Yoga ethics: Yoga's moral principles (Yamas and Niyamas)

Elodie Abadie • 26 janvier 2024
Today we're diving into the fascinating world of yoga ethics, exploring the profound moral principles underlying this ancient practice. The Yamas and Niyamas are yoga's ethical guides, showing us how to live in a balanced, loving and respectful way towards ourselves and others. Get ready to discover these precious teachings that transcend the yoga mat and apply to all aspects of life.

Understanding Yamas and Niyamas

To understand the ethics of yoga, let's start with the basics. The Yamas and Niyamas are the first two limbs of the Ashtanga Yoga system described in Patanjali's Yoga Sutras. They are essentially moral and ethical principles that guide yogic conduct.



1. **The Yamas**: These are the principles of personal ethics that concern our relationship with the outside world. They tell us how to interact harmoniously with others and the world around us. The Yamas include:


  - Ahimsa (Non-violence): Ahimsa teaches non-violence towards all living beings, including yourself. It's about practicing compassion, kindness and not intentionally harming anyone.


  - Satya (Truthfulness): Satya invites truth, honesty and authenticity. It encourages you to speak the truth, to live sincerely and to be in harmony with your words and actions.


- Asteya (Non-stealing): Asteya teaches non-violation of other people's property. This means not stealing, not cheating, and not being envious of other people's property.


- Brahmacharya (Self-control): Brahmacharya encourages self-control and the management of sexual energy. It's not just about chastity, but also the conscious use of vital energy.


- Aparigraha (Non-attachment): Aparigraha reminds us not to be attached to material possessions, people or experiences. This means not accumulating more than you need, and being free from greed.


2. **Niyamas**: The Niyamas are the principles of personal ethics that relate to your relationship with yourself. They guide your inner development and your attitude to life. Niyamas include :


- Saucha (Purity): Saucha encourages purity, both physical and mental. This means taking care of your body, mind and environment, and avoiding negative thoughts and destructive habits.


- Santosha (Contentment): Santosha invites inner satisfaction and contentment. This means finding peace with what you have, instead of always wanting more.


- Tapas (Discipline): Tapas is the principle of discipline and effort. It encourages you to persevere in your practice, overcome obstacles and develop inner strength.


- Svadhyaya (Self-study): Svadhyaya is self-study and inner exploration. It means reflection, meditation and self-analysis to better understand yourself.


- Ishvara Pranidhana (Surrender to Divinity): Ishvara Pranidhana encourages self-surrender to a higher force, whatever way you interpret that force. This means trusting in the universe, in the order of things, and in the wisdom of life.



Applying the Yamas and Niyamas



Now that you have a basic understanding of the Yamas and Niyamas, let's look at how they can be applied in everyday life.


- At work: In a professional context, the Yamas remind you to be honest, not to harm others (including emotionally), to respect intellectual property (Asteya), to control your energy and to practice non-attachment to results.


- In Relationships: Yoga principles encourage compassion, honest communication (Satya), faithfulness and respect for others (Asteya), balanced expression of sexual energy (Brahmacharya), and contentment (Santosha) in relationships.


- In Your Yoga Practice : The Yamas and Niyamas guide your practice on the mat. You put them into practice by listening to your body (Ahimsa), being authentic with yourself (Satya), avoiding comparison and envy (Asteya), practicing self-control (Brahmacharya), avoiding competition and attachment to poses (Aparigraha), remaining pure in intention (Saucha), finding satisfaction in each pose (Santosha), persevering with discipline (Tapas), self-analysis (Svadhyaya), and surrendering to experience (Ishvara Pranidhana).


- In your everyday life: The principles of yoga help you make morally right decisions, cultivate compassion for yourself and others, manage your energy and desires, practice gratitude, persevere through adversity, explore your inner self, and trust in the universe.


The Challenges of Ethical Practice



Applying the Yamas and Niyamas in real life can be a challenge. The world is complex, and it's sometimes difficult to strictly follow these principles. However, yoga teaches us that it's not about perfection, but progress.


Simply being aware of these principles and making the effort to integrate them into your life is a big step in the right direction. You can start by choosing a Yama or Niyama to explore in more detail, and gradually integrate the others as you feel more comfortable.



Yoga Ethics and Personal Growth



The ethics of yoga are not limited to conforming to rules, but lead to profound personal fulfillment. By following these principles, you'll discover greater inner peace, a better relationship with yourself and others, and a deeper meaning to life.


Yoga ethics also help you to cultivate greater awareness, to truly know yourself, to develop your intuition, and to access a state of lasting contentment.


**Conclusion: Yoga Ethics in Action


The Yamas and Niyamas are like a code of conduct that guides you towards a more balanced, loving and fulfilling life. By exploring these moral principles of yoga and applying them to your daily life, you can develop a greater awareness of yourself and the world around you.



Remember, yoga ethics are not a rigid rule, but a path of exploration and personal development. So take a moment to reflect on these principles and how you can integrate them into your life. In time, you'll find that yoga isn't limited to your mat, but becomes a guide to living a more fulfilling and meaningful life. Namaste!

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