Daily Yogi’s Guide to Ishvara Pranidhana (Surrender)

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Daily Yogi branch of Niyamas lower limb of yoga - Saucha, Santosha, Tapas, Svadhyaya, Ishvara Pranidhana
Niyamas – Saucha, Santosha, Tapas, Svadhyaya, Ishvara Pranidhana

2nd Limb of Yoga – Niyamas (Personal Observances) #5: Ishvara Pranidhana

The first 2 of the 8 Limbs of Yoga are the Yamas and Niyamas. There are 5 Yamas and 5 Niyamas, and we will take a full day on our Daily Yogi journey to focus on practicing each of the five. Niyamas (KNEE-ya-mas) are guidelines for our own personal habits or observances. Let’s take a closer look at the last of five Niyamas – Ishvara Pranidhana.

All about Ishvara Pranidhana (Surrender)

What does Ishvara Pranidhana mean? What is the translation of Ishvara Pranidhana?

Ishvara Pranidhana (Ish-VA-ra PRA-knee-DAH-na) is literally translated to English as “renouncing the fruits of action” (thank you Thiru at classicyoga.co.in for this translation!) to all-pervading consciousness. The more common translations include surrender or devotion (which we will use for brevity), and the essential concept here is faith in a higher power.

What is Ishvara Pranidhana?

Ishvara Pranidhana is literally translated to English as “renouncing the fruits of action” to all-pervading consciousness. The more common translations include surrender or devotion (which we will use for brevity), and the essential concept here is faith in a higher power. This surrender is not about giving up hope when you face your problems, but acceptance. It helps to recall the full translation from Sanskrit above for the true meaning of this practice: non-attachment to outcomes of our actions. Ishvara Pranidhana is typically the most confusing of the Niyamas, especially for new Yogis or those who do not practice outside religions. The essence of this is allowing the bad days to pass, trying to believe everything happens for a reason, and keeping moving forward in positive directions despite challenges we may face.

How do I practice Ishvara Pranidhana?

Ishvara Pranidhana is typically the most confusing of the Niyamas, especially for new Yogis or those who do not practice outside religions. This surrender is not about giving up hope when you face your problems, but acceptance. It helps to recall the full translation from Sanskrit above for the true meaning of this practice: non-attachment to outcomes of our actions. The essence of this is allowing the bad days to pass, trying to believe everything happens for a reason, and keeping moving forward in positive directions despite challenges we may face.
Advanced Yogis who incorporate Ishvara Pranidhana into their lives may begin seeing difficulties as challenges to overcome, and opportunities to practice managing our responses. This is one of the keys of long-lasting happiness, since getting upset often does nothing to help a bad situation and only makes things more difficult for ourselves. Instead, try to stay calm, and do not allow a negative encounter to draw you into negativity. Of course, this is easier said than done! Remember, it is a journey.

How to practice Ishvara Pranidhana (Surrender)

How to practice Ishvara Pranidhana (Surrender)

  1. Practice acceptance

    Ishvara Pranidhana means Surrender. This surrender is not about giving up hope when you face your problems, but acceptance. It helps to recall the full translation from Sanskrit above for the true meaning of this practice: non-attachment to outcomes of our actions. The essence of this is allowing the bad days to pass, trying to believe everything happens for a reason, and keeping moving forward in positive directions despite challenges we may face.
    Advanced Yogis who incorporate Ishvara Pranidhana into their lives may begin seeing difficulties as challenges to overcome, and opportunities to practice managing our responses. This is one of the keys of long-lasting happiness, since getting upset often does nothing to help a bad situation and only makes things more difficult for ourselves. Instead, try to stay calm, and do not allow a negative encounter to draw you into negativity. Of course, this is easier said than done! Remember, it is a journey.

  2. Try reciting Om

    The literal translation from Sanskrit, surrender to all-pervading consciousness. This all-pervading consciousness has a vibration/sound/representation: OM. OM is pronounced as a very long A-U-M or OOOM, not like “on” with an m.
    You can do this on your own if you are practiced, or check out this video to learn how to properly OM on your own, or perhaps try this video as background for meditation.

OM

The literal translation from Sanskrit, surrender to all-pervading consciousness. This all-pervading consciousness has a vibration/sound/representation: OM.

OM is pronounced as a very long A-U-M or OOOM, not like “on” with an m. OM is familiar in the East, but often the only exposure for those in the West is at Yoga class. I was intrigued during my Yoga training to learn that the A and U/O sounds in Sanskrit are beginning and ending vowels. Japanese also has A and U/O sounds as beginning and ending vowels, and the final letter is the M/N sound as in OM. The A and U sounds are also the beginning and ending vowels in English. I cannot help but compare to Alpha and Omega from Classical Greek (first and last letters) and other traditions, and wonder about the connections of OM trickling into various languages and religions! You can do this on your own if you are practiced, or check out this video to learn how to properly OM on your own, or perhaps try this video as background for meditation.

Here is a great article on the basic pronunciation of OM and its meaning. If you want more info, please check out this article on OM and Yoga, or check out the Wikipedia article for a deep dive into OM in Yoga as well as religions across the world.

Asana Practices

Here are some Asanas (poses) and Asana series I feel embody the spirit of Ishvara Pranidhana! Click the images to learn to how perform the pose or more about the Asana style!

Please note this section is currently under construction – please check back soon for more!

Balasana - wide child's pose - yoga pose girl sunny day yoga on the beach
Balasana – Wide Child’s Pose

Meditation Practices

Here are some of my favorite meditations I feel embody the spirit of Ishvara Pranidhana!

Guided Meditation on Surrender.

Guided Meditation with some OMs.

Please note this section is currently under construction – please check back soon for more!

