The Yamas and Niyamas are the great discipline and devotion principles of the Yoga Sutras. When practiced, these ‘disciplines and devotions’ will concentrate the pranic life-force in your body to the degree where you will not get distracted by anything that’s not truly important to your life. The real gold is that it allows you to be free.
People often think discipline causes you to be less free. The right kind of discipline gives you freedom and the ability to truly enjoy your life because it ‘balances the books’. You can be happy and humorous, you’re clear on your life and you know what’s important to you.