by Stephanie Bucklin
For more than twenty-five years, I have walked with Patanjali’s wisdom at my side. His Yoga Sutras outline the Eight-Limbed Path—often called Raja Yoga, the “royal path”—that invites us into wholeness of body, mind, and spirit. This path is not merely an ancient philosophy meant to be studied from afar. It is a living, breathing guide for how we, as modern humans, can navigate today’s complexities with clarity, compassion, and purpose.
As Thich Nhat Hanh beautifully reminds us: “The present moment is filled with joy and happiness. If you are attentive, you will see it.” The Eight Limbs of Yoga give us a structure to be attentive, to cultivate that joy, and to embody mindfulness in our everyday choices.
The Foundation: Yamas (Ethical Disciplines)
The Yamas are the first limb, offering us universal guidelines for how to live in harmony with the world around us.
Ahimsa (Non-Violence): Beyond simply “do no harm,” ahimsa calls us to embody compassion in thought, word, and action. In our digital age, this might mean resisting online negativity, or practicing kindness in traffic instead of reacting with frustration. Deepak Chopra writes, “In the process of letting go you will lose many things from the past, but you will find yourself.” Choosing non-violence often means letting go of the need to be right, and instead choosing peace.
Satya (Truthfulness): Satya is not just about avoiding lies—it’s about aligning our words and actions with our authentic selves. In a world of curated social media feeds, satya asks us to show up real, vulnerable, and honest. As a Girl Scout, honesty and trustworthiness was part of my early training. I became an honest person not only by living it as a child, but by way of integrity and values-based decision making as an adult.
Asteya (Non-Stealing): This includes not taking what is not ours, but also respecting time, attention, and energy. Today, practicing asteya might mean setting boundaries in relationships, or giving credit generously to others for their ideas. This is an extension of honesty and integrity, in my opinion.
Brahmacharya (Right Use of Energy): Traditionally interpreted as celibacy, in modern times brahmacharya can mean mindfulness with our vital energy—choosing where we focus our attention and avoiding overconsumption of news, entertainment, or material things. The way I see it, we have choices about what and how we consume – in our modern consumeristic society, moderation and minimalism become a moral high ground.
Aparigraha (Non-Possessiveness): Letting go of clinging, whether to things, roles, or identities. As I shared in a previous blog on stillness, there is freedom in the pause—when we loosen our grip, we discover peace. This practice also relates to how we manage relationships. It speaks to the idea that we don’t own one another – detachment is the realization that a healthy relationship is one where autonomy and sovereignty are the guiding lights.
The Inner Compass: Niyamas (Personal Observances)
The Niyamas invite us to refine our inner world so that we may live from a place of alignment.
Shaucha (Purity): Cleanliness of body, mind, and spirit. In modern living, this may look like eating nourishing foods, decluttering our environments, and practicing energy hygiene—just as I’ve written about in my work on Self-Healing Mastery. (QUOTE from Awakened Living book)
Santosha (Contentment): The practice of gratitude and enoughness. In a culture of constant comparison, santosha teaches us to rest in the present moment, knowing we are whole as we are. I have learned that being present to and grateful for what is can be a powerful path to contentment.
Tapas (Discipline): The fire of transformation. Tapas calls us to show up consistently for our practices—even when it’s not convenient. It’s the small daily habits that shape the bigger arc of our lives. Practices and rituals that keep us healthy, choices and habits that bring balance, are essentially the way we create a healthy lifestyle.
Svadhyaya (Self-Study): The ongoing process of reflecting, learning, and growing. Journaling, therapy, meditation, or diving into sacred texts all fall under this umbrella. For me, svadhyaya is woven into every Akashic Records reading, as I too receive mirrors of my own journey through my clients. I often reflect after these beautiful readings and find deep truths of the human experience, many of which I share with you in my writings.
Ishvara Pranidhana (Surrender to the Divine): Trusting the greater flow. This doesn’t mean passive acceptance, but rather remembering that we are co-creators with life itself. As Patanjali taught, “When you are inspired by some great purpose, some extraordinary project, all your thoughts break their bonds… you discover yourself to be a greater person by far than you ever dreamed yourself to be.”
The Higher Limbs: Toward Samadhi
While the first two limbs, Yamas and Niyamas lay the ethical and personal foundation, Patanjali’s Eight-Limbed Path continues with practices that draw us inward, leading ultimately to Samadhi—union with the Divine, or enlightenment.
