Not a super flexy slender Yoga chick talks "the Power of the Eight Limbs: Niyamas"

Last week we explored the Yamas, so this week we’re diving into the second limb of Patanjali’s path: the Niyamas.

While the Yamas guide our behavior in relation to the outer world, the Niyamas are inward-facing. They are personal observances, little inner agreements we make with ourselves. The Yoga Sutras outline five Niyamas. Let’s take a look:

1. Saucha – Cleanliness This is not just about showering or keeping your kitchen tidy (although yes, that too). Saucha refers to cleanliness on all levels—body, mind, emotions, and environment. What do you feed your mind with? What words do you use? What thoughts do you dwell in? Do the people around you bring clarity or confusion? No judgment—just gentle observation. Saucha is a kind of spiritual hygiene. A way of cleansing our space, inside and out, to make room for clarity and peace.

2. Santosha – Contentment Are you always chasing the next thing? Wishing for more, waiting for later, stuck in the “when I have this, then I’ll be happy” cycle? Santosha invites us to pause and ask: what about now? This doesn’t mean you stop growing or settling for less. It simply means that you start by appreciating what already is. Want a new home? Great, go for it. But be grateful you already have one. Want a better job? Yes, never settle for less than you deserve, but recognize that having a job at all is a starting point. See what I mean? True change grows from a foundation of contentment, not from lack.

3. Tapas – Self-discipline Ah yes, Tapas. My favorite (you probably guessed that already 😅). Sadly, this kind of Tapas has nothing to do with Spanish appetizers. In the Yogic sense, Tapas is about that inner fire. Discipline. Determination. Devotion. The energy that fuels your transformation. It is not punishment—it is commitment. Are you practicing your Tapas, or are you constantly burning out and then resenting yourself afterwards? Remember: there is no true freedom without discipline. Sit with that.

4. Svadhyaya – Self-reflection Do you know who you truly are? Or are you stuck in who you’ve learned to be? What triggers you—and why? What’s your default response in conflict? Do your choices reflect your truth, or are you just following the crowd? Svadhyaya invites you to look within. To study yourself like a sacred text. To observe, question, evolve. Who are you today? Who do you want to become? What layers need to fall away for that to happen?

5. Ishvarapranidhana – Surrender to a Higher Power You don’t have to name it—God, the Universe, Source, Cosmic Intelligence—call it whatever resonates with you. What matters is the knowing that there is something infinitely bigger than you... and learning to trust it. This is not about passivity. You don’t sit on the couch and wait for destiny to knock. You show up fully. You give it your all. And then—you let go. Let go of control. Let go of the outcome. Let go of attachment.

For example: applying for a new job? Pour your heart into the application, then release it. Trust that whatever is meant for you will not miss you. Surrender isn’t weakness. It is the deepest form of trust.

Do any of these stir something inside you? Do they make you curious? Or maybe a little uncomfortable? That’s the point. This path is not about perfection. It’s about awareness, growth, and gentle honesty.

So take what resonates, sit with what doesn’t, and remember—be kind to yourself. We are all just practicing. Always. 😘