DAY 3 : MAY 15
A Yogi leaves the place a little more beautiful, more clear, than it was when they arrived.
Join Sarah Manwaring for our first Sunday Session this weekend, 8-9:30am PT - The Eight Limbs of Ashtanga Yoga: Embodying the Yoga Sutra.
THIS WEEKS HOMEWORK: DECLUTTER
A Yogi leaves the place better than it was when they arrived.
(Declutter!)
~ Ahimsa and Sauca
(Yama / Niyama, The Yogic Code)
The Yamas and Niyamas are the first two steps to Ashtanga Yoga. They are the prerequisites to asana.
THE YOGI CODE
(according to T. Krishnamacharya)
Yama
Ahimsa: non-violence, not to cause any harm to others
Satya: truthfulness, in thought, speech and action
Asteya: non-stealing, not to aspire after another’s wealth
Brahmacharya: mastery of the senses, fidelity to one’s spouse)
Aparigraha: non-coveting, not to possess in excess
Niyama
Saucha: cleaning/purification
Santosha: contentment/acceptance
Tapas: practicing, control of body, keeping fit, restricted food
Svadhyaya: study of self/study of sacred text
Ishvara-Pranidhana: surrender to God, offering fruits of actions/humility
With out these foundations, true Yoga is an impossibility.
It takes practice and disciplined effort for most people get grounded in these ways of being. BKS Iyengar says, “Without firm foundations a house cannot stand. Without the practice of the principles of yama and niyama, which lay down the firm foundations for building character, there cannot be an integrated personality. Practice of asanas with out the backing of yama and niyama is mere acrobatics.”