Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras provides the classical and most influential description of Yoga.

The practice of yoga in most ashrams is based on Yoga Sutra and its teachings. The Yoga is related to the individual spirits (Purusha) and the Nature (Prakriti).

Yoga Sutras presents the goal of yoga as 'the cessation of mental fluctuations' (chittavrtti nirodha), an achievement which gives rise to the possibility of stable meditation and thus deeper states of absorption (dhyana or samadhi). This requires considerable restraint (yama) and self-discipline (niyama ).

Patanjali's yoga is sometimes called Raja Yoga or Ashtanga Yoga (Eight-Limbed Yoga). Patanjali gave an eight-fold (Eight-Limbed) system of spiritual yogic practice for achieving the divine goal.

It comprises:

1. Yam - Controls,
2. Niyam - Rules and regulations,
3. Asan - Bodily Postures,
4. Pranaayam - Breath Control Exercises,
5. Pratyahaar - Sense control,
6. Dharana - Concentration,
7. Dhyaana - Meditation,
8. Samadhi - Mergence