Now let’s begin our discussion about the second limb on the 8-Limbed Path of Yoga: spiritual observances known as Niyamas.

The five Niyamas are:
Saucha meaning cleanliness/purity
Santosa meaning contentment
Tapas discipline
Svadyaya meaning self study
Isvara Pranidhana meaning dedication to a higher power

Saucha
Saucha refers to cleanliness/purity. We purify our bodies through the practice of yoga postures (asanas), which tone the entire body and remove toxins and impurities. Breathing exercises (pranayama) cleanse and aerate the lungs and oxygenate our blood while purifying the nerves. Cleanliness does not just apply to your surroundings; it also refers to purity of your body, mind, and spirit, as well as your thoughts and emotions.

With continued practice of Yoga, we begin to cleanse our mind of old emotions, thought patterns and behaviors (samskaras) and become more clear and uncluttered in our thoughts. In our yoga practice, Saucha keeps our “world” (our yoga mats) clean, lining up in an orderly fashion in class, and cleaning up after ourselves.

Saucha not only applies to physical aspects of our life; there is an energy behind cleanliness that helps to clear the mind and promotes a general sense of well-being and relaxation. Don’t you just feel better when things are in order in your home or your life; and when your mind and body are clear of thoughts and emotions? A question you can ask yourself is: “do you live your life on ‘automatic pilot’, reacting on impulse vs responding consciously to life’s moments?”

Santosa
In many of the translations of Yoga Sutra II:42, Santosa, meaning contentment, can create a sense of peace with everything we do. It is being content with everything in our lives whether it is good, bad, or indifferent. Rather than having expectations, ideals, or projections about the outcome of life, can we be at peace with ourselves, our lives and others just as they are? When we have no attachment (that’s the Yama aparigraha coming into play) to the outcome or the result of a situation we can begin to cultivate Santosa.

For me personally, contentment took time and practice; but learning to accept the things in my life instead of focusing on the how things could, should, or would have been has made my life and sufferings much easier to deal with. I find it much easier to see everything as a lesson to be learned about my own self, rather than wallow in the outcome. Yoga, after all, is the practice of self-acceptance; the process of self-realization.

In your Yoga practice, you can begin cultivate Santosa (also Samtosha) by beginning to notice yourself. Notice your thoughts, emotions, feelings and reactions, then begin to tell yourself it’s “OK”. Can you be “ok” with what is happening in the moment, rather than working for the glory of the pose?

Remember, yoga eventually becomes effortless and easy when we can be content, or at peace with what is happening in the moment, rather than striving for a perceived outcome or result. This may take practice, discipline, faith and commitment, but the joy that comes from contentment is boundless and infinite.

Tapas
We can use the next Niyama, Tapas, to help us burn away the Samskaras (conditioned patterns) that keep us from being content. Tapas may be translated as “self-discipline,” “effort,” or "internal fire.” One goal of tapas is to stop anything you do mindlessly because you’ve become habituated. When you use your will (self-discipline) to overcome your conditioning, you free yourself from the many unconscious actions that cause suffering. The effort you use when you engage tapas is directed toward cultivating healthful habits and breaking unhealthful ones. It is the desire to do the yoga practice, and the discipline and commitment to stick with it. Yoga takes concentration, dedication and determination, with an attitude of enthusiasm.

In my life, it used to take tapas, that discipline/effort/inner fire. to practice daily, but now practice has become effortless. It is the boundless joy I receive from my practice that keeps me coming back to my mat on a daily basis. Yoga is no longer a discipline to me, but a way of life.

Connect to your own determination and will, (“internal fire”) and begin to develop the skill of witnessing rather than thinking. In this way, you build the capacity to being content with strong sensation, and you get to answer the question: What is my real limit? In your own practice can you cultivate an attitude of loving kindness, contentment, and non-judgment? Remember it’s not about the “perfect” pose; it’s the journey that takes you there. Yes, discipline may be a path to happiness, just be open to the possibility!

Svadhyaya
Sva means “self”; and adhyaya means “education of”; Svadhyaya, the study of the self, is also, the study of the ancient scriptures pertaining to Yoga (The Vedas, Upanishads, Bhagavad Gita, and The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, for example). My first teacher, Jimmy Barkan, used to end class by saying “Yoga, is the union of the body, mind and spirit; the path to self-realization.” At first I did not quite understand what that meant, but the more I practiced, the more I realized about myself. I began to realize my own actions and reactions actually helped create problems in my life; not solve them. Through the practice of self-study I began to take responsibility for my own actions, rather than making excuses or blaming and pointing fingers at others.

Yoga is the path to Self-Realization; through meditation and contemplation of our own life’s lessons; our emotions, thoughts and reactions; you begin to learn about yourself. When we reflect on our own flaws rather than others, we have the opportunity to grow and allow our mistakes to become lessons. After all it’s easy to point your fingers at others, but can you look at yourself in the same discerning way? In your life and yoga practice, begin to become the observing witness, like you are watching yourself on TV…begin to notice what’s happening within your sensations, thoughts, emotions, feelings, and most importantly your breath; empower yourself through the process of self study.

Ishvara Pranidhana
Patanjali defines “isvara” as “Lord” and the word “pranidhana” means practicing the presence, dedication, devotion and surrender of the fruits of practice. To me, it is the surrender of attachment to the outcome of actions to whatever higher power that you believe in. Yoga is a spiritual practice but not a religion; yoga is a science and vehicle that enables you to understand your own beliefs better. Though most Western yoga does not focus on God as a path to enlightenment; the classical work, Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras, states that devotion to the Lord is one of the main avenues to enlightenment.

Personally, having trust and faith that there is a higher power guiding me at all times has made my life a whole lot easier. It’s a practice of letting go of my fears and hopes of the future; one I practice daily, and just like life, some days are better than others. Remember: to surrender doesn’t mean we just give up! A good meditation is to notice when you have fear or expectations; then question where it is in the body, why do you have it, and does it serve you well? Then take it to your mat! Yoga, Meditation and Pranayama enables you to release, connect and surrender to your own true nature, which underneath it all is divine, loving and peaceful. Trusting that when another door closes, another will open is no easy feat; it takes tremendous strength. To surrender the fruits of our actions to a higher power requires that we give up the egotistical illusion that we know best. Whatever higher power you believe in, try surrendering yourself and your practice to that power; and just notice and observe how that makes you feel in your own body, mind and spirit; not only on the mat, but off the mat as well.