The Yamas & Niyamas: Exploring Yoga's Ethical Practice
About this product
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. Read more
Editor's Take
Amazon reviewers say this book is a thoughtful, well-written, and easy-to-read introduction to yoga’s ethical principles, with many praising its practical advice, clear examples, and compassionate tone. Some reviewers also call it especially useful for yoga teachers and practitioners looking for a deeper connection to the philosophy of yoga.
Mixed feedback appears around the journaling exercises: some readers find them helpful for reflection, while others want more depth on certain concepts. Goodreads and StoryGraph reviews broadly echo the same pattern, describing it as a solid, accessible read that works well as an entry point to the Yamas and Niyamas.
On Reddit, at least one user offers a more critical take, saying the book waters down the material and leans too much toward “do what feels good,” which they felt misses the spirit of the Yoga Sutras. Other review blogs and yoga sites generally describe it as reflective, grounded, and valuable for modern readers.
YouTube search results surfaced a couple of relevant videos about this exact book, including a Spanish-language opinion video and an animated book review.
Price History
Specifications
| Topic | Yoga |
Product Details
| Publisher | On-Word Bound Books |
| Publication date | September 1, 2009 |
| Edition | 40081st |
| Language | English |
| Print length | 192 pages |
| ISBN-10 | 0974470643 |
| ISBN-13 | 978-0974470641 |
| Item Weight | 9.8 ounces |
| Dimensions | 5.51 x 0.51 x 7.52 inches |
| Best Sellers Rank | #4,864 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) #5 in Yoga (Books) #24 in Eastern Philosophy (Books) #38 in Meditation (Books) |
| Customer Reviews | 4.8 4.8 out of 5 stars (4,234) |
