The Yamas & Niyamas: Exploring Yoga's Ethical Practice
Product ID: 1810602
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The first two limbs of the eight-fold path of yoga sutras—the basic text for classical yoga—are examined in this spiritual guide to the practice of yoga. Foundational to all yogic thought, they are considered to be the guidelines to the yoga way of living that free individuals to take ownership of their lives, direct them toward the fulfillment they seek, and gain the skills to choose attitude, thought, and action. The first five guidelines are referred to as the yamas— a Sanskrit word that translates to "restraints"—and encompass nonviolence, truthfulness, not stealing, nonexcess, and nonpossessiveness. The last five are referred to as the niyamas , or observances—purity, contentment, self-discipline, self-study, and surrender. A self-study section at the end of each chapter may also be used by instructors for group discussion. Review: Really great book - In my opinion, this is the best and most important book on yoga to be released in a long time. Why? Because the ten yamas and niyamas -as specified by Patanjali in the Yoga Sutras- are at the core of yoga and (I believe) essential for real personal growth. And yet they are given cursory treatment by many if not most yoga teachers in the west, who seem unaware of the subtle facets and profound qualities of these "jewels." And they are ignored by many of today's mental health professionals, who seem unaware that modern psychotherapeutic approaches are embedded in yoga's prescriptions for "ethical" practice of restraints and observances. Somebody really needed to write a book on this! And I must say, Deborah Adele really delivers the goods. Take for instance, Adele's chapter on Satya (truthfulness, honesty). It is a work of art in its own right, offering the wisdom and clarity one needs to liberate powerful forces within oneself. In this chapter, Adele includes the sensible yet unusual insights of Carl Jung, Yogiraj Achala, and Mahatma Gandhi, among others, along with her own hands-on understanding. In the process, Adele addresses, for all of us, the fear (dangerousness) involved with being completely truthful, the differences between "Nice" and "Real," the epic partnership between truth (satya) and nonviolence (ahimsa), and the value of conducting our own Gandhi-esque "experiments" in truth. There is so much more to this chapter than the glimpse I've given here, but I hope I've communicated the fact that this chapter (and the book as a whole) has great depth and breadth. It is evident that Adele has immersed herself in the yamas and niyamas, emerging with lessons, teachings, and insights that could be of value to anyone. Highly recommended. I learned plenty. The author's website provides lots of useful supplementary material, including some excellent video overviews, radio interviews and discussions. I liked the fact that Adele SOUNDED like a gentle, wise, effective person. I confess that I have a bias here. I believe that my own life has been influenced, and even transformed, whenever I've aligned with the yamas and niyamas over the last 15+ years. And as a result, I was in the process of writing my own (first) book on this long-neglected topic, emphasizing how it relates to progress in psychotherapy. Well, I still think there's a future in that book! Suffice it to say that I share the author's enthusiasm for her topic. Review: How to life the life of a complicated human being. - I was first exposed to this book in a yoga class I was taking a couple of years ago, as our instructor would read sections of it to our class. At the time it did not hold much meaning for me until a counselor gave me her copy and suggested I read it. It sat for some time before I picked it up. I immediately took to its message of living with honesty and softness. I liked it so much that I bought a copy for myself, as I am one to read books that I like many times. I will keep this book not only to read again, but as a trusted guide.
| Best Sellers Rank | #5,942 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) #2 in Yoga (Books) #28 in Spiritual Self-Help (Books) #33 in Meditation (Books) |
| Customer Reviews | 4.8 out of 5 stars 4,203 Reviews |
D**D
Really great book
In my opinion, this is the best and most important book on yoga to be released in a long time. Why? Because the ten yamas and niyamas -as specified by Patanjali in the Yoga Sutras- are at the core of yoga and (I believe) essential for real personal growth. And yet they are given cursory treatment by many if not most yoga teachers in the west, who seem unaware of the subtle facets and profound qualities of these "jewels." And they are ignored by many of today's mental health professionals, who seem unaware that modern psychotherapeutic approaches are embedded in yoga's prescriptions for "ethical" practice of restraints and observances. Somebody really needed to write a book on this! And I must say, Deborah Adele really delivers the goods. Take for instance, Adele's chapter on Satya (truthfulness, honesty). It is a work of art in its own right, offering the wisdom and clarity one needs to liberate powerful forces within oneself. In this chapter, Adele includes the sensible yet unusual insights of Carl Jung, Yogiraj Achala, and Mahatma Gandhi, among others, along with her own hands-on understanding. In the process, Adele addresses, for all of us, the fear (dangerousness) involved with being completely truthful, the differences between "Nice" and "Real," the epic partnership between truth (satya) and nonviolence (ahimsa), and the value of conducting our own Gandhi-esque "experiments" in truth. There is so much more to this chapter than the glimpse I've given here, but I hope I've communicated the fact that this chapter (and the book as a whole) has great depth and breadth. It is evident that Adele has immersed herself in the yamas and niyamas, emerging with lessons, teachings, and insights that could be of value to anyone. Highly recommended. I learned plenty. The author's website provides lots of useful supplementary material, including some excellent video overviews, radio interviews and discussions. I liked the fact that Adele SOUNDED like a gentle, wise, effective person. I confess that I have a bias here. I believe that my own life has been influenced, and even transformed, whenever I've aligned with the yamas and niyamas over the last 15+ years. And as a result, I was in the process of writing my own (first) book on this long-neglected topic, emphasizing how it relates to progress in psychotherapy. Well, I still think there's a future in that book! Suffice it to say that I share the author's enthusiasm for her topic.
