It is our vision that we can all live a peaceful existence. On this page we look at offering some ways that you practice Yoga off The Mat. In order to lead a peaceful existence, practitioners of yoga can incorporate the 8 limbs of yoga into daily life. Understanding and exploring yogic philosophy can be a life changing and gratifying way of experiencing and embracing “yoga off the mat”. The Yamas and Niyamas
Some practical examples integrated with yogic philosophy of the Niyamas or “positive duties” are explored below.
Tapas or Self Discipline
Tapas encourages us to have the discipline to the show up and show up fully for whatever it is that we are putting our minds to. The concept of self discipline or delayed gratification is common amongst spiritual practices. In fact, tap is derived from the root of the word meaning heat or fire in sanskrit. Relative to reaching personal growth goals, which many yoga practitioners seek when approaching the practice, tapas encourages the yogi to make intentional considered choices which may serve a longer term goal.
Santosha
Santosha translates from Sanskrit to contentment. It is about focusing on what we do have an perhaps accepting the nature of things the way they are, rather than the way we would like them to be.
7 Ways to Practice Contentment in your daily life
Keep a gratitude journal which focuses on what you do have, rather than what is missing in your life. You'll be amazed at how your mindset shifts when your perspective shifts
Take a walk outdoors and look around you. Appreciate the beauty of mother nature.
Breathe deeply. Repeat this. Take a moment to appreciate how wonderful it is to be alive.
When meeting a situation, instead of moving from a place of judgement of how you would like things to be, instead come from a place of acceptance. Let go of any expectations of desired outcomes
Lift each corner of your mouth. Appreciate how nice it is to be alive
Accept yourself, honour both your flaws and your qualities.
Choose an attitude of happiness. Accept what you cannot change, appreciate those who help you, be open to receiving positive energy.
Satya
The niyama “Satya” translates to truth or honesty. We look at how we can incorporate satya in our daily lives, in it’s purest form energetically speaking, it costs more energy to tell a lie than to speak the truth.
Some ways we can practice Satya in our daily life:
Communicate clearly - avoid telling “half truths”, after all, when you tell the truth you will never have to repeat a lie. Clear is kind. It is common practice to tell “white lies” - those which are intended to protect the listeners ego or emotions, however, in the long run, white lies do more harm than good by delivering a warped reality and eventually discrediting the speaker.
Know what you stand for. Take some time each morning to really consider what your daily purpose is, then allow yourself to become very clear on your personal values and how your actions align with them.
** Please note, Lux Wellbeing promotes the inclusion of fitness or a yoga practice in your wellness regime as a complement to other therapies you may engage in. It is not intended to replace the use of prescription medication or other forms psychiatric or psychological support you may be receiving
Asteya - Non Stealing
When we practice asteya, we acknowledge the importance of an honest energy exchange. If we take something that does not belong to us, wether this be a physical object or credit for an idea or piece of prose or poetry, there is imbalanced exchange of energy. As was described to me during teacher training- it can be an honour to publicly quote or acknowledge the works of others, however it is misleading to pass these ideas off as your own. In the same way, if we take an object that is not ours, we may later experience a sense of discomfort with the stolen item. Therefore, when we practice non-stealing, or asteya, we can live with an enlightened mind.
Aparigraha - Non Clinging
Aparigraha, the niyama of Non-Clinging or non-attachment is often explored by yoga teachers and practitioners in a sense of “letting go” - whether this be of fixed ideas about the self that no longer serve us, or of items that we are hoarding which no longer serve a purpose in our lives. Some more traditional perspectives explore the idea of non attachment in the sense of releasing emotions or toxic relationships that do not serve them. In a physical sense, we can practice letting go by releasing tension through our exhale, which can be incorporated in simple breathing practices.
Ahimsa - Non Violence or Kindness
Kindness or nonviolence can show up in many ways and is a familiar concept in the wellness industry and among many spiritual groups and communities. Participants of the Alcoholics Anonymous community, for example, are familiar with the concept of doing anonymous good deeds, or in the Tibetan and Bhuddist practices, good karma is created by doing deeds. Some practitioners of yoga follow a vegetarian or vegan lifestyle as a way of reducing their carbon footprint and practicing non-violence to animals, however not all practitioners and teachers omit animal consumption and may instead choose to consume ethically sourced meat or line caught seafood.
Saucha - purification, cleanliness
Cleanliness or self purification is a concept practiced by yogis and incorporated in the yogic practice which can be observed by the either the physical environments in which yogis practice or through purification of the mental modifications of the mind-stuff (Patanjali). If you’re a keen yoga practitioner and you’ve spent some time in classes or studios, you may have noticed that the teachers and studio operators take care to keep the spaces clean, clear and void of clutter. Yoga teachers may often incorporate cleansing breaths into their sequencing and yogis might embrace various dietary and emotional cleanses in the pursuit of self purification.
Brahmacharya- control of sexual energy
The ancient yogis were known for abstaining from sex as a method of preserving creative energy and as a method of purification. While this may not necessarily be realistic for modern day yoga practitioners who may have a spousal relationship to maintain, brahmacharya can still be observed by being intentional or thoughtful in the way one shares this type of energy, or how one goes about expressing themselves. Considering the pain or disruption to many relationships that can occur from short amount of pleasure with an ill advised partner, such as through an extra marital affair, before taking this action could save years of pain and suffering in a relationship. Consider: is half an hour or even half a day with a person outside of your marriage or long-term relationship really worth disrupting your peace and potentially bringing years of pain and suffering to your loved one?