"Finally, a truly accessible, comprehensive guide on how to apply yoga's yamas and niyamas to everyday life. Both for the yogi and non-yogi alike, this beautiful manual has powerful teachings about relating to self and others. I can't wait to share it with my yoga students and yoga teacher trainees."
Stacey Vespaziani, E-RYT and owner of South Hills Power Yoga and Bloomfield Yoga
The Yamas and Niyamas are yoga's essential, ethical principles originally mentioned in the Yoga Sutras, the first written explanation of yoga compiled by Patanjali thousands of years ago. In the West, yoga is mostly known as a form of exercise, though the Sutras say yoga is an eight-part system working in unison to control the mind. These "limbs" as they are called in the Sutras include the Yamas and Niyamas, postures, breathwork, and various stages of meditation.
The Yamas (how to treat others) and the Niyamas (how to care for yourself) include values such as non-grasping, self-study, discipline, and contentment. When practiced, they make life more manageable and meaningful. Although similar to other moral or religious codes, the Yamas and Niyamas feel more freeing than restrictive and are a thought process over a hard set of rules. They are basically 10 ways to be a better person.
YOGA'S YAMAS AND NIYAMAS is a practical, relatable yoga philosophy text. Informational and instructional, this book is for anyone curious about yoga philosophy, self-improvement, or is seeking more out of life. It is also of value to yoga instructors who want to incorporate yoga philosophy into their teaching or yoga teacher trainees who are deepening their understanding of the first two limbs of yoga.
In this book is a chapter for each Yama and Niyama explaining what it is as well as a physical yoga practice, consideration, affirmation, journal prompt, and a personal account of how the author used the principle in her own life. This book can be applied as a textbook, resource, or workbook to live life with peace, purpose, awareness, and accountability.
This book comes with online yoga videos to physically practice the principles: courtneyseiberling.com/yoga
About the Author: Courtney Seiberling is a RYT 200 yoga instructor and writer. She teaches at an all-girls school in Pasadena, CA and also serves private clients and community centers. More about Courtney, her publications, and projects can be found at courtneyseiberling.com
