The First Yama of Yoga: Ahimsa, Non-Violence
The Eight Limbs of Yoga according to Patanjali

The most well-known vision of yoga as a spiritual path in eight steps (Ashtanga Yoga or the “eight limbs of yoga”) comes from the Yoga Sūtra of Patañjali, a foundational text likely written between the 2nd century BCE and the 4th century CE.

These eight limbs are:

• Yama – Ethical guidelines in relation to others.
• Niyama – Personal disciplines.
• Asana – Physical postures.
• Pranayama – Mastery of breath.
• Pratyahara – Withdrawal of the senses.
• Dharana – Concentration.
• Dhyana – Meditation.
• Samadhi – Union, the state of awakening.

This system offers a progressive journey, from daily behavior to the most subtle states of consciousness.

Multiple Traditions: 6, 8 or 10 Limbs

While we spontaneously associate yoga today with Patanjali’s “eight limbs,” it is important to remember that this framework was not the only one in history.

In earlier or parallel texts, especially those inspired by Samkhya philosophy, we find a system of six stages, with more emphasis on meditation and knowledge.

Other sources, especially in medieval Hatha Yoga traditions, speak of ten stages or subdivide practices even further.

Why, then, did the eight-limbed system become so popular? Because the Yoga Sūtra of Patanjali was widely commented upon by influential scholars (Vyasa, Shankara, Bhoja…), and later revived by modern yoga masters in the 19th and 20th centuries (Vivekananda, Krishnamacharya, etc.). Its clear, progressive structure appealed both in India and the West, becoming a sort of “universal grammar” of yoga.

The Yamas: The Ethical Foundation of Yoga

The Yamas, the first limb, are ethical rules that shape our relationship with the world. Patanjali lists five:

• Ahimsa (non-violence),
• Satya (truthfulness),
• Asteya (non-stealing),
• Brahmacharya (moderation, wise use of energy),
• Aparigraha (non-possessiveness).

These principles are comparable to ethical pillars: without them, the practice of postures, breath, or meditation loses its deeper meaning.

Ahimsa: Non-Violence at the Heart of Yoga

Ahimsa is the first of the Yamas, and for many, the most fundamental. The word comes from Sanskrit: a- (a negation) and himsa (violence, harm). It literally means “absence of violence.”

Historically, the value of Ahimsa appears already in the Upanishads (late Vedic texts), where it is considered a supreme virtue leading to liberation. It is also at the core of Jainism and Buddhism, traditions contemporary with the rise of yoga philosophy.

In Patanjali’s system, Ahimsa goes beyond the absence of physical violence:

• It applies to our actions, but also to our words and thoughts.
• It relates not only to others but also to our relationship with ourselves: not mistreating our bodies through excess austerity or neglect.
• It extends to our connection with nature and all living beings: compassion encompasses the entire web of life.

Practicing Ahimsa in Daily Life

To live Ahimsa is to cultivate an attitude of active benevolence:

• Replacing inner judgment with acceptance.
• Choosing food that respects life (traditionally leading to vegetarianism).
• Consuming mindfully, reducing excess, and favoring environmentally respectful choices.
• Cultivating truthful and kind speech that does not humiliate or destroy.

On the yoga mat, Ahimsa is also a bodily compass: listening to one’s limits, not forcing postures, and adapting the practice to the body’s state in the present moment.

Ahimsa & Breath of Fire: Clothing with Compassion

At Breath of Fire – Eco & Yoga Fashion, we see Ahimsa as a living practice, not only on the yoga mat but in the very fabric of what we wear. Choosing clothing made from organic cotton, produced under fair and ethical conditions, is a way to honor non-violence — toward the planet, toward the workers who craft our garments, and toward your own body.

Our collections are designed to be soft on the skin, durable in time, and free of harmful substances, so that every movement is a gesture of respect. To us, Ahimsa means fashion that supports your practice while embodying the values of yoga.

Discover pieces like our Nashira jumpsuit, created to accompany you in both daily life and practice, with fluid comfort and conscious design.

Legacy and Relevance Today

If Patanjali’s eight limbs have left such a mark, it is no doubt because they balance ethics, discipline, meditation, and transcendence. Ahimsa, placed first, reminds us that every spiritual or physical practice must begin with kindness.

In a world seeking ecological and social balance, Ahimsa resonates as a timeless principle: caring for ourselves, others, and the planet, by cultivating a gentle yet radical force.

 “When Ahimsa is firmly established, all hostility ceases in the presence of the yogi.”
— Yoga Sūtra II.35

Further Reading & References

Classical Texts

• Yoga Sūtra of Patanjali (2nd–4th century CE).
• The Upanishads (especially Chandogya and Brihadaranyaka).
• The Mahabharata (especially the Bhagavad-Gītā, which echoes the spirit of Ahimsa).
• Texts of Samkhya philosophy, the metaphysical foundation of yoga.

Parallel Traditions

• Jain writings on Ahimsa (e.g., the Acaranga Sutra).
• Buddhist teachings on compassion (Karuna).

Commentators & Modern Voices

• Swami Vivekananda, Raja Yoga (1896).
• T.K.V. Desikachar, The Heart of Yoga.
• B.K.S. Iyengar, Light on the Yoga Sūtras of Patanjali.
• Gandhi, All Men Are Brothers (the political application of Ahimsa).

By practicing Ahimsa — in thought, action, and even in the way we dress — we embody yoga as a holistic path of care and awareness.