Ishvara Pranidhana Quotes

  • blue and pink epic alpine sunset in mountains - ishvara pranidhana surrender acceptance Quote: Surrender isn't about giving up, it's about letting go. - Anonymous
    Surrender isn’t about giving up, it’s about letting go. – Anonymous
  • rocky shoreline with rocky beach and person looking out to ocean and sun shining in blue sky - ishvara pranidhana Quote: Practicing Ishvara Pranidhana (surrender) leads to Samadhi (enlightenment). - Yoga Sutras of Patanjali
    Practicing Ishvara Pranidhana (surrender) leads to Samadhi (enlightenment). – Yoga Sutras of Patanjali
  • close-up palm tree tunnel perspective - ishvara pranidhana surrender acceptance Quote: Sometimes surrender means giving up trying to understand and being comfortable with not knowing. - Eckhart Tolle
    Sometimes surrender means giving up trying to understand and being comfortable with not knowing. – Eckhart Tolle
  • alpine creek grassy babbling brook with bright green grass clear water and granite rocks - ishvara pranidhana acceptance surrender Quote: Surrender is like a fish finding the current and going with it. - Mark Nepo
    Surrender is like a fish finding the current and going with it. – Mark Nepo
  • fall mountain avalanche slide path with brown grass and shrubs and green pine trees and girl with braided hair sitting in black hat sunglasses and all black outfit surrounded by cute white small puppy dogs in navy coats - ishvara pranidhana surrender acceptance oneness Quote: Animals are the bridge between us and the beauty of all that is natural. They show us what's missing in our lives, and how to love ourselves more completely and unconditionally. They connect us back to who we are, and to the purpose of why we're here. - Trisha McCagh
    Animals are the bridge between us and the beauty of all that is natural. They show us what’s missing in our lives, and how to love ourselves more completely and unconditionally. They connect us back to who we are, and to the purpose of why we’re here. – Trisha McCagh
  • close-up on red marine-like bare bush in front of bright blue alpine lake surrounded by snow-capped mountain valley with bright blue cloudless sky - ishvara pranidhana surrender acceptance Quote: Accept—then act. Whatever the present moment contains, accept it as if you had chosen it... This will miraculously transform your whole life. - Eckhart Tolle
    Accept—then act. Whatever the present moment contains, accept it as if you had chosen it… This will miraculously transform your whole life. – Eckhart Tolle
  • close-up on brown and red grass and shrubs and dark rocks covered in white snow - ishvara pranidhana surrender acceptance Quote: If you surrender completely to the moments as they pass, you live more richly those moments. - Anne Morrow Lindbergh
    If you surrender completely to the moments as they pass, you live more richly those moments. – Anne Morrow Lindbergh
  • You must learn to let go. Release the stress. You were never in control anyway. – Steve Maraboli
  • alpine grassy ledge with small purple flowers and green leaves with cool perspective looking out into rocky mountains - ishvara pranidhana acceptance surrender Quote: Surrender to what is. Let go of what was. Have faith in what will be. - Sonia Ricotti
    Surrender to what is. Let go of what was. Have faith in what will be. – Sonia Ricotti
  • looking down park path twisting through green leafy trees with brown branches cool perspective - ishvara pranidhana surrender acceptance Quote: Happiness can exist only in acceptance. - George Orwell
    Happiness can exist only in acceptance. – George Orwell
  • close-up white paintbrush mountain wildflower surrounded by bright green leaves - ishvara pranidhana acceptance surrender Quote: Surrender is a journey from outer turmoil to inner peace. - Sri Chinmoy
    Surrender is a journey from outer turmoil to inner peace. – Sri Chinmoy
  • cool shot of sunset in dark blue cloudy sky in snowy mountain valley - ishvara pranidhana surrender acceptance OM vibration Quote: Everything in life is vibration. - Albert Einstein
    Everything in life is vibration. – Albert Einstein
  • cool shot of mining spoils looking out under cloudy sky in mountain valley - ishvara pranidhana surrender acceptance dharma purpose Quote: You cannot fulfil God's purposes for your life while focusing on your own plans. - Rick Warren
    You cannot fulfil God’s purposes for your life while focusing on your own plans. – Rick Warren
  • cool shot of snow covered dark rocks under bright blue partly cloudy sky - ishvara pranidhana acceptance surrender Quote: Always say 'yes' to the present moment... Surrender to what is. Say 'yes' to life - and see how life starts suddenly to start working for you rather than against you. - Eckhart Tolle
    Always say ‘yes’ to the present moment… Surrender to what is. Say ‘yes’ to life – and see how life starts suddenly to start working for you rather than against you. – Eckhart Tolle
  • cool shot of twilight in dark blue clear sky with crescent moon and evening star over reflective alpine lake among darkened mountains - ishvara pranidhana surrender acceptance OM vibration Quote: Om is the signature sound of this Universe. It is the soundless sound of existence. - Banani Ray
    Om is the signature sound of this Universe. It is the soundless sound of existence. – Banani Ray
  • black and gold globe art in front of city window - ishvara pranidhana acceptance surrender Quote: Just knowing you don't have the answers is a recipe for humility, openness, acceptance, forgiveness, and an eagerness to learn - and those are all good things. - Dick Van Dyke
    Just knowing you don’t have the answers is a recipe for humility, openness, acceptance, forgiveness, and an eagerness to learn – and those are all good things. – Dick Van Dyke
  • close-up buttery yellow flower among green leaves - ishvara pranidhana acceptance surrender Quote: The moment of surrender is not when life is over, it’s when it begins. - Marianne Williamson
    The moment of surrender is not when life is over, it’s when it begins. – Marianne Williamson

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