Yama and Niyama
Yoga Starts with Yama and Niyama
When it comes to yoga we first think of Asana and Pranayama, completely bypassing the critical preparation and discipline required to initiate the practice of yoga.
Yama and Niyama are like the wings that provide stability, balance, and direction to the practice of yoga. Without them, the practice may lack the necessary foundation and guidance for ethical living, self-discipline, and spiritual growth. Just as wings are essential for flying, Yama and Niyama are essential for a holistic and meaningful yoga journey.
Yama and Niyama are the first two limbs of yoga often ignored by yoga practitioners. These are two critical two principles or moral disciplines outlined in the ancient yogic philosophy of Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras. They form the first two limbs of the eightfold path of yoga.
Here’s a brief explanation of Yama and Niyama:
Yama: Yama refers to the ethical restraints or moral observances that guide our behavior towards others and the external world. There are five Yamas:
अहिंसासत्यास्तेयब्रह्मचर्यापरिग्रहा यमाः॥2०॥
Ahiṁsāsatyāsteyabrahmacaryāparigrahā yamāḥ||30||
Patanjali Yoga Sutras
Non-injury –harmlessness– (ahiṁsā), Veracity –truthfulness– (satya), Abstention from stealing (asteya), Continence –dwelling in Brahma– (brahmacarya) and Non-possession –abstinence from avariciousness/covetousness; aparigraha– (aparigrahāḥ) (are the five) Yama-s or Restraints (yamāḥ)||30||
- Ahimsa (Non-violence): Practicing non-violence in thought, speech, and action towards all living beings.
- Satya (Truthfulness): Being truthful and honest in our thoughts, words, and actions.
- Asteya (Non-stealing): Refraining from stealing or taking what is not freely given.
- Brahmacharya (Chastity or Moderation): Practicing moderation in all aspects of life, including sexual conduct and sensory indulgence.
- Aparigraha (Non-possessiveness): Letting go of greed and attachment, avoiding hoarding or coveting material possessions.
Niyama: Niyama refers to the personal observances or self-disciplines that promote inner growth and self-improvement. There are five Niyamas:
शौचसन्तोषतपःस्वाध्यायेश्वरप्रणिधानानि नियमाः॥32॥
Śaucasantoṣatapaḥsvādhyāyeśvarapraṇidhānāni niyamāḥ||32||
Patanjali Yoga Sutras
Cleanliness (śauca), Contentment (santoṣa), Austerity or Penance (tapas), Study and Recitation of Sacred Scriptures (svādhyāya), and Devotion –praṇidhāna– (praṇidhānāni) to the (Supreme) Lord (īśvara) (are the five) Niyama-s or Observances (niyamāḥ)||32 ||
- Saucha (Cleanliness): Maintaining cleanliness and purity in body, mind, and environment.
- Santosha (Contentment): Cultivating contentment, gratitude, and acceptance of oneself and life’s circumstances.
- Tapas (Discipline): Practicing self-discipline, austerity, and perseverance to cultivate inner strength and determination.
- Svadhyaya (Self-study): Engaging in self-reflection, self-observation, and study of spiritual texts to deepen self-awareness.
- Ishvara Pranidhana (Surrender to a Higher Power): Surrendering the ego and cultivating devotion to a higher power or universal consciousness.
Yama and Niyama serve as guiding principles for ethical living and self-discipline in yoga philosophy. They provide a framework for harmonious relationships with others, self-awareness, and spiritual growth. Practicing Yama and Niyama cultivates moral virtues and paves the way for progress in the subsequent limbs of yoga, such as asanas (postures), pranayama (breath control), and meditation.
Bypassing Yama and Niyama, the ethical principles of yoga, can lead to several potential problems:
- Lack of Ethical Foundation: Yama and Niyama provide a moral and ethical foundation for the practice of yoga. By bypassing these principles, practitioners may miss out on cultivating important virtues such as non-violence, truthfulness, contentment, and self-discipline. Without this ethical framework, the practice of yoga can become solely focused on physical postures and techniques, neglecting the broader spiritual and ethical aspects.
- Superficial Practice: Yoga is not merely a physical exercise but a holistic path for personal growth and transformation. Bypassing Yama and Niyama may result in a superficial approach to yoga, where the practice becomes limited to physical fitness or achieving external goals. The deeper aspects of self-reflection, self-awareness, and spiritual development may be overlooked.
- Disharmony in Relationships: Yama guides our interactions with others and the external world. Ignoring these principles can lead to a lack of compassion, respect, and understanding in relationships. Without practicing non-violence, truthfulness, and non-possessiveness, conflicts, misunderstandings, and disharmony may arise in personal and social interactions.
- Ego-driven Practice: Yama and Niyama help in overcoming the ego and developing humility and selflessness. By bypassing these principles, there is a risk of the practice becoming ego-driven, where the focus is solely on personal achievements, comparisons, and competition. This can hinder the growth of empathy, compassion, and unity with others.
- Imbalance and Burnout: Niyama encourages self-care, moderation, and contentment. By neglecting these principles, practitioners may push themselves too hard, leading to imbalances, physical injuries, mental exhaustion, and burnout. Ignoring self-reflection and self-study can prevent practitioners from understanding their own limitations, needs, and overall well-being.