Study series

Yama and Niyama

Yama and Niyama are the ethical and personal foundations that make deeper yoga practice stable.

Yama and Niyama
Practice note: Use this article as study guidance. Practice gently, avoid forcing the body or breath, and take qualified guidance for advanced techniques or medical conditions.

Yama: outer harmony

Ahimsa, Satya, Asteya, Brahmacharya, and Aparigraha guide how we relate to people, possessions, speech, and energy.

Niyama: inner discipline

Shaucha, Santosha, Tapas, Svadhyaya, and Ishvara Pranidhana help purify the inner life and prepare the mind for practice.

Why they matter

Without these foundations, higher practices can become restless, ego-driven, or unstable. They give Yoga moral and psychological grounding.