Holiday reflections on yama and niyama

Introduction
Christmas provides us the perfect opportunity to pause and be present. Whether you celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ or the tradition of being with family and loved ones this season, there's always a reason for us to be in a reflective mood during these yearend holidays.

Jesus Christ is well respected by many yogis, who see him as a guru, a siddhi, an Ascended Master, and an Enlightened One. There are stories about Jesus and yoga that would make you pause and think—like the one about one of the Three Wise Men from the East coming from India, or another one about his lost years being spent in the East... but maybe that's for another newsletter edition! But surely, the time and the story of his birth is both a cause for celebration and a point for reflection.

For the next ten days, allow us to guide you through a few days of guided reflection and meditation to allow you to identify the things that no longer serve you so that you can leave them behind in 2024 and those that you want to manifest and embody in 2025.

Yama and niyama: the first two limbs of yoga practice
You're probably familiar with the idea that there are eight limbs of yoga practice, or Ashtanga yoga in Sanskrit (ashta, meaning "eight" and anga meaning "limbs"). Many of you are already practicing the third and fourth limbs, asana or body work and pranayama or breath work. But not all of you are familiar with the first two limbs of yoga, yama and niyama.

Yama means "personal restraint". It's the practices of "yogic self-control". They are meant to create harmony in our social and outer interactions. There are five yamas. Niyama means "personal observances". They are meant to create a sense of discipline and cultivate a sense of harmony in our inner life. There are also five niyamas.

For the next ten days, we'll go through each of the five yamas and five niyamas together. This is a simple reflection meditation practice that you can do on your own using the prompt questions provided. All you'll need is at least five minutes of quiet time for yourself. You may answer as many questions as you want. You may also write your answers down on a note or journal for future reference. 

Reflection on the first yama: Satya or truthfulness
Time: Five (5) minutes
What you'll need: Quiet time, personal space, pen and paper (optional)

About Satya
The first yama is satya or truthfulness. The word satya comes from the root word as, which means "to be". Truthfulness therefore comes from being. The root word is flipped and a "t" is added to for the word sat, which means "the highest". Truth, then, is our highest form of being. Our true essence.

​People think it is easy to speak the truth but satya does not only refer to what we speak. It refers to the awareness of what is correct, right, and true, as it is manifesting from within, and the ability to express it. Satya is our ability to observe the true manifestation of thoughts, words, feelings, actions, and desires on our lives without it being filtered by bias, ego, self-image, or intellect. For example: Some of us do not celebrate Christmas. If we do, how do we react to those who don't? Do we take offense? Is our reaction based on our inner truth or is it reflective of a bias that we have learned?

Prompt Questions:
Inner Truth
1. What does truthfulness mean to me, personally?
2. Am I truthful with myself about my needs, emotions, and boundaries?
3. Are there areas of my life where I feel I am not fully living in alignment with my truth?

Interpersonal Truth
4. How can I practice self-compassion when facing truths about myself that may be uncomfortable?
5. Have I been truthful in my communication with loved ones and people who matter?
6. Are there any relationships where I feel I am holding back my truth?

Satya in Practice
7. How can I practice satya in a way that strengthens my connections with family and friends?
8. What small, truthful action can I take today to align more deeply with satya and my inner truth?
9. How can I carry the essence of satya or truthfulness into the New Year and beyond?

Take as long as you need to with these questions. Take the whole day! Hopefully, these questions will encourage introspection in you and guide you toward aligning your thoughts, words, and actions with satya or truthfulness during this meaningful season.

See you again tomorrow!

Love and light,
Ben & Rianna