Applying the Yamas and Niyamas

[Kimberly]

How can you take the Yamas and Niyamas off the mat? Describe one or multiple ways in which you are choosing to apply these lessons. You can approach this discussion in terms of how you will practice self-care during YTT, how you will integrate it in your work or personal life, choose to focus on one of the yamas and niyamas or multiple.

[lisaclick48]

Lisa Click –

The jewels of life! I wish I had this book years ago as I think it’s the perfect summary of what human beings should strive to be and also understand. This book came into my life at a perfect time where I was in reflection of recent change in my life earlier in the year. The book helped me to understand all that truly matters and how I could focus on each jewel to enhance my life and reduce my fogged overwhelmed brain. I always carry this book with me in my bag.

I focused on the Yamas for several months and I’m currently focused on the Niyamas. It’s difficult to pick just one jewel as I see how closely they are all tied together. My approach was to work thru each Yama and feel good about it and then move to the next Yama. The book has impacted me personally and professionally in so many positive ways from insight, my thoughts and behaviors. Making a conscious effort daily to focus on a jewel and what the objective was to achieve. I started a journal to track how I was feeling and document my experiences as I completed the Nonviolence 4 weeks activity. I challenge each of you to do this activity for personal growth and reflection. During the four weeks, I learned much about myself dealing with overcoming fear, focusing on balance listening to my inner voice to understand my needs in body, mind and spirit. I worked thru how I interact with others at times being the “the fixer” ignoring my own issues and how to focus on time for me first not others. The exercise on pretending that I’m complete without issue or change. This was my biggest eye opener as I caught myself being critical of myself. I was consciously trying to be more patient with myself and love myself without needing to change anything that week. Just to be is enough….that week was life changing and I’m doing much better with how I see myself.
My journal writing has been instrumental to see how much progress I’ve been making in such a short time frame. Currently, I’m focused on Niyamas Contentment jewel and I will be working thru this jewel for many weeks. There is so much to this jewel to learn. To truly being in the moment not wanting more or less but appreciating the moment as is and practicing gratitude daily. I’m working thru reprogramming my brain now. I’m using a glass jar to hold my gratitude writings to read them on NYE 2018.
I’m in a constant pattern of self care now days on and off the mat as well as during this YTT journey. I know that I have a lot to absorb and many habits yet to create. I will revisit this book often and learn as much as I can to be a better person for me and the world. This is my number one book in my life. I bought the book for my daughter and my father. I will be buying it for my closest friends as I think everyone should read it and own a copy to pass it forward…

[msinghal]

Meenal Singhal –

This book was a profound read, to put it simply. It made me think on many accounts. Frankly, though written simply, it may even have the propensity toward being overwhelming to an average reader. It did to me! I even began questioning my basic morality. Do I need fixing so much of me?
At the end of the book, I realize the book is not supposed to offer answers. It is meant to be a guide to an inner dialogue that we should be having with ourselves consciously all the time. Its contents must be consumed in bite sizes. And that’s what I plan to do. To start with, I plan to focus on two simple areas.
• Nonviolence in dealing with my family. I will trust and support their version of their journey and not worry or offer my help to them as I insist upon doing as a mother. Someone in the class wisely suggested that I should act as a facilitator. I will think about my family and send them positive energy of love and trust when I feel like worrying. And I will be there to offer support and guidance when my overactive motherly instinct itches to “help” them.

• Attempt to purify my mind by doing one thing at a time. Being an owner of “Vat” prakriti in both body and mind, I have taken immense pride in being able to multi-task up until now. Whether it means listening to my kids and answering a text, or planning dinner while driving, or listening to my favorite song and working, I have missed the purity of the moments in all of those times. I will remind myself to slow down consciously and practice giving each moment the attention it deserves. Meditating is one of the vehicles I will use in order to achieve that calmness and purity of the mind.

One thing is for sure: I will be rereading the book many times and every time, there is likely to be some other yama or niyama that will call me out to be picked up and to be made my own.

[sally200]

I told Tammy that if this book and its wisdom was all I received from this program I walk away fulfilled. It touched my whole life past, present, and future, and beyond. This book will be in my yoga bag, beside my bed, and at my matt.

The best version of me will come with
Tapas. “Tapas is the day to day choice to burn non-supportive habits of the body and mind, choosing to forsake momentary pleasures for future rewards.”

On the matt, I want to change my nature, I have a burning desire to unload and lighten. I connected with Tapas meaning burning and my desire. I treasure the matt to be my space, only I and my Divine fit on this small space, here we will work together, to unload and lighten. February, I am focusing on Tapas, as the non-supporting habit arises, I am recording it and how it makes me feel, and what result it has on my life.

Another heart ping happened when I read the NiYama Saucha.
It rings well with my desire to unload and be lighter. Purify body and mind. When I step off the matt, I have taken the best steps forward to purity. The energy, oxygen, and Divine Intelligence
comes to work in me, to support me with my self care.

