Yoga is not just a physical practice but also a path to spiritual and emotional well-being. The ancient sage Patanjali’s Yoga Sutra, written around 200 CE, offers a comprehensive guide to a holistic approach to yoga. One of its key concepts is the Eight Limbs of Yoga, which includes ethical guidelines for practising yoga and living a healthy life known as the Yamas.
The Yamas are the first limb of the Eight Limbs of Yoga and are considered the foundation of the entire yoga practice. They are a set of moral and ethical principles that guide a yogi’s behaviour towards themselves and others.
In this article, we will explore the Yamas in more detail and share practical tips on how to incorporate them into both daily life and yoga practice. By the end, you will have a clearer understanding of the Yamas and their importance in both yoga and everyday living.
What is the meaning of Yamas?
Yamas are a set of five ethical guidelines that form an essential part of the practice of yoga. The term yamas comes from the Sanskrit word yam, which means “to restrain” or “to control.”
In yoga philosophy, the Yamas are often described as a set of “don’ts” things one should refrain from doing. However, they are more than just rules to follow; they are guiding principles that lead us towards a more conscious and compassionate way of living.
The purpose of practising the Yamas is to develop self-control and cultivate moral discipline. By following these ethical guidelines, a yogi can purify their thoughts and actions, leading to a more mindful and compassionate life.
Practising the Yamas also helps create harmonious and peaceful relationships with others, promoting unity, respect, and understanding in daily interactions.
Difference between yamas and niyamas
The Yamas should not be confused with the Niyamas, which are the second limb of yoga. While the Yamas teach us how to interact with the world around us, the Niyamas focus on how we can improve ourselves from within. The Yamas guide our behaviour towards others, whereas the Niyamas help us cultivate self-discipline and support spiritual growth.
Together, the Yamas and Niyamas form a set of ten moral codes of conduct, offering principles for living a meaningful and purposeful life both on and off the mat.
What are the 5 yamas in yoga?
The five Yamas are mentioned in Chapter 2 (Sadhana Pada), Verse 30 of the Yoga Sutra by Sage Patanjali. According to Patanjali’s Eight Limbs of Yoga, the five Yamas are:
- Ahimsa (non-violence)
- Satya (truthfulness)
- Asteya (non-stealing)
- Brahmacharya (celibacy)
- Aparigraha (non-greed)
The Yamas deal with our behaviour and actions that affect our relationship with the outer world. For this reason, they are often referred to as principles of self-restraint or the “don’ts” in yoga.
Each Yama can be understood as a conscious restraint from common negative tendencies and the cultivation of their opposite, positive qualities. For example:
- Himsa (violence or harm towards oneself or others) is countered by Ahimsa, practising non-violence and kindness toward all beings.
- Asatya (falsehood or dishonesty) is replaced by Satya, being truthful in thought, speech, and action.
- Parasteya (stealing or taking what is not freely given) is restrained by Asteya, which means not stealing and respecting others’ belongings.
- Overindulgence or immoderation is restrained through Brahmacharya, the practice of self-control and moderation.
- Aparigraha means letting go of greed, attachment, and hoarding, promoting simplicity and contentment.
These principles encourage yogis to purify their thoughts and actions, helping them develop mindfulness, compassion, and ethical living.
Yamas in Hatha Yoga Pradipika
While Patanjali’s Yoga Sutra lists five Yamas, the Hatha Yoga Pradipika outlines ten Yamas. Interestingly, this text excludes Aparigraha and includes additional ethical disciplines. According to Hatha Yoga Pradipika, the ten Yamas are:
- Ahimsa (Non-violence)
- Satya (Truthfulness)
- Asteya (Non-stealing)
- Brahmacharya (Celibacy)
- Kṣama (Forgiveness)
- Dhrti (Fortitude, perseverance, courage)
- Daya (Compassion)
- Arjava (Sincerity)
- Mitahara (Measured diet)
- Shoucha (cleanliness)
The first of the five Yamas is Ahimsa, the ethical practice of non-violence or non-harming—towards oneself, others, and nature in thoughts, words, and actions.
The word Ahimsa comes from Sanskrit, where the prefix “a” means not, and “himsa” means harming, injuring, killing, or committing violence.
Ahimsa can be understood through three core principles:
- Refraining from causing harm to others, oneself, or nature—physically or emotionally.
- Avoiding negative or harmful thoughts about others or oneself.
- Ensuring our actions and attitude foster peace and reduce suffering.
By adopting an Ahimsa mindset, we nurture self-love and open our hearts to all living beings. This inner compassion fosters empathy, dissolves harmful tendencies, and encourages us to live in harmony with life itself.
