The Yamas and Niyamas are the first two limbs of the 8-fold path of Pantanjali’s Yoga Sutras: yoga’s ancient, basic text.  The Yamas, a Sanskrit word when translated means “restraints,” includes non-violence, truthfulness, non-stealing, non-excess, and non-possessiveness.  The Niyamas, translated means “observances,” includes purity, contentment, self-discipline, self-study, and surrender.  The Yamas show us how to interact in the world, a social focus if you will while the Niyamas focus on ourselves, an internal focus.

 

“The Yamas & Niyamas are the foundation for studying our own perception and for boosting our anticipatory confidence as we deal with the challenges and joys of our collective and singular humanity.” – Deborah Adele

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Every year, I try to set a goal of some way to better myself.  For this coming year, I decided I will take a deep dive into the Yamas and Niyamas.  I came across the book, pictured above, and am using that as my guide.  At the end of every chapter, there are 4 weeks’ worth of “activities” to do. 

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Please join me, once a month, to discuss a chapter and how we did with the chapter’s activities.  And if this sparks other conversations than so, be it!  This is a free event, just a gathering of like minded people.  It is over lunch time, so please feel free to bring something to eat for yourself or to share.  

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Our first meeting is Jan 10th at 11:45.  Please read up to page 41.  We can then discuss what we have read and then for the next month work on the activities on page 40.  Then in February, we will discuss how we did and introduce the next chapter.  So on and so forth each month until we are done.  

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Here are the tentative dates for our sessions.  Mostly the 1st Fridays of  the month but there are a few exceptions.:  Jan. 10th, Feb. 7th, March 7th, April 4th, May 2nd, May 30th, June 27th, Aug. 1st, Sept. 5th, Oct. 3rd, Nov.7th & Dec. 5th.

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