Just as it is important to incorporate the yams (the five moral restraints) into your yoga practice, you’ll want to incorporate the niyamas (the five observances) into your practice as well. Think about these five observances as your move through each of your asana (poses), and then apply these principles to your daily life.
The first niyama is sauce, or purity. This niyama may inspire you to seek out only the purest of things and thoughts. You may feel prompted to eliminate practices that make you feel ashamed. You may feel moved to make restitution for mistakes. Or perhaps you will decide to purify your body by drinking clean water and refusing to eat foods that are unhealthy. Perhaps you’d like to quit smoking or abstain from alcohol?
Number two on the list of observances is contentment, also referred to as santosa. This is the practice of accepting what you have, and appreciating the blessings in your life. You may wish to practice thanking the Universe for blessings, or writing out lists of things for which you are thankful.
Number three is tapas, which is zeal. You may wish to envision your spiritual, physical, and emotional growth, as it is related to your yoga practice. Relish your eagerness to perform the physical, emotional, and spiritual aspects of the yoga practices.
Number four on the list is svadhyaya, which is the introspective study of the self. Meditate deeply, allowing yourself to explore your inner world, determining what inside you is pleasing and not. Evaluate your intentions, your actions, and your inactions. As you investigate your inner world, criticize, accept, celebrate, and change.
The fifth niyama is isvara-pranidhana, or dedication to your higher power. As you perform the athletically challenging pieces of your yoga practice, you’ll want to invest in the spiritual piece of honoring the divine. You will find the spiritual aspect of your yoga practice will fuel the physical, and vice versa.
Continue to delve deep into the yamas, niyamas, and the other principles behind the physical practice of yoga to reap maximum health benefits.
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