The eight limbs of yoga, also known as Ashtanga Yoga, are a set of guidelines for living a meaningful and purposeful life. They serve as a prescription for moral and ethical conduct, self-discipline, and direct attention towards ones health and spiritual aspects of life. The eight limbs of yoga are:

1. Yama: This limb deals with ones ethical standards and sense of integrity, focusing on our behavior and how we conduct ourselves in life. The five yamas are Ahimsa (nonviolence), Satya (truthfulness), Asteya (non-stealing), Brahmacharya (continence), and Aparigraha (non-covetousness) .

2. Niyama: This limb refers to positive duties or observances, such as cleanliness, contentment, self-discipline, self-study, and surrender to a higher power.

3. Asana: This limb refers to the physical postures practiced in yoga. The body is considered a temple of spirit, and the care of which is an important stage of spiritual growth. Through the practice of asanas, we develop the habit of discipline and the ability to concentrate, both of which are necessary for meditation.

4. Pranayama: This limb refers to breath control, which is considered a means of connecting the body and mind. It involves various breathing techniques that help to calm the mind and increase vitality.

5. Pratyahara: This limb refers to withdrawal of the senses, which involves turning inward and detaching from external stimuli. It is considered a preparation for meditation.

6. Dharana: This limb refers to concentration, which involves focusing the mind on a single point or object. It is considered a preparation for meditation.

7. Dhyana: This limb refers to meditation, which involves a state of deep concentration and contemplation. It is considered a means of achieving a state of consciousness free from all modes of active or discursive thought.

8. Samadhi: This limb refers to absorption, which involves a state of complete integration and oneness with the object of meditation. It is considered the ultimate goal of yoga.

The eight limbs of yoga are interconnected and build upon each other, with the ultimate goal of achieving a state of consciousness free from all modes of active or discursive thought.