Final answer:
The eight limbs of Hatha Yoga are (A) Yama, Niyama, Asana, Pranayama, Pratyahara, Dharana, Dhyana, and Samadhi. These steps provide a pathway to spiritual growth and are rooted in ancient Indian philosophy, with the practice evolving over time to influence various religions and cultures.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Eight Limbs of Hatha Yoga
The eight limbs of Hatha yoga include: a) Yama, Niyama, Asana, Pranayama, Pratyahara, Dharana, Dhyana, Samadhi. These steps are a comprehensive approach towards achieving spiritual growth through yoga practice. The first involves yamas, which are moral restraints like non-violence and truthfulness.
The second limb, niyamas, consists of personal codes of conduct such as purity and contentment. Asanas and pranayama form the third and fourth limbs and are the most familiar to Western practitioners, focusing on postures and breath control, respectively.
The fifth and sixth steps, Pratyahara and Dharana, involve mastery of the senses and the ability to focus deeply. Dhyana, the seventh limb, is meditation leading to the eighth and final limb, Samadhi, which is a state of union with the true reality.
The practice of yoga has its roots in ancient Indian philosophies, where it was considered a process to connect the individual soul with the supreme soul. Through its journey from the Vedic period to today, it has taken on various forms, including those influenced by Buddhism and Jainism.