On the Yamas, Mental Health and Yoga with Dr Lauren Tober
Welcome to the second episode in a special five-part pop-up series on Patanjali’s eight limbs of yoga, exploring what each limb means for us as yoga teachers supporting our students’ mental health.
In the last episode, we explored ahimsa. In this one, we dive into the other four yamas – satya, asteya, brahmacarya and aparigraha.
We look at how these four yamas can guide our yoga teaching, from finding our own yes and our own no, to letting go of the endless comparison that leaves so many of us feeling we’re not enough.
In this episode, we explore:
- Satya, truthfulness and why honesty is always held alongside kindness
- Being truthful with ourselves, and the quiet cost of saying yes when we mean no
- Why you don’t have to have all the answers to be a good teacher
- Asteya, non-stealing, and moving from comparison and envy toward appreciation
- Cultural appropriation, and the questions asteya invites us to sit with as yoga teachers
- Brahmacarya as energy management, and being mindful of sexual energy and the power imbalance in the teaching relationship
- Aparigraha, non-grasping, and letting go of how we think our classes, our students and ourselves should be
- How every one of the yamas points us back toward our own inner compass
Download the accompanying Patanjali’s Eight Limbs and Mental Health Aware Yoga ebook
Join the online Mental Health Aware Yoga training in September
LISTEN ON APPLE PODCASTS, SPOTIFY + EVERY WHERE YOU FIND GREAT PODCASTS
Dr Lauren Tober (she/her) is a Clinical Psychologist, Yoga Teacher, founder of the Yoga Psychology Institute, host of the A Grateful Life podcast and author of Mental Health Aware Yoga: A Guide for Yoga Teachers.
Lauren developed the Mental Health Aware Yoga training to help yoga teachers make their classes safe, nourishing and transformative for all.
FOR THE SEEKERS
COMMUNITY
FREE EBOOK
The information provided on this blog is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered professional advice.
Please consult a qualified healthcare professional for personalised guidance or come and join one of our programs for professional training.
Any statements, claims or endorsements expressed by our guest authors, speakers and podcast sponsors are solely their own and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of Mental Health Aware Yoga and the Yoga Psychology Institute.
MENTAL HEALTH AWARE YOGA
Ready to support your students' mental health with confidence, compassion and skill?
Join the hybrid training in Mullumbimby Australia. Start the online component today, then join us in-person on 17-18th October 2026.
Or join us for the online training starting the 16th of September instead.
MORE BLOG POSTS
On Tea and Intuition with Rachel Allan
Five years ago in meditation, Rachel Allan (she/her) was given a quest to start the 40 for Tea podcast. She ignored...
On Yoga Nidrā Shakti with Uma Dinsmore-Tuli
Did you know that yoga nidrā is not just an evidence-based relaxation practice, but she’s also the goddess of sleep...
On Yoga on Country with Aunty Jacqui Jarrett
Aunty Jacqui Jarrett (she/her) is a proud Dharawal & Gumbaynggirr woman, elder & traditional owner of the...
BLOG CATEGORIES
Western Psychology
Yoga Psychology
Safe Container
Therapeutic Skills
Yoga Practices
Mental Health Crisis
JOIN OUR ONLINE SANGA
Are you on Facebook?
Awesome, so are we!
Come and join our brilliant community of like-mind Yoga Teachers and tune into (mostly) weekly video episodes with our founder Dr Lauren Tober.
It's all happening over in our FREE Facebook group.
MEET OUR FOUNDER
Hi, I'm Dr Lauren Tober!
As a Clinical Psychologist and Yoga Teacher of nearly two decades and the author of Mental Health Aware Yoga: A Guide for Yoga Teachers, I'm passionate about integrating yoga and psychology on the mat, in the counselling room and in the world.
With the growing interest in mental health and yoga, yoga students are attending yoga classes for the mental health benefits in unprecedented numbers.
In fact, 79.4% of yoga students report practicing yoga for the mental health benefits.
It's important that Yoga Teachers know how to support them.
I'm glad you're here.
LET'S STAY CONNECTED
Be the first to hear about online and world wide in-person trainings BEFORE registration opens
Receive your invitation to join our closed Mental Health Aware Yoga Facebook group for teachers
Download the Patañjali's Eight Limbs of Mental Health Aware Yoga ebook by Dr Lauren Tober