Beyond The Mat: The Surprising Ethics of Yoga (And Why They Matter To You)

We often think about a yoga practice as being about physical movement. Many of us know about child’s pose, downward facing dog, and tadasana. However, it may surprise you to know that the basis for all yoga practices is found in the elements of Yamas and Niyamas.

The elements of Yamas and Niyamas teach a practical, step-by-step methodology that brings understanding to our life experiences, while at the same time pointing the way to the next experience. They are like a detailed map, telling you where you are and how to look for the next landmark. They facilitate taking ownership of your life and directing it towards the fulfillment that you seek.

The five Yamas guidelines, or jewels, are about restraint. We are encouraged to practice non-violence, truthfulness, nonstealing, nonexcess, and nonresponsiveness.

These 5 Niyamas, or observances,  encourage purity, contentment, self- discipline, self-study, and surrender. These yoga guidelines do not limit us from living life, but rather they begin to open life up to us more and more fully, and they flow easily into one another in ways that are practical and easy to grasp. Join us for this episode, no yoga mat required.

Show Notes:

The Yamas & Niyamas: Exploring Yoga's Ethical Practice by Deborah Adele

Brene Brown on empathy versus sympathy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KZBTYViDPlQ