Over the past couple of months we began to explore the yamas, which are considered moral codes to live by. They can and will be challenged depending on the experiences we encounter, but if practiced, they will help us stay focused on what is important. Now we will dive into the Niyamas, which are considered healthy habits to practice to cleanse and purify our body and mind. Another way to think of these is self discipline which can lead to personal growth.
The first niyama is saucha,which means purity and cleanliness. This principle encourages us to keep ourselves and spaces neat and tidy because clutter can bog us down and keep us tethered to things that no longer support us. But it also refers to the clutter in our mind. The thoughts or ideas that we cling to that no longer support us. In yoga, we use the meditative focus on our breath to help create space mentally.
Santosha is the next niyama. This refers to finding contentment with what we have and not longing for more. Taking time to just be in the present moment and not wishing for the past or future can be hard especially when things are challenging. But taking note of what you do have, whether it’s your health, a good friend, a safe space, etc can give you some strength and grace to move onward.
The third niyama is Tapas. This principle is about building grit and resilience and not shying away from the challenges life throws at you. This is not easy. But we often move into a state of avoidance when things get challenging and then we don’t actually move through the situation. Instead it keeps coming back up. As you might be able to see, the previous niyamas can help us get to this state. Purifying our space and thoughts and focusing on what we can appreciate will give us strength to persevere through the challenge. Remember, it’s not easy but on the other side we find growth.
Svadhyaya, or self study, is the fourth niyama. This asks us to spend time in self reflection. All of the precious yamas and niyamas encompass this action. We have to begin to notice how we show up in the world and relate to others and how we conduct ourselves. Through the meditative practice of yoga we can notice our habits and how react to things around us. But you don’t have to be practicing the asanas to self reflect. Notice how you show up to friends, family and strangers. How do you present yourself? How do you react to information or actions? We start to learn a lot about ourselves when we give ourselves the time to reflect.
The last niyama is Ishvara Pranidhana, which refers to cultivating faith in a higher power. This can be but is not limited to a belief in a spiritual being it can also refer to simply the universe or that there’s a bigger purpose or meaning in life than just our own experience. When we step back and appreciate that there is more to life than our own day to day experience we can begin to cultivate a deeper sense of being in the collective world around us.
I hope this background gives you a sense of the deeper philosophy that yoga encompasses. We are not perfect beings but we can try to show up in the world the best that we can each day.
Lastly, I want to thank each and every one of you for allowing me to be part of your wellness journey and reflection. My experience at The Meetinghouse has been a wonderful experience. I will miss the community but I also know that your in good hands and the wellness offering will continue to grow and flourish.
