5 Niyamas + 5 Yamas (Ethical and Moral Codes) to Follow Before You Think of Becoming a Yoga Teacher

The ethical and moral conducts of yoga form the foundation of becoming a good yogi. However, Yamas and Niyamas didn’t get its due importance as for a very long period of time, the focus and concentration were only kept on Asanas. Niyamas and Yamas are equally important and crucial for developing a healthy body and a skillful yoga practice. Niyamas are things to practice or observe while Yamas are things to avoid or refrain from doing.

They say practice before you preach and so before becoming a yoga teacher you need to practice the following Niyamas and Yamas:

Niyamas

1)    Shaucha (Cleanliness or Purification): Yoga is known to be a sacred practice and before delving into it,we need to purify our external and internal environment, i.e taking care of what we eat, think, drink and whom we spend time with. The purer our food and thoughts will be, the better our body would adjust to the yogic atmosphere.

2)    Tapas (Asceticism): Tapas is a self-disciplinary practice to build willpower and strength over our desires. A true yogi can practice tapas to achieve whatever he sets his mind to, Tapas helps in building focus, strength and the results will improve with its continued practice and you can also see the strength cultivated from its practice in the various postures you will practice on the mat.

3)    Santhosha ( Contentment) : This is the most simple yet the toughest of all the practices, Santhosha means to be satisfied or contented with whatever we have and be acceptable of the situations/circumstances/people in life and be happy and joyful in whatever we have. Happiness is a choice and Santhosha helps in cultivating it.

4)    Svadhyaya (Self-Study): Svadhyaya means the knowledge of the self, and to know about self we need to meditate, to contemplate, to soul search and reflect upon the things we ponder. Meditation can reach to self-exploration; Svadhyaya is each one’s journey and is not time bounded. 

5)    Ishwara Pranidhana (Surrender to God): Ishwara means God and Pranidhana mean surrender, faithful surrender to the higher power is very tough and captivating at the same time, the more we meditate, the greater we drift away from our egos and begin to surrender ourselves into the highest power for our highest good. Devotion to God is not easy but without regular practice, we can give ourselves to the higher purpose of life.

Yamas:

1)    Ahimsa (Non-violence): The act of not hurting anyone not only physically but also verbally comes under the practice of Ahimsa and this behavior helps in building a loving and kind self.

2)    Satya (Truthfulness): Being true to self and to others is important in living the best version of ourselves. 

3)    Asteya (non-stealing): Abstaining from stealth of any kind is a key character of a great yogi.

4)    Aparigraha(non-possessiveness): We often bind our happiness to the possessions we hold, letting go of greed, possessiveness and attachment are Aparigraha.

5)    Brahmacharya(non-excess): Everything, when practiced in moderation, keeps us in balance, Brahmacharya is often connected with abstinence from sex or celibacy, however, it’s actual meaning is to refrain from overdoing anything. 

Yamas and Niyamas if practiced on the continuous basis will help us outshine in our yogic journey on the asana/mat.

If you are already following the above niyamas and yamas or have the urge to do the same, then you are on the right path and Kaivalya Yoga School is a right fit for you to take that next step of making that dream of becoming a Yoga Teacher come true.