The yamas and niyamas in everyday life
Ten ethical guidelines from classical yoga, translated into decisions you actually face — on the mat and off it.
5 min read
The first two limbs are yoga's ethics. They are not commandments; they read more like a list of things worth paying attention to.
The five yamas — outward
- Ahimsa, non-harming — including how you speak to yourself when a pose does not happen.
- Satya, truthfulness — saying what is true, and not performing an ease you do not feel.
- Asteya, non-stealing — of things, of credit, of other people's time.
- Brahmacharya, moderation — using your energy deliberately rather than spending it everywhere.
- Aparigraha, non-grasping — letting go of the version of yourself that could do the pose last year.
The five niyamas — inward
- Saucha, cleanliness — of body, space, and what you consume, screens included.
- Santosha, contentment — with the practice you have today.
- Tapas, disciplined effort — showing up when it is not exciting.
- Svadhyaya, self-study — noticing your patterns without a verdict attached.
- Ishvara pranidhana, surrender — accepting the parts you do not control.
Where they bite in class
Ahimsa is why you back out of a stretch before it becomes strain. Aparigraha is why you stop comparing your mat to the next one. Santosha is why a stiff day is still a good practice.
Common questions
- What is ahimsa?
- Non-harming — the first yama. In practice it covers how you treat others and how forcefully you treat your own body and mind.
- Are the yamas rules?
- They are guidelines for attention rather than commandments. Most teachers present them as questions to sit with, not tests to pass.
Put it into practice
Find a class that matches what you have just read — near you, or online.