Now the yamas and niyamas. The ten yamas are: non-violence, truthfulness, non-stealing, continence, patience, steadiness, compassion, honesty, moderate diet, and cleanliness.

While Patañjali lists five yamas, Svātmārāma offers ten, expanding the ethical restraints:

1. Ahiṃsā — Non-violence (in action, word, and thought)
2. Satya — Truthfulness
3. Asteya — Non-stealing
4. Brahmacarya — Continence (management of sexual energy)
5. Kṣamā — Patience, forgiveness
6. Dhṛti — Steadiness, constancy
7. Dayā — Compassion
8. Ārjava — Honesty, integrity
9. Mitāhāra — Moderate eating
10. Śauca — Cleanliness, purity

Notably, mitāhāra (moderate diet) appears as an ethical restraint, not merely as hygiene. Overeating is a form of violence toward oneself.

The inclusion of kṣamā (patience/forgiveness) and dayā (compassion) emphasizes the relational dimension. Yoga is not only self-transformation but also how we treat others.

These yamas form the ethical ground without which advanced practices are unstable or dangerous.