5 Elements
The Five Elements of the Yogic tradition are Earth, Water, Fire, Air and Ether. If we consider natural phenomena, they can be categorized under one of these five elements. Therefore different parts of the body could be said to fall under one element more than another. Different psychological states express one element more than another. This could be applied to anything including physical objects, companies, families, animals, locations, buildings, whatever. Various techniques in yoga can also be categorized according to element. Earth - Grounding/Alignment, Water - Flow/Give, Fire - Bandha/Energy, Air - Breath, Ether - Focus/Attention. In addition these elements show a step down of energy from source (God, Spirit, Jesus, Allah, Higher Power etc...) to matter. In other words energy moves from the source through these various elemental states in ascending density. This way of looking at the world can be useful in the process of better understanding oneself, which is essentially the goal of yoga.
By examining the elements and becoming familiar with their properties, we can see which ones we are manifesting and which ones we are not. We want these various qualities to be expressed healthily and in a balanced way. Yogic tradition suggests that when these elements are not in balance, disease manifests. Here disease is broadly defined as anything from ignorance to actual physical illness. So for example, if I'm angry all the time, this suggests a fire imbalance. I could examine this by doing more postures that stimulate or reduce fire. Or perhaps I have problems with balance in which case I would focus on air postures. If I have problems concentrating, I might focus on etheric techniques like simple concentration or meditation. By establishing a balance of these elements within the body, we make it easier to experience oneness. Conversely, imbalances in the elements lead to perceiving things as being separate and distinct. This state of perceiving things as separate is where most of us reside. Yoga aims to shift us from this dualistic, unreal perception to a unified, real perception.
For the "individual" this unified perspective means a letting go of the ignorance that arises from ego and transitioning to the surrender that happens as one recognizes unity. Because of this change one is able to love oneself and all creation in the truest sense. The societal implications of this are significant in that individuals who make this transition in perception often end up being the inspiration to thousands. In studying the life of Jesus or Ramakrishna or Buddha all of whom I consider to be souls that reached this unified state of perception, we can see tremendous benefits in terms of inspiring people to improve themselves in all the ways of being human. It is not too extreme to say that but for these few individuals, the human race would have destroyed itself. Fortunately, although many of us are not yet at this state, we are on the way. Some believe that at this point in history, more people will be moving into this state of consciousness than has happened in the past. The practice of Yoga is not the only way to reach this state of perception, but it is designed with this purpose in mind. Let it be said here that this idea of having a goal to reach is somewhat misleading in that it suggests we have to go somewhere while in fact this consciousness is available now. It's just that most of us are in the dualistic state and for a time we use dualistic logic and reasoning to express something that is not dualistic. Eventually as recognition of unity dawns, all dualistic reference is dispensed with. This experience of oneness can be and has been experienced by most everyone at some time, however yogic techniques facilitate the process of recognizing oneness and help to make it happen more frequently and consistently. Familiarity with the elements can help us balance our practice and bring us to this kind of awareness.
8 Limbs
The term eight limbs comes from Patanjali's Yoga Sutras (concise verses or threads of wisdom). Patanjali was an accomplished yogi somewhere between 5000 BC and 300 AD who compiled in writing a succinct explanation of Yoga. As far as we know, prior to that event, yogic teaching had been conveyed one on one from teacher to student verbally. Even with the written text, which is minimalist, the detail is left to the instructor to explain verbally.
These eight limbs refer to eight important aspects of Yoga. With text we must put forth this knowledge in a linear way, but keep in mind that these limbs interrelate and are not really sequential. They are qualities that are present when yoga is happening. Also, be advised that defining ancient Sanskrit accurately is a cause for great debate, the following are some possible interpretations of what Patanjali meant.
Patanjali's Eight Limbs of Yoga:
1. The regulation or harmonization of our attitudes towards our environment and other people; sensitivity or non-violence, honesty or truth, openness or noncovetousnous, moderation in all things including sexual expression, generosity or nongreediness.
2. The regulation or harmonization of our attidutes towards ourselves; commitment or cleanliness, contentment or equanimity, enthusiasm or passion, self awareness or self evaluation, surrender or dedication of action to the origin of all or selflessness.
3. Posture - Establishing a tension free pose with stability and comfort expressing the infinite beyond duality.
4. Breathing Practice - Freeing the breath from all forms of tension and experiencing the complete cycle of inhale, exhale and the transitions between these two phases of the breath as one.
5. Withdrawal of the Senses - While some techniques have been developed to simulate this experience, it is more a case of a perception that will evolve as one continues to practice. In other words, as one continues to practice yoga, there is a shift away from our inclination to feed the senses with external stimuli. Instead there is an internal food that becomes available which is more attractive than any external one.
6. Concentration - Following the withdrawal of the senses the mind falls into concentration where the attention can be kept on a focal point without distraction.
7. Meditation - When concentration can be maintained at length so that the focal point is completely understood.
8. Oneness - When perception and the focal point have become one.