“The Yamas and Niyamas: Exploring Yoga’s Ethical Practice” by Deborah Adele
This month’s selection for one of my book groups, The Yamas and Niyamas,: Exploring Yoga’s Ethical Practice by Deborah Adele, is a good book for those who have taken yoga class and want to learn more about the philosophy. Yoga classes, in which asanas, or poses, are practiced, is the third of eight paths of yoga. The Yamas and Niyamas are the first two. Yamas is Sanskrit for “restraints,” which include nonviolence, truthfulness, nonstealing, nonexcess, and nonpossessiveness. Niyamas mean “observances” and include, purity, contentment, self-discipline, self-study and surrender.
Adele, an experienced yoga teacher and life coach, gives each of the Yamas and Niyamas their own chapter, which includes both real-life stories and yogic quotes and adages. The chapters are accessible and engaging. At the end of each chapter, Adele suggests a focus of practice, and encourages journaling for four weeks on four different aspects of each. In this way, she far exceeds the purview of most self-help books, which are easy to forget once the cover is closed. Here, patient, persistent practice is advised, just as in a yoga class.
Those who practice other religions will find the content consistent with other philosophies. I found the the Yamas and Niyamas, their meanings and practices, corresponded closely to those of the Ten Commandments, e.g., nonviolence = do not murder, truthfulness = do not bear false witness, nonstealing = do not steal, and more. The Commandments also, like the Yamas and Niyamas, are split in half, but in the opposite order of the Yamas and Niyamas. The first five commandments focus on religious practice (though there’s some dispute over #5, honor they father and mother), while the final five focus on life conduct, and are phrased similarly to the Yamas “non” with the negative “do not.”
I followed the journaling advice, and found it helpful and not difficult. This is a good book for clearing the mind and focusing, and for those wanting to take their yoga practice to the next level.
March 22nd, 2010 at 9:26 am
Great review! I love this book too… I thought I would share with anyone interested that Deborah Adele will be key-noting a retreat in Cable WI at the end of April– sure to be a great all-inclusive workshop on the Yamas & Niyamas.
http://www.lakewoodsresort.com/?page=26838
Thank you. Namaste.