Yama and Niyama: The Foundation Stones of Yoga

By Dada Vedaprajinananda

Yoga is more popular now than it has ever been. Famous entertainers and other celebrities practice it and thousands or perhaps millions of other people are also doing yoga exercises in one form or another. Yet, despite this widespread popularity, yoga is still misunderstood. Many people think that yoga is primarily a physical activity, something that they can use to get their body in shape. While it is true that yoga has a great role to play in the physical realm, yoga is much more than this.

Yoga is, in its deepest sense, the science of human perfection. It is the means by which a person can attain his or her fullest development: physical, mental and spiritual.

Human perfection? This is a tall order. It does not come with just a few stretches of your thighs. While yoga has its external practices and exercises, its true foundation is proper conduct. Proper conduct means living a life that will put you in harmony with the society around you and with your own inner self.

When I first began practicing yoga, I told one of my friends about it. He became interested and wanted to begin. I wasn’t a teacher at that time so I recommended a book. He looked at me and said, with all seriousness, “Where can I steal it!”

Well, you can’t begin yoga like that because stealing is not a way to get in harmony with society or with yourself. In yoga disciplined or controlled conduct is known by its Sanskrit term, “samyama” and this controlled conduct has two parts “Yama” and “Niyama.”

In many yoga books Yama is sometimes defined as “abstinences,” meaning things that you shouldn’t do. Niyama is sometimes translated as “observances,” referring to things that you should do. These rough translations are not quite correct.

A better way to understand Yama is to think of it as a discipline that will help you to find harmony with your external environment. Niyama, on the other hand, are those practices that will help you to attain internal harmony.

Let’s look briefly at the various parts of Yama and Niyama. In future articles of this series I will focus in more detail on each aspect of Yama and Niyama.

Yama has five parts. They are as follows.

1. “Ahimsa” means to refrain from harming others with your thoughts, words or actions. Consciously we should not do anything that will harm others or block their physical, mental or spiritual progress. If you want a two or three-word English definition of this Sanskrit word just remember “non injury” or “non-harming.” But there is more to Ahimsa than just two words. What about self-defense? What about our relations to other living beings? These are important issues and there are a variety of viewpoints. I will discuss them at length in the next article in this series.

2. “Sayta” is generally referred to as truthfulness. A better definition given by Shrii Shrii Anandamurti is “action of mind and right use of words with the spirit of welfare.” Whatever we think or say should be done with the spirit of helping others. It generally means to tell the truth, but if the exact truth will create harm to someone, then we have to choose our words carefully. That is why a good two-word definition would be “discriminating truthfulness.”

3. “Asteya” means non-stealing. We should not take possession of something that is owned by another. We should not even think of stealing something and we should also refrain from depriving others of what they are due.

4. “Brahmacarya” literally means to “remain attached to Brahma (the Supreme Consciousness). The idea of this practice is to treat every living and non-living entity as an expression of God.

5. “Aparigraha” is defined as non-accumulation of physical objects that are superfluous to our needs. According to your circumstances you should acquire what you need to live your life, but you should not accumulate luxuries that go beyond your real needs.

These are the five parts of Yama.

Just as there are five aspects of yama, niyama is also composed of five principles. Practice these five and you will achieve inner harmony. Briefly, they are as follows:

1. “Shaoca” (pronounced: Sha-o-cha) means cleanliness and purity. Keep your environment clean and your thoughts pure. The old proverb says “Cleanliness is next to Godliness” and it is true.

2. “Santosha” is contentment of mind. Work hard, do the best you can, and then remain contented with what you have.

3. “Tapah” signifies the practice of penance to reach the goal. It doesn’t mean suffering for the sake of suffering. Rather, look around and you will find people with difficulties. Take on some of the burdens of others and you will not only help society but your own inner self will be purified.

4. “Svadhyaya” is the study and true understanding of uplifting literature. Whenever possible seek out the company of spiritually minded people. When that is not possible read and absorb the teachings contained in books written by enlightened teachers.

5. “Iishvara Pranidhana” literally means to take shelter in the controller of the universe. It is practiced through daily meditation on the ultimate goal of life.

In the following articles of this series I will explain each part of Yama and Niyama with more detail.

Dada Vedaprajinananda is a senior yoga and meditation teacher with the Ananda Marga Society, http://www.anandamarga.org He is the author of Yoga Weight Loss Secrets, http://www.yogaweightlosssecrets, and Start Meditation, Stop Smoking, http://www.start-meditation-stop-smoking.com

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Losing Weight and Cellulite

By Jakob Culver

There are many misconceptions about cellulite. Lots of people think that by losing weight that the cellulite will disappear, but unfortunately this is not true. Cellulite does not have much to do with weight gain. It actually is due to the food you eat.

