The First Step to Peace - Exploring the Yamas

Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras offer more than postures — they offer a roadmap to inner peace. This path begins not with movement, but with ethics. The first limb of yoga is called the Yamas, five gentle restraints that guide how we relate to the world around us.

Before we balance on one foot or twist into a shape, yoga asks us: How are you showing up in your life?

This week, I am sharing a brief overview of the 5 Yamas.

• Ahimsa (non-harming/non-violence)

  More than avoiding violence, ahimsa asks us to move through the world with compassion — for others as well as for ourselves.

• Satya (truthfulness)

  Living in alignment with what is real, honest, and authentic. Speaking with truth, but doing so with kindness. Remember, Satya comes after Ahimsa. (Truthfulness means something different from “my truth”).

• Asteya (non-stealing)

  Not just about taking things that do not belong to you, Astyeya is about time, attention, and energy. Are we taking more than we really need?

• Brahmacharya (Wise Use of Energy)

  Traditionally Brahmacharya means celebacy. For householders, Brahmacharya invites balance — where are we scattering our energy and where can we conserve it?

• Aparigraha (non-attachment)

  Letting go of attachment, comparison, and control. Making space for trust, simplicity, and liberation.

While each Yama can stand on its own, they’re deeply interconnected - like threads in a tapestry. Practicing truthfulness(Satya) without compassion (Ahimsa) becomes harsh. Letting go through Aparigraha is easier when we’re not clinging to what we’ve taken through the practice of Asteya. Conserving our energy through Brahmacharya supports all the other Yamas by helping us stay grounded and present. These five principles are not rules to follow perfectly. They are living teachings that invite us to pause, reflect, and return to balance. Together they create a strong and steady foundation for the rest of the Yoga path.

Next week, I’ll share a deeper look at each Yama and how they show up in everyday life, from the yoga mat to the grocery store to the conversations we have with each other and with ourselves.

Until then, which Yama speaks to you most right now?