Aparnaa Bajpai Instagram – Let’s learn backwards🧘🏼‍♀️ The ultimate goal of yoga is samadhi, easily put ‘self actualization’. It is in this final step when a yogi attains a Union of the Self (consciousness) with the the Supreme (universal consciousness). This Union is Yoga meaning yuj in Sanskrit. – But to reach this divine state of Yoga, you need to go through some rigorous steps of cleansing yourself of all the ego & realize your true nature, the pure essence which we all are. – The Panca YAMAS & NIYAMAS!! The very first 2 steps even before you walk in to later steps of yoga postures, breathing & meditation; sets up the foundation of making a practitioner fit & pure from within. :- Yamas:~ Ahimsa— non-harming Satya— refraining from dishonesty Asteya— non-stealing Brahmacharya— wise use of sexual energy Aparigraha— non-possessiveness/ detachment – Niyamas:~ Saucha— purity Santosha— contentment Tapas—self-discipline Svadhyaya— study of the self Ishvara pranidhana— surrender to a higher source – ASANAS is a very small but important aspect of a yoga practice which helps in making a practitioner physically fit by releasing not only bodily tension but also stagnant energies & emotions stored within the physical body. – Then comes the practice of PRANAYAMA, PRATAYAHARA, DHARANA & DHAYANA which are techniques from the ancient yogic sciences to:- .understand the breath & merge with it .detach from the outside & control the senses .steady the mind & find one object concentration. To finally merge with the source. That is Yoga. – But without the practice of first 2 steps, the later steps will only be futile attempts to gain momentarily peace & relaxation. – PS:More on the later steps in my next posts. 🙏🏽 Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras