Tenets of Yoga: Integrating Yoga Principles into Your Daily Life

 Yoga is primarily looked at as a physical exercise that involves doing poses or asanas and there

is much more to Yoga than that. It is one that seeks to address all aspects of a person from

mental to the emotional to the spiritual level. The fundamental thought of yoga is guided by

some secular teachings including the Yoga sutra of Patanjali, the Bhagwat Gita and the Hatha

yoga pradipika. The principles showcased here can easily be applied throughout the day and

result in a tremendous change of health, relationships, and purpose. Brething plays important role while

 practicing Yoga, like Pranayama which will purify your breathing and make your yoga practices more

 effective and useful for your soul and body, if you want to practice one yoga vidya Schools offers

 Online Pranayama Course which will help you to do breath work in a correct and effective way.

This article defines the fundamental aspects of yoga and then describes how to apply most of

these in your daily lives, not just exercised on the mat.

1. Yamas: Ethical Discipline

The Yamas are the first of the eight limbs of yoga as described by Patanjali. They guide how

we interact with the world and others, offering ethical guidelines for living in harmony.

● Ahimsa (Non-Violence): This principle encourages us to practice kindness, compassion,

and non-harm in our thoughts, words, and actions. It includes being gentle with

ourselves, avoiding self-criticism, and treating others with respect.

Daily Integration: Cultivate ahimsa by practicing self-compassion. Avoid harsh

judgments of yourself and others, and speak kindly. You can also integrate non-

violence through mindful eating, avoiding foods that harm the environment or animals.

● Satya (Truthfulness): Satya is about living in alignment with truth—being honest with

yourself and others while considering the impact of your words.

Daily Integration: Be mindful of your speech. Ask yourself, “Is what I’m saying truthful?

Is it necessary?” In personal growth, satya involves being honest with yourself about

your feelings, needs, and desires.

● Asteya (Non-Stealing): Asteya goes beyond physical theft; it includes not taking more

than you need, whether it’s time, energy, or resources.

Daily Integration: Practice asteya by valuing your time and respecting the time and

energy of others. Avoid consuming or hoarding more than necessary, fostering

gratitude for what you have.

● Brahmacharya (Moderation): This principle encourages us to exercise control over our

desires and impulses, directing our energy wisely. It’s about moderation in all areas of

life, including food, consumption, and sensory pleasures.

Daily Integration: Practice moderation by managing impulses such as overeating,

overworking, or overindulging in media. Consider how you can channel your energy

toward meaningful, balanced activities.

● Aparigraha (Non-Hoarding): Aparigraha teaches us to let go of attachments and the

need for accumulation, encouraging us to live simply and appreciate what we have.

Daily Integration: Declutter your living space and your mind. Release possessions or

thoughts that no longer serve you, and practice gratitude for the present moment.

2. Niyamas: Self-Discipline and Personal Growth

The Niyamas are personal practices that focus on self-care, self-discipline, and spiritual

development. These observances foster inner peace and self-awareness.

● Saucha (Purity): Saucha refers to both internal and external cleanliness. It involves

purifying your body, mind, and surroundings to foster clarity and health.

Daily Integration: Maintain a clean and organized living environment. Eat whole,

nourishing foods, and practice mental cleanliness by letting go of negative thoughts.

Regular meditation or breathwork can help cleanse the mind.

● Santosha (Contentment): Santosha teaches us to cultivate contentment and find joy in

the present moment, regardless of external circumstances.

Daily Integration: Practice gratitude daily. Instead of focusing on what’s lacking,

acknowledge the abundance already present in your life. Even in challenging times,

seek inner peace by accepting things as they are.

● Tapas (Self-Discipline): Tapas is about the discipline and effort required to achieve

spiritual and personal growth. It encourages us to overcome laziness and stick to our

goals.

Daily Integration: Commit to a daily practice that challenges you, whether it’s exercise,

yoga, meditation, or learning. Discipline in small daily actions leads to long-term

transformation.

