Kaplan Center for Integrative Medicine | The Yamas & Niyamas - 8 Limbs of Yoga @KaplanCenter | Uploaded August 2016 | Updated October 2024, 6 hours ago.
For years I thought yoga was just a form of exercise that makes you flexible, but when I went through my teacher training, first 200 hour and then 300 more hours, I learned that there is a long rich history, as well as an ancient philosophy and language (Sanskrit).
The Yoga Sutras, written thousands of years ago, describe the eight limb path. Some of these limbs involve the movement (Asanas), the breathing (Pranayama), and stages towards meditation (Dhyana). The limbs that we often don't hear about are the first two, called Yamas and Niyamas, translated as Restraints and Observances. They are wonderful ancient pearls that help us through our journey in life.
The Yamas, which are more external, include Ahimsa- Non or Least Harming, Satya- Truth, Asteya- Nonstealing, Bramacharya- Nonexcess, and Aparagraha- Nonclinging. The
Niyamas, which are more subtle, include Saucha- Purity or Wholeness, Santosha- Contentment, Tapas- Hard work and Discipline, Svadhyaya - Self Study, and Ishvarapranadana- Surrender.
I've prepared a video series on these wise principles and hope you enjoy them. You may want to listen all at once, or one at a time to get the most out of them.
For years I thought yoga was just a form of exercise that makes you flexible, but when I went through my teacher training, first 200 hour and then 300 more hours, I learned that there is a long rich history, as well as an ancient philosophy and language (Sanskrit).
The Yoga Sutras, written thousands of years ago, describe the eight limb path. Some of these limbs involve the movement (Asanas), the breathing (Pranayama), and stages towards meditation (Dhyana). The limbs that we often don't hear about are the first two, called Yamas and Niyamas, translated as Restraints and Observances. They are wonderful ancient pearls that help us through our journey in life.
The Yamas, which are more external, include Ahimsa- Non or Least Harming, Satya- Truth, Asteya- Nonstealing, Bramacharya- Nonexcess, and Aparagraha- Nonclinging. The
Niyamas, which are more subtle, include Saucha- Purity or Wholeness, Santosha- Contentment, Tapas- Hard work and Discipline, Svadhyaya - Self Study, and Ishvarapranadana- Surrender.
I've prepared a video series on these wise principles and hope you enjoy them. You may want to listen all at once, or one at a time to get the most out of them.
