| Ashtanga Yoga is known as
the “Eight-limbed Path” for the eight stages of yoga practice that a yogi
passes through to attain awakening.
These stages were first written about in the Yoga Sutras of
Patanjali. The first five limbs
are external practices, and the last three are internal practices. Over the next few weeks we will look at
some of these limbs. The first one
is “Yama” which is Sanskrit for restraints, or moral discipline. The yamas are broken down into five
elements of spiritual practice that we can utilize:
-Aparigraha is not
acquiring. Basically this means to
avoid being greedy, to simplify, to not accumulate or use more than you need.
-Asteya is not
stealing. Respect other people and
their boundaries and property. Do
not take something that is not yours, whether it is in a material, physical,
spiritual, intellectual or emotional sense.
-Ahimsa is nonviolence. Practice peace in thought, word and
deed, towards yourself and others.
-Brahmacharya is
moderation. It also means we must
be virtuous, to be loving and have compassion for others.
-Satya is
truthfulness. Be honest, have
integrity, understand the power of the spoken word.
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