Ashtanga Yoga, also known as the Eight-Limbed Yoga, is a traditional system of yoga practice outlined by the ancient sage Patanjali in the Yoga Sutras. It provides a comprehensive framework for the spiritual and physical development of the practitioner, guiding them towards self-realization and inner peace.

The Eight Limbs of Ashtanga Yoga are:

1. Yama (Ethical Principles): Yama consists of moral principles that guide one’s behavior towards oneself and others. It includes principles such as Ahimsa (non-violence), Satya (truthfulness), Asteya (non-stealing), Brahmacharya (celibacy or moderation), and Aparigraha (non-possessiveness).
2. Niyama (Self-Discipline): Niyama involves personal observances and practices that cultivate self-discipline and inner strength. It includes principles such as Saucha (cleanliness), Santosha (contentment), Tapas (austerity), Svadhyaya (self-study), and Ishvara Pranidhana (surrender to the divine).
3. Asana (Physical Postures): Asana refers to the practice of physical postures that promote strength, flexibility, and balance in the body. Ashtanga Yoga emphasizes a specific sequence of dynamic postures coordinated with the breath, known as the Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga system, which includes primary, intermediate, and advanced series.
4. Pranayama (Breath Control): Pranayama involves the practice of breath control techniques that regulate the flow of prana (life force energy) in the body. It includes techniques such as Ujjayi Pranayama (victorious breath), Kapalabhati (skull-shining breath), and Nadi Shodhana (alternate nostril breathing), which help to purify the energy channels and calm the mind.
5. Pratyahara (Sense Withdrawal): Pratyahara refers to the withdrawal of the senses from external distractions and stimuli, allowing the practitioner to turn their attention inward. By withdrawing the senses, one can cultivate inner awareness, concentration, and focus during meditation and other spiritual practices.
6. Dharana (Concentration): Dharana involves the cultivation of single-pointed concentration and mental focus. Through practices such as Trataka (steady gazing), mantra repetition, and visualization, one learns to still the fluctuations of the mind and develop greater mental clarity and stability.
7. Dhyana (Meditation): Dhyana is the practice of meditation, wherein the practitioner experiences a state of deep absorption and inner stillness. By cultivating mindfulness, awareness, and presence, one can transcend the limitations of the ego and connect with the deeper aspects of their being.
8. Samadhi (Union with the Divine): Samadhi is the ultimate goal of Ashtanga Yoga, wherein the practitioner experiences a state of profound union with the divine or higher consciousness. In this state of transcendence, the individual realizes their true nature as pure awareness, beyond the limitations of the ego and the dualities of the material world.

Ashtanga Yoga offers a systematic path for spiritual evolution and self-realization, guiding practitioners towards greater self-awareness, inner peace, and union with the divine. Through the practice of the Eight Limbs, one can cultivate physical health, mental clarity, emotional balance, and spiritual awakening, leading to a life of harmony, fulfillment, and liberation.