Niyama: Svadhyaya स्वाध्याय

By Lucia Yess   Svadhyaya is broken down, into two parts. First, ‘Sva’ means self and the second, adhyaya means ‘study’, ‘inquiry’, or ‘examination’. This fourth niyama asks us to learn about oneself on the inside. To go within and study.To...

Niyama: Tapas तपस्

By Lucia Yess   In yoga, the word “tapas” comes from the Sanskrit verb “tap” which means “to burn”. Sorry it doesn’t come from the Spanish dish although those can be spicy too. This “fiery discipline,” asks for the practitioner “to burn off the...
Niyama: Santosha संतोष

Niyama: Santosha संतोष

By Lucia Yess   The second niyama (self-discipline) is santosha, संतोष. Santosha is contentment. Contentment makes me think of abundance, joy, truth, simplicity.  It doesn’t include happiness however. I think true happiness comes from contentment which...

Niyama: Śauca (शौच)

By Lucia Yess   The first niyama in Patanjali’s text is Śauca, also spelled Saucha or Shaucha. It represent purity and cleanliness. When you hear those two words what comes to mind? Perhaps a shower, brushing your teeth, honest thoughts and words. Of course...
Child’s Pose

Child’s Pose

By Lucia Yess   When I think about poses that I never want to get out of, child’s pose is the first that comes to mind. There is this sensation of total relaxation that I can’t get enough of. When else do you get to rest on yourself. Child’s...