Asana (Postures): In modern yoga, this is often the most recognized limb. Patanjali originally described asana simply as a “steady, comfortable seat.” Today, the practice of postures keeps the body healthy and flexible so we can sit in stillness and sustain meditation.
Pranayama (Breath Control): The conscious regulation of life-force energy through the breath. In our modern context, pranayama is a profound antidote to stress and anxiety, helping us reset the nervous system and cultivate inner balance. If you’d like to explore more about this limb, I’ve written about Breathwork HERE. **Link
Pratyahara (Withdrawal of the Senses): This practice is not about denial, but about gently turning the senses inward. In a world of constant stimulation, pratyahara teaches us to step back from distractions and rediscover our inner sanctuary. I use a focused withdrawal to mindfully and somatically move my body. It is through this internal focus, I heal myself.
Dharana (Concentration): The training of the mind to rest in one place. Whether focusing on a mantra, a candle flame, or the breath, dharana strengthens our capacity to be present. I have used mantras like “it’s all good, all the time” as a positivity practice that reminds me of our oneness.
Dhyana (Meditation): When concentration deepens into a flow of awareness, uninterrupted and effortless, we enter dhyana. Meditation becomes not something we “do,” but something that naturally arises from stillness. Through meditation, I have found inner peace. Stillness has given me a deep connection to higher knowing, beyond the veil.
Samadhi (Union): The culmination of the Eight Limbs is samadhi, a state of profound absorption where the illusion of separation dissolves. Here, we taste oneness with all that is. As Thich Nhat Hanh teaches, “Enlightenment, for a wave in the ocean, is the moment the wave realizes it is water.” We have a choice to remember our divine truth, that we are one with God and all of life around us.
The New Human Way
To be a mindful “new human” in this era is to weave these Yamas and Niyamas into the fabric of our daily lives. We are not meant to leave them on our yoga mats or in dusty books—they are living practices.
- Choosing kindness instead of judgment (Ahimsa).
- Sharing our truth with authenticity (Satya).
- Protecting our energy from burnout (Brahmacharya).
- Practicing gratitude even in uncertainty (Santosha).
- Trusting the unseen, surrendering to a higher wisdom (Ishvara Pranidhana).
As I’ve shared in earlier writings, healing is not a destination but a way of living—a synergy of habits, thoughts, and beliefs aligned with truth and balance. Raja Yoga offers a timeless blueprint for this alignment.
Living the Invitation
Deepak Chopra reminds us, “Yoga is not about self-improvement, it’s about self-acceptance.” And it is from that place of acceptance that transformation truly begins.
If you are seeking to deepen your own journey with these teachings, I invite you to explore the Soul Journey Membership—a space where we practice stillness, self-study, and soulful connection together. There, we bring this ancient wisdom alive in community, finding our own stillpoint between the outer world and the inner truth.
When you put your intention on lifting the veil, giving your attention to heaven in your heart, you will realize your divinity and connection to God.
✨ The Eight Limbs are not rules to follow, but doorways into awakening. Each practice gently opens us to the possibility of living as our most authentic selves—a mindful, compassionate, radiant “new human.”
🌿 Join the Journey in Community
If this exploration of Patanjali’s Eight-Limbed Path resonates with you, I invite you to take the next step and walk this journey together. I am opening a new gathering, The Yogi’s Eightlimb Journey Discussion Group, which will be hosted on Zoom on the fourth Sunday of each month. This will be a sacred space for reflection, conversation, and practice—where ancient wisdom meets modern life.
✨ Let’s dive deep into each limb, share insights, and support one another in living more mindfully, compassionately, and authentically.
👉 Visit my Event Calendar to see the details and join us on this peaceful path of self-discovery.
Namaste,
~S
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Embrace the Journey Together
The Eightlimb Path is not meant to be walked alone. It comes alive when practiced in community — when we share reflections, hold one another accountable, and grow together in truth and compassion.
That’s why I invite you to join our Soul Circle Community, a space for connection, reflection, and encouragement on the path of awakening. For those ready to dive deeper, the Soul Journey Membership offers guided practices, teachings, and sacred circles — all rooted in the wisdom of yoga philosophy as our foundation.
✨ Your inner work is sacred action. It ripples out into your family, your community, and the world.
👉 Step into this circle of awakening and discover how living yoga can transform not just your life, but the lives you touch.
Join the Soul Circle Community | Explore the Soul Journey Membership
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