In Classical Yoga, observance of the abstinences, or yamas, help attain a healthy mind and body. As Hatha Yoga is the yoga for attaining control over the mortal body, the yamas (together with the niyamas) are its essential first two steps.

Patanjali, the Yoga Sutras compiler, believed the yamas and niyamas are not about right and wrong but merely about being honest with the true Self. By living according to these principles is about living in a better way, about moving towards an understanding, and about making it possible to `connect` with our Creator or Divine.

The yamas and niyamas help to manage our energy in an integrative manner, complementing our outer life to our inner development. They help us view ourselves with compassion and awareness. They help in respecting the values of this life, in balancing our inner growth with outer restraint. In short they help us to lead a conscious life.

Yamas describe the precepts of social discipline:

  • Ahimsa — Non-violence. Not harming other people or other sentient beings. Not harming onesself. Not harming the environment. Tolerance even for that which we dislike. Not speaking that which, even though truthful, would injure others.
  • Satya – Truthfulness. Note that sometimes we may know our words are literally true, but do not convey what we know to be truthful. Satya means not intending to deceive others in our thoughts, as well as our words and actions.
  • Asteya – Non-stealing. Not taking that which is not given.
  • Brahmacarya — Sexual responsibility.   Regarding others as human beings rather than as male and female bodies.   The spirit of this precept is conservation of energy for the purpose of spiritual practice.   This includes not only sexual restraint, but protecting our energy for instance by avoiding endless chattering with no clear purpose.
  • Aparigraha — Abstention from greed.     Not coveting that which is not ours.   Avoidance of unnecessary acquisition of objects not essential to maintaining life or spiritual study.

Niyama when translated into English is “observance” or “virtue and are the precepts of Individual Discipline. The niyamas describe ways in which yogis should treat themselves to help maintain a positive environment in which to grow:

  • Sauca – Cleanliness. Not only external cleanliness of the body, but attending to internal cleanliness such as avoiding the impurities of anger and egoism. Moderation in diet
  • Santosa – Contentment. Not spiritual complacency, but acceptance of the external situation we are allotted in this life.
  • Tapas – Austerity. Deep commitment to our yoga practice.
  • Svadhyaya – Self-study. Spiritual self-education. Contemplation and application of the scriptures or sacred texts of our chosen path.
  • Svadhyaya – Self-study. Spiritual self-education. Contemplation and application of the scriptures or sacred texts of our chosen path.