If you eat fatty foods then your body will store the excess fat you are eating that is not used for energy. Your fat cells will begin to grow and attach themselves to the inner wall of your skin pulling your skin down in spots causing what we call cellulite. There are ways to get rid of the cellulite, but it takes time and commitment that many people choose not to do.

By doing exercises that burn fat, you can begin to get rid of that pesky cellulite. There is no reason that a person who is will to put in the effort can’t get rid of their cellulite. There are also cellulite creams that can make a vast improvement, but the creams also take time. Patience is key when you are looking to lose the cellulite.

Remember: stay away from fatty food and make sure that you keep your exercise up. You will than begin to lose it.

Jakob Culver is founder of the website – http://healthspotonline.com and has a solid background in health.

To find out more information about this topic or health visit =>http://healthspotonline.com

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What Should a Hatha Yoga Teacher Know? – Part 1

By Paul Jerard

Most of the time, prospective Yoga teachers have a very strong foundation in Yoga; but sometimes, they originally come from a related-field, such as Martial Arts, Pilates, Dance, Gymnastics, or Fitness. This is fine, but be prepared for a “learning curve” and do not expect to learn all about Yoga in one Yoga teacher training intensive course. Even if you “lock yourself up” in an ashram for months, you should realize that learning Yoga is a life-long journey and not a race.

Now, if you come from a related field - you have a lot more mental work to do than a long-time student of Yoga. Hatha Yoga is a physical form of Yoga, but being athletic is not as important as the knowledge a Yoga teacher should possess. So, what should you know in order to become a Yoga teacher? Below is a list of what a Hatha Yoga teacher should know in order to successfully teach Yoga classes.

Anatomy, physiology, and kinesiology should always be covered during a Yoga teacher training session. Yoga student safety is especially an important issue for those who will be teaching Yoga. Students are always physically different, and Hatha Yoga practice can be made to adapt to anyone - regardless of age or physical ability. Anyone who desires to teach Yoga should have a complete understanding of how the physical body works.

Asanas are the postures held during Yoga practice. Hatha Yoga teachers do not have to know hundreds of Asanas to teach a Yoga class, but they should be very familiar with 26 to 100 different Yoga postures - depending upon the style of Yoga. Yoga teachers should be able to design a lesson plan using these postures, their variations, and the many other aspects of Hatha Yoga teaching.

Yoga teachers should know how to give Asana modifications to their students. Sometimes, this could be advising a Yoga student to use a block, strap, bolster, chair, ball, blanket, or any other prop for proper alignment and safety. Other times, this might be giving a Yoga student an alternative variation of an Asana.

Yoga teachers should be familiar with contraindications for Asanas; which are cautions that can be related to a specific Yoga posture. This is very important when working with Yoga students who are pregnant, have high blood pressure, or have a specific ailment.

Yoga teachers should take the time to be familiar with each student and his or her particular health condition. This means researching health conditions that Yoga students have and staying on top of your own continuing education. After becoming familiar with an ailment; learn how you can help, but never give medical advice.

No Yoga teacher should ever put a student at risk. The body of a Yoga student cannot be forced into a position that a Yoga teacher feels is correct. Instead, the body is gently guided to its natural limits, without pain and little discomfort.

© Copyright 2006 – Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

Paul Jerard is a co-owner and the director of Yoga teacher training at: Aura Wellness Center, in North Providence, RI. He has been a certified Master Yoga teacher since 1995. To receive a Free e-Book: "Yoga in Practice," and a Free Yoga Newsletter, please visit: http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org/index.html

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Teaching Hatha Yoga: The Philosophy of Abundance

