Sanskrit Word of the Week - The Yamas

The Yamas

Yoga is not just a physical exercise - there's much more to it than that - although, if you want to just enjoy it for the physical benefits there's nothing wrong with that at all. However, you'd be missing out on lots of other ways yoga can create harmony and balance in your life so it's worth exploring a little deeper so that you know these additional components are available to you should you ever need them.

The ancient yogis (Patanjali was the first to write about this somewhere between 200 and 400 BCE) considered there to be eight parts to the practice of yoga and they are still used in the teaching of yoga to this day. Known as 'The Eight Limbs of Yoga' they are 1. Yamas - guidelines for ethical living in the world, 2. Niyamas - guidelines for managing personal thoughts and behaviour, 3. Asana - the physical yoga postures, 4. Pranayama - breathing practices, 5. Pratyahara - management of the five senses, 6. Dharana - practising concentration of the mind, 7. Dhyana - meditation and 8. Samadhi - experiencing connection, unity and peace.

Yamas translates as 'restraints', and there are 5 of these practices teaching us what not to do if we want to enjoy a life of contentment and harmony.

The first is 'Ahimsa' - non-violence. It reminds us not to cause harm either to ourselves, other beings or the Earth itself. We can put this into practice when we are 'on the mat' by not pushing ourselves past our 'edge' into strain or pain, not thinking negatively about the body but rather accepting ourselves as we are and celebrating all the things we can do. We can put this into practice in daily life by making good choices that do not harm the planet - for example, spending money with ethical companies, eating less meat and getting enough sleep - and by being compassionate and understanding with others. Ahimsa doesn't require us to be completely passive or allow ourselves to be taken advantage of by others though, but it asks for balance and non-reactivity, taking a pause before we put our point across so it is measured and controlled.

The second is 'Satya' - truthfulness. As well as reminding us not to lie, this Yama encourages us to be true to ourselves - more authentic and real. Can we see things as they really are rather than how our thoughts and emotions (which can sometimes be irrational) tell us they are. On the yoga mat we can practise Satya by being honest with ourselves, knowing the difference when the body allows us to do a pose and when the ego tells us we should be able to do it. Satya is closely linked to Ahimsa and observing our habits and tendencies is very enlightening, if a bit uncomfortable. Being honest with those around us is also a challenge. Being honest with our nearest and dearest is a must - good relationships are built on a foundation of trust - but we must remember to be compassionate (there's Ahimsa again!) and realise when sometimes it might be kinder not to say anything at all.

The third is 'Asteya' - non-stealing. This Yama doesn't just tell us not to steal what isn't ours (I hope we already know that!), but it does offer up some more subtle explorations of stealing for internal enquiry. The following are just examples but it's worth asking where are we stealing from ourselves? Maybe by skipping class or not doing some practice at home even though it would be beneficial to body, mind and spirit? Where are we stealing from others? This can apply to non-physical things like time, when we keep people waiting, and when we don't give people credit for their ideas. Where are we stealing from the Earth? Maybe by being careless with resources that we take for granted - wasting water, wasting food etc. Awareness of Asteya reminds us to take only what we need as opposed to what we want and to enjoy what we already have. It's a practice that helps us to foster gratitude, contentment and appreciation of the life we already have.

The fourth Yama is 'Brahmacharya' - non-excess. This Yama teaches us about self-control and how, and where, we direct our energy. Having awareness of what your body, mind and spirit need helps you to direct your energy away from things you don't need in your life which, if left unattended to might evolve into cravings where we have little or no control at all. Examples of these things we might have negative habits around (or even become addicted to) include food, sugar, work, worrying, our phones - they are, of course, different for each individual. Instead, once we have awareness of our excess, we can do what we need to do and direct our energy towards whatever would help to create contentment, peace and balance.

The fifth and final Yama is 'Aparigraha' - non-greed, non-possessiveness or non-attachment. In our modern lives we often have too much 'stuff' but find it hard to get rid of it even when we don't use it any more. Practising 'Aparigraha' encourages us to move on and let go of what we don't need. As well as not hoarding material things, this applies to our relationships with others and also not focussing solely on the outcome of something but recognising that it is the action itself that is important. The phrase 'it's the journey not the destination' comes to mind here. How do we do this? By staying present and aware of our habits and tendencies and doing the thing that is in front of us right now. On the yoga mat 'Aparigraha' is about not having an attachment to how we think our practice should be/look/feel but noticing how it is in that moment and being ok with that.

So that's my short round-up of The Yamas. They are, of course, more complex than this so, if you're interested in this part of yoga philosophy and feel that knowing more might be helpful to bring some balance and self-knowledge into your life, I can recommend the work of author Deborah Adele. She has written a book on the Yamas and the Niyamas and has a wealth of knowledge that she shares on her website https://deborahadele.com/ .