Prerequisites for yoga “Knowledge (Jnana) doesn't come approximately from exercise of yoga methods on my very own . Perfection in expertise is in truth simplest for people who start by exercise of virtue (dharma). Yet, with out yoga as a method, know-how does now not come approximately. The practice of yogic methods isn't the approach by way of itself, but it's miles handiest out of that practice of yoga that the perfection in expertise comes about. And so it's far stated through the academics: ‘Yoga is for the purpose of information of fact'” Thus wrote Shankara. All matters rest upon some thing else-this is, all matters are supported by way of another. This is due to the fact a basis is needed for something to exist.

 Being Himself the Ultimate Support of all matters, God on my own is loose from this necessity. Yoga, then, also calls for guide. As Trevor Leggett says in his creation to

Shankara’s statement at the Yoga Sutras: “This is yoga provided for the person of the world, who have to first clear, and then consistent, his thoughts in opposition to the fury of illusory passions, and unfastened his life from entanglements.” Patanjali very carefully and fully outlines the factors of the aid needed with the aid of the aspirant, giving precious facts on how to assure fulfillment in yoga. The first Yoga Sutra says: “Now the exposition of yoga,” implying that there must be something main as much as yoga inside the shape of vital developments of recognition and personality. These prerequisites may be concept of as the Pillars of Yoga, and are called Yama and Niyama. Yama and Niyama Yama and Niyama are often referred to as “the Ten Commandments of Yoga.” Each this sort of Five Don’ts (Yama) and Five Do’s (Niyama) is a assisting, releasing Pillar of Yoga. Yama way self-restraint within the sense of self-mastery, or abstention, and consists of five factors.


Niyama means observances, of which there are also 5. Here is the complete listing of these ten Pillars as given in Yoga Sutras 2:30,32: 1) Ahimsa: non-violence, non-damage, harmlessness 2) Satya: truthfulness, honesty 3) Asteya: non-stealing, honesty, non-misappropriativeness four) Brahmacharya: sexual continence in thought, word and deed as well as control of all of the senses 5) Aparigraha: non-possessiveness, non-greed, non-selfishness, non-acquisitiveness 6) Shaucha: purity, cleanliness 7) Santosha: contentment, peacefulness eight) Tapas: austerity, realistic (i.E., end result-generating) religious discipline nine) Swadhyaya: introspective self-observe, spiritual examine 10) Ishwarapranidhana: presenting of 1’s life to God All of those cope with the innate powers of the individual-or rather with the abstinence and observance so one can expand and release the ones powers for use toward our spiritual perfection, to our self-consciousness and liberation. These ten restraints (yama) and observances (niyama) are not optionally available for the aspiring yogi-or for the most advanced yogi, both. Shankara states quite forcefully that “following yama and niyama is that the simple qualification to practice yoga.” Mere preference and aspiration for the intention of yoga isn't enough, so he continues: “The qualification isn't truly that one desires to exercise yoga, for the sacred textual content says: ‘But he who has now not first grew to become faraway from his wickedness, who isn't always tranquil and subdued, or whose thoughts is not at rest, he can in no way obtain the Self with the aid of understanding.’ (Katha Upanishad 1.2.24) And inside the Atharva textual content: ‘It is in the ones who have tapas [strong discipline] and brahmacharya [chastity] that reality is hooked up.’ (Prashna Upanishad 1:15)And within the Gita: ‘Firm of their vow of brahmacharya.’ (Bhagavad Gita 6:14) So yama and niyama are techniques of yoga” in themselves and aren't mere adjuncts or aids which will be optional. But at an equivalent time, the exercise of yoga enables the aspiring yogi to follow the vital methods of yama and niyama, so he should not be discouraged from taking over yoga right now, wondering that he need to wait till he is “equipped” or has “wiped clean up his act” to exercise yoga. No. He ought to determinedly embark on yama, niyama, and yoga concurrently. Success will be his.