My dear Yogis and Yoginis,
Coming to the third Niyama which is Tapas
(Burning, discipline)
One could think right away of the rather tasty little food dishes in Spain, but it is nothing even close to it.
“Physical impurities are burned out through asana and pranayama practice. the discipline of meditation removes unconscious patterns from the mind that haunt and limit you. Practice daily to find comfort, tolerance and peace.”
~ Alan Finger
(How to expand the little self to merge into the big self)
~ ~ ~
“Traditionally yoga practice is a spiritual journey that aims to cleanse the body and mind of old and destructive habit patterns.
These patterns are called samskaras in Sanskrit, and we all have them.
Since samskaras are the most manifested embodiments of our thoughts and personality, we are very identified with them – and it
often causes us great emotional turmoil to change them.
There is a powerful inertia that drives the samskara cycle and, if left unchecked, the pattern will continue largely driven by unconscious motivating forces. Some samskaras are said to be benign, meaning that they do not generate further suffering. But the majority of the ones that govern our lives are not beneficial to our liberation and will
ultimately lead to more suffering. Working with the samskaras is like performing a deep operation of the mind; it isn’t something that can be undertaken in a haphazard manner…
This is Where Tapas Comes In …
Calls for discipline can be unpopular, and even sometimes thought of as negative. In our free-thinking, self-invented culture, many people hate the idea of following the rules.
Well, in the yoga practice, there is a long history of the need for a
disciplined approach to spiritual practice. Called Tapas in Sanskrit,
discipline is discussed in all traditional forms of yoga practice.
Sometimes Tapas can be translated as austerities, which can be even more intimidating.
A softer translation comes from Swami Satchidananda, where Tapas is defined as the acceptance of those pains that lead to purification.
I love this definition because some overzealous students hear
discipline and use it as an excuse to practice with harshness and
severity, and even turn the practice into a kind of penance.
But, yoga is rooted in the path of balance, and extreme hardship is simply not recommended. Discipline in the yoga practice actually comes from love.”
~ Yoga Journal
“… Tapas begins with temporarily or permanently denying ourselves a particular desire – having a satisfying cup of coffee, a piece of
chocolate, or casual sex. Instead of instant gratification, we choose postponement. Then, gradually, postponement can be stepped up to become complete renunciation.
This kind of challenge to our habit patterns causes a certain degree of frustration in us. We begin to “stew in our own juices,” and this
generates psychic energy that can be used to power the process of
self-transformation.
So frustration need not be a negative experience.
It is bound to feel that way so long as we are blindly attached to the object of whatever desire remains unfulfilled. But if we are able to
understand how the mind functions and see the value in going beyond attachment, we can derive great spiritual benefit even from
frustration. And as we become increasingly able to gain control over our impulses, we experience the delight that underlies creative
self-frustration. We see that we are growing and that self-denial need not necessarily be unrewarding …”
~ Georg Feuerstein
Monday 03.10.
Let the breath move you
Slow Flow
Wednesday 05.10.
Finding your roots
Flow
Thursday 06.10.
Open Theme
Yogis Choice
Friday 07.10.
Moving from the Pelvis
Flow
I am proud of you that you show up for yourself and your
yoga practice regularly!
Love,
Nicole