How to practice ahimsa (Non-violence)
- Cultivate Compassion: Make an effort to treat yourself and others with more compassion, acceptance, and forgiveness.
- Mindful Yoga Practice: Keeping Ahimsa in mind while doing yoga helps us to let go of negative body image thoughts and embrace ourselves entirely, despite how agile or sturdy we are currently.
- Listen to Your Body: Spend some time in each position observing how your body feels and what it needs. You can avoid injury and complete your practice while giving your body the exact nutrients it requires in this manner.
- Balance and Moderation: While Ahimsa promotes avoiding killing another living being, and hence refraining from eating animals, there must be a balance. It’s crucial to take into account what functions best if eliminating specific foods from your diet harms you.
- Positive Thinking: Our general well-being is greatly influenced by our thoughts as well. Not only should we be aware of what we think, but also of those of others. Even when intended at someone else, bitterness, hatred, and jealousy only serve to make us feel miserable.
Also read: 8 actionable ways to practice Ahimsa in daily life
The concept of Satya, or truthfulness, in yoga involves being honest with ourselves about our limitations, abilities, and needs. It means respecting our body’s boundaries and discovering our most authentic self—then living in alignment with it. In the state of Satya, there is no separation between our thoughts, words, and actions.
Practising Satya allows fresh insights and honest observations to arise, helping us see things more clearly than before. It goes beyond simply telling the truth—Satya encourages us to live in harmony with our deeper values.
The Sanskrit word “sat” translates to true essence or unchangeable, pointing toward a deeper understanding of truth that exists beyond shifting thoughts, feelings, or moods. Through this lens, truth is not rigid but rooted in self-awareness and integrity.
Living in alignment with Satya cultivates respect, honour, and authenticity. It deepens our understanding of the yogic path and prevents the ego-driven, created self from overshadowing our true self. By viewing our beliefs and behaviours with openness, we begin to understand that truth is a dynamic process not a fixed destination. Through this awareness, we recognise the divine within and walk the path of inner clarity.
How to practice Satya (Truthfulness)
- Practising honesty: Learn to detect your internal anxieties and other unpleasant emotions, which might cause you to distort reality. Avoid lying to others and always talk kindly, compassionately, and clearly.
- Creating space for honesty: To be completely honest with ourselves, we must make a small amount of room, maintain some calm, or at the very least, slow the mind down. We train our ability to achieve quiet and mental space through asana, pranayama, and meditation.
- Focusing on the breath: Keeping more attention to the breath is one extremely easy approach to observing truth in our practice.
- An exception to Satya: There is however one exception to Satya. We must take care to avoid speaking the truth if we know it may hurt someone else since Ahimsa must be followed before anything else.
- Choosing kindness over correctness: When in doubt, choose kindness above correctness.
Also read: 8 ways to practice Satya (Truthfulness) in daily life
Asteya, the third Yama, translates to non-stealing. It goes beyond refraining from taking material possessions. Asteya also means not taking credit for what isn’t ours, not wasting others’ time or resources, and not hoarding more than we truly need.
Practising Asteya leads to a life of contentment and gratitude. When we stop comparing ourselves to others and focus on appreciating what we have, we begin to feel truly satisfied. This mindset cultivates trust and respect, which are essential for building meaningful relationships.
In yoga, Asteya also involves respecting the boundaries of others physically, emotionally, and mentally. It teaches us to honour others’ space, time, and energy without exploitation or expectation.
Another aspect of Asteya is mindfulness of thoughts and desires. Envy and jealousy can lead to subtle forms of stealing, such as trying to overshadow others or seek what doesn’t belong to us. Practising gratitude and contentment helps reduce these tendencies.
Asteya is also about not stealing from ourselves. This means using our time, energy, and talents wisely, and not wasting them on things that do not support our well-being or higher purpose. By aligning our actions with our values, we uplift ourselves and contribute positively to the world around us.
How to practice Asteya (Non-stealing)
- A mindset of Abundance – Cultivate a mindset of abundance and sufficiency. Recognize that we have enough and avoid the urge to take what does not belong to us.
- Mindful of Actions – Be mindful of your thoughts and actions towards others. Avoid taking advantage of someone else’s vulnerabilities, and treat others with respect and kindness.
- Avoid Hoarding – Refrain from hoarding or accumulating material possessions unnecessarily. Remember that possessions do not define our worth or happiness.
- Contentment and Gratitude: Practice contentment and gratitude for what we have instead of constantly seeking more.
- Balance in Yoga – In the practice of yoga, focus on developing a sense of balance, both physically and mentally. Avoid pushing yourself beyond your limits or comparing yourself to others.
