Flow Study: The Philosophy Behind the Practice: An Introduction to the Eight Limbs of Yoga by Kathryn Smith
For a practice that is thousands of years old, yoga philosophy speaks to modern challenges of stress, distraction, reactivity, and disconnection with remarkable relevance. At its heart, yoga offers an ancient, yet practical roadmap for everyday life, providing guidance for how we work, lead, approach our own wellbeing, and relate to others. For these reasons, we have chosen to explore the Eight Limbs of Yoga as a yearlong feature in our 2026 monthly studio newsletter.
This month, we begin by placing yoga philosophy in context, especially as it relates to our common understanding of yoga as a movement practice. Starting in February, our teachers will cover one limb each month to bring these concepts to life on and off the mat. We hope this inquiry deepens your understanding and invites you to notice the ways yoga may already be showing up in your life.
The benefits of yoga are often experienced physically, through improved flexibility, mobility, posture, and strength. Over time, however, we learn that the practice supports both outer and inner alignment. Rather than abstract ideas, the Eight Limbs offer us practical tools and a framework for how to relate to our bodies, our minds, each other, and the world around us. In this way, yoga philosophy becomes the “why” behind the physical practice, helping us understand not only what we are doing on the mat, but why it matters beyond it.
Yoga, originating in lands now known as India, has multiple philosophical lineages (1). The Eight Limbs of Yoga as described by Patañjali in the Yoga Sūtras (2000-2500 years ago) come from the Classical Yoga tradition (Rāja Yoga) and are philosophically rooted in the Sāṃkhya school of Indian philosophy. This lineage places its emphasis on the mind, ethical living, and meditation. Scholar Huston Smith defines it as such:
“Rāja Yoga works with the body while being ultimately concerned with the mind. More precisely, it works through the body to the mind.” (2)
This is the framework of mind and body connection that is closely connected to how yoga is commonly taught and understood in modern studios today. Historically speaking, T. Krishnamacharya (1888-1989), commonly known as the “father of modern yoga,” served as the bridge in translating Patañjali’s framework into the movement-based practices that dominate yoga studios today (3).
The Yoga Sūtras themselves consist of 196 short statements across four chapters, offering guidance for living a meaningful and aligned life. Within these teachings are the Eight Limbs of Yoga, introduced in the second chapter, which together describe a holistic approach to practice and self-inquiry. The limbs address how we relate to others, how we relate to ourselves, how we move and breathe, how we turn inward, and how we cultivate concentration, meditation, and ultimately a sense of peace and integration.
Rather than a ladder to climb one step at a time, the Eight Limbs are best understood as interconnected practices that inform and support one another, both on and off the mat. In Meditations from the Mat, author Rolf Gates shares, “These are succinct lessons on the nature of the human condition, human potential, and how that potential can be realized…the Sutras organize the essence of all spiritual practices into a map, a basic plan for living…but in yoga as in life, the journey is more important than the destination.”
During an online training with yoga teacher Seane Corn a few years ago, she shared that the Eight Limbs prepare both body and mind and shape how we engage with the world around us. She also emphasized the importance of the opening sutras, which set the tone for the entire philosophy. The first three sutras explain, in remarkably clear language, the purpose of yoga: that now is the moment to begin, that yoga is the practice of easing the fluctuations of the busy mind, and that when the mind settles, we are able to rest in our true nature. Seane joked that these three sutras alone offer us enough work for a lifetime. With steady practice, she noted, we begin to experience ourselves not as the thoughts we think, but as who we truly are—able to rest in a deeper sense of truth, clarity, and connection, without false perceptions or attachments.
And so, we embark on this exploration of the Eight Limbs together. Over the coming months, Yoga Off East teachers will share their reflections and understanding of each limb, offering insight into how these ancient teachings continue to support modern life. We invite you to follow along, reflect, and remain curious as this journey unfolds on the mat, and far beyond it.
Footnotes:
1. Some of which include devotional (Bhakti), wisdom-based (Jñāna), action-oriented (Karma), and Vedānta (non-dual philosophy) and tantric paths.
2. The World’s Religion by Huston Smith, 1991 (we reference Chapter 2 “Hinduism” in our 200-hr teacher training program for some key yoga concepts).
3. Some of Krishnamacharya’s best known students include: B.K.S Iyengar 1918-2014 (Iyengar Yoga); Pattahbhi Jois 1915-2009 (Ashtanga Vinyasa); T.K.V. Desikachar 1938-2016 (son of Krishnamacharya); Indra Devi 1899-2002 (female teacher who helped bring yoga to the west via Los Angeles).