#26: The Niyamas
The Niyamas are the second limb from Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras.
The Niyamas are about how we relate to ourselves but with a view to being of use to the world around us.
They are, in a sense, the guidelines for how to move through life; the way to live.
Also known as the ‘inner observances’, or the ‘personal disciplines’, essentially, the Niyamas are about the way we behold, respect and conduct ourselves.
As always, please take my words only as a suggestion. As a way for you to consider the Niyamas for yourself.
I encourage further reading and contemplation and I hope that my sentiments are used as a springboard for your own meanings to arise.
So, please, take what resonates, and leave the rest.
Saucha (cleanliness, or purity)
Concerned not just with the literal cleanliness of our bodies and environment, it can also relate to the things that we do and everything that we consume, such as the foods that we eat, and the cleanliness of our minds, the ideas that we entertain and the quality of our thoughts.
Santosha (contentment)
Being in the here and now and happy enough with what we have, Santosha enables us to be appreciative and responsible for ourselves and our own feelings of contentment. As opposed to banking on happiness when or if something happens at a later date.
Tapas (discipline)
To me, this means having a sense of self-discipline and fulfilling our spiritual potential.
It’s not about pushing ourselves to do anything that we don’t really want to do, but more the fact that anything deemed worthy will demand our hard work and dedication.
Svadhyaya (self-study)
Knowing ourselves - as we are - and understanding our tendencies and patterns of behaviour can be incredibly useful when it comes to identifying what this life of ours might be about. Seeing through the layers of stuff (which we all have) and liberating the true Self underneath.
Ishvara Pranidhana (surrender to a higher power)
I like to think of this one as having a sense of acceptance and wonder. In a way, it’s about letting go and surrendering to something greater than ourselves. Perhaps something far beyond our comprehension.
The Niyamas are a beautiful and powerful philosophy to be aware of. Not just in terms of how we know, understand, and feel about ourselves, but how we move through the world and allow life to unfold.
Please find below this month’s journal prompts, Spotify playlist and further reading resources.
And, as ever, I’d love to know your thoughts.
The comments are open to everybody, so please feel free. Or, if you’d prefer, I welcome private messages as well.
And if you are subscribed to TYL for writers, I’ll be in touch in a couple of weeks with more of my reflections of the Niyamas.
With kindness,
Louisa
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P.S. I hope you enjoy this video of my latest favourite Ram Dass track!
Further reading:
Yoga Philosophy Basics: The Five Niyamas
5 Ways to Put the Niyama Into Practice Right Now
Thank you!