“The Yama and Niyama, as we see, are moral trainings; without these as the basis, no practice of Yoga will succeed,” according to Swami Vivekananda, Raja Yoga. If someone practices Yama and Niyamas with mind, action, and speech, they can attain enlightenment.

With numerous spiritual leaders in India (Land of Spirituality), numerous videos on guided meditation, and every click on the screen offering insights on mindfulness, yet sadness and pain seem to be man’s best friend. The feeling of psychic energy and vibrations in the body is real and feels like inching towards enlightenment… But is it that enlightenment? Although one feels psychic energy, or devi shakti, as some call it, they do not seem to be free from the sadness and pain of everyday life.

Although a surge of energy makes you feel chosen or blessed, have you questioned what is impeding your journey towards your inner peace?

According to Patanjali Yoga Sutra, there are 8 limbs or astanga yoga that are systematically attained until you reach the goal of samadhi. The 8 limbs are — Yama, Niyama, Asana, Pranayama, Pratyahara, Dharana, Dhyana, and Samadhi. “The Yama and Niyama, as we see, are moral trainings; without these as the basis, no practice of Yoga will succeed,” according to Swami Vivekananda, Raja Yoga. If someone practices Yama and Niyamas with mind, action, and speech, they can attain enlightenment.

Yoga teachers often teach yoga and meditation, while neglecting yama and niyama, because they are considered very difficult and require a change in oneself to practice them.

Yama and Niyama form the ethical and moral foundation for any deeper yogic or meditative practice. Think of them as the “dos” and “don’ts” of inner and outer life — spiritual disciplines to guide our behavior, thoughts, and attitude toward self and others.

Yamas or restraints — a way of practicing the art of living in the external world. The 5 yamas are —

Ahimsa(Non-Violence): Non-injuring, non-hurting, and non-killing. It not only refers to violence in physical terms, but also refers to non-violence in thought, action, and speech.

Satya (Truthfulness): Speak the truth as well as be truthful to oneself. By not being truthful to oneself, you create a dual personality, which weakens human potential and robs your inner strength.

Asteya (Non-stealing): Shun the idea of taking what is not yours. When a person lives with absolute honesty and refrains from stealing—not just things, but time, credit, energy, and even attention—life blesses them with abundance, trust, and inner richness. Asteya cultivates a mind of integrity and trust, freeing you from anxiety, greed, and guilt.

Brahmacharya (Right use of energy or celibacy): Free from sensuality and all sensual desires. This does not mean one should repress and suppress sexual energy, but rather channel it to attain the highest energy.

Aparigraha (Non-possessiveness or non-greed): Letting go of attachment, hoarding, and clinging — be it material or emotional.

Niyamas — a way of practicing the art of living in the external world. It helps to develop self-awareness and manage oneself better. The niyamas are —

Saucha( Cleanliness): Cleanliness of body, mind, surroundings, and intentions. One should be mindful of one’s faculty of discrimination. One should cultivate saucha in thought, action, and speech.

Santosha(Contentment): Acceptance and gratitude for what is; cultivating inner peace

Tapas: Practice that leads to perfection of body, mind, and senses. However, tapas does not mean mortification of the flesh or torturing oneself.

Svadhyaya: Study of self, the book of life, sayings of great sages, which leads the student to gain knowledge. One should study one’s thoughts, emotions, deeds, and actions. This leads to self-realisation.

Ishvara Pranidhana: Surrender- surrendering to the ultimate goal of life, the ultimate truth. Letting go of ego and offering actions to a higher consciousness or purpose.

Yoga, asana, pranayama, and meditation can be practised with guidance, but if one has to truly attain self-enlightenment, practicing Yamas and Niyamas, which is the most difficult part of the journey, will truly lead to self-realization and inner peace.

Before we sit in meditation or do asanas (yoga postures), Yama and Niyama prepare the mind and heart. Without them, spiritual practices can become hollow or even ego-driven. They help create clarity, balance, humility, and compassion, allowing meditation to truly take root.