This entry was posted on Nov 14, 2024 by Charlotte Bell.
In a current put up, I wrote in regards to the Eight Limbs of Yoga. The Eight Limbs are a framework for training all features of the system of yoga. The primary of those limbs known as yama.
I contemplate yama to be the muse of the entire system. Yama means “restraint.” On this context, restraint refers to utilizing smart discrimination to contemplate your actions on the planet, so that you just create an moral floor from which to behave. The yamas usually are not commandments, nonetheless. They’re tips for making a peaceable life by your actions on the planet. The yamas ask us to contemplate whether or not the actions we wish to undertake are more likely 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 rules of the yamas in our lives requires that we contemplate them anew with every scenario we discover ourselves in. So, being conscious is vital. The truth that there aren’t any hard-and-fast guidelines makes the observe dynamic, and permits us to deepen our understanding as we transfer by our lives.
What follows is a quite simple, very quick synopsis of the yamas. Every one is worthy of a lifetime of examine and observe. In case you’re concerned about inquiring additional, my first guide, Aware Yoga, Aware Life: A Information for On a regular basis Apply, devotes a chapter to every yama, and consists of methods you possibly can incorporate the yamas into asana observe. The knowledge beneath can maybe act as a springboard for additional inquiry.
The 5 Yamas
Ahimsa (Non-Harming)
If yama is the muse of the Eight Limbs of Yoga, then ahimsa is the muse of that basis. All the opposite yamas are refinements of the idea of non-harming. Ahimsa asks us to contemplate the doable penalties of our actions. It additionally asks us to pay attention to 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 method of being, in order that over time, appearing with kindness and care turns into computerized.
Satya (Truthfulness)
Truthfulness is the muse of all our interactions on the planet. To ensure that any relationship to develop and thrive, it have to be primarily based in fact. Being untruthful harms us by strengthening untruthfulness as a behavior. It harms others as a result of they’ll by no means really feel secure once they can’t belief our intentions, phrases or actions. Right here once more, mindfulness is vital. With the intention to acknowledge—after which act from—fact, now we have to know what’s true within the first place. We do that by wanting deeply at our beliefs, habits and motivations.
Asteya (Non-Stealing)
Asteya asks us to chorus from taking what 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 once we share their phrases and concepts.
Brahmacharya (Clever 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, smart observe is difficult. Donna Farhi’s guide, Instructing Yoga: Exploring the Trainer-Scholar Relationship, delves deeply into the teacher-student relationship, together with the observe of brahmacharya.
Aparigraha (Non-Greed)
In accordance with Buddhist observe, greed is among the three sources of struggling. (The others are hatred and delusion.) It’s a supply of struggling as a result of it will possibly by no means be happy; it will possibly solely be briefly quelled. After we get no matter it’s that we wish, we might really feel happy, not less than for some time. Nevertheless it’s not lengthy earlier than another need arises, and leads us to pin our hopes on the subsequent object we expect we should 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 implies that we perceive that the whole lot in our lives comes and goes. Happiness is out there to all of us, and its potential is already within us. The antidote to greed is to observe generosity. After we domesticate a behavior of giving, we perceive extra deeply the enjoyment of letting go.
Straightforward Does It
Generally it will possibly appear overwhelming to attempt to incorporate all these rules into your life. I recommend committing to observe one after the other. It may be useful to decide to, say, a 12 months training a single yama. The deal with 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 instructing in 1986. Charlotte is the creator of Aware Yoga, Aware Life: A Information for On a regular basis Apply and Yoga for Meditators, each printed by Rodmell Press. Her third guide 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 received two Emmy awards.