical fitness or a relaxation technique.  The true goal or purpose of Yoga is to achieve the 8th limb – Samadhi.  This is when we are truly cleansed/detoxified!  We are there!  Where?  Bliss, True Enlightenment. Lets take a quick look at these limbs and see how we can use Yoga to detoxify ourselves and start each day with a clean slate. The first four steps are to balance the physical mind and body.   As you will soon see, Yoga is a physical practice but only partially.  Yoga is used to condition the body, but not solely for physical fitness.  That part is an added benefit.  So you may be surprised to know that only one of the limbs involves the performance of yoga postures – Asana.  In order to succeed we need to apply each limb to our daily lives. Limb 1- Yama Five ethical guidelines of moral behavior (do nots).  Ahimsa:  Non-violence, Satya:  Truthfulness, Asteya:  non-stealing, Brahmacharya:  Non-lust, Aparigraha:   Non-covetousness When applying these guides to our lives we can look at them as a way to treat others, but we must apply this to ourselves and our Yoga practice as well.  If we push ourselves because we see others in our class who are “perfect” in there Asana then we are lusting and coveting our perception of what another has.   We must be truthful to ourselves and nonviolent by taking care of our bodies and minds and allowing ourselves to grow with our daily practice.  Apply these guides to our daily lives in the way we treat others, but use it during our practice as a viewer so we can see our mental habits and release ourselves from them, detoxify.  Using the Yamas in our practice will allow the fruits of Yoga to ripen. Limb 2 – Niyama Five ethical guidelines of moral behavior (dos).  Saucha: cleanliness, Santosa:  Contentment, Tapas:  Sustained practice, Svadhyaya:  Self Study, Isvara pranidhana:  Surrender to God These guides are natural progressions that come if the Yamas are practiced.  Applying these moral dos to our bodies and surroundings opens the mind and readies us for our physical and mental practice. Limb 3 – Asana Simply put the practice of Yoga Postures Asana is not making sure our postures are perfect in form, but allowing the mind and body to be comfortable, free from tension, allowing us to go beyond the physical limits of the body and mind.  We must grow in our Asana practice reminding ourselves to stretch (not push) the body to its edge for that day.  Allowing the body’s own knowing to release itself from its physical restrictions and bring the body-mind into balance/harmony. Limb 4 – Pranayama Breath In Yoga, the breath is used to remove the separation of the breather and breathing.  When applied to all aspects of the daily life, used in Asana and in Meditation the different Pranayama (breathing) techniques used can detoxify our body and our lives as well as energize.  Breath awareness brings inner knowing that allows us to come to concentration and eventually meditation. After the body/mind is balanced, we can then become deeply relaxed without falling asleep.  This opens us up and makes us ready to apply the next four limbs, exploring the nature of self. Limb 5- Pratyahara Withdrawal of the senses In this, we do not allow the exterior world to distract from the interior, the world within oneself.    The senses lose power over the mind.  We experience non- duality.  There is no distinction between mind and body. Limb 6- Dharana Focus, concentration Uninterrupted by distractions, the mind goes inside, meditative, focused on a single source. Limb 7 – Dhyana Meditation As each of the 8 limbs of Yoga build on one another, Dhyana takes Dharana builds on it and concentration is no longer focused on a single thing but understands all things.  All encompassing.  Detoxifying perception and becoming aware of the unity of all things. Limb 8 – Samadhi Bliss!  Enlightenment Again, taking Dhyana and going further, we transcend self and become one with the universe.  The mind becomes wrapped up in transcendental nature.  With deep exploration and truly experiencing this state, we realize the unity of all things. Self-realization, freedom, liberation, enlightenment! Therefore, the practice of Yoga is our process of Detox, cleansing, starting with a clean slate.  As we un-knot our actions and perceptions, we can become free from harmful, bad habits, social conditioning, prejudice, judgments and begin to experience the change that frees the spirit.  Allowing us to feel and see the light that is within each of us!  Namaste! Shanti, Shanti, Shanti