- Saucha (cleanliness or self purification)
Saucha translates to cleanliness or purification. Cleanliness of body and mind relating to the way we treat ourselves. From negative thought patterns that we may have to daily habits that do not serve us in a positive way. Saucha is recognising these patterns and habits, working through them to release them and to ultimately let them go. It can be as simple as choosing to nourish our bodies with good food, practicing good hygiene or deeper on a spiritual level by developing a meditation practice to calm our minds or a pranayama and asana practice to move our bodies and cleanse ourselves internally.
- Santosha (contentment)
Santosha translates to contentment or delight, happiness and joy. Santosha is when we can look within ourselves, within our mind our body and our heart and we are at peace with exactly where we are right now. Not living in the past and not living for the future.
As humans we often fall into the trap of ‘I’ll be happy if I can just be…..I’ll be happy when I achieve this…’. With this mindset, our life keeps happening day by day, but we will miss every moment of joy that presents itself daily while we live for the happiness that will come. Many of us also fall into the trap of holding onto past pains, not letting ourselves feel true happiness or peace for a number of reasons, guilt, regret or loss. Santosha teaches us to let go, let be and live in the present.
3. Tapas (discipline)
Tapas translates to heat. Tapas is literally the heat that builds within us when we are determined. It’s what sets us on fire! It’s the discipline and the courage we need to get things done. This can be anything from our hearts desires or goals that we have set for ourselves or the simple tasks we need to do on a daily basis. Our hearts desire may need a fiery tapas full of heat, and the daily task may need only a simmer, either way, you still need the tapas to create the effort.
- Svadhyaya (self study)
Svadhyaya means to recollect the self or self study. This is where we dive deep within ourselves and practice self reflection, self observation. It’s where we learn more about ourselves. Where we become more aware of our behaviour’s that bring us peace or those that may cause us harm, or harm to those around us. Reflection on what we need to do within ourselves. It is also where we are encouraged to learn more about what we love, what inspires us and what brings us joy and to pursue these things.
- Isvara Pranidhana (surrendering to a higher power)
Isvara Pranidhana meaning to surrender or to surrender to a higher power. This can mean many different things to the individual and can also be the hardest for the yogi to understand. For some it may mean to surrender to a higher power meaning god, and to trust in this guidance, but for others it can be to simply relinquish control and to let be what will be. This can be deeper observed through meditation and tuning our attention inwards. Whatever resonates with you this Niyama will peel back all our layers and take us deeper into our own psyche and self awareness.