Daily Yogi’s Guide to Tapas (Discipline)

Table of contents

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) #3: Tapas

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 third of five Niyamas – Tapas.

All about Tapas (Discipline)

What does Tapas mean? What is the translation of Tapas?

Tapas (TAH-pas) is derived from a Sanskrit root meaning “to burn”. Tapas is often translated as self-discipline.

What is Tapas?

Tapas is one of the easiest of the Niyamas to understand. The word Tapas is derived from a Sanskrit root meaning “to burn”. However, Tapas is often translated as self-discipline. Tapas / self-discipline is what helps us build daily rituals and practices. We tap into Tapas when we push ourselves to get on the Yoga mat every day when we do not feel like it, or do necessary homework or work tasks that we find boring, or commit and stick to daily meditation or a healthy diet. I created the Daily Yogi App as a Tapas tool to encourage myself and those who would like to join to be a little better every day.

How do I practice Tapas?

I think one of the most important ways to integrate Tapas into your day is to focus on your morning routine. Do your best to wake up early (even 5-15 minutes early to start!) to set a daily habit to do something important to you. We tap into Tapas when we push ourselves to get on the Yoga mat every day when we do not feel like it, or do necessary homework or work tasks that we find boring, or commit and stick to daily meditation or a healthy diet.
Pick any daily habit to become the person you want to be. Perhaps you have always wanted to meditate every day… well, today is the day to start! If you always wanted to learn a language, check out the free Duolingo site and app and get started.If you’re an insatiable consumer of education like me, check out these free EdX online courses from Harvard or look around the EdX site for other free classes from other schools. Maybe you want to eat healthy, or try out a new diet, or start taking supplements. Whatever is meaningful for you, make the commitment today!

How to practice Tapas (Discipline)

How to practice Tapas (Discipline)

  1. Focus on your morning routine

    Use all five senses to tap into mindfulness. Appreciate the sights, sounds, and smells around you. What is the temperature? One of my favorite ways to practice mindfulness is in motion, with a mindful walk, hike, or drive.

  2. Try a 30 Day Challenge

    It takes around 30 days for a new habit to stick. So, find a 30 Day Challenge in a subject of interest to you, and get ready to build a new habit.

  3. Pick a meaningful daily habit, set yourself up for success, and check-in

    Pick any daily habit to become the person you want to be. Perhaps learn a language, meditate, work out, learn a new art or instrument. Whatever is meaningful for you, make the commitment today!
    Now, for the second part.. Set yourself up for success! Tapas is not just about setting a goal, it is about exercising self-discipline and follow through. If you use a calendar or planner, write your goal down every day. Maybe add a daily reminder, alarm, or calendar appointment on your phone. Try getting sticky notes and sticking around your home. Find a buddy to hold yourself accountable!
    Check in on your progress. If you are not sticking with your habit, evaluate your reminder system and whether you truly want this change or skill. If you have followed through, make sure to reward yourself for your progress!

Asana Practices

Here are some Asanas (poses) and Asana series I feel embody the spirit of Tapas! 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!

Utkatasana - powerful chair pose - yoga pose girl sunny day yoga on the beach
Utkatasana – Chair Pose

Meditation Practices

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

Morning Motivation Guided Meditation.

