Living Yoga Series: Intro-A Gentle Map,The 8 Limbs Of Yoga

Welcome.

I'm so glad you're here.

This short talk is an invitation to understand the deeper roots of yoga,

Not just as a physical practice,

But as a path to inner transformation.

You may know yoga through movement,

Through your breath,

Or through the moments of stillness.

But behind each of these is a map.

A map that the ancient yogis passed down to guide us towards a more conscious,

Connected way of being.

This map is called the Eight Limbs of Yoga.

It begins not with the body,

But with the way we live.

With how we treat others.

How we treat ourselves.

How we move.

How we breathe.

How we listen inwardly,

Focus,

Rest in awareness,

And eventually merge with life itself.

Each limb is both a practice and a perspective.

They're not just steps to master in order,

They're threads we weave together.

Some will speak to you now,

Others later.

This path is alive,

Evolving,

And utterly human.

Let's briefly touch on each one.

The Yamas invite us to live ethically,

With kindness,

Honesty,

And clarity in how we show up in the world.

The Niyamas guide us inwards,

To tend to our own well-being,

Our discipline,

Our capacity to trust,

And our inner truth.

Asana is the practice of moving and being in our bodies with presence,

Stability,

And flow.

Pranayama teaches us to work with the breath,

Our life force,

As a bridge between body and mind.

Pratyahara encourages us to turn inward,

To listen beneath the surface,

And soften our attachments to distraction.

Sarana is our ability to concentrate,

To return again and again to what matters.

Dhyana is meditation,

Resting in awareness,

Without needing to fix or change.

And Samadhi is the experience of unity,

A dissolving of separation,

A deep remembering that we are part of something greater.

These eight limbs are not about striving.

They're about remembering,

About living yoga as a way of being on and off the mat.

So whether you're starting this journey for the first time,

Or circling back for deeper insight,

Know that each breath you take here matters.

May this course offer you grounding,

Clarity,

And a gentle return to yourself,

With care and still presence.

I'm Sue Dawson.

Thank you so much.

May you sense greater peace,

Always.