K**N
How to life the life of a complicated human being.
I was first exposed to this book in a yoga class I was taking a couple of years ago, as our instructor would read sections of it to our class. At the time it did not hold much meaning for me until a counselor gave me her copy and suggested I read it. It sat for some time before I picked it up. I immediately took to its message of living with honesty and softness. I liked it so much that I bought a copy for myself, as I am one to read books that I like many times. I will keep this book not only to read again, but as a trusted guide.
J**M
A Profound and Practical Guide to Yoga’s Ethical Foundations 🌿📖
The Yamas & Niyamas: Exploring Yoga’s Ethical Practice is a beautifully written and insightful book that delves into the moral and ethical principles of yoga in a way that is both accessible and deeply transformative. Rather than focusing solely on physical postures, this book explores the philosophical foundation of yoga, offering guidance on how to integrate these principles into daily life. The author presents each Yama (social ethics) and Niyama (self-discipline) with clarity, real-life examples, and reflective exercises, making the teachings relatable and practical. It’s not just about reading—it’s about applying these principles to cultivate mindfulness, compassion, and inner growth. Whether you’re a yoga practitioner, teacher, or someone on a personal journey of self-discovery, this book is an essential read. It encourages deep reflection, personal growth, and a more conscious way of living. Highly recommended for anyone looking to bring the wisdom of yoga beyond the mat!
L**E
this book is perfect
I am reading this book as part of a group activity, we are reading a chapter a month, and doing the exercises each week as specified n each chapter. I LOVE it, it is so well written, simple, and straight forward, and addresses the spiritual aspects of yoga that are not always know to people practicing yoga as a form of physical strengthening. I am not a yogi, and only know a handful of the physical postures in yoga so far. This book is what I needed to understand not only why I might want to practice yoga, but also accesses the spiritual path of enlightenment through simple, grounded, practical every day practices and personal inquiry. I LOVE this book. None of these spiritual concepts are new to me - however, it is the way the information is presented and the simple unfoldment of the concepts that is really really lovely (and helpful). I recommend this book to everyone - those first starting out on a spiritual inquiry or in the practice of yoga, and those who will find this a revisiting via a new voice and perspective. This book would make a great gift too. I love it.
C**D
Educational book
Very good book and very educational I learned a lot from this book.
B**A
Great!
Fantastic book. Well written and very insightful. I love the way the author ties in lived in experience to the principals. One of those books that change you a bit.
N**.
good book, easy enjoyable read, perhaps a tad oversimplified
This book is an easy, enjoyable read, and a really good intro to yogic philosophy. Only gripe is that some of Adele's metaphors and examples are likely a tad oversimplified. Kind of a nerdy thing, but the structure of the book, and layout of pages and chapters made it really easy to find the most important parts, nice font size, and a really handy size of book. Overall - took a complex topic and made it approachable, I'll probably actually read this again!
K**R
A must read
One of the few books I've read multiple times. Life changing, perspective changing words. This is an easy read or audio to listen to.
D**K
Awesome 👌
🙏 namaste 🙏
A**O
Muito bom!!!
O Yamas e Niyamas são tratados de forma clara e profunda.
M**D
Great delivery of a special book.
My book arrived on time and well packaged .it was as stated in a new conditions .well price too .
E**C
Ymyamas
Eine sehr gute Zusammensmfassung der Yamas und Niyamas.
J**A
Simple and easy to understand
I use this as a required text in all of my yoga teacher trainings as it is the easiest, most digestible way for students to learn about yamas and niyamas. It offers practical tips that are great for those just getting into yoga philosophy.
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