Honoring Our Paths: Yamas as Guides to Support Prana, Connection, and Simplicity
Keep walking your path. Simple & Connected.
11/12/2024
Hello everyone. Yoga lifestyle check in today. After a few very full weeks- physical, mental, emotional- I’m finding I need more time to recharge, particularly as I prepare for some upcoming commitments that may keep me from reaching out with as much frequency here. Shifting for quality over quantity. Know- regular class offerings and yoga therapy are alive for you and yours. During this time, I’ve been reflecting on how to place my prana—my life energy—more mindfully, all while honoring commitments and staying steady. It’s a practice, requiring heart, advocacy, and as of late, a time to simplify and connect.
To help with this, I’ve leaned heavily into the principles of the yamas and niyamas, the ethical guidelines in yoga. These practices—particularly the Yamas of Ahimsa (non-violence), Satya (truthfulness), and this week Asteya (non-stealing)—offer grounding reminders that bring clarity and intention. When I feel depleted or distracted, they help me focus on simplicity, connection, and discernment in connection to self and others.
One way I’m applying these principles is by reducing time on social media, which can easily drain prana. Hence too, wanting to connect here. Brene Brown once noted that social media is a great tool for communication, but not necessarily for true connection. I’ve found myself focusing more on small, meaningful interactions—spending time with loved ones, connecting in nature, and being present in day-to-day life. I’m aiming to stay connected enough without being drawn into the noise and overstimulation. Challenging when the western pulls of business growth reward the fray. Alas- this discernment practice—tuning into what truly nourishes and supports us— cue Brahmacharya (right use of energy) is what I hope to offer out to you.
In this spirit of clarity and simplification, our household is also preparing for a local move, and with it comes the practice of Saucha (purification) alongside Aparigraha (non-hoarding). The need for time, and pull on prana for sure. We’re purging and clearing out sustainably, avoiding waste where we can, and offering to those in need. This process of cleansing and letting go aligns well with Asteya, the principle of non-stealing to discern packing/purging, alongside other commitments.
Asteya, in my life, means respecting both quality and consistency in my offerings, while not causing harm to self in the process. It means valuing your time by sharing what feels purposeful, rather than filling space needlessly. This practice is not dissimilar from Brahmacharya- about conserving energy—prana—so it’s available to nourish ourselves and others. It’s also a reminder to hold space for others without taking away their power or their pain if that is part of their growth. One of my teachers once shared that while we may feel compelled to take away someone’s discomfort (likely for our own comfort), often it’s more transformative to allow them their experience, as it may lead to their own sacred insight.
In our personal journeys, practicing Asteya also means bringing compassion and focus as we build our competencies in service to others, meeting our needs, and finding fulfillment. It’s about avoiding self-sabotage and perfectionist tendencies so that we preserve our vitality, rather than letting insecurities or judgments steal from our well-being. I was sharing with my college students, we can avoid “stealing” from our future selves by not getting lost in distractions—or by comparing ourselves to others, which often results in self-harm. Instead, we can strive to build our skills with a balanced approach, keeping self-care in mind as we cultivate resilience with joy and intention. Alongside the real challenges, especially with the stressors and pulls of daily life. Simple, but not always easy.
As Deborah Adele reminds us, Asteya calls us to live with integrity and reciprocity. In a challenging time, honoring our hearts might mean taking mental health days, respite throughout the day for time to grieve, to play, to allowing ourselves the space to recharge. By listening with integrity and grace- and practicing non-harming and truthfulness, we can discern where we might unknowingly take from our own energy, from others, or from our environment. Allow within and with one another- just as the bouquet of colors that the trees express in their shades, that we too can live and breathe into the multiple shades that are our life, our evolution, as we meet our days.
What does non-stealing look like in your world? Feel free to share a comment, I’d love your insights, your wisdom, your story.
This week, may we move forward with kind intention, integrity and reciprocity. May we practice energy preservation, and commitment to meaningful connections. May we each practice cleansing and non-stealing together—honoring our planet, our paths, our communities. Simple and connected.
Here with you in practice, in love & light,
-Maya