Each of the above mentioned steps has to be practiced and mastered before moving on to the next step. Yama is the first step of Ashtanga Yoga which is further divided into five categories – control over non-violence (Ahimsa), control over truthfulness (Satya), control over non-stealing (Asteya), control over celibacy (Brahmacharya) and control over non-covetousness (Aparigraha).

The Niyamas are the second constituents of Ashtanga Yoga. They are also five in number: purity, contentment, austerity, self-education and meditation on the Divine.

Asanas mean postures. There are eight postures: standing, forward-bending, supine, inverted, abdominal and lumbar, twisting, back bending, and balancing.

Pranayama is a compound term ('prana' and 'yama') meaning the maintenance of prana in a healthy throughout one's life. These are divided into eight categories: Sahita Kumbhaka, Surya Bhedi, Ujjayi, Sitali, Bhastrika, Bhramari, Murchha, and Kewali.

Pratyahara involves isolation from the noise, sight and other temptations of the world. It can be practiced with mantra meditation and visualization skills.

Dharana involves improving the skill of concentration with practice. Dhyana is a little different from other limbs of Yoga as it is purely a state of mind rather than a practice.

Samadhi is the final step of Ashtanga Yoga and is divided into eight levels of absorption: distinguished contemplation, non-distinguished contemplation, deliberated absorption, non-deliberated absorption, reflective meditation, non-reflective meditation, where the mind continues to carry the seeds of earthly impressions, and where each seed of earthly impressions gets erased.