1. Yama
Social Ethics & Restraints
The first limb governs how you interact with the outside world and other living beings to create harmony within your community. It contains five moral vows.
Ahimsa — Non-Violence
Practicing kindness and compassion toward yourself and all living creatures in thought, word, and deed.
Satya — Truthfulness
Living and speaking with absolute honesty and integrity.
Asteya — Non-Stealing
Respecting others' possessions, time, and intellectual ideas.
Brahmacharya — Right Use of Energy
Moderation in all things — historically associated with celibacy but practiced today as avoiding the overindulgence of physical urges.
Aparigraha — Non-Possessiveness
Letting go of consumerism, hoarding, and emotional attachments. Practicing non-greed.
2. Niyama
Personal Ethics & Observances
The second limb shifts focus inward, guiding how you maintain self-discipline, inner habits, and your spiritual mindset. It consists of five personal observances.
Saucha — Cleanliness & Purity
Purity of the physical body, the mind, and your living environment.
Santosha — Contentment
Practicing gratitude and accepting your current reality without constantly longing for more.
Tapas — Discipline
Spiritual fire — building willpower and resilience through committed hard work.
Svadhyaya — Self-Study
Introspection — reflecting on your behaviors and studying sacred or philosophical texts.
Ishvara Pranidhana — Surrender
Letting go of your ego and trusting the timing or guidance of a higher universal power.