yamas and niyamas
Welcome to the Up Yoga blog - where we will expand on our monthly newsletters with philosophy, inquiry, meditiaton and posture breakdown information. You’re checking out a Yoga Blog so most likely you want to learn more about how to be mindful, peaceful and to live well. So much of what we do at Up Yoga is the physical practice (asana) but there is so much more to living a life of Yoga than the shapes we make with our body.
The Yamas and Niyamas, Yoga's ethical practices that are part of Patanjali's Yoga Sutras written thousands of years ago. The Yamas and Niyamas are the first two of an eight-limbed path to enlightenment. Think of them as the "rules of the game" for a peaceful life. By honoring these ethical practices we are being mindful of each action we take, cultivating a more present and aware state of being. The Yamas focus on our thinking and behavior towards others while The Niyamas focus on how we think and behave towards ourselves.
Everything in our lives reflects our yoga practice. Our thoughts, actions, decisions, interactions with others, our daily routines, our surroundings and more. It all can reflect the depth of our yoga practice. We bring our body, mind and spirit into harmony to free from our suffering. These practices can aid in that release and bring us closer to the peace and enlightenment we’re searching for.
Yamas - Restraints
Ahimsa - Nonviolence
Satya - Truthfulness, Honesty
Asteya - Non-stealing
Brahmacharya - Non-excess
Aparigraha - Non-possessiveness
Niyamas - Observances
Saucha - Purity, Cleanliness
Santosa - Contentment
Tapas - Self-discipline
Svadhyaya - Self-study
Ishvara Pranidhana - Surrender
At first this may seem like quite a lot to take on, but just like our asana practice, we ease in. We take it one or two at a time, learning as we go. Contemplating the Yamas and Niyamas can bring higher awareness to parts of ourselves that we didn’t notice before and support us to live in a way that doesn’t cause harm, which in turn allows for less regret and a more peaceful mind. It brings our yoga practice off the mat and into our full lives. We begin to live our yoga.
How can you incorporate these time-tested moral and ethical codes into your own life and practice? My suggestion would be to pick one of each and observe how they show up in your life. What situations can you apply them both on and off your mat? What shifts for you? We will be focused on one Yama and one Niyama at the studio each week from Thanksgiving to Christmas so you’ll hear more on your mat. I’ll add a new blog each week reviewing one Yama and one Niyama. I’m also planning a 5 week course starting in January where we can study and experience them as a group…because we love to come together in community.
Email me if you have questions: lindsay@upyogamn.com