Tapas: Harnessing Discipline in Your Life Through Yoga

Tapas is the May theme of the month.

“Discipline Equals Freedom.” –Jocko Willink

How often have you found yourself saying: “Once I earn this money/lose this weight/get married, I will be happy?” You can probably fill in the blank.

The real question is how to find contentment right now in the middle of all of life’s ups and downs?

The phrase “discipline equals freedom” is the perfect way of explaining the importance of our May theme of the month, Tapas, when it comes to practicing Yoga.

Discipline is crucial because it allows you to practice the daily habits that get you the things you want.

Yoga is a non-dogmatic philosophy on how to live your life. It is a disciplined philosophy that sets ethical standards for how to care for others and how to take care of oneself. Thus, the third of Patanjali’s Niyamas, or personal observances, Tapas, comes up more than once in the sutras.

What is Tapas in Yoga?

In short, the word Tapas derives from the root Sanskrit verb “tap,” which means “to burn,” and evokes a sense of “fiery discipline” or “passion.” It’s usually translated as “austerity” or “discipline.” In this way, Tapas is about cultivating a sense of self-discipline, passion, and courage to burn away “impurities” physically, mentally, and emotionally. By doing so, you will have the freedom to be your best self.

Moreover, tapas is so important that Patanjali also groups it with svadhyaya and Ishvara pranidhana as the three elements of kriya yoga or the yoga of action. Tapas is, in effect, tempered by self-study (svadhyaya) and surrender to higher consciousness (Ishvaraprandhana).

By looking at yourself deeply and surrendering to what is, you are better able to sort out which practices are serving you and which ones are merely generating more of the same old patterns.

Samskara is the Sanskrit word to describe old habits and patterns. Breaking free from old habits requires insight and self-discipline. Thus, Tapas is the underlying force that propels you to stay on the path of yoga.

Practicing Tapas Physically and On the Mat

On the physical level, Tapas is the inner heat generated by your yoga practice.

A hot, sweaty and challenging asana practice builds up heat that literally burns away toxins and purifies your body. Also, it helps you to remain connected with your breath and stay with whatever arises when holding an asana for a longer period.

Consequently, when Tapas is applied to the physical practice of yoga, it becomes a powerful tool for transformation. When discipline is mistakenly equated with difficulty, things get a little dicey.

When Tapas is applied to your practice, it becomes a powerful tool for transformation. (Photo by Wesley Tingey on Unsplash)

Tapas moderates self-study

Sometimes tapas might be a hard Vinyasa practice. Other days it’s the self-discipline to simply get onto the mat and see where the practice takes you, even if that’s to a few quiet restorative poses.

Sometimes, it’s the effort involved in getting onto the meditation cushion when you’d rather be watching Netflix. It might even be the focus that’s required to remain centered with your breath and stay with whatever arises when holding an asana for several minutes.

In addition, tapas could be the force that motivates you to do your yoga practice when you don’t feel like it. You still do it because you know it is good for you.

Tapas empowers your self-discipline

The pain of not doing it is worse than the difficulty of doing it. Tapas makes you go deeper into meditation and sit for longer periods, even when it becomes uncomfortable.

Having the discipline to practice every day, no matter what form or length, is the foundation that moves you towards transcendence or true freedom.

Tapas of the body also relates to physical hygiene and control over sensory cravings. It means not overindulging in food or drink. It is the discipline to make sure you get a good night’s sleep. It’s what makes you choose a diet that supports your health and wellbeing.

Tapas is what reminds you of the reasons you have chosen the path of yoga.

In the end, self-control and self-discipline start with the body, and you can apply them to other pursuits.

Tapas of Words: Controlling Your Words

Tapas applies to the way in which you use the power of words. Most importantly, it requires you to speak the truth but never with the intent to hurt or insult, rather to support all beings.

Tapas of speech is the discipline to control what you say and how you say it. Can you speak with kindness and compassion? Can your words bring calm, insight, and ease to those who listen?