- Give Credit – Recognize that stealing also includes taking credit for someone else’s work or ideas. Give credit where it’s due and acknowledge the contributions of others.
- Impact on Community and Environment – Finally, consider how your choices and actions impact the larger community and environment. Avoid participating in activities that harm others or exploit resources unfairly.
The principle of Brahmacharya, often translated as right use of energy, is about directing our physical, mental, and emotional energy toward our higher self or spiritual goals. It involves practising self-control and moderation in thoughts, speech, and actions especially in relation to sexuality and material desires.
Brahmacharya is not about suppressing or denying natural impulses, but rather about recognising them and consciously guiding them in a way that supports our inner growth.
While traditionally associated with celibacy, in modern practice, Brahmacharya also means maintaining healthy and respectful relationships, avoiding excess or addiction, and engaging in activities that nourish the mind and spirit.
In yoga, Brahmacharya is considered essential for spiritual development. It helps us conserve vital energy and redirect it towards our practice and personal transformation. By cultivating this restraint and awareness, we can achieve greater balance, clarity, and connection with our true essence.
How to practice Brahmacharya (Celibacy)
Achieving moderation in all of our actions through Brahmacharya is the best way to achieve balance.
You may preserve energy and maintain a concentrated, active mind by making intelligent decisions about what publications and books you read, the movies you see, and the friendships you keep.
The middle way of brahmacharya is to engage in all sensual pleasures in moderation so that you don’t linger on them and to remain devoted and faithful to one spouse in a partnership that is supportive of each other.
To protect your physical and mental health, brahmacharya also teaches you to focus your energy inward and away from desires that come from without. Fast food, gambling, alcohol, and drug use are a few of them.
We might start to build a life that truly benefits us and that does make the most optimal use of our energy by becoming more conscious of how our bodies and minds react to various circumstances.
The word Aparigraha comes from the Sanskrit roots “pari”, meaning things, and “graha”, meaning to grasp. Therefore, Aparigraha means non-grasping or non-possessiveness. It teaches us to develop a healthy relationship with the things we often claim as “mine.”
When we become materialistic or overly attached, we lose sight of our true treasure the Atman, or our eternal Self. Holding on too tightly to what we have also blocks us from being open to receiving what we truly need.
Aparigraha encourages us to own only what is necessary and to let go of the rest. By doing so, we free ourselves from greed, attachment, and jealousy.
When we use the things we are given wisely—appreciating them without becoming dependent—they no longer control us or shape false identities and desires. This balanced approach helps us stay grounded in what truly matters.
Practising Aparigraha nurtures qualities such as self-control, purity, and moderation, leading to a life focused on well-being, inner peace, and what genuinely supports our health and growth.
How to practice Aparigraha (Non-attachment)
The secret to achieving Aparigraha is to adopt a mindset of abundance and think differently. You need to let go of your present financial expectations and ties to material goods to achieve this mindset. Try to identify any possessive tendencies you may have.
In addition to adding to our physical and emotional burden, hoarding material belongings causes us to grow more reliant on them and anxious about losing them.
When you think there is enough for everyone, you have less need for hoarding or competitiveness.
The idea that the new thing we purchase will make us happy is founded on a lack of perception that all too frequently invade our minds.
Practising Aparigraha means understanding that we probably don’t need a new black shirt because we already have one in our closet. We don’t need to buy a new cushion to match the new wallpaper, and we don’t need that new phone because it’s better than our friend’s.
Conclusion
The practice of the Yamas in yoga provides a foundation for ethical and moral behaviour towards oneself and others. By incorporating the principles of non-violence, truthfulness, non-stealing, moderation (celibacy), and non-possessiveness, individuals can cultivate awareness, compassion, and respect—for themselves and the world around them.
These principles not only guide our actions on the yoga mat but also extend into everyday life. By committing to these values, we can lead a more mindful, authentic, and fulfilling life—one that aligns with our true nature and supports the well-being of both ourselves and others.
Books to study further
If you want to deepen your understanding of the Yamas and integrate them into your daily life, there are several excellent books that can guide you on this journey. These resources offer practical insights, reflections, exercises, and meditations to support the practice of the Yamas both on and off the mat. Here are some recommended titles to consider:
“The Heart of Yoga: Developing a Personal Practice” by T.K.V. Desikachar. This classic book offers insights into the practice of yoga, including the Yamas and Niyamas, and provides practical techniques for developing a personal practice that is grounded in these teachings.
By exploring these books and practising the Yamas, you can cultivate a deeper understanding of yourself, your relationships, and your connection to the world around you.
