NIYAMA (Personal Observances)

Niyama literally means positive duties or observances.  Niyamas are rules or laws.  In Indian traditions, particularly Yoga, niyamas and its complement, Yamas, are recommended activities and habits for healthy living, spiritual enlightenment and liberated state of existence.  It has multiple meanings depending on context in Hinduism.  In Buddhism, the term extends to the determinations of nature, as in the Buddhist niyama dhammas.  In Pāli the spelling niyāma is often used.

Niyamas represent, ‘do these’ list of observances, and together Yamas and Niyamas are personal obligations to live well.

1 - Sauca (Purity, Cleanliness)
The first niyama is sauca, meaning purity and cleanliness. Sauca 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 asanas or pranayama are essential means for attending to this inner sauca.  Asanas tone the entire body and remove toxins while pranayama cleanses our lungs, oxygenates our blood and purifies our nerves.  ‘But more important than the physical cleansing of the body is the cleansing of the mind of its disturbing emotions like hatred, passion, anger, lust, greed, delusion and pride.’

Sauca in daily life-

a.      Keep body and mind clean.

b.     Keep home clean; office desk/ school bench and lockers clean

c.      Help society, city and nation to maintain cleanliness.

Sauca in yoga class-

a.     Keep the yoga space clean.

b.    Practice yoga with clean body and mind.

2 - Santosa (Contentment)
Another niyama is santosa, modesty and the feeling of being content with what we have. To be at peace within and content with one's lifestyle finding contentment even while experiencing life’s difficulties for life becomes a process of growth through all kinds of circumstances. We should accept that there is a purpose for everything - yoga calls it karma – and we cultivate contentment, 'to accept what happens'.  It means being happy with what we have rather than being unhappy about what we don't have.

Santosa should not be confused with being so very content that not try for anything more.  It only means to first be satisfied with what one has, and then try for more without craving.

Santosa in daily life-

a.      Be happy 24x7

b.     Do not crave for anything

c.      Have gratitude

Santosa in yoga class-

a.      Accept your body, your posture, your flexibility as they are.

b.     Be content with everything about the yoga class- the space, environment, teacher, students.

3 - Tapas (Austerity, Disciplined energy use)
Tapas refers to the activity of keeping the body fit or to confront and handle the inner urges without outer show. Literally it means to heat the body and, by so doing, to cleanse it.  Behind the notion of tapas lies the idea we can direct our energy to enthusiastically engage life and achieve our ultimate goal of creating union with the Divine. Tapas helps us burn up all the desires that stand in our way of this goal.  Another form of tapas is paying attention to what we eat.  Attention to body posture, attention to eating habits, attention to breathing patterns - these are all tapas.

Tapas in daily life-

a.      Pay attention to what is eaten.  Do not overeat.  Do not eat Tamasic (non-spiritual) food.

b.     Pay attention to the breath.  Do not be over excited or too fearful of anybody or any situation.  It affects breathing.

c.      Do not be angry.  Anger takes away lot of energy.

Tapas in yoga class-

a.      Practice tapas to heat the body and, by so doing, to cleanse it.  Practice stimulating postures.

4 - Svadhyaya (Self study)
The fourth niyama is svadhyaya.  Sva means, ‘self’ adhyaya means, ‘inquiry’ or ‘examination’. Any activity that cultivates self-reflective consciousness can be considered svadhyaya. It means to intentionally find self-awareness in all our activities and efforts, even to the point of welcoming and accepting our limitations. It teaches us to be centered and non-reactive to the dualities, to burn out unwanted and self-destructive tendencies.

Svadhyaya in daily life-

a.      Do not overreact

b.     Always be proactive; never react negatively

c.      Accept people as they are; do not try to change them.

Svadhyaya in yoga class-

                    a. Analyze your practice of asana and pranayama; and improvise as needed.

5 - Isvarapranidhana (Surrender to God)
Isvarapranidhana means, ‘to lay all your actions at the feet of God.’ It is the contemplation on God (Isvara) in order to become attuned to god and god's will. It is the recognition that the spiritual suffuses everything and through our attention and care we can attune ourselves with our role as part of the Creator.  The practice requires that we set aside some time each day to recognize that there is some omnipresent force larger than ourselves that is guiding and directing the course of our lives.

Isvarapranidhana in daily life-

a.      Daily meditate

b.     Believe in, ‘Everything happens for a reason; and for our good’

c.      Believe that there’s a higher power; that is doing everything.  We are just instrumental in that power’s hands.

Isvarapranidhana in yoga class-

a.     Practice yoga as if offering it entirely to God.