Transforming your life with the Yamas and Niyamas

The yamas and niyamas were first mentioned in a famous Vedic text called ‘The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali’.

Sage Patanjali was an Indian philosopher and physician. He authored many important Sanskrit texts and the Yoga Sutras are considered his most significant work. They’re the foundation of yoga, and the yamas and niyamas are part of Ashtanga Yoga, which is based on the Raja (or ‘sovereign path’) yoga system.

The five yamas

Ahimsa: non-violence (freedom from harming)

Become more aware of your thoughts, words, and actions, and the way they might be harming others. Don’t hurt or injure any other beings, which means animals as well as people. Practice kindness and gentleness towards yourself and the world around you.

Satya: truthfulness

Think before you speak and be sure that everything you say is honest, right and true. Listen carefully to what others are telling you and be discerning about what you hear. Listen to your internal voice as well as your external body, and trust your inner wisdom.

Asteya: non-stealing (freedom from stealing)

Don’t take what doesn’t belong to you, or which you haven’t earned. That doesn’t just apply to material possessions. It also means respecting other people’s time and hard work, and not taking credit for what somebody else has done. Whenever you take a possession or an experience from somebody, it leaves them with less. They might have needed it more than you.

Brahmacharya: celibacy (although, as I mentioned in my previous blog, ‘moderation’ or ‘the right use of energy’ is probably a better modern translation!)

Don’t overindulge or waste your energy on activities for the wrong reasons. Don’t eat more than is required to stop you feeling hungry, don’t use your sexuality to dominate or manipulate, don’t fall prey to addiction, and avoid excessive behaviour in everything you do.

Aparigraha: non-greed (freedom from grasping and possessiveness)

Don’t be attached to your possessions, don’t lust after unnecessary things; be grateful for what you have and only take what you need. That also includes the amount of food you eat and the knowledge you possess. Never be greedy, and share what you have freely and selflessly with others.

The five niyamas

Saucha: purity (cleanliness)

This can be practised in many ways: following a clean diet and excellent bodily hygiene, keeping your work and living spaces organised and uncluttered, spending more time with the positive people in your life and minimising time with people who are toxic, being selective about the television shows you watch and the books you read.

Santosha: contentment

Be present with yourself. Don’t wish for things to be different; choose to be happy right now. Accept what is, appreciate all the gifts you’ve been given (including health, abundance, prosperity) and then grow or evolve from a place of gratitude and thankfulness. Remember that the only place you will truly find peace and contentment is within yourself. You are enough.

Tapas: self-discipline

Don’t avoid hard work and practice, and resist the urge to do things that aren’t good for you. Breaking bad habits and making positive changes can be physically uncomfortable because we’re forcing ourselves to do something that feels unnatural. But, if you want to become healthy, you must have the discipline to eat the right foods and do the proper exercise, despite the fact your body would rather sit on the couch and eat potato chips. It’s the same with studying or putting time into achieving any worthwhile goal. Self-discipline makes you stronger in both body and mind. It’s not only crucial to transforming your life, but to fulfilling your higher purpose.

Svadhyaya: self-study (inner exploration)

Be aware of your actions and motives. Examine them. Use what you learn to make positive changes. Take time to be still and silent and reflect on your day. Study books that inspire you and educate yourself so you can make better choices in the future.

Ishvara Pranidhana: surrender

Let go of doubt and give your intentions and energy to a higher power. That could be God, Brahman, Buddha, or any other deity you consider divine. Or it could be surrendering yourself up to the higher power of the universe and just letting the process of life happen.

Be appreciative and accepting. Do everything you can do to be healthy and well, and trust the higher power to do the rest.

When you make these yamas and niyamas a part of your everyday life, you’ll be amazed how quickly your life will start to transform. However, it’s not unusual to find at least one of these yamas and niyamas particularly challenging, so don’t be disheartened if you hit roadblocks along the way. The more you practice them, the more ingrained and effortless they will become. In the beginning, you might find it easier to focus on the one or two yamas and niyamas that connect most deeply with you, instead of trying to integrate them all at the same time. Don’t struggle or resist; make it effortless. That way, the others will naturally start to fall into place.

Until next time, to your enduring health and happiness in Ayurveda.