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

Tapas Quotes

  • close-up of white mountain wildflower with alpine grass and rocks in background - self-knowledge self-mastery battles Quote: Pick battles big enough to matter, but small enough to win. - Jonathan Kozol
    Pick battles big enough to matter, but small enough to win. – Jonathan Kozol
  • close-up sunflower with green garden in background - fun tapas self-discipline Quote: You must have discipline to have fun. - Julia Child
    You must have discipline to have fun. – Julia Child
  • mountain brown rocky creek lined by green grass and pine trees - tapas self-discipline motivation Quote: Tapas (discipline) is not a penance, it's a mental training to develop willpower. - Baba Hari Dass
    Tapas (discipline) is not a penance, it’s a mental training to develop willpower. – Baba Hari Dass
  • bright green ivy vine close up - tapas discipline motivation Quote: Motivation gets you going, but discipline keeps you growing. - John C. Maxwell
    Motivation gets you going, but discipline keeps you growing. – John C. Maxwell
  • looking up at clear blue sky green leafy tree with branches cool perspective - tapas self-discipline motivation Quote: Discipline is choosing between what you want now, and what you want most. - Abraham Lincoln
    Discipline is choosing between what you want now, and what you want most. – Abraham Lincoln
  • close up dark green and maroon starbust succulent cactus plant - tapas discipline daily habits Quote: You'll never change your life until you change something you do daily. The secret of your success is found in your daily routine. - John C. Maxwell
    You’ll never change your life until you change something you do daily. The secret of your success is found in your daily routine. – John C. Maxwell
  • blue sky with shadowy pine trees alpine sunset reflecting pink on snow capped mountain - tapas discipline daily habits Quote: Success is nothing more than a few simple disciplines, practiced every day. - Jim Rohn
    Success is nothing more than a few simple disciplines, practiced every day. – Jim Rohn
  • clear blue sky over rocky beach at low tide on california coastline with yellow flowers and green leaves in foreground buildings along coast and boardwalk leading down to rocky beach and blue water - tapas discipline self-discipline Quote: Discipline equals freedom. - Jocko Willink
    Discipline equals freedom. – Jocko Willink
  • buchart gardens victoria beautifully manicured garden with bright green leaves grass and colorful flowers with tourists walking along garden paths - tapas discipline self-disipline motivation Quote: With self-discipline, most anything is possible. - Theodore Roosevelt
    With self-discipline, most anything is possible. – Theodore Roosevelt
  • bright pink and purple flowers in garden with palm tree centerpiece and multicolored flowering bushes - tapas discipline self-disipline motivation Quote - Learn to convert the discomfort of discipline into the satisfaction of personal growth. - Tony Robbins
    Learn to convert the discomfort of discipline into the satisfaction of personal growth. – Tony Robbins
  • cool perspective bright blue water on rocky shoreline - tapas discipline motivation self-discipline Quote: For a man to conquer himself is the first and noblest of all victories. - Plato
    For a man to conquer himself is the first and noblest of all victories. – Plato
  • bright blue alpine creek bordered by snowy river banks and pine trees - tapas self-discipline motivation Quote: Discipline not desire determines your destiny. - Anonymous
    Discipline not desire determines your destiny. – Anonymous
  • close-up shot of bright green plant seedling sprouting in rock - tapas self-discipline motivation Quote: By constant self-discipline and self-control you can develop greatness of character. - Grenville Kleiser
    By constant self-discipline and self-control you can develop greatness of character. – Grenville Kleiser
  • close-up shot of bright green tree with small green buds- tapas self-discipline motivation Quote: The satisfaction of seeing the incremental gains, through discipline alone, gives inspiration to apply the same methods in other areas of your life. - Keith Hill Jr.
    The satisfaction of seeing the incremental gains, through discipline alone, gives inspiration to apply the same methods in other areas of your life. – Keith Hill Jr.
  • cool shot of sun coming through darkened pine trees in the snow - tapas self-discipline motivation Quote: The fact is, discipline is only punishment when imposed on you by someone else. When you discipline yourself, it's not punishment but empowerment. - Les Brown
    The fact is, discipline is only punishment when imposed on you by someone else. When you discipline yourself, it’s not punishment but empowerment. – Les Brown
  • cool shot of sunlit orange clouds over darkened pine trees in epic alpine sunset - tapas self-discipline daily habits Quote: Success is the sum of small efforts repeated day in and day out. - Robert Collier
    Success is the sum of small efforts repeated day in and day out. – Robert Collier
  • cool shot of orange and blue sunset over darkened pine trees in epic alpine valley - tapas self-discipline positivity Quote: Discipline yourself to find something positive in every situation every day. You attract positivity when you are positive within. - Brian Tracey
    Discipline yourself to find something positive in every situation every day. You attract positivity when you are positive within. – Brian Tracey
  • cool shot of sunlit orange clouds over darkened pine trees in epic snowy alpine sunset - tapas self-discipline change self-improvement Quote: Life will only change when you become more committed to your dreams than you are to your comfort zone. - Billy Cox
    Life will only change when you become more committed to your dreams than you are to your comfort zone. – Billy Cox
  • garden water feature surrouded by purple and fuscia flowers among green trees under blue sky - tapas self-discipline daily habits Quote: We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then, is not an act, but a habit. - Aristotle
    We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then, is not an act, but a habit. – Aristotle
  • cool perspective looking out airplane window at city lights in dark sky - tapas self-discipline daily habits Quote: Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts. - Winston Churchill
    Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts. – Winston Churchill
  • cool perspective close-up shady green clover near bright green leavy shrubs - tapas self-discipline daily habits change Quote: Very often, a change of self is needed more than a change of scene. - A.C. Benson
    Very often, a change of self is needed more than a change of scene. – A.C. Benson

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