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v0.7: Synthesis of the Four Yogas

· 2 min read

I have synthesized the Four Yogas into the Eight Limbs of Patanjali's Yoga Sutras. Raja Yoga serves as the overarching framework with Karma, Bhakti, Jnana, Hatha, and Japa Yoga incorporated. This creates a practice that incorporates the yogas.

There are many, many different yogas and to incorporate them all is difficult. The difficulty lies in that each system has its own sadhana. Having each yoga as a separate path that is followed is like jumping around from one practice to another without any real structure and depth.

So I have incorporated nearly all of the Yogas into the Eight Limbs of Patanjali's Yoga Sutras grouped as follows:

  • Karma Yoga into Yama
  • Bhakti and Jnana Yoga into Niyama
  • Hatha Yoga into Asana and Pranayama
  • Japa Yoga into Pratyahara, Dharana, Dhyana, and Samadhi

What does this mean in practice? It means that understanding Patanjali's Yoga Sutras deeply is the key part of my sadhana as all of the other yogas are incorporated into it.

Secondly, it incorporates all parts of life: work, devotion, knowledge, health, and meditation. I did not think Hatha Yoga would play such a significant role but here we are.

In another way it simplifies the practice quite a bit. There is a set study and practice for each limb.