Words have power, and using them wisely and skillfully requires you to be present, receptive, aware, and disciplined. Tapas is self-regulation.

Tapas of Mind: Controlling Your Thoughts and Emotions

It takes discipline to be with your thoughts and emotions. Certainly, you cannot control what comes your way, but you can control how you relate to them.

When you get quiet and sit in meditation, the mind can feel like a bad neighborhood that you’d rather avoid. It’s important to note that tapas is not about applying the internal cattle prod. So, it's instead the intentional desire to rid yourself of old habits that don’t serve you.

What you endure when you stay on the meditation cushion, in a yoga pose, or with difficult thoughts and emotions is meant to bring insight and strength. Then, you burn away old habits of mind and make space for positive habit patterns that bring you closer to liberation.

Tapas means not resisting the resistance you feel. It is the ability to stay with difficult thoughts and emotions, not suppressing or avoiding them. This leads to insight and the ability to transform habit patterns (samskaras).

Tips to Practice Tapas

1.) Stay consistent with your yoga practice.

As the Bhagavad Gita says, “On this path no effort is ever wasted.” Even a little practice makes a difference, so it is important to be intentional with your time. Perhaps schedule a yoga appointment with yourself in your calendar.

2.) Remember practice can include Yama, Niyama, meditation, pranayama (breathwork), mantra, asana, and mudra. Yoga is a lifestyle.

There are many opportunities for acts of austerity. It doesn’t mean only one thing.

3.) Practice Mitahara, which means to eat a moderate diet.

You should refrain from eating too much or too little. Also, it means you should be aware of how food and drink affect your mind and body. It takes discipline to resist the extra glass of wine, a cup of coffee, or piece of cake. Therefore, make time to sit and eat your meals and do nothing other than eat. No reading or typing on the computer. Also, don't talk on the phone or see television. Just mindfully eating.

4.) Self-care.

How much sleep do you need? How much time do you spend on a screen? Are you a doom scroller? So, set appropriate boundaries so that you can feel your best.

5.) Cultivate a growth mindset.

People with a growth mindset believe their abilities can be developed through dedication and hard work. This is tapas. Can you value what you are doing without attachment to the outcome? When you have a fixed mindset or one that assumes your abilities are fixed, you might give up quickly and only be attached to the end results. With a growth mindset, you are willing to put in the time and effort.

6.) Make it tiny.

Even 1 minute of practice every day will build over time. BJ Fogg, the author of Tiny Habits, recommends three steps to building a habit. Firstly, start with a tiny behavior. Secondly, find a good spot in your daily routine. Attach it to an anchor moment. Thirdly, celebrate the behavior. As you do these three things, your new habit will take root and thrive. This is tapas, no matter how small.

Overtime tapas allows you to build the daily habits that get you the things you want, and you’ll be truly free.

Tapas Is the Main Ingredient in Yoga

There can be no yoga without Tapas.

In Sutra 2.43 Patanjali states, kāyendriya-siddhir-aśuddhi-kṣayāt tapasaḥ (From austerity, on account of the removal of impurities, the perfection of the senses and body manifests). Tapas is the way to eliminate physical, mental, and emotional impurities.

For instance, the goal of yoga is to still the changing states of mind. There can be no yoga without a cleansed mind from past impurities or impressions (samskaras).

Tapas gets you there. To clarify, when you’re consistent in your practice, something happens over time. Purity of mind develops. Contentment arises. Compassion grows in the heart. You become a stronger, more resilient being. Also, you grow into a better version of yourself that is liberated from a small sense of self and truly free.

“A worthy aim makes life illumined, pure, and divine. Without such an aim, action and prayer have no value. Life without tapas is like a heart without love.” – BKS Iyengar.

If you want help implementing Tapas, I’ll be glad to help you. Feel free to email me: sharyn@truenorthwell.com.