A Flow to Create Heat
with Paula.
Tapas / A Flow to Create Heat
The third of Patanjali’s Niyamas from the Yoga Sutras is ‘Tapas’, which often translates traditionally as ‘austerity’ or ‘discipline’.
There are five Niyamas:
- Saucha (cleanliness)
- Santosha (Contentment)
- Tapas (Discipline, austerity or ‘burning enthusiasm)
- Svadhyaya (Study of the self and of the texts)
- Isvara Pranidhana (Surrender to a higher being, or contemplation of a higher power)
The word Tapas is derived from the root Sanskrit verb ‘tap’ which means ‘to burn’, and evokes a sense of ‘fiery discipline’ or ‘passion’. In this sense, Tapas can mean cultivating a sense of self-discipline, passion and courage in order to burn away ‘impurities’ physically, mentally and emotionally, and help in paving our way to our true peace and prosperity of our journey both on and off the mat.
Tapas doesn’t have to mean being solemn and serious though, this fieriness is what gets our heart pumping, heightens our desire for personal growth and reminds us of how much we love ourselves, to honour our personal journey and our asana practice!
Now it is important to understand that the word ‘discipline’ doesn’t strictly mean pushing ourselves harder in a physical sense. Sometimes just actually making the time to get on the mat and meditate, or practise for 10 minutes every day is difficult enough! For some, Tapas will mean making time to be still and observing the mind, and for others, it’ll mean working on strength and practising that arm balance or leg strengthening we’ve been putting off. Tapas is an aspect of the inner wisdom that encourages us to practise even when we don’t feel like it, even though we know how good it makes us feel! It’s that fiery passion that makes us get up and do it for the love of it, and by committing to this, the impurities are ‘burned’ away.
Making the decision to go to bed a little earlier so you can wake up well rested is Tapas, not drinking too much or eating unhealthy foods because you want to create balance in your life is Tapas; and the way you feel after an intense yoga class, a blissful Savasana and deep meditation? That’s Tapas too – ‘burning’ away the negative thought patterns and habits we often fall in to.
I hope you enjoy this practice, much love.
Paula