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Benefit of practicing yoga yamas
Yoga Sutras are written by Sage Patanjali many centuries back. The basis of classical yoga philosophy is described in 196 sutras or discourses. These discourses available in simple verses are full of knowledge, wisdom and depth. Yogis who want to learn the total inner meaning of yoga practice and meditation can follow this spiritual practice to attain wisdom of yoga. In Yoga sutra it is very well explained 196 sutras in four texts.
What yoga is – Samadhi pada
How to attain yogic state – Sadhana pada
Benefits of regular yoga practice – Vibhuti pada
Freedom from suffering – Kaivalya pada
In yoga sutras Patanjali describes the eight limbs of Ashtanga yoga that helps yogis to walk in yogic path and achieve yogic life. Further in these eight limbs, the first two limbs of Ashtanga yoga are Yamas (moral disciplines) and Niyamas (observances) that teach us life disciplines to achieve peaceful life.
The five yamas are first step to achieve yogic path and comes before poses or asanas. These yamas are helps to bring harmony in body, mind and sense for higher yoga practice. These yamas are still relevant and helps understand walk in spiritual yogic path and brings discipline in daily life. Moral discipline or yamas guide us towards ongoing practices concerned with our surroundings and world around us.
Ahimsa – Non harming or nonviolence is the widely known yamas. Practice of not harming others and nonviolence in all aspects of life means not physically and mentally harming not only others, but also oneself and the mother nature.
Practicing and developing attitude of nonviolence in a relationship, animals, plants, planets and bringing care and compassion in lives will eventually help us to get rid of negative thoughts and desire to cause harm. Ahimsa needs awareness of the world and thoughts. Ultimate yoga practice brings that compassion and care towards our body and awareness towards other beings.
The purity of speech is sathya, it is about speaking truth, conveying truth and not deceiving oneself and the world. Knowing oneself clearly is also truth. Not meddling with truth, conveying true words and living in truth is satya. As we practice yoga, mind becomes clear and one start noticing the clarity and will focus on truth.
Practicing sathya does not mean heedlessly or blindly telling the truth in all consequences. It is about restraining oneself by not telling truth. It is about collecting thoughts carefully and conveying the message with harmony and ahimsa. We can bring practice of Sathya in our lives by assessing ourselves honestly within. As we realize what our body is, we will start honoring the truth that shows our strength and weaknesses.
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Non- stealing was one of the 11 vows that Mahatma Gandhiji was practicing. Asteya yama is non-stealing act that one must practice achieving self-confidence. The feeling of stealing arises when someone wants or desire or unfaithful for something or against a person. It can also refer to stealing something that does not freely given to us. It can be thought of physical object, flower or ideas, peace of mind of someone and/or robbing oneself by growing desire, to get into opportunity to learn, progress and work. When we focus on pushing over the edge in order to get into a pose, we could rob ourselves. For example, while practicing yoga instead of focusing on how we feel, after some time we start thinking about how I look in that pose. This is subconsciously starts creating doubts about oneself – Am I good enough?
To practice Asteya, one must feel having things in abundance. That practicing of understanding what I have is enough, I am enough, desiring for less and feeling better, feeling contentment with every little success in life will give more happiness.
Celibacy or Brahmacharya traditionally refers to abstinence of the young yogis who control their desires during early part of lives in order to become yogis before taking complete family responsibility. It also means containment of any kind of energy and sexual energy. Containment of energy and using that energy to practice and achieve greater things in life is strict brahmacharya practice. This element of yama not only refers to mindfulness around sex, but also being mindful in spending energy and not wasting energy for unnecessary things and materials. It is using energy for oneself to get clarity and a sense of respect for others and oneself.
Practicing celibacy, will help us to hold onto the energy and we will learn when to make use of creative energy skillfully and positively. According to Yoga Guru BKS Iyengar “Brahmacharya has little to do with whether one is a bachelor or married and living the life of a householder. One must translate the higher aspects of brahmacharya in one’s daily living. It is not necessary for one’s salvation to stay unmarried and without a house … Without experiencing human love and happiness, it is not possible to know divine love.”
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Whenever yogi’s practice yoga, they must not hold onto things that causes imbalance in the body. Aparigraha or non-attachment or non-possessiveness will help yogis to achieve balance. Non-attachments mean not holding onto things that causes emotional and mental static. This is where the words “let things go” helps in daily life. In life all the things we do are related to mind. Mind directs the body. Getting attached to materialistic things or to a being can only cause stress and pain. This leads to distraction and imbalance that takes away the peace and harmony. Aparigraha helps to lead simple life and to be mindfulness.
Practicing aparigraha does not require getting rid of stuffs, it is coming out from attachment to materialistic things, people and places. When we get rid of the attachments, we will have clarity, realization. It removes the barriers in life and leads us to path of freedom or enlightenment.
For evening snack try an easy recipe – Quinoa zucchini fritters. To make it tasty and interesting add fenugreek leaves. Fenugreek leaves gives nutty flavor when fried. It improves the taste too! We all know health benefits of quinoa. It can be cooked and used in various forms. Quinoa supplies many nutrients including good amount of protein. And, zucchini supplies almost no calories. Combine these three ingredients with some Indian spices and try preparing delicious fritters – quinoa zucchini fritters!
Ingredients:
Zucchini – Shredded 3 cups
Onion – 1 cup
Quinoa – cooked 1 cup
Rice flour – 2 Tbsp
Bread crumbs – ½ cup
Chilli powder – 1 tsp
Green chilli – 1 chopped
Cilantro – Chopped 2 Tbsp
Fenugreek leaves – chopped ½ cup
Boiled potato – 2 medium
Curry leaves – few chopped
Cumin – 1 tsp
Oil – as needed
Preparation:
In a clean muslin cloth placeshredded zucchinifor half an hour to remove water. Do not throw the zucchini water.
Transfer zucchini to a vessel. Add cooked quinoa, breadcrumbs, rice flour green chilli, cheese, chilli powder, smashed boiled potato, curry leaves, cilantro, cumin and salt. Mix well and store in refrigerator for 15 minutes.*
If you need to add water, use little zucchini water to mix.
Take out the mix. Take a small ball size mix in hand and flatten it in the palm.
Heat a tava on medium heat or use iron skillet and spray little oil on the surface. Now place flattened quinoa-zucchini masala mix on the tava. Spray more oil on individual flattened patties.
Cook the patties till they turn golden brown on both sides and edges. It will take 10 to 15 minutes.
Transfer cooked patties to a paper towel to drain excess oil.
Serve hot quinoa- zucchini patties with green chutneyor tomato sauce!
