To a Hindu, achieving moksha, or the release of the soul from the cycle of reincarnation, is perhaps their must ultimate goal. Once the soul is released, it can finally be free to become one with Brahman. In order to help achieve this freedom, Hindus practice various spiritual disciplines, called yogas. These yogas include Karma, the yoga of duty, Bhakti, the yoga of devotion, Jana, the yoga of wisdom, and Raja, the yoga of discipline of the body. Raja yoga is perhaps the most famous, and the practice that most people think of when they hear ‘yoga’. Raja is considered the royal union, and is thought of as the highest path of yoga. The purpose of raja yoga is to achieve enlightenment by getting rid of random oscillations of the mind. Through various physical and mental exercises, a Hindu hopes to achieve an inner quietness. Raja yoga often starts out with the recitation of the word “om”. Often called “the sound of the universe”, this word helps clear an individual’s mind and ease the oscillations. From there a Hindu can go on to practice Raja yoga. There are eight limbs of Raja, according to the Swamis Sivananda and Vishnudevananda. The first limb, called yamas, is a group of restraints that a Hindu must partake in to achieve inner peace. These include: Ahimsa, or non-violence, Asteya, or abstaining from theft, Satyam, or not lying, Aparaigraha, or not coveting, and Brahmacharya, or moderation (including celibacy). The next arm, as described by the Swamis, contains the practices and observances, called Niyamas. These include Saucha, or purity of the body, Santosha, being content, Tapas, or austerity, Swadhyaya, or studying sacred texts, and finally Ishwara Pranidhana, surrendering to God’s will. Physical limbs of Raja yoga include Asanas and Pranayama. Asanas are the various postures one would use while practicing yoga. Westerners may be familiar with