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Ashtanga Yoga Anusthana |verified| (2026)

| Limb | Core Practice in Anuṣṭhāna | |------|----------------------------| | (restraints) | Non-violence, truthfulness, non-stealing, celibacy/moderation, non-possessiveness – daily vows, journaling, self-audit. | | Niyama (observances) | Cleanliness, contentment, austerity, self-study, surrender to the Divine – daily ritual, mantra, study of scriptures. | | Āsana (posture) | Not just fitness — a stable, comfortable seat for meditation. Same sequence/time daily. | | Prāṇāyāma (breath control) | Regulated breathing with ratio (e.g., 1:4:2). Counted rounds. | | Pratyāhāra (sense withdrawal) | Turning senses inward during practice — no music, phone, distractions. | | Dhāraṇā (concentration) | Single focus (candle flame, chakra, mantra). Timer-based. | | Dhyāna (meditation) | Uninterrupted flow of awareness. | | Samādhi (absorption) | Goal — not forced but invited through prior limbs. |

In Tantric texts (e.g., Tantrāloka ), anuṣṭhāna often requires a fixed number of repetitions (e.g., 1.25 lakh mantras) or a specific duration (40 days, one lunar cycle, etc.) — this rigor applies to Aṣṭāṅga as well. ashtanga yoga anusthana

The primary source is Patañjali’s Yoga Sūtras , especially: | Limb | Core Practice in Anuṣṭhāna |

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| Limb | Core Practice in Anuṣṭhāna | |------|----------------------------| | (restraints) | Non-violence, truthfulness, non-stealing, celibacy/moderation, non-possessiveness – daily vows, journaling, self-audit. | | Niyama (observances) | Cleanliness, contentment, austerity, self-study, surrender to the Divine – daily ritual, mantra, study of scriptures. | | Āsana (posture) | Not just fitness — a stable, comfortable seat for meditation. Same sequence/time daily. | | Prāṇāyāma (breath control) | Regulated breathing with ratio (e.g., 1:4:2). Counted rounds. | | Pratyāhāra (sense withdrawal) | Turning senses inward during practice — no music, phone, distractions. | | Dhāraṇā (concentration) | Single focus (candle flame, chakra, mantra). Timer-based. | | Dhyāna (meditation) | Uninterrupted flow of awareness. | | Samādhi (absorption) | Goal — not forced but invited through prior limbs. |

In Tantric texts (e.g., Tantrāloka ), anuṣṭhāna often requires a fixed number of repetitions (e.g., 1.25 lakh mantras) or a specific duration (40 days, one lunar cycle, etc.) — this rigor applies to Aṣṭāṅga as well.

The primary source is Patañjali’s Yoga Sūtras , especially: