Tapas – Discipline
Yoga encourages tapas which is literally translated as heat / fire. This Niyama is known to refer to discipline. The word discipline has a negative connotation for many of us. …
Niyama
Ishwara Pranidhana
Ishwara is understood as being beyond one form yet expressed through all forms. Pranidhana means surrendering, dedicating or devotion. Thus, Ishwara Pranidhana can be translated as surrendering to a higher …
Saucha – Purity
Saucha has been translated as purity; purity of the body and mind. Yogis are encouraged to keep the body pure and clean, watch what they eat and how it effects …
Svadyaya – Study of the Self (Mind)
Adyaya means study and sva means self. Svadyaya can be considered as both the understanding of the Self by asking the question “who am I” and also cultivating the skill …
Svadyaya – Study of the Self
Self study in yoga is not about finding reasons for the way we are. It is not about digging into the past and finding out all the whys. This would …
Santosha – Contentment
In Yoga we are taught to cultivate santosha translated as contentment or happiness. My personal experience of this practice shows me that one of the greatest obstacles to attaining contentment is fear. …