Our ancient sages have suggested eight stages of Yoga to secure purity of “body”, “mind” & “soul” and final communication with God. The eight stages of Yoga are :

1. Individual Discipline (Niamey)

A. Austerity or reparation (Tapas) is the conquest of all desires or sensual pleasures by practicing purity in thought, speech and action.

* Self-study (Svadhyaya) means exchange of thoughts in order to secure purity in thought and accomplish knowledge.

*Rules of conduct towards oneself consist of certain discipline which is both bodily and mental. These are five in number:

* Cleanliness (Cha-cha) means internal and external purification of the body and the mind.

*Contentment (Santos) is a state of mind by which one lives happily and content in congenial or uncongenial atmosphere.

* Surrender to God (Ishvara Pranidhana) : It consists of pure devotion to God and surrender of all actions to him.

2. Postures (Asana)

Asana means holding the body in a particular posture to bring stability to the body and poise to the mind. The practice of asana brings purity in tabular channel, firmness to the body and vitality to the body and the mind.

3. Social Discipline (Yuma)

Yuma income restraint or abstention. It contains five moral practices. They are :

A. Non-stealing (Ansley) means not to covet and acquire physically, mentally or by speak other’s possession.

B. Non-violence (Ahimsa) means not to hurt any creature mentally or physically through mind, speach or act.

C. Truthfulness (Stay) is the presentation of a matter as perceived with the help of since organs.

D. Celibacy-Moderation in sex (Brahmacharya) : Brahmcharya do not mean lifelong celibacy, but moderation in sex between married couples

E. Non-acquisitiveness (Aparigraha) means abandoning wealth and means of sensual pleasures.

4. Self-realization (Samadhi)

The eighth and final stage of Yoga is Samadhi. At this stage, one’s identity becomes both externally and internally immersed in Meditation. The meditated, the act of meditation and the object meditated upon, all the three shed their individual characteristics and merge with one single vision of the entire cosmos. Supreme happiness, free from pleasure, pain or misery, is experienced.

5. Breath Control (Pranayama)

The literal meaning of Pranayama is “Breath Control”. The aim of practicing Pranayama is to regulate and harmonize vital energy of the body. Pranayama is required for purifying the mind.

6. Discipline of the Senses (Pratyahara)

The extroversion of the sense organs due to their hankering after worldly objects has to be reserved and directed inwards towards the source of all existence. This process of drawing the sense inwards is “Pratyahara” or “putting the sense under restraint”.

7. Concentration (Dhahran)

Dhahran (Concentration) means focusing the pure mind on one’s personal deity or on the Individual Self. The practice of Dhahran helps the mind to concentrate on a particular object.

8. Meditation (Dhyana) & Positive Thinking (Vedanta)

Here is the most important point of all, we become what we think. Thus we should exert to entertain positive and creative thoughts as these will contribute to vibrant health and a peaceful, joyful mind. A positive outlook on life can be developed by learning and practicing the teachings of the philosophy of Vedanta. The mind will be brought under perfect control by regular practice of “Meditation”. When one sustains and maintains the focus of attention through Dharana (Concentration) liberated by time and space, it becomes Dyane