Eccentric Health

08/13/2026

08/12/2026

Brahmacharya: Abstinence

This yama was named for the yogi which introduced a specific practice, in which one of the main tenets is sexual abstinence. This is all well and good for someone who renounces the ways of daily human life. For those of us living within the realm of inter-human connection and relationships, abstinence can be difficult if not downright impossible depending on the life you want to live.

However, the concept is still applicable to our lives. Consider dating or trying to find a mate. If the goal is connection, abstaining from the physical has been proven by psychology to allow for a better connection AND the ability to recognize what isn't good for us.
S*x tends to cloud our judgement.

Coming away from the sexual side of things and looking at just an overall energy stores kind of thing... How much time and effort do you lose by applying your focus to things that don't serve you?

08/10/2026

Asteya: Non-stealing/Non-coveting

This is a tough one. There are so many interpretations of this yama and honesty, of course we all have different ways to resonate with this.

For me, it's very much rooted in integrity. When I was young girl my father taught me that having integrity is about doing the right thing even when no one would know any different.

I can ask myself questions like:

Do I need this?
Have I taken more than my fair share?
Could someone else benefit from my excess?
Am I holding back knowledge?
Am I being respectful of other people's time and resources?
Why am I feeling like the "grass is greener"?

On the flip side...

Have I given more than I could afford?
Do I allow others to monopolize my time?
Do I give myself enough?

We don't have to be martyrs or experience lack in order to practice this yama. We need to make good choices consistently and from a place of love, not fear.

Know yourself so well that you know what you need and know when it is enough.
Look within and analyze why you might have negative feelings about someone or something else.
Know yourself well enough so when anyone questions your character you won't feel the need to defend yourself.

08/01/2026

07/26/2026

Satya - Truthfulness

Often akinned to "not lying" and though that is a part of it, of course, it goes deeper than that.

There's a concept in psychology which states: when we don't live our truth we are riddled with anxiety and depression when we don't express our true thoughts and feelings. Being untruthful can literally create dis-ease within us.

This can manifest in the way of anger and there goes Ahimsa (non-violence... ya know that yama you were meant to have pretty under control before attempting to wrangle Satya?), right out the window.
This can manifest in negative self-speak... again Ahimsa gone.
If you cannot practice truthfulness, you are likely not practicing Ahimsa either.

Truthfulnes is kindness. Honesty is love.

We cannot ever live the life we say we want if we are not completely honest with ourselves and others. We MUST know our own truth before we can expect anyone else to help meet our needs. We are social creatures and thrive when we communicate openly and honestly with each other from a place of love.

07/25/2026

07/12/2026

There are 8 limbs of yoga.

The first of these limbs are the Yamas.

They are the "dos" of yoga. Or the way in which we are encouraged to approach our lives.

They build upon each other and it is suggested that you try to master one before moving to the next so that the following yamas are more easily achieved because of the foundation of the previous one.

The asana (physical practic) comes after the yamas and niyamas. We should at least understand them a little bit before doing the physical practice so as to respect and honour ourselves and the practice in a deep and meaningful way.

The first Yama is Ahimsa translated to non-violence. This is internalized and externalized so many different ways.

I find one of the hardest and yet simplest way to practice Ahimsa is in the way we speak to ourselves and others.

What are some ways you practice Ahimsa?

The Yamas are followed by Niyamas.

My next 10 posts with the logo background will be focused of the Yamas & Niyamas