Patanjali lays out yoga as eight steps, often called the eight limbs. They're like the rungs of a ladder.

The first two are about how we live: Yama, how we treat others, and Niyama, how we treat ourselves. The third, Asana, is posture, the part most people know. The fourth, Pranayama, is control of the breath.

The fifth, Pratyahara, means turning our attention inward instead of chasing every sight and sound. The sixth, Dharana, is concentration, holding the mind on one thing. The seventh, Dhyana, is meditation, when that focus flows steadily. The eighth, Samadhi, is deep absorption, the mind completely calm and clear.

Notice the order. Patanjali puts being a good person first, before postures or meditation. A calm mind is very hard to have if you are lying, fighting with people or feeling guilty.

You don't have to master one step before starting the next. People usually work on several at once. But each step makes the next one easier.

In the next lessons, we'll look at each step in plain, everyday terms.