16. What are the Yamas and Niyamas?
Yoga Studies in Five Minutes - Theodora Wildcroft
Graham Burns [+]
SOAS, University of London
Dr Graham Burns is an independent yoga teacher, teacher trainer, and scholar. As well as a law degree from Durham University, he holds an MA in Religions and a PhD in ancient
Indian philosophy from SOAS University of London. He is a former Senior Teaching Fellow
at SOAS, where he lectured on the MA in Traditions of Yoga and Meditation, as well as
teaching undergraduate Hinduism and philosophy. He is a member of the SOAS Centre of
Yoga Studies.
Description
The Sanskrit word yama is perhaps most accurately translated as “restraint” and, in general, indicates patterns of behaviour towards others; niyama, perhaps best translated as “observance”, signifies more personal behavioural requirements. Compliance with these principles is thought to help the yogin develop the single pointed awareness, and internal power, needed to travel the yogic path.