8 Limbs of Yoga Journey

About This Class

This class is a full, structured traversal of Patanjali's Eight Limbs of Yoga (Ashtanga philosophy), making it unlike any standard flow class. It opens on the back with a guided contemplation of the five Yamas (nonviolence, truthfulness, non-stealing, celibacy, non-grasping) and five Niyamas (cleanliness, contentment, purification, self-study, devotion), inviting students to meditate on each quality. The physical asana limb then unfolds through a slow, deliberate Tadasana (Mountain Pose) series drawn from the Krishnamacharya lineage — a standing sequence said to address every major muscle and joint and align the seven chakras, including arm flows (Hasta Vinyasa), side bends, forward folds, half and full squats, backward bends, twists, and balance on the toes — before moving through a brief Sun Salutation flow into a cross-legged seat. The fourth limb, Pranayama, is a sustained Nadi Shodhana (alternate nostril breathing) practice with counted inhales, holds, and exhales. The fifth limb, Pratyahara, uses Shanmukhi Mudra to withdraw the senses inward. Dharana (concentration) is cultivated through group chanting of the "Sita Ram" mantra, which transitions organically into Dhyana (seated meditation). The practice culminates in Savasana framed as Samadhi — the eighth limb — inviting dissolution into stillness and oneness. The overall mood is deeply calming, grounding, and philosophically rich, making it ideal for evenings or any time a student needs to decompress, reconnect inward, and move beyond the purely physical.