8 Limbs

Yama - code of conduct, self-restraint: Ahimsa (non-violence), Satya (truthfulness), Asteya (non-stealing), Brahmacharya (celibacy), and Aparigraha (non-covetousness).

Niyama - commitments to practice, such as study and devotion: Shaucha (internal and external purity), Santosha (contentment), Tapas (austerity), Svadhyaya (study of text and repetitions of Mantras), and Ishvarapranidhana (self-surrender to God, and His worship).

Āsana - integration of mind and body through physical activity: posture is mastered by releasing tension and meditating on what is infinite or limitless; recognize infinity (within)

Pranayama - regulation of breath leading to integration of mind and body: Active regulation of breathing naturally requires concentration on the process, a prelude to control of the thinking process, the final goal of Raja yoga.

Pratyahara - abstraction of the senses, withdrawal of the senses of perception from their objects: The objective of Prathyahara is to disrupt the communication from the sense organ to the brain. Light, sound, smell etc. stimuli received by the sense organs are blocked from the brain centers and thus could not distract from concentration of the mind

Dharana - concentration, one-pointedness of mind: (from Sanskrit धारणा dhāraṇā) is translated as 'collection or concentration of the mind (joined with the retention of breath)', or 'the act of holding, bearing, wearing, supporting, maintaining, retaining, keeping back (also in remembrance), a good memory', or 'firmness, steadfastness, certainty'. (The word dharana is related to the verbal root dhri to hold, carry, maintain, resolve.)

Dhyāna - meditation (quiet activity that leads to samadhi): Sleep, tossing of mind, attachment to objects, subtle desires and cravings, laziness, lack of Brahmacharya, gluttony are all obstacles in meditation. Reduce your wants. Cultivate dispassion. You will have progress in Yoga. Vairagya thins out the mind. Do not mix much. Do not talk much. Do not walk much. Do not eat much. Do not sleep much. Do not exert much. Never wrestle with the mind during meditation. Do not use any violent efforts at concentration. If evil thoughts enter your mind, do not use your will force in driving them. You will tax your will. You will lose your energy. You will fatigue yourself. The greater the efforts you make, the more the evil thoughts will return with redoubled force. Be indifferent. Become a witness of those thoughts. Substitute divine thoughts. They will pass away. Never miss a day in meditation. Regularity is of paramount importance. When the mind is tired, do not concentrate. Do not take heavy food at night.
The mind passes into many conditions or states as it is made up of three qualities-Sattva, Rajas and Tamas. Kshipta (wandering), Vikshipta (gathering), Mudha (ignorant), Ekagra (one-pointed), and Nirodha (contrary) are the five states of the mind.

Samādhi - the quiet state of blissful awareness, superconscious state: Avidya (ignorance), Asmita (egoism), Raga-Dvesha (likes and dislikes), Abhinivesha (clinging to mundane life) are the five Kleshas or afflictions. Destroy these afflictions. You will attain Samadhi.