syoga4u

Continuing with the ability to observe and notice ourselves, we’re going to practice some self-awareness again today. 

Here is your invitation to check in on yourself before you start your day. How full do you feel mentally/emotionally? How much spare do you have to give to others today? If you’re feeling super-confident and raring to go, you’re likely to be pretty full. However, if you’re unsure, maybe feeling somewhere less than 70%, think about taking care of yourself first and not giving too much of yourself to others. If you’re feeling a little empty, possibly anything less than 30%, beware of those draining situations, maybe avoiding them all together today and finding some time to nourish yourself. We’ll explore some options for nourishment over the next few days.    

Surrender

Our journey through the Yamas and Niyamas are almost at the end. (We’ll still be counting through December for a bit longer though.) This is our last and is possibly the hardest to analyse. Isvara-panidhara is to surrender or submit. Often translated as surrendering to God but instead let’s use ‘higher power’. This doesn’t have to be an external higher power although it certainly can be. Search inside yourself and you might find your own, your inner self or maybe your divine self. You don’t need to label it, just know it is there. This is what you can surrender to, to accept.

If all this seems too much to take on, maybe today you can let go of something, possibly expectations. You can’t always control results but if you do your best, know that you’ve done your best and maybe surrender to the outcome. This can bring a sense of peace and calmness, when often the unknown brings the opposite.

Surrender yourself to your practice on the mat. Give yourself full permission to be there, feeling present and engaged, allowing you to be the best version of yourself.

Self-Study

Exploring Svadhyaya today is the process on self study. Observing yourself. It is OK to be critical of ourselves but bring balance and find areas that serve us too.  

You have a number of options as to how you invite Svadhyaya into your life today. Maybe check in on yourself throughout the day, notice how you feel, whether you’re working in harmony with yourself or against. Alternatively, Svadhyaya encourages the growth of knowledge. Is there an area that you want to gain more knowledge on, something that fascinates you? How can you pursue this? 

During Asana, your posture on the mat, practice Svadhyaya to find space, allowing yourself to feel and notice.    

Discipline

Tapas is our third Niyama. Loosely translated Tapas can be described as discipline or persistence.

Invite this into your day in a way that suites you but invite it with enthusiasm.  Perhaps working that little bit harder to see a job through. This could even relate to tidying a space in your house or cleaning a room.

By showing up to your yoga class each week or stepping on your mat each day you are practicing Tapas.     

Contentment

Today we look at Santosha or contentment. One of my favourites! Appreciate what you have right now. There is no need to give up on your dreams. You can continue to strive. Use Santosha as a reminder to to come back to contentment, not to always crave more, to live your life in the moment. Santosha allows you to find peace, happiness and enjoyment from the simple things as we no longer hang onto the past, nor do we allow our future to dictate today’s emotions.

You might wish to invite Santosha into your day by finding things to be grateful for today. Try to avoid possessions though.

Bring gratitude into your practice on the mat by finding appreciation, perhaps for your body and breath or the movement it gives you.

Cleanliness & Purity

Our first Niyama is Saucha, cleanliness/purity. Here we look at our health, physically and mentally. This is not only about what we put on and in our body but also the thoughts we chose to dwell on. 

Choose wisely today.  If you wish to focus on the purity of the mind, perhaps work on removing negative tendencies such as jealousy or inflated pride. Alternatively, you could become more aware of what goes into your body and plan your food and drink to replenish and provide you with sense of control.

Taking Saucha onto the mat is to be aware of your thoughts. Start by checking in with your emotions before your practice. How can you support these emotions?  Be kind to yourself.   

Attitude toward ourself

We’re a week in! Thank you for sticking with me. I hope you enjoyed exploring the Yamas. Our journey is now moving from the external to the internal, our environment to ourselves. Over the following five days we’ll delve into the Niyamas.  These again are a set of values but instead of exploring our relationship with the world, these can guide your personal interactions, your behaviour towards yourself.  

Like we did when we started the Yamas, you might want to take today to study yourself, your attitude towards yourself.  Then tomorrow we’ll start with the first Niyama.   

Non-Hoarding

Our last Yama is Aparigraha or non-grasping.  This can relate to both objects or maybe even relationships.  Anything that you can become possessive about.  

Feel free to analyse your relationships today. However, I’m going to make this a little more tangible by suggesting that you to evaluate an area in your home that is cluttered. That kitchen drawer, the cupboard under the stairs, or a box in the garage that hasn’t been opened since you moved in (I think I have one of those).  Have you been hoarding?  What can you let go of that might create some freedom and energy for you?  

During your practice on the mat you might wish to let go of any thoughts you have around how you should look on the mat and allow your mind to focus more on how it feels on the mat.