Creating Harmony through the Yamas

Posted by Feride on Thursday, 20 November 2025

6 min read

We recently explored Yamas through the lens of yoga in our recent sessions. You might remember that Yamas are the first of the 8 Limbs of Yoga which I also wrote about in my Journal Eight Limbs of Yoga.

Let’s take a deeper dive into what the Yamas really teach us. There are 5 Yamas which reflect our ‘moral disciplines’ or ‘ethical principles’, how we connect with the world around us: Ahimsa, Satya, Asteya, Aparigraha and Brahmacharya.

Ahimsa – ‘non-harming’

Being kind in our thoughts, words and actions towards ourselves, others and the world around us. Cultivating positivity, kindness and compassion to our Self and to others. Remembering that our thoughts become words, and our words become actions.

Understanding our aura can also help us cultivate Ahimsa. Our aura carries the energy that we are holding at any given moment. If our auric energy reflects negativity towards our Self and others, that energy may be felt by those around us, as well as in our body and mind, causing disharmony in the physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual health of the inner being, whether in our true Self or in others. When we practice Ahimsa, we naturally radiate a loving, compassionate and positive energy.

In yoga, we can practice Ahimsa by turning our attention inwards and understanding what our body is telling us. Not forcing our body into positions that it is not ready for and so asking the practice of yoga to cause harm. Instead, learn to work with your body and the asanas in a therapeutic way. By doing so, we can start to move, eat and nourish our physical body from a place of love and respect.

Satya – ‘truthfulness’

Being honest with our Self and others in a way that we also inspire Ahimsa, not to cause harm or hurt to others or our Self, with our conversations. When our words come from a point of integrity, we can be truthful not just in what we say but also in what we feel and think. For Satya, truthfulness should also be without deceit or deception. It requires an honesty between what we think and what we say. Let what we say be true and beneficial, and helpful; said at the right time and with kindness, goodwill and endearment to others and to our Self.

In yoga, we can honour Satya with where we are in our practice. Maybe ‘working towards’ more advanced asana if we so wish, but at a steady and safe pace, guided by our teacher. Maybe. working safely with our asana at a level that is comfortable for us and not worrying about advancing before we are ready. Being truthful with our Self in our yoga journey.

Asteya – ‘non stealing’

This is a beautiful way to live on and off the mat. Asteya is more than the everyday meaning of taking something that is not yours. Asteya has some synergy with Ahimsa and Satya as it asks us to consider other peoples’ time, energy and boundaries. Listen to other people and allow them time to express their opinions too without dominating the conversation or keeping the attention focused on ourself. By doing this, we can create meaningful connections with people and honour them as well as ourself. This is a good way to practice Asteya in our daily life and embrace gratitude and make mindful decisions. Asteya also asks us to practice gratitude for the abundance that we have and know that it is enough. To be content and not covet what other people have. Letting go of the desire to take what is not freely given. Respecting someone else’s work and ideas - give credit when we are using those works and ideas.

In our yoga practice, spiritual or physical, as I often say, don’t worry about comparing ourself with others. Yoga is a personal journey. Learning to tune in to our inner awareness and connect to how you are feeling ‘today’. Work with your breath and cultivate being ‘present’ whether in your practice or in daily life, so that we are not allowing past or future, be ‘taken’ from our present moment and so that we can enjoy the blessings that we may miss if our mind is focused elsewhere. Embrace every moment of your asana so that you can fully reap the benefits.

Aparigraha – ‘non-attachment or ‘non-greed’

The idea of letting go of ‘attachment’ to possessions and thoughts that no longer serve us. It helps us live in the present moment and practice gratitude for the abundance that we have, without relying on those external influences to fulfil our happiness. Happiness comes from within. Being present also means accepting our thoughts and emotions, whilst at the same time understanding where they come from, and that they are changeable. When we have a strong sense of Self, we can move through our emotions and express our Self with confidence because we are able to be the master of our thoughts as opposed to letting them control us.

In Yoga, we can practice Aparigraha by accepting where we are in our asana and letting go of the idea of wanting to perfect our pose to align with another person. Yoga is a journey and our asana practice will develop when we are ready, when we practice our breath to movement, using pranayama to deepen our skills and gift our Self to the true essence of the pose. Taking a moment with breath in asana invites us to experience the freedom of surrendering, being present in the moment and releasing the need for attachment to achieving the perfect pose.

Brahmacharya –‘right conduct’

“Brahma,” means the divine or supreme consciousness, and “Charya,” means conduct or practice. A nice reminder to set our boundaries clearly and use our energies wisely. Brahmacharya helps us to turn our attention inwards and create harmony within our senses. Leaning towards inner happiness rather than relying on external influences to provide our happiness, which are really only temporary. It is not a complete releasing of what we have in the modern world; it is more about the journey to enlightenment through mindful control and balance in thoughts, actions, speech, desires.

We can channel our energies to useful activities instead of wiling away our time on fruitless pastimes such as endless social media. We can focus on our physical health by restraining from excesses in food and drink and taking part in exercise. We can care for our mental health by cultivating emotional harmony, refraining from anger, jealousy and turning that energy into compassion and patience. Developing our spiritual growth by understanding our True Self.

Practising Brahmacharya means that we learn to direct our energy into personal growth and spirituality and toward the consciousness of healthy, well-balanced living.

Brahmacharya can be aligned with our yoga practice by being moderate in the energy that we apply to our asana as this helps us connect to what our body and mind really need, as we journey towards a holistic balance between mind, body and spiritual growth, and the understanding of the True Self and inner peace.

References:

The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali
Translation and Commentary by Sri Swami Satchidananda. Integral Yoga Publications 2020