Yamas and Niyamas - The 1st and 2nd Limbs

So the first Limb of the 8 faceted Path (Ashtanga Yoga) is the Yamas. This is most commonly translated as 'restraints' with its literal translation being 'Death'.

We can say the Yamas are a Code of Conduct for living which will help bring a compassionate death to the ego or the 'lower self'.

The nicest translation of the Yamas I have come across is reflecting our true nature as 'restraints' conjures up negative responses.

There are 5 guiding Yamas being:

Ahimsa: Non-harming to others and ourselves
Satya: Being truthful to others but also within ourselves and having integrity
Astheya: Non-stealing - Generosity and Honesty
Brahmacharya: Balance and Moderation of the vital life force
Aparigraha: Letting go of desires/Fulfillment

Niyamas are the self-observances which can be described as evolution towards harmony which also has 5 parts

Saucha: Simplicity, Purity, Cleanliness
Santosha: Contentment, being at peace with oneself and others, accepting what life brings you.
Tapas: Disciplined Practice
Swadhaya: Self-study, the study of spiritual texts to help understanding
Ishwara Pranidhana: Surrender to a higher being.

The Yamas and Niyamas are the first two limbs of Ashtanga Yoga and most commonly translated as the restraints and self-observances, five facets in each and have been described as the 10 Commandments of Yoga and also the Dos (Niyamas) and Don'ts (Yamas).

The exact meanings can be lost or often misinterpreted at least when translated from Sanskrit as Yoga really is much more gentle than that as I translate it anyway.

If the Yamas are described as reflecting our true nature then all that is good is our true nature and by trying to adhere to/follow the five facets we are simply returning to who we really are.

So these are the first 2 Limbs of Ashtanga Yoga prescribed by Patanjali in the Yoga Sutras (we'll get into that later). So not a mention of the Asanas (Postures) or Pranayama (Breathing techniques) just yet as would be guessed by most when asked what is the first two limbs of Ashtanga yoga.

I'll leave it there hoping what is written is clear, concise and bitesize enough for a quick read while taking a break at work or wherever this finds you.