Yama opens the list of eight limbs in Patanjali's Yoga Sutras. It covers five principles of conduct: ahimsa, satya, asteya, brahmacharya and aparigraha. The word itself is usually translated as "restraint" or "self-control." Below, the app's text explains each principle, followed by examples of what the yamas look like during an ordinary asana practice.
Yama is the first limb of yoga: five principles for how we interact with the world around us. They are not commandments or prohibitions but guideposts that clear away unnecessary inner noise, the same noise that gets in the way both in meditation and in an ordinary day.
1. Ahimsa — nonviolence. Not causing harm through action, word, or thought, to others or to yourself. On the mat, ahimsa is quite literal: don't force your muscles out of ambition, and respect what your body can do today. An injury driven by ego is violence too.
2. Satya — truthfulness. Honesty with others and with yourself. In practice, it means seeing your state clearly: admitting you're tired and choosing a gentle version of the pose instead of faking strength.
3. Asteya — non-stealing. It's broader than “don't steal things”: don't take other people's time, attention, credit, or energy. And don't steal from yourself either, for example, from your sleep or recovery time.
4. Brahmacharya — moderation, wise use of your energy. Historically it meant abstinence; in a modern reading, it means not scattering your strength on endless stimulation and saving energy for what matters most.
5. Aparigraha — non-possessiveness, non-attachment. Not clinging to things, results, or expectations. In practice, it means not getting attached to progress: today your forward fold is deeper, tomorrow it isn't, and that's okay.
Try a simple exercise: choose one principle for the week and notice where it shows up during your day. Yama works not when you read about it, but when you notice it in the small things.
Yamas During Practice
- Ahimsa. In Seated Forward Fold, bend your knees and fold from your hips instead of hauling yourself toward your feet with your arms.
- Satya. Your breath is more honest than a mirror: if it gets ragged in Chair Pose, you're already past your limit, even if the pose looks great from the outside.
- Asteya. Don't rob yourself of Savasana to squeeze in five more minutes. When time is tight, do fewer rounds of Sun Salutation and keep the relaxation.
- Brahmacharya. Ration your intensity: after Advanced Intensive, give the next day to a gentle Yin Practice.
- Aparigraha. Don't chase the final form. Lotus Pose or Front Splits arrive after months of preparation, and that's a perfectly normal timeline.
How the Yamas Connect
The five principles reinforce one another. Classical commentaries on the sutras call ahimsa the root of the other yamas: truth spoken in order to hurt someone already breaks with nonviolence. Aparigraha makes asteya easier, because the less you cling to results, the less you're tempted to claim attention or credit that isn't yours.
So you can begin with any principle, and the others will follow.
Yamas Off the Mat
Patanjali calls the yamas the "great vow" when they're kept at all times, regardless of place, time and circumstance. For people today, that's more of a direction to steer by than a rule with no exceptions. The same chapter gives a practical tip: when a thought arises that leads toward harm, deliberately think of its opposite.
Seen this way, ahimsa starts not with actions but with how you talk to yourself after a rough day.
Hatha Yoga