Yamas and Niyamas
The ethical foundations of classical yoga
The yamas and niyamas constitute the first two steps of Aṣṭāṅga Yoga (eight-limbed yoga) as presented by Patañjali in the Yoga Sutras (Book II). They represent the ethical dimension of the yogic path: how to relate to the external world (yamas) and how to cultivate our inner life (niyamas).
Traditionally, these principles are considered preparatory for more advanced practices. Without a solid ethical foundation, the techniques of āsana, prāṇāyāma, and meditation lack a stable base. As the Bihar School of Yoga points out, attempting to meditate without having cultivated ethical conduct is like building on sand.
The five yamas are restraints or abstentions: behaviors we avoid because they cause harm. The five niyamas are observances or practices: qualities we actively cultivate. Together they form a code of life that prepares the ground for inner transformation.
Yamas
Ethical restraintsThe five yamas describe our relationship with the external world. They are universal abstentions that transcend time, place, and circumstance (mahāvrata, the great vow).
Niyamas
Personal observancesThe five niyamas describe our relationship with ourselves. They are practices of purification and inner cultivation that prepare the mind for higher states.
Context in Aṣṭāṅga Yoga
The eight limbs
- 1. Yama — Ethical restraints
- 2. Niyama — Personal observances
- 3. Āsana — Posture
- 4. Prāṇāyāma — Control of vital energy
- 5. Pratyāhāra — Sense withdrawal
- 6. Dhāraṇā — Concentration
- 7. Dhyāna — Meditation
- 8. Samādhi — Absorption
Primary sources
- Yoga Sutras of Patañjali (Book II, Sutras 30-45)
- Hatha Yoga Pradīpikā by Svātmārāma
- Claves del Yoga by Danilo Hernández
- Bihar School of Yoga publications