Tap into Tapas: How to Stoke Your Inner Fire
What is tapas in yoga? Unfortunately, we’re not talking about a mouth-watering array of delicious appetizers. Tapas, or self-discipline, is one of the five niyamas in the 8 limbs of yoga. It refers to your inner fire — both the literal heat you build in a vigorous vinyasa practice and the inner fire of drive, passion, and courage.
What it is: Finding discipline to overcome obstacles, stick to goals, and release patterns that no longer you.
What it isn’t: Pushing yourself to extreme limits. Instead, it’s about consistency in moving forward.
How to Cultivate Tapas
With so many layers of meaning, there are a number of ways in which tapas can appear in yoga and your daily life. Some days, tapas might involve committing to a heart-pounding workout or vigorous yoga practice. Other days, it could be finding the drive to simply make it to the mat. From going to bed on time to refraining from unhealthy food, tapas puts us where we need to be in order to continue moving forward. Here are several other ways to observe tapas in your practice and daily life:
Challenge yourself. By training yourself to face obstacles you find challenging, you’ll build confidence and perseverance. Try a pose you usually avoid or know you need to work on, or attempt to sit in silence for a morning meditation.
Embrace change. Tapas involves the ability to withstand the heat of friction, which appears in the form of discomfort that comes with change. Whether it’s a new job, a move, or an evolving relationship, change can leave you feeling disconnected and anxious. Create consistency in a practice such as yoga, meditation, journaling, or walking to help you process your response to life changes.
Strengthen your core. Your solar plexus chakra, which is located in your core, governs your sense of confidence, inner strength, willpower, and discipline. Strengthening your core taps into your solar plexus chakra, as well as the element of tapas.
Take small steps. Because tapas is about consistency, taking small and simple steps toward a goal is a great way to stoke your inner fire and create change. For example, rather than committing to an hour-long daily yoga practice, start with just 10 minutes. When build consistency over time, you can gradually increase the length of each practice. Each step will help you create a bigger change in your habits.
Seek simplicity. Clearing out the clutter and letting go of the unnecessary will help you create physical and emotional space so you can focus on your goals. This can also include examining your priorities, commitments, and how you spend your time. Save your time and energy for what truly matters in your life.
Want to build tapas in your yoga practice? Stoke your inner fire and challenge yourself with Kayla Nielsen's series, Glow Getter.