08/29/2026
This past week was an introduction to the 1st of the 8 limb path of yoga:
The Yamas
here is a bit of that introduction:
We could talk for hours about each one of these but for today, for our time on the mat, we'll focus on how they apply to our practice and how we can carry them into the rest of the day.
No need to memorize/remember. This is just an introduction.
The Yamas are the universal ethics & social restraints;
They are less like rules and more like invitations to become more aware of how we are living: acting & reacting to life.
• Ahimsa: non-harming
• Satya: truthfulness
• Asteya: non-stealing
• Brahmacharya: non-access (wise use of energy)
• Aparigraha: non-grasping
• Ahimsa: non-harming
○ On the mat: We practice this on our mats when we stop forcing poses, listen to our bodies and choose kindness over judgement & criticism.
○ Off the mat: We bring this practice in our lives in the obvious ways of non-harm, but also in the way we talk to ourselves, the inner dialogue and the way we respond to others when we're under stress.
• Satya: truthfulness
○ On the mat: how do you feel in your body today: are your muscles sore? Do they need more gentle movement to rest and heal? Have you been resting (and want to continue that?) but you actually need more intensity? Can you honor what is 'true' rather than what you want or think should be true?
○ Off the mat: tell the truth, even to yourself; notice the negative self-talk or lies we tell ourselves and over time, with the practicing of non-judgmental noticing, we come to clarity and wisdom.
• Asteya: non-stealing
○ we tend to think of stealing as 'things' but stealing can also apply to time, peace of mind, energy. On the mat: we don't steal our own peace or experience by comparing ourselves to others or worrying about what others are thinking;
○ Off the mat: don't take what isn't yours
• Brahmacharya: non-access (wise use of energy; moderation)
○ Where is my energy going? Can I notice where I am using more effort than necessary? Can we find strength without strain/pain?
○ Off the mat: without judgement (curiosity) can we notice where we tend to have excess and how does that affect our dreams and goals.
• Aparigraha: non-grasping (to expectations, perfection, outcomes)
○ The practice of letting go: This is so apparent in yoga practice; the idea that I should be able to do what I can't do and because I can't, I'm deficient in some way. Probably the most repeated phrase of all yoga teachers is "Meet yourself where you are today."
Off the mat: Do not tie your inner peace or happiness to controlling people, situations and outcomes. Do not hold in your heart the disappointment when things are different than you expected. Let go of the weight.
This is just a quick introduction; for more you can read the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali or The Yamas & Niyamas by Deborah Adele.
