Living Yoga Off the Mat: The Yamas & Niyamas
Yoga is so much more than movement—it’s a way of being. A gentle path toward remembering who we are beneath the noise. It offers us tools not just to stretch our bodies, but to stretch our awareness, deepen our presence, and align with our truest selves.
At the heart of this practice are the Yamas and Niyamas, the first two limbs of the eightfold path of yoga. They are like seeds of wisdom—guiding how we relate to the world around us, and how we care for our inner landscape.
🌿 The Yamas – Ethical Roots
The Yamas invite us to examine how we show up in the world. They are quiet disciplines, not rules or rigid ideals, but invitations to move through life with more presence, honesty, and care.
Ahimsa – Non-violence
The foundation of it all. Choosing kindness—in our thoughts, our words, our actions. With others, and with ourselves.
Inquiry: Where can I soften today?
Satya – Truthfulness
Speaking and living from the truth of who we are. Not sharp or harsh, but honest and tender.
Inquiry: Am I honoring my truth with kindness?
Asteya – Non-stealing
Respecting what belongs to others—time, energy, space—and living in a way that doesn’t deplete.
Inquiry: Am I taking more than I need?
Brahmacharya – Wise use of energy
Living with intention. Turning our energy toward what is sacred, meaningful, and truly nourishing.
Inquiry: What truly feeds me today?
Aparigraha – Non-possessiveness
Letting go of clinging—whether to thoughts, identities, outcomes, or things. Trusting in enough.
Inquiry: What can I release to create space?
🌸 The Niyamas – Inner Blossoming
The Niyamas turn us inward. These are practices for tending to the soil of our own becoming. They remind us that transformation begins within.
Shaucha – Purity
Not perfection, but clarity. In body, mind, heart, and home.
Inquiry: What helps me feel clear and aligned?
Santosha – Contentment
Finding peace with what is. Not settling, but resting in the beauty of this moment.
Inquiry: Can I be at ease with what’s here now?
Tapas – Inner Fire
The warmth of discipline, commitment, and care. The daily tending of what matters most.
Inquiry: What practice keeps me rooted and resilient?
Svadhyaya – Self-study
The sacred act of looking within. Asking questions. Reading the book of our own life.
Inquiry: What is this season teaching me about myself?
Ishvara Pranidhana – Surrender
Trusting that we are held. Releasing control. Opening to grace.
Inquiry: Where can I soften into trust and let go?
These teachings aren’t meant to be mastered—they’re meant to be lived into. Slowly. Gently. Like tending a garden, or learning the rhythm of your own breath. One choice at a time.
If you're curious to explore these in practice, come join me for class, a seasonal workshop, or simply begin with the inquiry that stirs something in your heart.
Start where you are. That’s more than enough.