The 5 Yamas
The 5 yamas are the moral and ethical guidelines by which a yogi conducts themselves in the world. They are the principles which can guide us to live a conscious and honest life.
Yoga has a strong philosophical foundation that begins with the Yamas and the Niyamas. These philosophies help to guide us in the ways we interact with the world and how we interact with ourselves. They are just as important as our asana practice and lay the groundwork for the remaining six limbs of yoga.
About
Yamas means “restraint” or “reigning in” in Sanskrit. In yoga philosophy, the Yamas are those things we should refrain from doing. When you use the Yamas to improve your self-control (restraint) and purify your intentions, your character is improved.
The Yamas should not be confused with the Niyamas, which is the second limb in the path to enlightenment. The Niyamas are recommended habits or daily actions for holistic healthy living. Together, the Yamas and Niyamas of yoga can be defined as moral codes or ethical principles that guide us in our journey to spiritual awareness.
The concepts in the Yamas should be practiced in our thoughts, words and actions. This will help us avoid living in a false or unconscious way. If we reflect on the Yamas and try to apply them in our lives, we can create a more conscious and peaceful existence.
You can approach the Yamas by reading through and contemplating how each of them relate to your life. When it comes to making changes and applying the Yamas, you will have more success if you choose one change to make at a time. Make this change a part of your life, so it feels normal and natural before you begin to make another change. Although it takes time to make changes this way, it will be more effective.
