Seven states of conciousness

There are 7 states of consciousness.

1. sleep state

2. dream state

3. waking state

From here comes the higher states of conciousness:

4. Transcendental conciousness

5. Cosmic conciousness

6. God conciousness

7. Unity conciousness

The eight limbs of yoga can be understood differently in the different states of consciousness and they function differently too.

What follows is now an explanation of how the eight limbs of yoga function in the higher states of consciousness:

Eight limbs of yoga in the waking state:

In the waking state, the eight limbs work together in an integrated fashion to produce and maintain the 4th state of transcendental consciousness.

Diagram of the eight limbs of yoga corresponding to the finer levels of creation

Activity                         Yama                          Outer                         Action              Body       Gross
                                     Niyama
                                     Asana
                                     pranayama                                                  
                                     Pratyahara                                                   Thought            Mind
                                     Dharana                                                        Feeling                             
                                     Dhyana     
Silence                        Samadhi                     Inner                          Being              Soul          Subtle

Yama and Niyama comprise the outer layer gross behavior, it is good regular habits of eating and sleeping and daily routine that help to promote enlightenment. it is also right conduct, not fighting, being friendly with others, so as to promote your and others well being, this also serves on eon the path to enlightenment, so smoothing the way as there will less energy taken up in conflicts. 

Asana at this level means body. The body is gently stretched at various times in the day such as in the morning, also possibly before meditation and even after meditation which serves to optimize the functioning pf the nervous system and also helps integrate the effects of meditation with the waking state. After sitting for a long time, it is ALWAYS beneficial; to stretch the body. 

Stretching is not done with the muscles passive, but the muscles must be gently tensed  with dynamic control, think for a cat stretching or a person stretching in the morning,. This type of natural stretching is actually in built in the nervous system, and involves light tension of the muscles being stretchered, they are never passive which could lead to injury. 

gently stretch the body upward and downward and in all other comfortable directions. while gently tensing your muscles and then relaxing into a normal position. 

Posture is also important, to maintain a gentle straight spine while working and walking. 
Walking and activity in general is of vital importance to help integrate TC with the waking state. This is how yoga comes to be. Activity is helping to bring TC into a state of integration with the waking state. 

Pranayama means breath, on this level, we need to make sure that the abdominal muscles are relaxed, so that the diaphragm can work properly. Natural breathing is when the abdomen is relaxed and on the inhale , the abdomen gently expands and contracts on the exhale, this is natural normal breathing and babies can be seen to breath like this while sleeping. This natural and normal breathing is essential. 

Pratyahara at this level means to close ones eyes before meditating and wait at least 30 seconds before starting to meditate so as to allow time for the metabolism to gently slow down especially if one has been very active.  Then also to maintain  pratyahara with the eyes closed after mediation for at least 2 or 3 minutes to allow yourself to transition gently back to the waking state. 

Dharana is when you start to meditate with a mantra for example. It is simply taking the right angle and then letting go. Dharana is starting meditation with a suitable vehicle which turns the mind 180 degrees so it start to dive inwardly. Self enquiry meditation works the same way turning the mind inward towards the source of thought.

Dhyana is the process of diving or transcending itself where the vehicle of meditation is getting transcended. 

Samadhi is transcendence or absorption. A collected state where one has now come to a unified state, the silence of BEING.