ashtanga

Ashtanga, from the Sanskrit ashta meaning eight and anga meaning limb or member, denotes an eight-limbed approach to yoga. In classical Indian philosophy, it is most closely associated with Patanjali's Yoga Sutras, in which yoga is described as an eightfold path designed to lead to spiritual liberation. The term is used both in historical texts to refer to this eightfold schema and in modern yoga to name specific practice traditions.

Yama, Niyama, Asana, Pranayama, Pratyahara, Dharana, Dhyana, and Samadhi constitute the eight limbs. They cover ethical conduct, personal discipline, physical postures, breath control, sense withdrawal, concentration, meditation, and absorption, shaping a progressive program that begins with moral foundations and culminates in deep meditation and union.

Modern usage distinguishes Ashtanga Yoga as a particular lineage of practice developed in the 20th century by K. Pattabhi Jois, often called Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga. It emphasizes a set series of postures coordinated with breath (vinyasa). The traditional format includes the primary, intermediate, and advanced series, with students often practicing in a Mysore-style room at their own pace under supervision of a teacher.

While widely known through this lineage, the term ashtanga also appears in broader discussions of yoga philosophy to refer to the eightfold path, and in some contexts to other eight-part systems. The usage varies by tradition, region, and textual interpretation.