The niyamas are: purity, contentment, austerity, self-study, and surrender to Īśvara.

The five niyamas are personal observances:

Śauca: external and internal purity, cleanliness of body and mind.

Saṃtoṣa: contentment, satisfaction with what one has.

Tapas: discipline, the transforming heat of conscious effort.

Svādhyāya: study of sacred texts and self-observation.

Īśvara praṇidhāna: surrender to the supreme principle.

The last three niyamas are the same components of kriyā yoga (sutra 2.1). They appear here integrated into the complete aṣṭāṅga system.

While the yamas regulate relationships with others, the niyamas cultivate the relationship with oneself and with the sacred.