Yamas: Brahmacharya
Broadly speaking Brahmacharya means control of the senses, therefore, it can be seen as using your energy wisely both on the mat and in daily life. The emphasis however on controlling your senses focuses, in particular, on celibacy or abstinence from sexual activity.
In this way yoga is similar to many other spiritual traditions in that it asks us to restraint, contain and control our sexual urges. It is believed that sex depletes the psychic and nervous system. To work with the higher limbs of yoga dharana, dhyana, samadhi requires an enormous amount of energy so abstinence from sexual activity is required.
Perhaps for the modern person, brahmacharya is about not wasting precious time and energy on activities, conversations and thoughts that do not nourish the soul. A yoga or meditation practice (though to me one in the same yoga = meditation) is an opportunity each day to access how best to approach the day. On the mat, for example, do I use all my energy during the warm up and have no juice left to approach or explore a pose more deeply and is this how I go about my day...my life.
Enjoy, breathe your spirit fully into life.
"Practice of Brahmacharya gives good health, inner strength, peace of mind and long life. It invigorates the mind and nerves. It helps to conserve physical and mental energy. It augments memory, will force and brain power. It bestows tremendous strength, vigour and vitality. Strength and fortitude are obtained... He who is established in Brahmacharya will have lustrous eyes, a sweet voice and a beautiful complexion."
Swami Sivananda,
Quote from the official website of Advaita Yoga Ashram http://yoga108.org/
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