Ethical imperatives and personal observances form the foundation of the yoga system described by Patanjali in his Yoga Sutras. What is the underlying philosophy upon which the yamas and niyamas are based? Why are they an essential element of a complete yoga practice? How can we abide by them in a practical way? In this seminar, we’ll take a close look at the traditional understanding of what the yamas and niyamas are and how they remain relevant for modern yoga practitioners. We’ll connect the dots between the philosophy and values that inform yogic moral decision-making in response to contemporary social issues and examine how the personal observances provide power for the inward turn of our yoga and meditation practice.