Yamas

Yamas: 

in his Yoga Sutra's Patanjali offers the yogi five means of self restraint in order to cultivate the positive attributes of their opposite effect, meaning, for example, that we practice non-harming for the benefit of peacefulness, or non-lying for the sake of honesty and the clear seeing that's gained. These are two examples from the five Patanjali provides, although there are many more, but it's five that make up the beginning foundation of yoga. 

it's how we should begin our practice. 

oddly though, they're seldom mentioned in the modern yoga class, which is mainly now a means of fitness and better health, valuable, yet not the true aim of yoga. I love how Patanjali gets straight to the point in his sutras, beginning with his declaration that now begins the teaching of yoga and right away, the second sutra, tells us that yoga is the transformation of the mind from busyness to stillness, from noisiness to the return of it's more natural quiet nature. Of the 196 sutras, only three actually mention asanas and that's mainly for an effective seat for meditation. 

it's the transformation of the mind that he's after.

the basis for the entire path. 

beginning with the yamas. 

again, there are five of many that he puts forward for our practice, non-harming, truthfulness, non-stealing, right use of energy (often thought of as celibacy) and non-hoarding. Mostly they're stated in the negative, restraints on our behavior, yet more clearly this is seen as the cultivation of positive energy from putting the yamas in practice. As we practice non-harming (Ahimsa) peace pervades our lives. This doesn't necessarily mean the absence of chaos or violence, but that through our practice we become steadfast in a more peaceful response to the conditions of the world. Or as Gandhi stated, we become the change we wish to see. It's how our practice bares fruit.  

a worthy endeavor indeed. 

~

Peace, Eric