Once again, life changing words and direction.

[betshellhaas]

The Yamas and Niyamas is an awesome book. I found myself connecting to almost every Yama and Niyama. I was also pleasantly surprised that they applied many of the Yamas and Niyamas to relatable, everyday interactions and situations.

Satya: Truthfulness was the one I connected to the most. Real vs. Nice really hit home with me in that real is from a deep knowing inside and nice is ‘people pleasing’. Real is unplanned, organic and fluid and it comes from our inner essence. We approach each moment from this realness with a sense of spontaneity. I loved this description of realness because I found myself looking within on my own interactions. I found that I am a nice person, I want to please people and I want to belong. However, I am also struggling with this. Right now, I am on a path of self-study, growing my business and getting my ducks in a row. My friends are the opposite. They are still partying, staying up late and working jobs they do not really care for. In this struggle I have found a separation or maybe just different interests between us. However, there is a deep realness to these friends that even if we are moving on different paths, we can always call on one another to be there in a moment of need. That is real friendship. I am also realizing that my need to belong to the group is diminishing for the purpose of inner growth. I am applying Satya to my everyday life by being accepting of my friends and their journeys at this time. I am allowing myself the inner growth it desires by not feeling the need to belong, knowing everything happens for a reason. I am going to arrive at each situation and interaction with a sense of spontaneity and realness, permitting my deep inner knowledge and essence to come to the forefront. I plan to reread this book many times over and continue to apply the Yamas and Niyamas to my life.

[KHuttsell]

The Yamas & Niyamas spoke to me in a way that made me re-examine how I view the world and the human interactions I have each day. It was almost like this book was placed in front of me at a time that I really needed to find some grounding and direction.

In particular, there were 2 themes that impacted me. These were the ideas of non-violence and non-stealing.

The part of non violence that discussed “not giving advice to someone and letting them work through their own journey to discover the solution to their problem.” I tend to often feel that it is my job to “fix” things – mostly likely the engineer in me wanting to be a problem solver. But what I have found that being supportive and a good listener is often what someone needs. I recently put this into practice when a friend came to me struggling to make a decision about a commitment she made to participate in a fundraiser. Instead of advising her that she had taken on too much – I listened to her concerns about her time constraints and ability to meet the deadlines. Then I asked her how she felt and what she thought she was comfortable with. This allowed her to determine how far she wanted to pursue her commitment – and was not a reflection in the end of what I thought she needed. Only she truly knew what would serve her best.

The second aspect that really spoke to me was non-stealing. I learned how not letting others express how they feel about a situation without me interjecting can be a form of “stealing.” I always felt as though I was relating to someone by telling them how I had experienced a similar situation. However, I realize I am taking away their opportunity to express themselves and be heard. So, I have tried to let others speak and I then listen with an open heart. I caught myself just this week trying to relate to someone by telling my own story – but by holding back I noticed that they were able to truly share their experience with me without an distractions.

– Karen

[EmilyD]

Emily DeRee

I have spent a lot of time reflecting on this question, and actually spent a little time discussing it with my mentor. After reading this book, there are bits and pieces to each yama and niyama that I want to work on. Not just for the sake of being a teacher, but to make me a better human in general. I struggle with bringing these practices into a class unless I understand them and have at least reconized the ways in which I need to improve upon them in my daily life.

That being said, there are two that I’d like to focus on first – brahmacharya (non-excess) and saucha (purity).

Non-excess really struck a cord with me for many reason. The main one is my relationship with food. All of my life, I have struggled with food and weight…excess of both. It has been by comfort, a trusty side kick, a source of pleasure and then anxiety. I am a lifetime member of Weight Watchers. I started in my 20s and lost 50 pounds, then gained and lost weight with each kid, and then was diagnosed with lipedema and started a whole new battle with weight and food. On page 77, it reads, “…it reminds us to enter each day and each action with a sense of holiness rather than indulgence, so that our days may be lived in the wonder of sacredness rather than the misery of excess.” Eating is something we need to do. Somewhere along the way, food became something more for me and I have to unlearn the habits that I’ve picked up over the years. After reading this book, I have begun slowing down when I eat. I am focused on tasting bites, feeling the textures of the food, and making the plate I put before me look beautiful. I am trying to really examine my level of hungriness before I eat. I am trying to find a balance that allows me to taste things that like, while not overindulging. And I am trying to focus less on what’s healthy (almost everything I eat IS healthy), rather the amount of the healthy foods I’m eating. I know that if I can be successful in this exporation, I will find my stress and anxiety becoming less and less. I need to do this for me. I want to learn to enjoy food without worry.

