The yamas and niyamas are more than philosophical principles — they are ethical and moral disciplines, and for me, they’re the practices I return to again and again in my journey to become a better human being.
Now, let me slip in a little reminder — the San Pancho full court press is on. Our upcoming retreat in beautiful San Pancho is designed to lift your spirit, deepen your practice, and reconnect you to yourself in profound ways. If you feel called, visit www.jefflichty.com/events to learn more.
Back to the yamas and niyamas. These aren’t just for yogis on a mat — they’re inner anchors for anyone walking a path of integrity and purpose. You don’t have to twist yourself into a pretzel or chant in Sanskrit to benefit from these teachings. Whether you’re a yogi or not doesn’t matter to me — but I believe everyone needs an ethical and moral compass to guide their life.
The yamas help us in our relationships with others — how we interact, how we live in community, how we treat the people around us. The niyamas, on the other hand, guide our relationship with ourselves — our inner discipline, our personal practice, our state of mind. Together, they shape a framework for living with intention.
These are not simply behaviors — they are states of being we cultivate. And through these disciplines, we begin to align with our inner nature. As that inner alignment deepens, it naturally radiates outward and transforms our outer experience.
In the spiritual life, or in any life devoted to reflection and growth, there are what we might call Divine Mysteries — forces or truths that can’t always be seen, but that move us nonetheless. Aligning ourselves with these unseen truths, these universal patterns, brings a deep sense of order and connection.
Now let’s review the niyamas again — each one a stepping stone toward inner clarity:
Śauca (शौच) – Cleanliness or purity. Choosing simplicity over excess.
Santoṣa (सन्तोष) – Contentment. Choosing gratitude over striving.
Tapaḥ (तपः) – Discipline or effort. Choosing effort over escape.
Svādhyāya (स्वाध्याय) – Self-study or reflection on sacred texts. Choosing inner truth over outer noise.
Īśvara-praṇidhāna (ईश्वरप्रणिधान) – Surrender to a higher power. Choosing surrender over control.
These aren’t just lofty ideas. They are choices we can make — every day — to live with more integrity, more grace, and more peace. Let these principles be a guide, no matter where you are or what your path looks like.
Tomorrow, we wrap this section up and move forward in the Sūtras. Thank you for walking this journey with me.
