Yamas – Ethical Guidelines to Live By

Yoga is derived from the Sanskrit word yuj which means to yoke or join. It also means union or communion, specifically the union of the mind, body, and spirit.  Yoga is much more than just poses and breathing. Yoga is about living in balance and experiencing peace, good health and harmony.  The guidelines to finding balance and harmony was what Patanjali, writer of the Yoga Sutras, called the eight limbs or stages of yoga.  By practicing the eight limbs of yoga, we get closer to our union with the divine.

Today’s blog will specifically focus on the yamas, which is one of the eight limbs of yoga.  The yamas are a set of universal moral restraints or commandments.  These five yamas are ahimsa, satya, asteya, brahmacharya, and aparigraha.

Ahimsa – means non-violence or having compassion for all living things.  It means to spread loving kindness wherever you go.  On our mat we can practice ahimsa by being kind to our bodies, understanding what our bodies need and adjusting our poses to accommodate.

Satya – means being truthful.  Iyengar states in his book, Light on Yoga, “If the mind thinks thoughts of truth, if the tongue speaks words of truth and if the whole life is based upon truth then one becomes fit for the union with the Infinite.”  On our mat we practice satya by letting go of our egos and being true to ourselves.

Asteya – means non-stealing.  This includes not stealing objects, ideas, or someone’s time.  On our mat, we can practice asteya by considering this thought, when your mind is not here on your mat with you, you steal from yourself the experience of being alive in that moment.  If you are thinking about your past or your future, and are not focused on the here and now you are stealing these moments from yourself.  

Brahmacharya – means sense control.  When we practice brahmacharya we control our energy and direct the use of our energy for the greater good to find peace and happiness within ourselves.  On our mat we practice brahmacharya by letting go of judgment, expectations, and competition and instead enjoy the beautiful mind, body, and spirit you have brought to your mat.

Aparigraha - means non-collecting or non-greedy.  This important yama teaches us to take only what we need, keep only what serves us in the moment, and to let go when the time is right.  On the mat, practicing aparigraha means to let go of the negative thoughts we keep collecting, set positive intentions, and stay mindful through our entire practice.

Now, if any of these yamas sound like something you may need to work on, do not be too harsh on yourself.  There is always time to re-evaluate and work on improving and building your limbs.  By slowing down and taking time to connect with ourselves, we begin to find the peace and harmony that Patanjali describes in the Yoga Sutras.  It is this peace and harmony that brings us closer to the Divine. 

With loving kindness,

Betsy and Jesse

Ashtanga Yoga “The Eight Limbs of Yoga”

Patanjali, the author of the Yoga Sutras, compares the eight aspects of yoga to limbs on a tree. As the tree grows steady and gradual so does our wisdom and spirituality unfold. David Swenson, in his book Ashtanga Yoga, correlates all the different styles and approaches to yoga to a forest filled with variety and color and where every tree has the same goal, to reach towards the light. “One tree’s method is not better than another’s. Each species has individual characteristics which enable it to grow to its greatest potential.” (D. Swenson, Ashtanga Yoga, 1999). It does not matter which yoga practice you choose because the purpose is the same, to grow towards the Devine Light.


With practice our tree begins to sprout. As we nourish our tree by regular practice the eight limbs begin to develop. The eight limbs of yoga are:

• Yama – Ethical disciplines or moral restraints
•  Ahimsa – Kindness
• Satya – Truthfulness
• Asteya – Non-stealing
• Brahmacharya – Moderation
•  Aparigraha – Generosity

•  Niyamas – Personal observations
• Saucha - Purity
•  Santosa - Contentment
• Tapas - Austerity
• Svadhyaya - Self Study
• Ishvara Pranidhana – Surrender 

• Asana – Body Postures
• Pranayama – Mindful breathing
• Pratyahara – Turning Inward
• Dharana – Concentration
• Dhyana – Meditation and reflection
• Samadhi – Union with the Devine 

Just as a tree develops its limbs at different stages, so are we developing in our yoga practice. There is no particular sequence to the eight limbs, they sprout when the time is right. Patience is important because you cannot rush the growth of the tree. There is only one way to reap the fruit and that is to keep practicing.

Please join us in our practice of the eight limbs of yoga!


Namaste,

Betsy and Jesse