Yoga Yama 3: Asteya

Annie Smit
Feb 20
3 min read

Asteya, the third of the Yamas in the Yoga Sutras, is traditionally translated as non-stealing. While it may seem at first like a simple instruction not to take what does not belong to us, Asteya is far more subtle. It invites us to reflect on the ways we grasp, take or covet; not only in our actions, but also in our thoughts and attitudes.

At its heart, Asteya encourages us to live from a place of sufficiency rather than lack, linking to contentment.

Core Aspects of Asteya

Beyond Material Objects

At its most literal level, Asteya asks us not to take physical items without permission. Yet yogic philosophy suggests that stealing can occur in far subtler ways.

We may steal ideas by claiming credit that is not ours or by failing to acknowledge the teachers and traditions from which our knowledge comes.
We may steal time by arriving late, being unprepared or demanding attention without consideration for others’ commitments.
We may even steal energy when we avoid our responsibilities, leaving others to carry the weight, or when we project our frustration and negativity into shared spaces.
Asteya invites us to recognise these patterns gently, not with guilt but with awareness.

Asteya and the Environment

This Yama also speaks to our relationship with the natural world. Taking more than we need, whether in food, resources or consumption, can be understood as a form of imbalance.

Practising Asteya encourages mindful use of what the earth provides, and an appreciation of interdependence rather than entitlement. It reminds us that living lightly is not about deprivation, but about respect and reciprocity. It may mean choosing a vegetarian diet, mindfully farming for your own table, or paying for organic produce. Ultimately, this will translate to kindness to all creatures.

The Inner Root of Stealing

The Yoga Sutras suggest that the impulse to steal arises from a sense of insufficiency; the feeling that we are lacking, incomplete or not enough.

When we believe something essential is missing, we reach outward to fill that gap. Yet yoga teaches that this grasping rarely resolves the feeling beneath it. Instead, Asteya invites us to cultivate inner steadiness and trust. From this place, the need to take diminishes, and a quiet sense of abundance begins to emerge.

Sutra 2.37 expresses this beautifully: when one is firmly established in non-stealing, all wealth comes. In other words, when grasping falls away, life tends to offer what is needed.

For me, it seems that the more I want, the further I fall from happiness. The more I practise contentment with what I already have, and instead share freely, the more I feel a wealth of the kind that no material gain can replace. It's like God rewards simple contentment and generosity with joy.

Practising Asteya in Daily Life

Practising Asteya often begins with small moments of awareness.

We may notice when we interrupt someone’s story, borrow attention or seek validation unnecessarily. We may reflect on how we use shared resources, or whether we take on commitments thoughtfully rather than out of obligation or fear.

Asteya encourages a shift from comparison to contentment, from urgency to trust.

Asteya in Yoga Practice

On the mat, Asteya can be practised by honouring our own pace rather than striving to match others. It invites us to stay present in our own body, rather than grasping for poses, progress or recognition.

Practices that cultivate balance, steadiness and fullness can gently reinforce this principle. Breath awareness, grounding postures and moments of stillness all help remind us that nothing essential is missing. From this perspective, yoga becomes less about achieving and more about recognising what is already here.

Challenges in Practising Asteya

In a culture that often celebrates accumulation, comparison and constant striving, Asteya can feel counter-cultural. It may challenge deeply held beliefs about success, worth and security.

Yet yoga does not ask for perfection.

Recognise your true worth: Step outside and look inside. Be your authentic self. We don't love our dearest friend for their smooth skin; rather, for the qualities that make them uniquely beautiful and joyful to us. That's more than enough.

Like the other Yamas, Asteya is a practice of gradual awareness. Each time we choose appreciation over grasping, or presence over comparison, we strengthen this principle in our lives.

Conclusion

Asteya is ultimately a practice of trust. It reminds us that when we live with integrity, respect and gratitude, life tends to meet us with what we truly need.

By cultivating non-stealing in our thoughts, words and actions, we move from a mindset of scarcity to one of quiet abundance.

Namaste, Annie.

[PS the quotes are just my view, no AI :-)]