The first two limbs of the eight-fold path of yoga sutras-the basic text for classical yoga-are examined with this spiritual guide to the practice of yoga. Foundational to all or any yogic thought, they are considered to be the guidelines to the yoga exercise approach to life that free people to take ownership of their lives, direct them toward the fulfillment they look for, and gain the skills to choose attitude, thought, and action.

The first five guidelines are referred to as the yamas-a Sanskrit word that means ‘restraints’-and encompass nonviolence, truthfulness, not stealing, nonexcess, and nonpossessiveness. The last five are known as the niyamas, or observances-purity, contentment, self-discipline, self-study, and surrender.