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I practiced yoga purely as a form of exercise for several years before I started diving further into yogic philosophy. Turns out there is a lot more to yoga than just going to a hot flow class and getting some exercise! Not that there’s anything wrong with this approach, as that is where most of us start our journey. However we miss out on a way of living life that is filled with santosha, or contentment. There is a beautiful and methodical way of living if you start looking deeper. Practicing yoga off your mat starts with the Yamas and Niyamas, or the Do’s and Dont’s of yoga. 

Yamas are translated to right actions and Niyamas are translated as right observances. Let’s start with the section I found easier. The Yamas. These are in no particular order, and are all practiced in an intertwined manner. They all connect and work together in harmony.

Ahimsa:

Let’s start with Ahimsa, or non violence. Some people take this farther than others. Some practice by eating vegetarian, or vegan. There are monks who sweep before each step they take to avoid stepping on any bugs! Or there are people like me who just try our best in an imperfect manner to keep this in mind during our interactions with others. I still swat the occasional mosquito, but I try to take the spiders who appear in the house outside instead of squishing them. There is also non violence towards the self, being kind towards yourself in your thoughts. Being kind in your actions towards yourself could mean knowing when you need a break, or pushing yourself to exercise because you know it’s good for you.

Satya

Next is Satya, or non lying. Now this is an odd way of phrasing this right? It would be easier to just say truthfulness. But this is the beauty of these philosophies. They aren’t black and white, but about trying to be better each day. The practice is to try each day to lie a little less, instead of setting yourself up for failure with an absolute such as don’t lie, and then beating yourself up about it when you fail.

Satya has several layers; the obvious, not lying to other people, and the less obvious; not lying to yourself. It means being honest with your actions, such as if you commit to something following through. But what if the truth will hurt someone? (Ahimsa) This is where the interconnected nature of the practice comes through. If you need to have a difficult conversation, try and balance truthful words with kindness. In this case grey areas are good!

Asteya

Asteya, aka non stealing. For most of us this may seem obvious, but this one can be a little subtle. Maybe we aren’t physically stealing an object, but what about taking credit for a project at work or school? Or maybe it’s taking an opportunity someone else needs more? The more you look around, the more you can see subtle ways where you are stealing from others! Conversely, maybe you are robbing yourself, such as an opportunity you should have taken. 

Bramacharya

This is a tough one, Bramacharya. Moderation. This applies to a lot of areas. Some people take it to mean abstinence, sexual or otherwise. Since I’m not intending to become a monk or nun, I choose to take it as moderation. Being aware of my budget and not overspending is one example. You can get super creative with this one, but the way I look at it is not to deprive myself of everything, but to appreciate the things I do have more! When you eat ice cream every day you get sick of it, but once in a while as a treat you can really savour and enjoy it. Another example is when you go too crazy buying Christmas presents, but then come January you have to deal with a credit card bill.

Maybe it means instead of going to the bar every other weekend with your friends, you suggest going for a hike or making dinner at home for them instead. Some people might decide to give up alcohol, or sugar, or shopping for new clothes. But as in all the Yamas, I recommend balance. Experiment and see what works for you, and how far you want to take this.

Aparigraha

Aparigraha, non attachment. This one is for all you minimalists out there! I have also heard it referred to as not taking/keeping. This goes hand in hand with Bramacharya, but has a subtly different tone. Examples could include not taking too much food and then wasting it, or hoarding things because you might need them later. It is the idea of not taking things you don’t need when others might need them more. Instead of filling your house to full with items (I buy plants in excess) try appreciating the negative space in your home, leaving room to roll out a yoga mat, or play with your dog. Not letting your attachment to things or even people take over. Sometimes it may even mean we need to let go of a friendship or unhealthy relationship. 

These ideas are nothing groundbreaking or new, but the way of looking at life is a little subtler. There are many layers and meanings to these guidelines. Shades of grey instead of absolutes. The more I add these principles into my life, the more beautiful I find them. There are so many different ways of looking at things, and the way the Yamas intertwine and work together creates a life with more small joys. I find great contentment in the little things, and appreciate life more, when I live yoga off my mat.

If you enjoyed the small peek into my home yoga studio, you can find out how I set up my space here!