Tapas & Svadhyaya: The Ketchup And Mayo Of Your Asana Practice

What's with the condiment analogy? And what does it have to do with your yoga practice, and life in general?

I'll start with the sauces... Maybe it's a German thing, but nothing goes together with a bowl of fries quite like the mix of ketchup and mayo 😋 Please tell me you agree!

Another match made in heaven is the combo of Tapas and Svadhyaya. See what I did there....

Tapas and Svadhyaya are two of the five Niyamas, which are the second limb of Patanjali's 'Eight Limbs of Yoga'. In yoga philosophy, the Niyamas represent a set of ethical observances or personal disciplines that guide us as practitioners towards a more harmonious and fulfilling life. Tapas and Svadhyaya are number 3 and 4, coming after Saucha (Purity/Cleanliness) and Santosha (Contentment), and before Ishvara Pranidhana (Surrender to the Divine).

So how do they influence our asana practice, and play complementary roles in the journey towards growth and self-discovery?

Tapas refers to discipline, or a burning enthusiasm. It's the effort, commitment and determination to pursue your practice with dedication. It actually has many meanings and how it's expressed in you can be different to someone else's experience. But essentially it's the fiery passion that feeds our sense of purpose. In a practical sense, it's your dedication to maintain a regular yoga practice (Sadhana), to challenge yourself physically and mentally on the mat, and to find resilience in the face of obstacles. Tapas is your vehicle to develop strength, perseverance and willpower, which are all essential qualities to progress in your practice.

Svadhyaya translates to self-study, or self-reflection. It's the exploration of your own thoughts, emotions, beliefs and behaviours; the introspection that gains a deeper insight into oneself. Through Svadhyaya, you cultivate self-awareness, self-acceptance, and self-realisation, leading to personal transformation and growth. In our practice it's seen through understanding and acknowledging your own limitations. And they'll vary daily, depending on what side of the bed you woke up on, what time of day you practice, what happened the day before, plus everything else going on in every waking moment!

So why did I put them together in a strength class?

Yoga at its most defining point is the control of the modifications of the mind (Yoga Sutra 1.2: Yogas Chitta Vritti Nirodha). And this takes discipline. So in order to progress in your asana practice, discipline is an absolute necessity.

Challenging yourself to move with grace, strength, focus and perseverance, even when faced with intensity or discomfort, is to progress in your practice. And it brings with it a purifying effect as the heat generated releases tension, and cultivates vitality and energy. But all go and no slow can bring with it problems! The unrelenting want to get better in spite of your limitations often leads to pain or even damage, especially in the physical. How many of us have pushed it to reach the full expression of a posture, only to injure ourselves and be put back months. I think if you ask any committed Ashtanga yoga practitioner, they'll all tell you they've battled injury at some stage.

That's where Svadhyaya joins the show. When interwoven throughout your practice, Svadhyaya invites mindfulness and self-awareness. It encourages us to observe thoughts, sensations and emotions, without judgement, allowing for deeper introspection and self-reflection. If Tapas takes us to the limit in pursuit of progress, Svadhyaya is the wise council standing on the edge telling us that's enough for today, just before we race off the cliff. It gives us insight into habitual patterns, limiting beliefs and areas for growth, allowing us to point the energy in the right direction. All while standing tall when our ego wants to take over and push us beyond what's necessary.

Together, especially in stronger Vinyasa practices, Tapas and Svadhyaya create the balance of an integrated and intelligent practice. Embracing both cultivates resilience on your mat, but also a self-awareness that supports quality of movement and longevity in your practice. And of course, these traits can be carried out into the world well beyond your mat. In every aspect of life we can use Tapas and Svadhyaya to find the edge between the pursuit of greatness and observation of where limitations exist.

Where could you invite a little more Tapas or Svadhyaya into your life?