Yoga Philosophy Beyond Asana
5 Ways to Put the Niyamas Into Practice Right Now
The moral and ethical principles that are the foundation of yoga practice—the yamas (social restraints) and niyamas (self-disciplines)—are especially important to think about right now. Together lets explore them and share how they can find a place in our everyday lives.
A good way to think about the five niyamas is to frame them as observances that you as a yoga practitioner take on in order to optimise your practice. Sometimes the niyamas are called the list of “do’s” (in opposition to the list of “don’ts” that comprise the yamas. However, rather than a list of things to be done and checked off, the idea is to make each of the niyamas as personal and relevant as possible to your daily life.
I see the yamas as the moral and ethical guidelines for how the yogi ideally acts in society and in relationship to others, and the niyamas as the same outline for how the yogi treats oneself. The niyamas are observances that can be done in silence and without much fanfare. Most, if not all, are best done as a solitary pursuit in the realms of the inner body and mind. In fact, if any of the niymasa are performative and done for worldly praise, then they miss the mark.
You might also think of it this way: While the yamas are evident in a yogi’s lifestyle choices, the niyamas are more subtle. Here’s what you need to know about each of the five niyamas, and how to put them into practice in your life right now.
Our 5 sessions will call upon a different Niyama each time
Each session will begin at 7:30-8:30pm.
22nd July ?aucha - Definition: Cleanliness, Purity
29th July Santosa - Definition: Contentment, Acceptance, Optimism
5th August Tapas - Definition: Discipline, Persistence
12th August Sv?dhy?ya - Definition: Self-study, study of sacred scripture
19th August ??varapranidh?na - Definition: Devotion
The moral and ethical principles that are the foundation of yoga practice—the yamas (social restraints) and niyamas (self-disciplines)—are especially important to think about right now. Together lets explore them and share how they can find a place in our everyday lives.
A good way to think about the five niyamas is to frame them as observances that you as a yoga practitioner take on in order to optimise your practice. Sometimes the niyamas are called the list of “do’s” (in opposition to the list of “don’ts” that comprise the yamas. However, rather than a list of things to be done and checked off, the idea is to make each of the niyamas as personal and relevant as possible to your daily life.
I see the yamas as the moral and ethical guidelines for how the yogi ideally acts in society and in relationship to others, and the niyamas as the same outline for how the yogi treats oneself. The niyamas are observances that can be done in silence and without much fanfare. Most, if not all, are best done as a solitary pursuit in the realms of the inner body and mind. In fact, if any of the niymasa are performative and done for worldly praise, then they miss the mark.
You might also think of it this way: While the yamas are evident in a yogi’s lifestyle choices, the niyamas are more subtle. Here’s what you need to know about each of the five niyamas, and how to put them into practice in your life right now.
Our 5 sessions will call upon a different Niyama each time
Each session will begin at 7:30-8:30pm.
22nd July ?aucha - Definition: Cleanliness, Purity
29th July Santosa - Definition: Contentment, Acceptance, Optimism
5th August Tapas - Definition: Discipline, Persistence
12th August Sv?dhy?ya - Definition: Self-study, study of sacred scripture
19th August ??varapranidh?na - Definition: Devotion