21st century rules of yoga - from 5000 years ago!

Ashtanga yoga is about improving your life as a whole – not only being able to pop into a headstand on demand.

Patanjali yoga sutras are evergreen nuggets of wisdom that apply even to the life and times of today. They talk about five ‘yamas’ – self-regulating conduct involving our interaction with

the outside world and ‘niyamas’ – personal practices relating to our inner world.

Our life today is fast and stressful. We all crave a moment of serenity but don't find the time. The sutras or guidelines can be applied on the mat and off it too. They were penned 5000 years ago but are still golden today, and will remain so till eternity.

Here is my interpretation of how yamas and niyamas can be applied in our regular day to tune out the humdrum of city life and slowly but surely usher in tranquility.

Yamas to follow in daily dealings with others:

· Ahimsa: nonviolence

As the adage goes, kindness begets kindness. Be nice to whoever crosses your path. Don’t use harsh words to discipline your kids or unforgiving language in arguments with your partner. Practice non-violence toward animals – try to be a vegetarian, don’t use leather and fur unless you are at the poles and your life literally depends on that heat. Practice non-violence toward nature – don’t leave your car idling, reduce plastic usage, don’t litter. Little actions go a long way.

· Satya: truthfulness

Stay true to your core beliefs. Be the real you. If what we think, say and do are in sync life becomes seamless and uncomplicated. Don’t feel pressured into displaying an untrue social media persona. Try being yourself, love and accept your true self. Make it a point to distance yourself from toxic people and situations.

· Asteya: non-stealing

It can be interpreted as stealing one’s own peace of mind. Ruminating over negative thoughts is a sure-fire way to steal precious time from oneself, which could have been used for productive and positive activities.

· Brahmacharya: non-excess (at times interpreted as celibacy)

Keeping one’s sexual energy under control is an important step to living the yogi life. In the workplace show respect to your colleagues. Don’t play a part in the increase in number of times that a woman has to share a ‘metoo’ incident. Be respectful of boundaries and personal space in public transport, in your place of study or work and even in your own home.

· Aparigraha: non-possessiveness, non-greed

Volunteer your time and services at your local pet shelter or donate to a charity of your choice. Selflessly giving positive vibes instead of greedily holding on to your energy can do wonders to open hearts and build a better world. Practice the art of decluttering and minimalism in your home, car and office. Let there be space for energy to flow freely.

Niyamas to endeavor to practice and perfect for self:

· Saucha: purity, cleanliness

A fundamental guideline to take control of your own life. Basic hygiene and upkeep of one’s body and taking care of oneself helps to shirk off laziness and focus on action. Purity in action and purity in thought go hand in hand.

· Santosha: contentment

Practice gratitude in your life. There are good things and bad goings on - take a moment to stall and thank the universe for whatever you have and find satisfaction in your current situation. The real yogi life will not be too far away.

· Tapas: self-discipline, training your senses

Ensure that whatever happens you never skip your asana practice. Even the most successful people only have 24 hours in a day like the next person. Be disciplined enough to make that time count. Start with something simple like making your bed the minute you wake up, never leaving dirty dishes in the sink overnight, finishing the daily number of glasses of water that you planned to, calling your mom if you said you would. Live a life of zero excuses.

· Svadhyaya: self-study, inner exploration

Take time to just sit and meditate over your day. Every day give yourself 10 minutes before you sleep to go over and take insights from how you spent your day and what can be improved. We are just works in progress after all. Along with the internal self-study, keep your brain sharp by keeping in touch with the latest trends in your field of work. Take new courses to study regularly, be updated with the world too.

· Ishvara Pranidhana: surrender to a higher energy

The realization that there are some things within our control and some that are not is of paramount importance in the pursuit of calm. Accepting this fact and then letting go of the anxiety to a higher cosmic power helps to release a lot of pressure that we inflict on ourselves. Like the Gita teaches: work hard, do your dharma (duty) and don’t worry about results.

Applying these age-old and immortal snippets of insight to your life will help you feel so light and free! Try it today! 😊