An introduction to the important foundation principles of Patanjali’s Yoga: Yama & Niyama
Yama and Niyama are often called the Ten Commandments of Yoga, but they have nothing to do with the ideas of sin and virtue or good and evil as dictated by some cosmic potentate. Rather they are determined by a thoroughly practical, pragmatic basis: that which strengthens and facilitates our yoga practice should be observed and that which weakens or hinders it should be avoided. It is not a matter of being good or bad, but of being wise or foolish.
Each one of these Five Don’ts (Yama) and Five Do’s (Niyama) is a supporting, liberating foundation of Yoga. Read this to learn about these 10 Foundations:Ahimsa: non-violence, non-injury, harmlessnessSatya: truthfulness, honestyAsteya: non-stealing, honesty, non-misappropriativenessBrahmacharya: sexual continence in thought, word and deed as well as control of all the sensesAparigraha: non-possessiveness, non-greed, non-selfishness, non-acquisitivenessShaucha: purity, cleanlinessSantosha: contentment, peacefulnessTapas: austerity, practical (i.e., result-producing) spiritual disciplineSwadhyaya: introspective self-study, spiritual studyIshwarapranidhana: offering of one’s life to God
