Yamas are restraints and Niyamas are observances. The five different yamas, which has been defined as the moral code of conduct, are simply the expression of a harmonious, balanced and tranquil mind. Five yamasdeals with one's ethical standards and sense of integrity.  It focuses on our behavior patterns or relationships between the individual and the outside world and how we conduct ourselves in life. The five yamas are: Ahimsa, (absence of violence from within), Satya (truthfulness), Asteya(non-theft), Aparigraha (not being greedy), and Brahmacharya (avoiding inappropriate sexual behavior).

Niyama means rules or laws, inner disciplines, which has prescribed for personal observances and the attitude we adopt towards ourselves.

The five niyamas are: saucha (cleanliness of body and mind, represents the state of purity);santos(contentment, represents the ability to flow in life and not struggle) tapas(austerities,means an effort we make or a process we undergo to experience purity of self); svadhyaya (self-study); and isvarapranidhana(complete surrender to the divine will). The yamaand niyam are the noble virtues intended to cleanse and harmonize the activities of the mind.