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Niyamas

the attitudes we adopt toward ourselves

 

Saucha

Cleanliness. Śauca has both an inner and an outer aspect.Outer cleanliness simply means keeping ourselves clean. Inner cleanliness has as much to do with the healthy, free functioning of our bodily organs as with the clarity of our mind. Practicing āsanas or prāṇāyāma are essential means for attending to this inner śauca


Santosha

Modesty and the feeling of being content with what we have. Often we hope for a particular result to ensue from our actions, and we are just as often disappointed. But there is no need to despair—rather, we should accept what has happened. That is the real meaning of saṃtośa—to accept what happens Saṃtośa encompasses our mental activities such as study, our physical efforts, and even how we earn our living. It is about ourselves—what we have and how we feel about what God has given us.


Tapas

Tapas refers to the activity of keeping the body fit. Literally it means to heat the body and, by so doing, to cleanse it. Behind the notion of tapas lies the idea that we can get rid of the rubbish in our body“Another form of tapas is paying attention to what we eat. Eating when we are not hungry is the opposite of tapas. Attention to body posture, attention to eating habits, attention to breathing patterns—these are all tapas that help to prevent the buildup of rubbish in the body, including excess weight and shortness of breath. Tapas makes the whole body fit and well functioning

Svadyaya

To get close to yourself, that is, to study and observe yourself. All learning, all reflection, all contact that helps you to learn more about yourself is svādhyāya. Also the study of sacred texts or “the repetition of mantras.”


Ishwara Pranidhana

To lay all your actions at the feet of God or higher power which in turn becomes us surrendering to our highest self. Since avidyā (lack of clarity) often underlies our actions, things frequently go wrong. Letting the higher self become the driver means that our discernment leads us to better choices and ultimately a better life