Asteya अस्तेय

Asteya अस्तेय = A (non/not) + Steya (stealing)

Asteya generally translates as not stealing (property, time, ideas, etc) in Jainism and Hinduism. A broader interpretation of asteya includes not stealing from others or oneself in terms of time, space, thoughts, energy, etc. In your yoga practice, if you arrive late in class, you’re stealing others' time and attention; and at the same time, you might also deprive yourself from a relaxed and unrushed experience of getting and settling into class. If you rush into the next pose, you take away a potential moment to experience the pose deeply. If you compare yourself to other students in the practice, you might miss out on what is happening within you.

Imagine everyone in the classroom as a different piece of fruit. You wouldn’t wonder why a banana doesn’t look more like a pear. Our bodies are all different and therefore, we look different in the poses. If you try to do the pose “right” or try to be more flexible, you’re putting yourself in a vulnerable space. Our bodies are all unique, and there is no one right way to do a pose that works for everyone. We have general guidelines based on anatomy that help us to find a place that we feel free while in that pose.