Yoga Insights: Understanding Yama And Niyama As The Ethical Foundation Of Patanjali’s Eightfold Yoga

Yoga is described as “karma-su-kaushalam” by Gitacharya Krishna in the Srimad Bhagavad Gita. This phrase means that excellence and expertise in the actions undertaken is Yoga.

Patanjali further enriches our understanding by defining Yoga as “chitta vrutti nirodha,” which means Yoga helps us control the wandering mind and its tendencies. Practicing Yoga is expected to promote good swasthya—self-contained holistic health—and elevate us to higher levels of consciousness.

To comprehend any body of knowledge and move towards its adoption and application, a practical classification or categorization is essential. Yoga, too, has been given this respectful treatment by Patanjali, who divided it into “ashta anga,” meaning the eightfold path.

In modern-day Yogic trainings, some approaches jump directly to Dhyana (meditation), while others start with bodily movements known as “Asanas” and then move on to “Pranayama,” the breathing exercises. However, it is important to appreciate that Yoga actually begins with preliminary onboarding: a set of definite don’ts and dos as the first two steps.

These initial steps are called Yama and Niyama, and understanding this preparation is crucial before starting the Yoga journey itself. They serve as hygiene factors—without which attempting Yoga may become harmful.

### Yama: The Don’ts

The first group of five Yamas are ethical restraints that guide us in how we interact with the world and others:

– **Ahimsa**: Non-violence. We are not supposed to hurt others, physically or mentally.
– **Satya**: Truthfulness. Ethically, we should not falsify or build shaky foundations in our words or actions.
– **Asteya**: Non-stealing. Taking anything without information and permission amounts to stealing.
– **Brahmacharya**: Control or abstinence. It means “moving in Brahma,” signifying restraint from overindulgence and maintaining self-discipline.
– **Aparigraha**: Non-possessiveness. Holding attachment to things or depending excessively on others makes us mental slaves; letting go is essential.

These “don’ts” form the moral groundwork of Yoga.

### Niyama: The Dos

Once the Yamas are embraced, we move on to the Niyamas—positive observances or “dos” that prepare the individual further:

– **Shaucha**: Purity and cleanliness, both of body and mind.
– **Santosha**: Contentment, the state of happiness necessary for pursuing higher objectives.
– **Tapas**: Austerity and disciplined effort, focusing attention on self-improvement even in adversity.
– **Swadhyaya**: Self-study and the study of sacred texts, absorbing available knowledge into one’s being.
– **Ishvara Pranidhana**: Surrender to a higher power, trusting and believing in the supreme entity after one’s best efforts.

Together, these don’ts and dos offer a solid and necessary foundation for one’s pursuit of Yoga.

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**About the author**
Dr. S. Ainavolu is a Mumbai-based teacher of Management and Tradition, dedicated to sharing profound insights on Yoga and holistic living.
https://www.freepressjournal.in/analysis/yoga-insights-understanding-yama-and-niyama-as-the-ethical-foundation-of-patanjalis-eightfold-yoga

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