This year I read a book by Deborah Adele, The Yamas & Niyamas, Exploring Yoga's Ethical Practice, to deepen my understanding of the philosophy and ethics of yoga. The Yamas and Niyamas are 2 of the 8 limbs of yoga.
The Yamas are "external restraints", or How I Interact with the World.
They include:
Ahimsa (non-violence)
Asteya (non-stealing)
Satya (truthfulness)
Brachmacharya (moderation/non-excess)
Aparigraha (simplicity/non-possessiveness)
According to Adele, The Yamas are instructions to move in a certain direction. They require familiarity and daily practice. They turn us from harming ourselves and others to kindness and compassion for self and others, from lies and half-truths to expressing our uniqueness and authenticity, from theft to cultivating new skills and abilities, from greed to appreciation and pleasure without excess, and from attachment to intimacy without possession. The Yamas are "social disciplines, guiding us into harmony, peace and right relationship with the world."
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The Niyamas are "internal observances or ethics", or How I Interact with Myself.
They include:
Shaucha (cleanliness/purity)
Tapas (self-discipline)
Santosha (contentment)
Svadhyaya (self-study)
Ishvara Pranidhana (faith/surrender)
According to Adele, the Niyamas point us in the direction of something better than we are now aware of. It is as if we have five seeds to plant and care of in our inner being. We tend the seeds by cleansing our bodies, our speech and thoughts, falling in love with our own life, consciously choosing discipline and growth, knowing the Self, and paying attention to what life is asking of us. The exploration of the Niyamas offers a deep inner harmony and strength, and access to joy.
I know I've barely scratched the surface of beginning to understand and implement these philosophies in my life, but I can see how they can be transformative and beautiful.
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