Yogahelp.org

The philosophy of Yoga as a whole is divided into 8 parts, or limbs – each of which has to be fulfilled in order to achieve a healthy and complete life. These aspects build on each opther, and surprising enough there is only one "limb" or aspect of Yoga which outlines the physical aspect most popular today.

The first limb of Yoga is Yama which outlines the ethics behind moral behaviour towards other people:

Ahimsa: Nonviolence
Satya: Truthfulness
Asteya: Nonstealing
Brahmacharya: Nonlust
Aparigraha: Noncovetesness

The second, Niyama, details the moral behaviour to oneself:

Saucha: Cleanliness
Santosa: Contentment
Tapas: Sustained practice
Svadhyaya: Self study
Isvara pranidhana: Surrender to God

Asana, the third "limb" of Yoga, is the physical practise of the postures. Pranayama, the fourth limb, is the practise of breathing postures.

The Fifth is Pratyahara, meaning "withdrawal of the senses" - the world should not be a distraction for the individual. Dharana is the sixth limb of yoga, and translated from Sanskrit it means concentration. The individual should be able to focus upon something irrespective of internal or external distractions.

Dyhana, closeley linked with Dharana, is the penultimate limb - translated it means meditation. The concentration from Dharana is now not merely on a single thing but is all inclusive and encompassing, and the eighth - Samadhi, is sen to be the ultimate goal of yoga - "bliss" or "enlightenment". It means the realisation or epiphany of the self through meditation and the transcendance from being an individual to being merged with the universe and everything in it.