If the Yamas speak of our relationship with the world, the Niyamas speak of our relationship with ourselves. They are the second limb of Patañjali’s path.
The five Niyamas
- Saucha, purity: cleanliness of the body, our living space and our thoughts. Food and habits that leave us feeling light.
- Santosha, contentment: a deep calm with what is, which we can cultivate even in hard times.
- Tapas, discipline: the heat of steady effort. Practising even when we don’t feel like it, with love and without rigidity.
- Svadhyaya, self-study: studying ourselves and the texts that inspire us. Observing our patterns with curiosity.
- Ishvara Pranidhana, surrender: trusting something greater than ourselves and letting go of control over outcomes.
A suggestion
Choose one Niyama for this week. If it’s Saucha, tidy a corner of your home. If it’s Tapas, practise ten minutes every morning. If it’s Svadhyaya, write down three things you learned about yourself each night. Small, sustained gestures transform more than grand resolutions.
