The Yamas are the moral compass, or teachings, of Yoga, that guide us towards living a life that allows our conscience to be free and clear. The Yamas are the guidelines that support us in our process of experiencing a life in harmony with others, our surroundings, and ourselves.

The Yamas are a set of ethical principles that form the first limb of the Eight Limbs of Yoga, as outlined in the ancient yogic text, the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali.

They Yamas offer guidance on how to interact ethically with the world around us and are often considered the foundation for a meaningful and mindful life.

There are Five Yamas:

1. Ahimsa (non-violence) - Emotional & Mental Wellness

• Not causing harm to any living being, in thoughts, words, or deeds.
• Practiced through compassion, kindness, and understanding.
• Being kind to yourself and others—no negative self-talk, no bullying, no toxic behavior.
• The connection to wellness, ahimsa fosters emotional intelligence, self-compassion, and better relationships.
• It may also be the basis for adopting non-violent lifestyles like plant-based diets or sustainable living.

2. Satya (truthfulness) - Authentic Living & Mental Clarity

• Being honest and authentic in communication and actions.
• It's also about being truthful with yourself and living in alignment with your true values.
• Living authentically and aligning your life with your values.
• The connection to wellness, Satya reduces internal conflict, helps build trust in relationships, and promotes mental clarity.
• Authenticity is often linked to lower stress and higher life satisfaction.

3. Asteya (non-stealing)

• Not taking what doesn’t belong to you, whether it’s material things, time, or credit.
• Encourages contentment and respect for boundaries.
• Respecting boundaries and being reliable to yourself and to others.
• The connection to wellness, Asteya encourages integrity and respect in both personal and professional life.
• It helps reduce burnout by honoring your own time and others.

4. Brahmacharya (moderation / celibacy / skillful use of energy)

• Traditionally associated with celibacy, but more broadly, or from a modern perspective, interpreted as self-control and mindful use of your life force or energy.
• Directing energy toward spiritual goals rather than indulgence.
• Modern interpretation: Managing desires, practicing moderation with things like social media, food, intoxicants, sex, and even work.
• The connection to wellness: Brahmacharya supports balanced energy, better sleep, improved focus, and overall well-being.
• It's about avoiding overindulgence and being intentional with your time and energy.

5. Aparigraha (non-possessiveness / non-greed / non-hording)

• Letting go of attachments, cravings, and materialism.
• It’s about living simply and being content with what you have.
• Letting go of what is not needed like material obsessions, toxic relationships, and mental clutter.
• The connection to wellness: Aparigraha links directly to minimalism and decluttering. It reduces stress, anxiety, and the pressure of consumerism—creating space for peace and contentment.

Through the practice of yoga, and the five Yamas of Ahimsa, Satya, Asteya, Brahmacharya and Aparigraha, our soul is called to the deepest of life’s experiences – love, connection and freedom. These are the social teachings, or observations of the first limb of yoga, the Yamas.

Interestingly, in the ancient tradition of Yoga, students lived in the Gurukula, or school, and were carefully monitored to observe the teaching of both the Yamas, and the second limb of Niyamas, the moral standards that were being taught and refined. These students were only allowed to progress to the physical aspects of yoga teaching, the Asanas, when the teacher determined the student was making progress. Very unlike the commercialization of yoga in the Western world where we are led to believe that Yoga is only the movements and pretty postures!

Unlike Commandments, the Yamas and the Niyamas were not intended to be hard and fast rules. They were taught as guidance and in knowing that none of us are perfect. It is our sincere effort that guides our life and our Karmic results. If we make a poor choice, life will teach us through pain and suffering, and because of this we may choose to behave differently in the future by pausing and reflecting on the results of our choices.

Life is complex. It is ultimately our choice to live the way we choose. It is those choices that make us the way we are.

Although we tend to believe otherwise, there is freedom in discipline, and the Yamas provide us guidance towards that freedom. They are intended to provide us with “The Golden Rules” of engagement with society.

How we conduct ourselves around others, will always be indicative of how we feel about ourselves. The journey of Yoga is an internal practice and the Yamas lead the way. Without love, there can be no Yoga. The Yamas are the foundation to the practice of Yoga. That is why Patanjali, one of the greatest sages of all time, placed the Yamas as the very first limb of yoga, to be practiced before, and in combination with the other seven limbs of Yoga.

In upcoming blogs, we will delve deeper into each of these time-honored teachings individually. With hopes that through this practice of yoga we can all experience a life that is in harmony and balance with ourselves, with others, and with nature!

Be sure to subscribe so that you receive notifications on our future blogs!