TAPAS

Reading from Tuesday and Wednesday, March 17 and 18, 2015 yoga classes

The third niyama, Tapas, Self-discipline

Definition: The willingness to do whatever it takes to attain a necessary goal.

Tapas is about discipline.  It is defined as "heat" or "fire" and therefore Tapas refers to the fire that brings about transformation.  When we describe someone who is working hard at something, we say that they have a "fire in the belly."  Like a farmer who does a "controlled burn" of his fields, to get new growth to appear.

According to the sages, fire that's created through yoga practice destroys "pollution" in one's consciousness and leads to control of the body and senses.  Therefore, there can be no yoga without Tapas.  In order to affect change on ANY level, whether it is to lose weight, change jobs, achieve a headstand, handstand or upward facing bow pose, or attain enlightenment, we must constantly commit to Tapas.

A requirement of Tapas is to cut through distractions and bring our full attention to the present moment.  So... to apply Tapas we watch the quality of our attention that we bring to anything we do.  How often do we focus 100% on something?  I know for myself, personally, I can say that when I teach yoga, I am 100% focused on teaching yoga...I am not thinking about ANYTHING else.  When we apply this to our yoga practice, we can open it up to a new level. We don't practice mechanically, doing the SAME poses with the SAME intensity every day or week.  Instead we practice mindfully, with determined effort, in order to affect change.  BE THE POSE.  Put the effort in and you will get the change you need.

Tapas may be summed up as:  "Where there's a will, there's a way."

"I want to practice yoga daily, and I will find time for it."

The question then becomes: What are we practicing for?

Will yourself to make one small, positive change everyday.

Practice, and all is coming said Pattabhi Jois

Tapas is growing our ability to stay in the unknown and the unpleasantness, rather than run in fear.  It is the willingness to be both burned and blessed.