The Inner World of Niyamas

In part one we discussed the Yamas. Read the article here. Part two will look into the Niyamas, which are positive duties or observances. As the Yamas are more directed towards society, the Niyamas are more internally directed.

Śaucha

Saucha means cleanliness or purity.

A certain hygiene is required to live a healthy life. As yoga is practiced in groups, cleanliness is an important aspect. It is instrumental in keeping an appropriate class “climate”. Today, most of us have access to a shower, however in the past, running water was not available to everyone. Due to this, there was a great challenge for maintaining proper hygiene. In addition, upholding purity can mean not overdoing it with perfumes or deodorant before you practice.

As well as your physical body, remember to assess your surroundings as well. How clean is the space you are living in, for example, your closets? The more order and cleanliness you can bring into your life, the more relaxed your mind will be. No more “where did I put this?” or “how do I make more money to pay for the extra storage?”. Think Aparigraha.

A further aspect of the Niyama of Saucha is cleanliness and purity of the mind. What are you bringing to your practice? Can you peacefully leave your cell phone outside? Do you feel a need to bring your purse next to your mat? The pure presence of those things can distract your mind. Firstly, make sure you practice yoga in a clean and undisturbed space. One where you only bring to it those essential items that truly enhance your practice. Secondly, the process of eliminating destructive and self-harming thoughts can be practiced in meditation. Learning that we control the mind and the mind does not control us is the first step to cleaning the clutter of the mind.

Besides the body and mind, Saucha traditionally refers to speech as well. It is important to be mindful of your words and eliminate gossip and cynical comments, whether written or spoken.

Santosa (pronounced Santosha)

Santosa means contentment and acceptance.

This Niyama can be applied today exactly as it was traditionally taught.
We should not mistake acceptance for running away from, or avoiding a situation. “Acceptance in this context implies the willingness to see clearly and truly and go into the places that scare you.” Yoga Journal

With any unpleasant components of your life, the first step of practicing Santosa is to be honest with yourself. Acknowledge them. This honesty is a necessary first step to begin healing or improving your present condition.

Take a moment and look within, have you been completely honest with yourself this week? Maybe you need a break and you are not willing to admit that you are exhausted. Try to honestly ask yourself what you are not accepting. Try doing it without judging yourself or others and then accept whatever comes up. Furthermore, try to distance yourself from being attached to the outcomes of your work. Enjoy and appreciate what you have right now, in the present moment.

Tapas

Tapas means discipline and persistence.

Today, as in the past, yoga is first and foremost about discipline. Expanding on that, tapas also consist of rituals and routines. This Niyama is all about showing up. Showing up for your yoga practice on the mat. Reminding yourself to breathe in challenging situations. Remembering to take 15 to 20 minutes a day to sit in silence and train your mind.

In Ashtanga Vinyasa, the heat produced in the practice is considered tapas. As such, a strong dedicated practice can be considered part of your tapas practice.

To pick your daily tapas, choose something that would require you to practice discipline. Make it something new that you are not doing already. Something which will benefit your spiritual path. This could be adding a cold shower first thing in the morning to your routine. By doing so, not only will you be enhancing Saucha, you will be strengthening your discipline and willpower.

Svadhyaya

Svadhyaya means self-study and study of sacred scriptures.

Traditionally this Niyama refers to the study of sacred texts in addition to the paradigm of study. It invites the student to be open-minded when studying and respect the teachings. It refers to the fact that a yogi is first and foremost a lifelong student. This includes teachers of yoga as well. In our modern times the focus on yoga has become very physical. Ask your teacher about including some more Dharma talks into the class. Or why not connect with like-minded yogis to form study groups for sacred texts. Start with the Sutras or the Bhagavad Gita.

It is not only about reading those texts and understanding them. It is also about implementing what is useful for you into your life. In addition to the ancient texts, modern texts can also be studied. Read the Doron Yoga Manual for a more modern version of yoga. 

Isvarapranidhana

The Niyama of Isvarapranidhana stands for devotion; traditionally towards God.

Today many yoga teachers use the term God anymore. Universe, higher consciousness or divine are often used as synonyms for religion. As a result, in the last centuries, the term God has developed a bit of an aftertaste for some. Whatever term you feel confident and comfortable with, the niyama of Isvarapranidhana is about surrendering. It is about devoting one’s actions to something higher. Acknowledging that we are all one and the biggest illusion of our times is separation.

Offering your actions to the divine can also mean offering them to humanity. Your practice here will be in doing good without accepting something in return. This is similar to Karma Yoga (the yoga of action). Letting go of control is often a difficult task for us. Letting go of control also means surrendering to the ultimate reality. Be aware this doesn’t mean just standing still and waiting for life to happen to you.

Practice all Yamas and Niyamas and the Universe will be very willing to play with you.

Read part 3 here.

About the Author

This blog post is written by Julia Grässer, Doron Yoga Teacher alumni. She did her 300h yoga teacher studies at Doron Yoga & Zen Center. As part of her thesis she writes articles about the practical implementation of yoga in our modern times.
This series of Yoga Philosophy blog posts provides a taste of her theoretical studies. Please feel free to comment and share your thoughts here, email Julia directly at julia@warriorprincessyoga.net or visit her website.