Purity is the second area that I want to focus on. This has so many layers for me as an individual, and as I peel back layer by layer, I have felt lighter. Here are the things within this niyama that I would like to work on:
1. Purfying the body. After my lipedema diagnosis about five years ago, I started removing toxins from our lives. I spent a lot of time revamping our food sources and the ratio of fresh vs. processed foods we were consuming as a family. I have worked very hard to make food for the family that is lower in processed sugar and pre-packaged ingredients.
2. Purity as relational. As I age, I realize more and more that I cannot control situations, only my responses to them. I want to take time during our teacher training to make myself aware of times when I become judgemental, disappointed, or critical of others.
3. Being present. One cannot change the past or the future, so I want to work on being present. Sometimes it’s something small, like turing off the notifications on my phone. I want to work on really focusing on the task at hand. I’ve always prided myself on my ability to multi-task, and I’d like to change that about myself. I am more aware of my distractions when the kids are talking to me, I am making a space when I am sending an email or reading that is quiet and free from distractions, I am being more consistent with my mediations and allowing my mind to just be.

For me, the two tie together. To live in non-excess, one must be present. I want to work on these areas to better myself, and to be a good example to my daughters.

[CindyHurst]

Cindy Hurst:
1- Brahmacharya: Non-excess
I love the quote in the book by Howard Thurman, “Don’t ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive. And then go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.”
I think this may be the heart of my YTT journey – sharing Yoga with others makes me come alive.
2- Saucha: Purify
Purify the body and the mind.
In the Spring, I’ll do my seasonal cleanse. For me, this is the ultimate in self-care. I focus on what I put in and on my body. I also focus on cleansing my space. I practice mindfulness as I prepare my cleanse foods. And I do lots of Yoga and self-Reiki.
3- Santosha: Contentment
Live, rather than preparing to live my life.
Develop an abiding calm.
Find joy in everything I do.
Write daily in my gratitude journal.
In my yoga practice, accept myself as I am; accept my body’s limitations.

[LAD92761]

I have started with chapter 1 and focusing on it weekly. Balance last week was the one I really enjoyed and found out some new things about myself just by listening to MY body and have enjoyed making a few changes. But the best example of application of this book was thursday after I visited my friend who has pancreatic cancer I’ve told you about. She’s had rough couple of weeks, and was scheduled back in the next day for her 9th chemo and new CT scan results which in hindsight has shown it spreading to liver and beyond. She is getting a spinal nerve block in a week or so as a method to help with her pain, palliative. She’s so scared of getting it. I was telling her about our book and decided Ahisma fits with her right now. So I framed my favorite message and gave her the week one assignment from Ahisma to do for month of February. It’s so hard as we know dealing with so many different challenges life gives us but this week I got to put my friend hat on and share the message of courage. This is the message I framed:
Finding our Coursge
There is fear of the unfamiliar
But it only lives in our imagination.
Courage is not the absense of Fear
Courage is the ability to be afraid without being paralyzed.
To live the fullness that our life is inviting us into
We often have to let ourselves be afraid and do it anyway.
Just remember…fear is only in our imagination.

It felt good to share this message about courage and fear. Applying it to Nancy’s life actually helped me apply it more into my life.

[dooley]

There are so many ways you can bring the Yamas and Nyamas off the mat. One good way to began doing that is by exploring the first yama, which is Ahimsa, nonharming. This yama ask us to to embrace nonviolence at the level of speech, though, and action. This is a good way to recognize when you are talking negative to yourself. Even though this is the cornerstone of yoga it is a great way to recognize yourself off the mat as well.

Another way is Sauca, which is the energetic experience of purifying and cleansing. This just not means cleansing the body, but purifying the mind. We can not only let go of issues on the mat but we can let go off the mat too. when can begin to let go of negative thoughts and our expectations. When we let go we create an emptiness, a space that health and grace will move into.

I have gone through the book and reflected on the questions at the end of the chapter. I have done this several times and each time I find something new about myself. I have grown into a better person with each step I take.

[LAD92761]

I read this book twice and feel very strongly about the Yama’s and niyamas. I decided to theme my 8 week Tartan Fields series on them and started with my favorite Being Fully Present. I find that we steal from others when we are not fully present, and therefore I have focused on being an active listener, really focused on who I am with and my relationships have grown.

Each class I chose a main theme from one of Yamas, spoke to the theme, then chose a question for the students to ponder. Or a challenge. My themes were: Finding Our Courage, The Power in Truthfulness, Live Light, Cleansing our Bodies, speech and thought, practicing gratitude, knowing our true self, and surrender. It was a beautiful way to introduce each.

[melross1]

This book touched me in so many ways. I think the biggest thing is non-violence. I often blame myself for things that go wrong and beat myself up. I am very hard on myself for everything big or small. I never considered myself violent until I read this, but I am really very mean to me. I would never say things to others that I say to myself. Of the five words I wrote down while reading this book 3 were negative, YIKES!

I am also declutters which goes hand in hand with being kinder because I am physically and mentally decluttering.
To sum it up I’m learning to “Let that shit go”. And it feels good.

[Author]

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