Raja Yoga

Raja means Royal or Supreme. Raja Yoga is known as Ashtanga Yoga, the Yoga of the eight steps: Yama, Niyama, Asana, Pranayama, Pratyahara, Dharana, Dhyana, Samadhi.

The initial steps of Yama: Satya (truth), Asteya (honesty), Ahimsa (non violence), Aparigraha (non possessiveness), Brahmacharya (sexual abstinence) are defined rules of social conduct, codes to harmonize social interactions, universal moral commandments, abstinences, ethic virtues. Niyama: Saucha (internal and external cleaning), Santosha (contentment), Tapas (austerity), Swadhyaya (introspection), Ishwara Pranidhana (surrender to God's will), are defined rules of individual conduct, codes to harmonize the interior life, observances, auto purification through personal discipline.

For modern man, who lives in today's society, Yama and Niyama are not as easy to apply, because suppression or mental repression could cause psychological problems. Before starting Raja Yoga, Satyananda Method recommends a long practice of Hatha Yoga techniques, that are based on prana control instead of direct mind control.