● Svadhyaya (Self-Study): Svadhyaya involves deep self-reflection and the study of

sacred texts to understand our true nature. It is a practice of self-awareness and

introspection.

Daily Integration: Set aside time for journaling or meditation. Reflect on your thoughts,

emotions, and actions. Reading spiritual or philosophical texts can also inspire self-

awareness.

● Ishvara Pranidhana (Surrender to a Higher Power): This principle teaches us to

surrender to the flow of life and trust in something greater than ourselves, whether

that’s God, the universe, or nature.

Daily Integration: In moments of stress or uncertainty, practice surrender by letting go

of control. Trust the process of life, acknowledging that everything unfolds in its own

time and for a higher purpose.

3. Asana: Physical Postures

Yoga postures signify the physical exercises adopted in preparation for meditation and spiritual

advancement known as Asana. Asanas make the body flexible, strong and balanced but the

ultimate goal of the practice of yoga is to balance your mind and the body as well.

Daily Integration: Some may include equally easy and probably familiar stretch

exercises or yoga postures such as the cat and cow stretch and the downward facing

dog pose. Yoga in the morning feels like a good start to the day and yoga in the

evening, after a busy day can sooth and calm the body.

4. Pranayama: Breath Control

Pranayama is the exercises of muscles controlling the breath. This one informs us of the

energy within thought or Prana, and the practice of conscious breathing helps to reduce stress,

in addition to helping to harmonise prana in the body.

Daily Integration: This is because to be able to practise what is arising in the mind, you

need to be able to have a clear and calm mind which can be brought about by Mindful

breathing. There are very basic method, which if practiced, can bring very good results,

such as Deep Belly Breathing also termed Diaphragmatic Breathing or even Pranayama

that is Alternate Nostril Breathing.

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 which is starting from 2nd December 2024.

5. Pratyahara: Withdrawal of the Senses

Pratyahara involves turning inward and withdrawing from the distractions of the external

world. It’s a way to connect with your inner self by detaching from sensory overload.

● Daily Integration: Create moments in your day for sensory withdrawal. Turn off your

phone, spend time in nature, or meditate to disconnect from external stimuli and quiet

your mind.

6. Dharana: Concentration

Dharana is the practice of concentration, focusing the mind on a single point or task. It helps

cultivate mental clarity and discipline, which are essential for mindfulness and meditation.

● Daily Integration: Practice focusing on one task at a time, avoiding multitasking. Set

aside time for activities that require deep concentration, like reading, creative work, or

meditation.

7. Dhyana: Meditation

Dhyana refers to sustained meditation, where concentration flows effortlessly and the mind is

still. It’s the continuous flow of awareness toward a single object, leading to a state of inner

calm and heightened awareness.

● Daily Integration: Set aside time for meditation, even if it’s just a few minutes a day.

Begin with guided meditations or mindfulness practices to help you quiet the mind and

cultivate inner stillness.

8. Samadhi: Enlightenment or Union

Samadhi is the ultimate goal of yoga—a state of complete absorption and union with the self

and the universe. It is a state of blissful awareness, where the ego dissolves, and we

experience oneness with all.

● Daily Integration: While reaching samadhi may seem distant, moments of peace,

presence, and mindfulness can offer glimpses of this state. Regular meditation, yoga,

and self-awareness practices help create conditions for these moments of unity.

Conclusion: Living the Principles of Yoga

Yoga is not restricted to poses that you perform on the physical level – it is a state of living

beings. By practicing the Yamas, Niyamas as well as the other limbs of yoga, one would lead

an enhanced productive, mindful and thus a purposeful life.

Please do not forget that Yoga in indeed a process and not an event. Begin with the smallest

of steps where you could change your speech to be nonviolent, spend at least 10 minutes in

prayer or meditations or learn to find contentment with things as they are in everyday life while

 practicing Pranayama. 

You will find these tenets habitual eventually; serving as a compass pointing towards a healthier

and less chaotic life.