The teachings of yoga that guide us to peace and liberation were developed thousands of years ago, and continue to hold relevance today because they're effective and timelessly true. In all aspects of our lives, on or off the mat, we can practice yoga through the practices listed below, in pursuit of cultivating joy from within. The meaning of "yoga" is "to unite," derived from Sanskrit origins. This refers to the expansion of our individual consciousness to unite with the Universal Consciousness, a journey to enlightenment. During the early development of yoga, The ancient sage Patanjali came up with eight stages to describe this journey to liberation from suffering and unity with the divine. To get a better grasp on the eight limbs of yoga, check out our article,The Eight Limbs of Yoga.
Yoga asks us to look deeply inward, to reflect on our habits of the mind to uplift our state of being. The inward movement of our senses to observe and control our habits is described in the second limb of yoga, Niyama. Niyama means "inward control" or "observances," and it serves as a guide to self discipline and spiritual practice. Learning to see discipline as a form of self care can help with the process changing one's habits. The first limb of yoga, Yama, shows us how we can lead an ethical life through self reflection and values such as truthfulness and nonviolence. We will focus on the second limb of yoga here, but to learn more about the first limb you can refer to our article: Yoga's Ethical Guide for Social Conduct: The Yamas.
The 5 Niyamas:
Saucha or Cleanliness
Saucha lies the foundation before beginning one's yoga practice. Cleanliness of one's mind, body and soul will allow for the benefits of practice to reap greater rewards of clarity and peace. Saucha guides us to ask ourselves-- How can we cultivate cleanliness in the mind? Directing one's energy to positive thoughts and consciously choosing to act with good, pure intention is a way we can practice Saucha. Our thoughts are powerful forces of energy, by directing our thoughts away from judgement and greed, it becomes easier to live with more clarity. The intention of cleanliness in our physical body can come to action with healthy eating and practicing yoga asana in a clean space.
Santosha or Contentment
Yoga teaches us that we can be fulfilled with what we have from within. Santosha is rooted in detachment from the external world: people, possessions, titles, etc. This idea of detachment does not have to mean that we don't strive for goals or love other people, but it means that we are able to feel peace and joy independent of what we attain. In a yoga asana practice, this may look like making peace with your body and its strength, flexibility, and weight as it is.
Tapas or Discipline
Tapas is at the core of one's yoga practice, it's the passion and drive that brings us back within, through mindset, meditation, postures, or study of truthful knowledge. Discipline may look different for each of us, for some it may be having or adding a consistent meditation practice, for others it may be building their core strength, to ingite that inner fire, agni. Consistency is very important for reaping the benefits of whichever practice you need most in your life. As an example, we can cultivate tapas through burning away negative thought patterns, such as "I am not good enough." Practicing yoga consistently, despite negative thoughts or not wanting to, builds character that cascades good changes in other areas of our life.
Svadyaya or Self/Spiritual Study
Svadyaya enables us to expand beyond our current state of being by looking within and reflecting on our habits and spiritual scriptures that inspire us. Studying the self often only requires awareness and observation of one's thoughts. When we can observe our fears and desires, and separate from them over time, we create space to bring in spiritual wisdom and unite with our higher self. Studying spiritual scriptures such as the The Yoga Sutra's of Patanjali, The Bhagavad Gita, and The Hatha Yoga Pradipika provide deep spiritual knowledge for those interested in delving into yogic wisdom. However, these books are not the only way to study spiritual scriptures, inspiration can come from a short passage or quote too. Remain curious about your yoga practice and ask yourself about your priorities and intentions every day. Congrats! You are currently practicing Svadyaya by reading this article and seeking spiritual knowledge for your well being.
Isvara Pranidhana or Surrender to Higher Power
Surrendering to a higher power, may it be god, the universe, or whatever you believe in comes with such a relief. However this practice, like many others, is easier said than done. It can be great to cultivate on the mat, as we are aiming to reach a posture, though we may not achieve it in that moment of effort. Yoga can teach us that we are only in control of our action, the effort we put forth, but we must surrender the outcome, because it is beyond our control. We can practice detachment better this way too, because we aren't attached to the result of our actions. Isvara Pranidhana helps us connect with the greater picture and trust that this path may not always be comfortable, but it can be peaceful and eventually lead to liberation.
References
Newlyn E., The Yamas and Niyamas, Ekhart Yoga.
Published 2/27/25
Article By Kaylee
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