The Five Yamas

Let’s explore the Five Yamas by Sage Patanjali and how they can be applied to your yoga practice.

1. Ahimsa – Non-Violence

Ahimsa is the first of Patanjali’s Yamas, which is directly translated as “non-violence”,it can also mean non-harm, compassion, mercy, peace, and love towards all beings. This yama entreats us to live in such a way that we cause no harm in thought, speech, or action to any living being, including ourselves.

The precepts are commitments to abstain from killing living beings, stealing, sexual misconduct, lying and intoxication. Within Buddhist doctrine, they are meant to develop mind and character to make progress on the path to enlightenment.

Ahimsa is essentially like the golden rule, and can be seen as the standard by which all actions are judged.

2. Satya – Truthfulness

Satya guides us to think, speak, and act with integrity. The word sat means “that which exists, that which is.” Satya, therefore, is seeing and communicating things as they actually are, not as we wish them to be.

To practice truthfulness and the principle of satya is to work towards a clear, honest life. Satya requires the powerful practice of having the courage to be completely honest. It takes practice and dedication, but the truthfulness of the practice offers strength.

In yoga it also means closer to, ‘the true essence, that which is unchangeable’. The purpose of yoga practice is to learn to quieten the mind, peeling back the layers to glimpse the essence of our being. The True Self – the enduring unchangeable. Yoga allows you to open up and release your truest self, your authentic Satya.

3. Asteya – Non-Stealing

Asteya is the third Yama of yoga as described by Sage Patanjali that means simply not to steal. Beyond just not taking from others, it can also be reflected in the relationship we have with ourselves.

Examples can be:

• Trying to stop eating when you feel full.
• Don’t underestimate your own talent — you’re just stealing from your own growth.
• Don’t buy things you don’t need
• Give credit where credit is due and be free with your gratitude.
• Leave this earth better than you found it.

At its core, Asteya is about cultivating a sense of contentment and gratitude in all aspects of life. This means recognizing and appreciating what we already have, rather than focusing on what we lack or what we want.

4. Brahmacharya – Non-Excess

Brahmacharya is the moderation of the senses, and is one of the key practices yoga offers for managing sensory cravings. It is the fourth of five Yamas, or restraints, which help us cultivate self-awareness and transform habits that are out of sync with our spiritual aspirations as outlined by Sage Patanjali.

In yoga, Brahmacharya can be implemented by practicing conscious breathing throughout your flow, setting an intention as you begin, exploring a variety of yoga class styles, and incorporating stillness into your asana.

This yama asks you to live a moral life as a way to end suffering and to reach enlightenment. By subduing desire, the practice of self-restraint enables the student to learn. Paying attention in thought, word, and deed to the teacher allows you to discover the truth embodied in the Vedas and Upanishads.

5. Aparigraha – Non-Greed

The word Aparigraha means not taking more than needed. It encourages us to practice non-acceptance and non-accumulation. Practicing these two together helps you develop a better attitude. You will detach from things you no longer need. And you will have more trust and self-reliance.

Aparigraha offers us so much freedom. To work and do what we love without worrying about the outcome, the freedom to rely less on external and material possessions to bring us happiness, and the freedom to experience everything life has to offer. By showing restraint and boundaries, we are able to indulge in the freedoms as given by those choices.

As you continue your yoga journey, keep the message behind these yamas in mind and find small ways to implement it into your practice. Has your discipline to your yoga practice expanded your mindset? How has it freed you? Share your thoughts and experiences below.