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In Today's Email:

• The 8 Limbs Of Yoga: Yogic principles to live by...

• Yogi Of The Week Award: This week’s winner...

• Book Of The Day: Discover below...

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TODAY'S LEARNING
8 Limbs Of Yoga

In the Yoga Sutras, Patanjali describes an eight-fold path to right living that is called The Eight Limbs of Yoga, or Ashtanga in Sanskrit. In the practice of yoga, individuals are dedicated to creating a union between mind, body and spirit. Patanjali's eight limbs outline a way to achieve and practice that balance. The eight limbs act as a guide for yogis to live a life of integrity, self-discipline, respect for nature and the spiritual aspects of life.

LIMB 1: Yamas

The first limb is yamas: ethical principles that clarify one’s relationship to the world and everything in it. The yamas emphasize our connection to others as an integral part of yoga—everything is interconnected. They break down to five practices, which define our personal integrity:

Ahimsa – non-harming

Satya – honesty

Asteya – not stealing

Bramacharya – wise use of creative energy

Aparigraha – non-possessiveness

LIMB 2: Niyamas

The second limb is niyamas: internal disciplines that teach us to respect ourselves—body, mind, and spirit. They are forms of self-discipline as well as reflective practices. The niyamas break down to five habits:

Saucha – purity, cleanliness

Santosha – contentment, gratitude

Tapas – discipline

Svadhyaya – self-reflection

Isvara Pranidhana – devotion

LIMB 3: Āsana

The third limb is āsana: the physical practice of yoga. Of the 196 verses in the Yoga Sūtras, a mere 2 are dedicated to poses, but the practice of āsana is invaluable to cultivating a sublime meditative state. By linking breath with movement, asana teaches us to embody steadiness and ease.

LIMB 4: Prānāyāma

The fourth limb is prānāyāma: the focus on the breath. Prānāyāma enables us to cultivate our very life force (prāna) through various techniques that teach us to relax and control our breath…creating divine conditions for health in the body and peace in the mind.

LIMB 5: Pratyāhāra

The fifth limb is pratyāhāra: the withdrawing of the senses, so that when we feel, hear, see, taste, and smell we let go of reacting. By abandoning the countless distractions of day-to-day life, the mind focuses inward and is free to move into meditation.

LIMB 6: Dhāranā

The sixth limb is dhāranā: strict concentration on one object or task, a state in which there are no distractions. Thus, when you are enthralled with the object of your concentration, all hindrances disappear.

LIMB 7: Dhyāna

The seventh limb is dhyāna: meditation, a state in which you experience the sacred (what is personally sacred to you) through a deeply focused awareness. Through the practice of dhyāna, we begin to see reality for what it really is: impermanence. This is how we ultimately achieve bliss.

LIMB 8: Samādhi

The eighth limb is samādhi: the culmination of practicing all the other limbs of yoga which brings you to an understanding of truly knowing and feeling that everything is interconnected. The clinging mind has ceased; there is only the experience of indescribable joy. A liberated soul can thus enjoy pure awareness and harmony.

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DEAL OF THE DAY
THE ULTIMATE CHAKRA WORKBOOK (70% OFF for 24 Hours)

Limited Time: The deal expires in 24 hours.

Today's Deal: Get 70% OFF - The Ultimate Chakra Workbook

About: The chakras are the energy center of the body. It is a powerful instrument for transformation and connection to the authentic self. Connecting with your authentic self is the key to achieving balance and harmony in your life.

This Chakra Workbook contains information on what each major chakra governs, what imbalances could look like, and how to create balance within the chakra. There is also a short meditation, journal prompts for each chakra, and a section to take notes.

CRYSTAL OF THE DAY

POSITIVE NEWS OF THE DAY

Gelje Sherpa and a colleague rescued a Malaysian climber who was on the cusp of freezing to death in Everest’s “death zone” where the lack of oxygen and -30C° -22°F temperatures prohibit extended human visitation. (Watch)

YOGI OF THE WEEK

The Winner: This week’s winner is Patty. Here is what she wrote to us. Thank you for your support and kind words Patricia. We really do appreciate it.

If you are reading this Patty, please reply to this email with your full address and phone number so we can send over your gifts as soon as possible :)

If you don’t know: In order to reward our wonderful community, we started doing a weekly giveaway every Wednesday to our most engaged readers.

And when we say reward… we really mean it!

We will be sending out one free crystal pyramid and one free chakra bracelet, every Wednesday to one lucky winner (no matter where you are located in the world).

How You Can Win: 

1. The more you read our newsletters the higher chance you have of winning. Make sure you save our newsletter in your primary inbox to read every issue we release.

2. Send us comments and feedback and you instantly get on our rewards list.

3. Generally the more you engage with us the higher chance you have of winning.

Thank you to all for your support and now it’s time to get rewarded!

BOOK OF THE DAY

Title: The Second Mountain: The Quest for a Moral Life

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About: The world tells us that we should pursue our self-interest: career wins, high status, nice things. These are the goals of our first mountain. But at some point in our lives we might find that we're not interested in what other people tell us to want. We want the things that are truly worth wanting.

This is the second mountain.

What does it mean to look beyond yourself and find a moral cause? To forget about independence and discover dependence - to be utterly enmeshed in a web of warm relationships? What does it mean to value intimacy, devotion, responsibility and commitment above individual freedom? In The Second Mountain David Brooks explores the meaning and possibilities that scaling a second mountain offer us and the four commitments that most commonly move us there: family, vocation, philosophy and community. Inspiring, personal and full of joy, this book will help you discover why you were really put on this earth.

MEME