Whatever I am doing, I find myself reciting the eight limbs of yoga. Or ashtanga in Sanskrit. Patanjali’s sequence keeps cycling through my mind: yama (restraints), niyama (observances), asana (postures), pranayama (breathing control), pratyahara (control of the senses), dharana (concentration), dhyana (meditation), and samadhi (union). As of late, the recitation has become my mantra (sacred utterance). By and by, the Sanskrit words have become soothing all by themselves. The recitation has become an exercise in yoga all by itself. Yama, niyama, asana, pranayama, pratyahara, dharana, dhyana, samadhi. Over and over again. Yama, niyama, asana, pranayama, pratyahara, dharana, dhyana, samadhi. The eight limbs for ever and ever.

Addendum (January 2, 2015)

As it happens, my mantra is Sutra 29 from Book II of Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras. Add the title of this piece, and the sutra is complete. Ashtanga: yama, niyama, asana, pranayama, pratyahara, dharana, dhyana, samadhi. Come to think of it, perhaps Patanjali thought of it as a mantra of sorts. Clever, this.