Yoga 101: The 5 Yamas

As we learned in our last post about the 'Eight Limbs of Yoga', the first limb, Yama, holds ethical standards, focused on our behavior, that guide how we interact with others. Incorporating these five aspects in our daily practice, on and off the yoga mat, allows us to become more true towards ourselves and others.

Ahimsa (non-violence or non-harming)

The first – and frequently considered as the most important – Yama is Ahimsa ('himsa' = hurt and 'a' = not), which means 'non-violence' or 'non-harming' in all aspects of life. In other words, not physically harming ourselves and the others, nor nature, not thinking negative thoughts regarding others or ourselves.

Satya (truthfulness)

The word 'sat', in Sanskrit, means 'true essence' or 'true nature'. Satya is truthfulness; however, it is more than merely speaking the truth. Our thoughts, emotions, and feelings are very inconstant, but still, these are the pieces that create our truth and our entire life experience. Looking at the term 'truth' from this viewpoint is easy to realize the significant amount of time that we waste not seeing the truth in several of our life situations.

Asteya (non-stealing)

Asteya derives from the Vritti (thoughts and fluctuations of the mind) - 'I'm not good enough' or 'I don't have enough'. The necessity to steal begins the second we feel a sense of absence in life. We start to look for something to satisfy that hollow feeling and usually believe that everyone else possesses what we desire. It resumes to the feeling that something is missing.

Brahmacharya (sexual restraint)

The word Brahmacharya translates as 'behavior which leads to Brahman'. In Hinduism, Brahman is 'the creator'. Hence, Brahmacharya refers to the behavior that guides us towards 'the divine' or 'higher power'. It relates to addressing our energy away from external desires and instead towards attaining peace and contentment inside ourselves. Often is explained as 'celibacy' and deemed irrelevant in the present culture.

Aparigraha (non-possessiveness)

The last Yama, Aparigraha, means 'non-greed', 'non-possessiveness', and 'non-attachment'. This Yama guides us to take solely what we require, to retain only what attends us in the moment, and to let go at the right time. It is one of the fundamental teachings in the Bhagavad Gita: 'Let your concern be with action alone, and never with the fruits of action. Do not let the results of action be your motive, and do not be attached to inaction'.