By Paul Jerard
Is abundance just a disguised word for “money?” Can money be used for a good cause? Do you wonder why some Master Yoga Teachers, Gurus, and Swamis frown on the idea of Yoga teachers “talking up” the concept of practicing Yoga for abundance?
The reason is quite simple: Most people think of material wealth first. Why? This is an example of survival instinct, and money is a part of survival; but there are many more types of abundance for Yoga students to learn beside money.
Physical, mental, spiritual, and emotional abundance are worthy of note, but the desire for a better life, by acquiring material wealth, is hard to put out of your mind. Let’s look at each aspect of abundance from a Hatha Yoga student’s point of view.
Physical abundance could be seen as physical prowess. This is why Hatha Yoga has become so popular outside of India. When a new student becomes proficient in Hatha Yoga, he or she feels better almost immediately; sometimes to the point of ego bolstering and this is not a direction for Yoga teaching to take.
The physical senses are our most primal and can be realized without any difficulty. Your friends, family, and coworkers may even notice the changes that are happening to your body due to Hatha Yoga practice.
Mental abundance can easily be seen as intelligence. However, a person’s intelligence cannot be demonstrated, unless it is successfully projected and proven through the use of good communication skills. Union by knowledge, which we know as Jnana Yoga, will also require much more work than most people would initially think, and communication is a necessary skill required in order to share knowledge.
Sadly, spiritual abundance is becoming rare in some cultures. The spiritual connection to God cannot be seen, but can be felt. Unfortunately, we try to measure the spiritual world with scientific instruments from our physical world.
How can you measure prayer or the benefits of prayer? How does science explain miracles? Science often remains baffled or claims miracles do not exist. Science is useful, but has created the “virtual world” for a generation who may end up lost in computer games, obesity, poor health, and unconstructive use of time. However, we know the virtual world exists because we can see it.
Emotional abundance is most often taken for granted. Our family and friends provide security, but we wish for more material wealth. When death or illness knocks at our door, all the money in the world may not be enough.
If you have emotional abundance, you are truly rich. When you have material wealth, emotional abundance may be very hard to find because you do not know who your friends really are. Money attracts people, but those people might not have friendship in mind. Many of the financially wealthy are givers, and there will always be someone who wants to take advantage of it.
Now, you see that abundance is many things, but the most valuable treasures in life can be attained by the financially poor. If, or when, you mention abundance in a Yoga class, start with the most important forms of abundance first. If you find yourself with too much material abundance, give the excess to a worthy cause.
© Copyright 2006 – Paul Jerard / Aura Publications
Paul Jerard is a co-owner and the director of Yoga teacher training at: Aura Wellness Center, in North Providence, RI. He has been a certified Master Yoga teacher since 1995. To receive a Free e-Book: "Yoga in Practice," and a Free Yoga Newsletter, please visit: http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org/index.html
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Integration of Energy

By Peter Boyd
Have you ever thought much about this word and what it may mean at a deeper level? Well let us explore then and begin with a dictionary definition, “: the combining and coordinating of separate parts or elements into a unified whole: as: coordination of mental processes into a normal effective personality.”
The first time that I recall taking much notice of this word and its meaning was at a breath therapy instructor’s workshop. It got my attention big-time in that situation. I experienced myself and observed others go from feelings of conflict about various things. Then with appropriate facilitation and breathing one would get to a sense of peace and tranquility. (No not on drugs !)
Now the connected breathing while focusing on the situation, area of the body, experience or emotion is one way to arrive at this state of resolution. Just a small note before we go on. Have you ever noticed in a group situation, one of the processes that go on? If the energy is flowing the can be the usual discussion and then may be some sort of difference of opinion. Emotions and energy can be quite high. If there is a good facilitator, chairperson or whatever to guide the processes then there can be a state of resolution achieved. This is also what I would view as integration.
So let us look at more choices to achieve our state of or integration. One other way that I am familiar with used to be called a ‘visual squash.’ This could have originated from the neuro-linguistic programming area, although it came to me from another source.
The idea here is to play with something that you maybe feel a little indecisive about. For example, should I go the abc on my holiday or xyz . On the one hand it would be good to be by the seaside and on the other hand it would be great to be in the mountains and go hiking in the cool clean air. You get the idea.
Now, visualise as vividly as possible the experience at the seaside on the palm of one hand. Feel what it would be like walking on the wet granulated sand with the sea spray wetting your face. You would be able to hear the waves crashing against the shore line as well as the chatter of others if it is a crowded beach.
Relax that hand and on the palm other one visualise the experience in the mountains. You will be able to imagine the tall trees and how the move with eddies that are found in and around forests. You will be able to smell the clean fresh air and hear the sounds of the forest birds and other animals.
Then when you have completed the two steps above you will slowly and ever so slowly bring the palms of your hands together with eyes shut. Notice without judgment what is going on with your breathing, the rest of your body, any feelings or imagery. This process can be relatively quick or take 20 to 30 minutes as you process through the layers.
If you have bigger issues you wish to deal with then please consult a qualified therapist. The above description is only meant as a primer to play with in this area.
This process as I understand it sorts out the ‘this’ or ‘that’ choices and clarifying them ready for integrating. This really does not matter as it can work so wonderfully well and you feel great at the end. Enjoy
Peter Boyd is well versed in NLP techniques and worked for some time as a counsellor. His interests are many and varied. You may view some of these at http://www.nowpathways.com or http://www.choicesforwealth.net/anti-aging
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