Samadhi (suh-mah-dhee), the eighth and final limb of Patanjali's Yoga Sutras, is the ultimate goal of yoga. This Sanskrit word is derived from the word ‘sam’ which means together or integrated and ‘dhi’ which means mind. Together it means the integration or absorption of the individual consciousness with higher consciousness ~ a state of oneness. It’s the realisation of a profound spiritual practice.

Dhyana (dhyah-nah) is the seventh limb of Patanjali’s eight limbs of yoga. Dhyana can be derived from the root word dhyai, which means to imagine, meditate or contemplate. Whilst meditation is the common translation of dhyana, the word mediation has many meanings that evoke a range of connotations. So simply translating dhyana to meditation doesn’t capture the depth of the word. Dhyana can also be derived from two Sanskrit words. Dhi, meaning to perceive, think or reflect. Yana, meaning path, vehicle or journey. Together, dhyana means a path or vehicle to properly think or reflect.

Dharana is the sixth of Patanjali’s eight limbs of yoga. Dharana is formed of two Sanskrit words. Dha means holding or maintaining. Ana means other or something else. Together, dharana means focused concentration or single-object concentration.

It’s about fixing your mind on an object - this could be external (a candle, a deity, a flower etc) or internal (your breath, a thought, a mantra, a chakra etc). When practising dharana you bind your consciousness to the object as you focus on it fully.

Pratyahara (pruh-tyah-hahr-uh) is formed of two Sanskrit words. Prati means against or to withdraw. Ahara means food or anything we take in through our senses such as sights, sounds or smells. Together, pratyahara means gaining control over external influences or withdrawing from the sense organs. Think of it as a turtle withdrawing into its shell where the shell is the mind and limbs are the senses. It's about learning how to reroute your attention inwards as you tune out external stimuli.

Pranayama, our fourth limb, is formed of two words. Prana, which means energy or vital life force; it is the life force that exists in all things, whether animate or inanimate. Ayama, which means extension or expansion. Together, pranayama is a practice where we extend or expand the life force within us. Pranayama utilises breathing to influence the flow of prana in the nadis or energy channels of the pranamaya kosha (energy body).

five ways that we can take our physical practice off the mat and into our everyday life.

1. Release Expectations

Each time you step onto the mat you will feel different and therefore your practice will feel different. This is because your body, mind, hormones, emotions, experience of the day and so on are always changing.

On its own, asana means seat. In the Yoga Sutras it is explained as a seat or posture which is steady and comfortable. Through our practice of the different asanas we strengthen the body and make it more flexible which allows us to sit comfortably in a seated position for a prolonged period of time. We don’t feel the body and this enables us to focus on the next five limbs, to be still and concentrate the mind and we are no longer distracted by aches, pains or other bodily sensations.

Ishvara translates universal consciousness / a higher power / God / source / *insert your chosen word or phrase*. Pranidhana means to surrender, dedicate or devote. So together, Ishwara Pranidhana is about surrendering to a higher power. This guides us to shift our perspective away from the ego ‘I’ and towards our true Self.

Can I be honest with you? For the last few months, maybe even longer, I have fallen out of love with yoga. Actually, not yoga, but asana. I have been trying to work out why this is and I realised it’s because of my work within the cultural appropriation of yoga space.

Swadhyaya (svahd-yah-yah) is our penultimate niyama. It is a beautiful word to wrap your tongue around with ‘swa’ meaning ‘self’ and ‘dhyaya’ meaning contemplating, meditating on or reflecting upon. Together, it can be translated as self-study, self-contemplation or introspection. It’s about, once again, peeling back the layers to find your true Self or the divine within you.

Tapah or tapas (tah-pahs) means austerity or discipline. It comes from the root word 'tap' which means to burn, to shine, to give out heat. This can be taken to mean burning away any impurities - physically, mentally and emotionally - to give way to our higher selves. It also means being disciplined and hard-working towards this endeavour. Now, this doesn't have to be super serious! We can look at it as being enthusiastic and having a fiery passion towards our personal growth and goals.

Santosha (san-toh-shah) is made up of two Sanskrit words: sam, meaning completely or altogether, and tosha, meaning contentment or acceptance. So together, santosha translates to complete contentment.

We go through life backwards. We think that children aren’t intelligent and that us adults are superior.

Saucha (sow-chah) translates to purity or cleanliness of both our internal and external environment. Our environment reflects our state of mind and can affect how we feel. A cluttered or messy room can be an indication that we need to explore our internal environment as well as tidy and/or declutter.

Cultural appropriation is rife in the wellness industry from Ayurveda to Shamanism to Yoga and the hundreds of ancient indigenous practices in between.

Aparigraha (ah-pah-ree-grah-hah) translates to non-possessiveness or non-attachment. This important yama teaches us to take only what we need, keep only what serves us in the moment and to let go when the time is right.

Our fourth sub-limb of the Yamas is brahmacharya (brah-muh-char-yuh). This has many different meanings including celibacy and restraint which makes it an unpopular or misunderstood yama.

Asteya (uh-stay-ah) is our third sub-principle within the Yamas. It translates to non-stealing. And just as with ahimsa and satya there is more to this yama than meets the eye. Stealing is defined as “to take the property of another wrongfully and especially as a habitual or regular practice”.

Last year when I started sharing my yoga knowledge and teaching I felt something was missing. It didn't feel completely aligned and it took me a little while to recognise why that was.

Our next yama is satya (saht-yah) which means truthfulness. The root word ‘sat’ means 'true essence' or 'true nature'. It refers to that which is unchangeable.