Lets take the yoga practice off the mat for a moment and consider how Personal Ethics and the concepts of Mindful Speech tie to the Yamas and Niyamas of yogic philosophy.
For someone talkative and word-prone, the idea of speaking mindfully is a question of stopping the constant flow of chatter. It is a filter to slow down and choose whether or not to say the things.
However, there are others who might use the tests of Mindful Speech as a tool for liberation, rather than restraint.
Many people think that it is necessary to withhold their opinions or desires for the sake of being ‘nice’. That to utter something on his or her own behalf would be selfish or unseemly.
A practical example
Take for example, “Bob”, one of many people who have inspired the off-the-mat series having benefited from a random tidbit of practical yogic wisdom.
Bob was unable to assert himself out of fear of what others would think of him. He would not stand up to his wife, his boss, or another coworker who was taking credit for his work.
He decided to try mindful speech. If he were able to determine that his opinion was …