The Eight Limbs of Yoga: A Handbook for Living Yoga Philosophy

by Stuart Ray Sarbacker, Kevin Kimple, Christopher Key Chapple (Foreword)

A clear, concise guidebook to the essentials of yogic thought and practice

Many people think yoga simply means postures and breathing. Not true. The intention of this short guide is practical and to say what yoga really is and to apply its principles to everyday life. It leads us through the eight-limbed system, a coherent framework that has been handed down and elaborated upon for thousands of years and consists of five "outer limbs," which pertain to our experience of the social world and the operation of our senses, and three "inner limbs," which focus on the mind. Stuart Ray Sarbacker and Kevin Kimple present the eight-limbed system as something that can be turned to again and again to deepen and expand understanding and practice. As an introduction and overview to the essence of yoga, The Eight Limbs of Yoga is unparalleled for clarity, usefulness, and concision.

Genres: Nonfiction, Spirituality, Philosophy, Health

114 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 7, 2015

Reviews

[Jason Gregory · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sarbacker and Kimple have achieved quite a feat with this wonderful little book. They have condensed the key elements of the eight limbs of yoga into a book that is less than 100 pages. This is remarkable. But don't let its size fool you. It is for the serious student and teacher of yoga, and I mean the real tradition of yoga and not the "yoga" that has manifested in the West. Before getting acquainted with the 'Yoga Sutras of Patanjali' and then taking your study deeper with Georg Feuerstein's 'The Yoga Tradition' (or any book by him on yoga), begin with this little gem to get a good framework of the principles of yoga. Highly recommended.

[Laura Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first part of this book really stuck with me but the second I got to the 5th chapter I was lost and stopped trying.
The beginning really was useful despite the bizarrity that followed.

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short and sweet book for those who want to understand yoga philosophy beyond asana. The sections on the yamas and niyamas in particular propose a rubric for daily practice of the philosophy in both social settings and within yourself. A list of books are further recommended at the end in case you want to venture further in self-study.

[أمل يعقوب Amal Yaqoob · Rating 3 out of 5]

Living by the philosophy of yoga serves as a profound reminder of the sanctity of life and the essence of the soul. For me, yoga has always been a practice of deep self-reflection—observing my mind, body, and spirit in harmony.
Yoga is the only physical practice that can never be a competition with others because yoga is all about the self, far removed from competition but a journey inward, teaching us to witness our thoughts, release attachment to the ego, and embrace our true selves. It is a transformative practice, a therapy for the mind and body, and a guide to understanding who we truly are.

The eight limbs of yoga provide a timeless framework to living. They teach us the art of self-discipline, ethical conduct, mindfulness, and surrender. From the yamas (ethical principles) and niyamas (personal disciplines) to the practice of asanas, pranayama, and dhyana, each limb invites us to cultivate balance, peace, and connection within ourselves and with the world around us. These principles are gentle reminders that life can be lived with intention, purpose, and value.
Reality is, yoga is more than just performing asanas (physical postures); it is a philosophy that nurtures the soul and elevates the way we engage with life.

[Dana Chilici · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really great short introduction into yoga philosophy

[Daniel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really great primer on the eight limbs of yoga philosophy. Really helped establish some baseline understanding for future text exploration and bettering an everyday yoga practice.

[Parul · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a short book, of only around 100 pages. This book gives us the knowledge of yoga and its 8 limbs (ashtang yoga). It contains 6 chapters which are progressively providing knowledge about how one can achieve the highest level of mind and peace.
The author has given such a huge amount of knowledge in such a short book, it is commendable.
I like reading this book, though it gives only brief summary of the philosophy and techniques of Yoga sutra.

[Jord · Rating 4 out of 5]

i’ve literally wanted to read this book for FOREVER!!! and i honestly was a little bit disappointing, it was hard to get through for me at times and took me forever to read even though it was so short. i started taking notes in it and that helped me a lot for sure. and the ending was super beautiful!!!

[Giuliana Angotti · Rating 3 out of 5]

An accessible guide for someone who is just getting into yoga. The diction is clear, the style is so concise, it does exactly what it needs to do. Reading this book definitely strengthened me in my desire to pursue yoga in the future. I found the sections on meditation in particular to be helpful. Definitely recommend this for anyone looking into beginning yoga.

[Christy Weatherholtz-Morales · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great and easy introduction to the eight limbs of yoga. A great follow up if you have taken yoga classes or have finished a certification. The information is a great tool to help you in your own personal practice and to guide you with your students in their practice.

[Andreea Rogozan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fantastic introduction to the principles of aṣṭāṅgayoga. The text is concise yet it manages to convey the nuances that underline the yoga practice. The "Suggested Reading" section is rich in references to translations of traditional sources, as well as modern works on the topic.

[Joel Schaefer · Rating 4 out of 5]

An insightful short read that truly helps explain the spiritual side of yoga and what its ultimate goal is. It helps to have read the Yoga Sutras prior to reading this book. Give it a read afterwards - it will not disappoint.

[Bonbon · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first book of yoga that I read. Great introduction, gets into not overwhelming amount of details, explains the main idea of the yoga sutras and gives examples from the modern life. I will need to read it again.

[William Allen · Rating 5 out of 5]

A hand book

I like that this book isn't filled with a lot of eastern philosophical hocus pocus that goes in one ear and out the other. It is very easy for my western mind to comprehend and put in to practice.

[Ann Zweber · Rating 3 out of 5]

OSU faculty author. A straight-forward, open-minded description of yoga philosophy

[Robin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Got a little dry in the middle, but great explanations of the philosophy and principles

[Christine Dhondt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent quick read to further my knowledge of the philosophy of yoga.

[Charleen Tomlinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lot to learn and take in for such a small book!

[Margaret Ashton · Rating 5 out of 5]

A concise and informative introduction to the eight limbs of yoga. I now have a much better understanding of the things that I have been doing in some form since I first began doing yoga in 2009.

[Margie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this ebook at leisure, between other book loans, etc. It has a lot of information in it, something you definitely will reference again and again.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

An eloquent and concise expression with theory and practical examples to apply to eight limbs of yoga to modern life.

[Laurence Lamonde-Mercier · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing introduction on the history and meaning of the eight limbs of yoga. Clear, concise, and with a wonderful bibliography of external sources for further research.

[Laura Lyons · Rating 5 out of 5]

Insightful, concise intro to yoga philosophy

[Nishant Saurabh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Introductory book, short and succinct.

[KC Planck · Rating 3 out of 5]

DNF. Very Detailed. Love the Yogi Philosophy.

[Dana Armstrong · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an easy read, very applicable, and a great way to understand yoga.

[Jovita · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book is a beginner summary of the basics of yoga's fundamental principles. At my current level it was useful to build some knowledge.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

A useful introduction to yoga beyond an exercise class.

[S · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.2/5

A short book about the yoga philosophy overall.

[Madeleine Correy-Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a great book for an introduction to yoga and it’s principles. I was able to learn about yoga without any real spiritual agenda which was helpful. Gaining an understanding of the history and greater insight into the Sanskrit language I’ve become accustomed to in my own yoga practice was fascinating.