Yoga Living – The Eightfold Path: Part 2 – Bringing the Yamas to Life
Light on words. Deep in wisdom.
A short, soulful guide to living your yoga—one breath, one choice, one moment at a time
Meeting yourself with presence—one breath, one touch, one truth at a time
.Welcome back, dear friend.
In our last post, we explored the Yamas—the first limb of yoga—as five beautiful principles that guide us in how we live, speak, relate, and honour the world around us. They are not rules, but reminders. A way of living that invites more kindness, truth, and grace.
Click here for last post, if you missed it.
Today, we move from understanding to embodying.
This isn’t about getting it right. It’s about letting these teachings become part of how we move through the world—with awareness, with breath, and with grace.
Let’s explore how each Yama can quietly shape our day—on the mat and beyond it.
1. Ahimsa – Non-Harming / Compassionate Living
On the Mat:
Begin your practice with softness. Ask, “What would kindness look like in this pose?” Rest becomes sacred. You might even skip a movement, just to honour how your body feels.
• Choosing to rest in child’s pose instead of pushing through another vinyasa.
• Modifying a shape that causes strain instead of “sticking it out.”
• Using affirming internal language: “This is enough,” “I’m listening,” “My body is wise.”
In Life:
Notice how you speak to yourself when you forget something or feel tired. Could your inner voice be a little softer? A gentle hand on the heart. A whispered, “I’m doing my best.”
• Speaking to yourself gently after making a mistake or forgetting something.
• Noticing and releasing judgement—of yourself or others.
• Choosing nourishing food, rest, or solitude when your body asks for it.
2. Satya – Truthfulness / Living Our Truth
On the mat:
Allow your practice to be honest, not performative. If a posture doesn’t feel aligned, honour your truth by adjusting or resting. Authenticity matters more than symmetry.
• Practising in alignment with how you actually feel today, not how you think you should be.
• Saying no to an adjustment or invitation that doesn’t feel right.
• Allowing your breath to lead—even if that means moving more slowly than others.
In life:
Speak clearly and kindly. Say what you mean, even when it feels vulnerable. Satya isn’t about being blunt—it’s about being real, with love at the centre.
• Saying “I need time” or “That doesn’t feel aligned right now,” instead of pleasing.
• Sharing your truth lovingly, even when it’s vulnerable.
• Journaling honestly, without editing for how it might sound.
3. Asteya –Non-Stealing / Enoughness and Trust
On the mat:
Let go of striving. You don’t need to reach the fullest expression of a pose to be complete. Ask, “What if this is enough?”
• Releasing comparison with others in the room.
• Trusting your own rhythm rather than trying to “keep up.”
• Allowing yourself to leave a class early if that’s what your body needs.
In life:
Celebrate what you have. Let gratitude be your anchor. When comparison creeps in, gently return to the truth that your journey is unfolding exactly as it needs to.
• Trusting your path without taking on others’ timelines or success stories.
• Letting go of the urge to scroll social media when you’re tired or uninspired.
• Appreciating what you already have, rather than always looking for more.
4. Brahmacharya – Wise Use of Energy / Energy Alignment
On the mat:
Move with intention. Pause when needed. Create moments of stillness between effort. Honour your energetic rhythm rather than following the pace around you.
• Choosing a practice that supports—not depletes—your energy (e.g. Yin instead of dynamic flow on a low day).
• Moving with deliberate intention instead of rushing from pose to pose.
• Pausing between postures to check in with how your energy is shifting.
In life:
Notice where your energy flows—social media, obligations, worry. Choose sacred pauses: a short walk, a breath between tasks, an early night. This is energy wisdom.
• Saying no to one more obligation or outing so you can rest.
• Turning off notifications and reclaiming your focus.
• Creating energy rituals—like a grounding morning routine or a tech-free walk.
5. Aparigraha –Non-Attachment / Letting Go
On the mat:
Release attachment to outcome. If balance is wobbly or stillness is elusive, let that be part of your practice. Let go of needing it to look a certain way.
• Releasing expectations of how a pose “should” look.
• Letting go of the need to reach a goal—practising for the feeling, not the outcome.
• Choosing to leave out a peak pose and rest in Savasana instead.
In life:
Let go of what no longer supports your growth—objects, expectations, identities. Lighten the load and feel the space that opens up.
• Clearing a drawer or inbox to create space energetically.
• Letting go of identities that no longer serve—“the one who always…” or “the one who can’t…”
• Trusting that rest, not control, is often the path to clarity.
Free Download: Unified Yamas Mantra – A Daily Affirmation for Living with Presence and Flow
A Gentle Reminder
You don’t need to practise all five at once. Begin with the one that speaks to your heart today. Let it sit beside you. Whisper it to yourself. Try it on like a soft shawl. And notice what changes—not outside you, but within.
This is Yoga Living. Not a destination, but a devotion.
Coming Next: The Niyamas – Cultivating Inner Harmony
In our next post, we’ll step into the second limb of yoga—the Niyamas—where we shift from how we live outwardly, to how we nourish our inner world. Expect quiet rituals, soulful reflection, and simple ways to reconnect with your deeper self.
Until then, may you walk with kindness, speak with truth, and trust the rhythm of your own unfolding.
Download a FREE mantra here
With warmth,
Sue
Sense Greater Peace – Breathe. Move. Restore. Flourish.
