The Yamas & Niyamas: Exploring Yoga's Ethical Practice

By Deborah Adele

Book Overview

The first two limbs of the eight-fold path of yoga sutras--the basic text for classical yoga--are examined in this spiritual guide to the practice of yoga. Foundational to all yogic thought, they are considered to be the guidelines to the yoga way of living that free individuals to take ownership of their lives, direct them toward the fulfillment they seek, and gain the skills to choose attitude, thought, and action. The first five guidelines are referred to as the yamas--a Sanskrit word that translates to "restraints"--and encompass nonviolence, truthfulness, not stealing, nonexcess, and nonpossessiveness. The last five are referred to as the niyamas, or observances--purity, contentment, self-discipline, self-study, and surrender. A self-study section at the end of each chapter may also be used by instructors for group discussion.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0974470643
• ISBN13: 9780974470641
• Release Date: September 2009
• Publisher: On-Word Bound Books
• Length: 192 Pages
• Weight: 0.88 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 5.2" x 7.4"

Customer Reviews

Essential for EVERYONE

The Yamas and Niyamas was purchased for the ethics portion of my yoga training originally. However, this book most definitely applies to everyone. Peace, love and harmony can be understood without guilt or an overwhelming checklist of things that have to be done. There is also an interactive portion that can be reflection questions or actual journaling to incorporate the awareness of the yamas and niyamas into your life. I appreciated the book so much, I purchased an additional copy for my son. This is a book you'll want to share...and keep your own copy to read over again.