This entry was posted on Nov 14, 2024 by Charlotte Bell.
In a latest put up, I wrote in regards to the Eight Limbs of Yoga. The Eight Limbs are a framework for practising all points of the system of yoga. The primary of those limbs is named yama.
I take into account yama to be the inspiration of the entire system. Yama means “restraint.” On this context, restraint refers to utilizing sensible discrimination to contemplate your actions on the planet, so that you just create an moral floor from which to behave. The yamas should not commandments, nonetheless. They’re pointers for making a peaceable life by means of your actions on the planet. The yamas ask us to contemplate whether or not the actions we want to undertake are prone to trigger hurt or to result in happiness—for ourselves and others.
Like all of the limbs of yoga, yama is a observe that we refine as we evolve in our lives. Making use of the ideas of the yamas in our lives requires that we take into account them anew with every state of affairs we discover ourselves in. So, being conscious is essential. The truth that there are not any hard-and-fast guidelines makes the observe dynamic, and permits us to deepen our understanding as we transfer by means of our lives.
What follows is a quite simple, very quick synopsis of the yamas. Each is worthy of a lifetime of research and observe. For those who’re interested by inquiring additional, my first ebook, Aware Yoga, Aware Life: A Information for On a regular basis Observe, devotes a chapter to every yama, and consists of methods you may incorporate the yamas into asana observe. The data beneath can maybe act as a springboard for additional inquiry.
The 5 Yamas
Ahimsa (Non-Harming)
If yama is the inspiration of the Eight Limbs of Yoga, then ahimsa is the inspiration of that basis. All the opposite yamas are refinements of the idea of non-harming. Ahimsa asks us to contemplate the attainable penalties of our actions. It additionally asks us to concentrate on our intentions. Alistair Shearer defines ahimsa as “dynamic peacefulness.” I like this manner of describing it, as a result of means we’re not merely avoiding inflicting hurt. We’re deliberately cultivating a peaceable means of being, in order that over time, appearing with kindness and care turns into computerized.
Satya (Truthfulness)
Truthfulness is the inspiration of all our interactions on the planet. To ensure that any relationship to develop and thrive, it have to be based mostly in reality. Being untruthful harms us by strengthening untruthfulness as a behavior. It harms others as a result of they will by no means really feel secure after they can’t belief our intentions, phrases or actions. Right here once more, mindfulness is essential. In an effort to acknowledge—after which act from—reality, we have now to know what’s true within the first place. We do that by trying deeply at our beliefs, habits and motivations.
Asteya (Non-Stealing)
Asteya asks us to chorus from taking what just isn’t provided. This consists of materials items (cash, valuables) and in addition mental property. So we don’t “assist ourselves” to others’ possessions if we aren’t invited to take action. In the identical vein, asteya guides us to ask permission and to credit score others after we share their phrases and concepts.
Brahmacharya (Sensible Use of Sexuality)
Our sexual power is the supply of our creativity. It’s a highly effective power that has nice potential to result in happiness, or to trigger hurt if we misuse it. Sexual encounters should all the time be consensual, and should not be employed merely for our personal self-aggrandizement. The misuse of this power, particularly by folks in positions of energy, is ubiquitous in all walks of life—together with the yoga world. Like the opposite yamas, sensible observe is sophisticated. Donna Farhi’s ebook, Educating Yoga: Exploring the Instructor-Pupil Relationship, delves deeply into the teacher-student relationship, together with the observe of brahmacharya.
Aparigraha (Non-Greed)
In response to Buddhist observe, greed is likely one of the three sources of struggling. (The others are hatred and delusion.) It’s a supply of struggling as a result of it may well by no means be glad; it may well solely be quickly quelled. Once we get no matter it’s that we wish, we might really feel glad, not less than for some time. However it’s not lengthy earlier than another need arises, and leads us to pin our hopes on the subsequent object we predict we will need to have. Greed applies not solely to materials possessions, but additionally to relationships, experiences and the necessity for consideration. The true sources of happiness is contentment, gratitude and appreciation for our lives as they’re. This doesn’t imply we shouldn’t attempt to attain our aspirations. It merely signifies that we perceive that all the pieces in our lives comes and goes. Happiness is offered to all of us, and its potential is already within us. The antidote to greed is to observe generosity. Once we domesticate a behavior of giving, we perceive extra deeply the enjoyment of letting go.
Simple Does It
Typically it may well appear overwhelming to attempt to incorporate all these ideas into your life. I counsel committing to observe one by one. It may be useful to decide to, say, a yr practising a single yama. The concentrate on one precept may also help you incorporate it into your life extra simply. Determine which of the yamas resonates most deeply for you. Then start to use it to the alternatives you make in your life.
About Charlotte Bell
Charlotte Bell found yoga in 1982 and commenced educating in 1986. Charlotte is the writer of Aware Yoga, Aware Life: A Information for On a regular basis Observe and Yoga for Meditators, each printed by Rodmell Press. Her third ebook is titled Hip-Wholesome Asana: The Yoga Practitioner’s Information to Defending the Hips and Avoiding SI Joint Ache (Shambhala Publications). She writes a month-to-month column for CATALYST Journal and serves as editor for Yoga U On-line. Charlotte is a founding board member for GreenTREE Yoga, a non-profit that brings yoga to underserved populations. A lifelong musician, Charlotte performs oboe and English horn within the Salt Lake Symphony and folks sextet Pink Rock Rondo, whose DVD gained two Emmy awards.
