STEPS NECESSARY FOR THE ACHIEVEMENT OF YOGA: Patanjali, the venerable codifier of this science of Raja-Yoga, who flourished in the second century B.C., describes eight steps in its attainment. These are arranged in gradation, each one more difficult to master than its preceding. They are : Yama, Niyama, Asana, Pranayama, Pratyahara, Dharana, Dhyana, and Samadhi. I must explain the meaning of these Sanskrit terms and what they include as given in the Patanjali Yoga-sutras, i.e., The Aphorisms of Patanjali on Yoga (Raja – Yoga ).
YAMA signifies truthfulness, non-stealing, continence, and not receiving of gifts. This first step, though it looks simple, is not possible t practise to a letter.
NIYAMA means cleanliness both external and internal, contentment, study, and adoration of God.
ASANA is the third step. It is a posture for contemplation. A posture is necessary to keep the body motionless, lest its unchecked restlessness should disturb the mind and dissipate the energy of the will. It has been shown by experience that the best Asana is Padmasanam, i.e., a sitting posture with the legs crossed after the manner of the popular image of Buddha but slightly modified. In this Asana, the left foot is placed on the right thigh and the right foot on the left thigh; the right hand rests on the right thigh nearer the knee. The palm is directed upwards with tips of the thumb and forefinger remaining in contact. The left hand is also similarly arranged and rests on the left thigh, the gaze is directed on to the tip of the nose. This is called the pose of composure, and is helpful in keeping the mind steady. The first two steps mean a moral training of the soul, while the third step is more for the training of the muscles of the body. I may mention here that there are in all eighty-four Asanas or postures mentioned and each has a separate name. Suffice it to say that each Asana is supposed to control certain muscles and nerves of the body. They are also useful as therapeutic measures, for certain diseased conditions and more particularly, for certain chronic ones associated with the nerves and metabolism. Nay, practitioners of the same go still further and aver that diseases like leprosy and epilepsy can be cured by a postural method called Sarvanga Asana which is said to have a smoothing influence on the nervous system.