Tapas (Discipline) – February 2023

Happy February 1, 2023 – Tapas (Discipline)

Happy Wednesday Yogis! Today is Tapas (Discipline) Day!

Imbolc

I have mentioned my interest in mythology of all kinds, and my super Irish name (Tarryn) means I am particularly interested in Celtic mythology. Today is Imbolc, one of the four seasonal Celtic holidays, half way between the winter solstice and spring equinox. It was traditionally celebrated January 31-February 1 because Celtic days began and ended at sunset, rather than at midnight as they do today. There are many interesting ancient Imbolc traditions and rituals, the main one which has carried into modern times is Spring Cleaning! You can read more about the history here if you are interested. We typically focus on Spring Cleaning for Imbolc. Today is Tapas Day and the word Tapas is derived from a Sanskrit root meaning β€œto burn.” So, today we will focus on another of the traditional Imbolc rituals – spring cleaning and bonfires (fires for purification).

Daily Habit Check-in

We are continuing on with weaving practice of each of the Niyamas into our day. Today is our second Tapas or discipline Day of 2022! Our intro Tapas Day, we made a goal that was important to us. Each Tapas Day, we checked in on our progress. It has been nearly a month since our last Tapas Day, so if you are a new Yogi and have kept up on your daily habit, you have likely successfully formed a new habit! Congratulations, keep it up!! If you have not kept up, examine why you did not, and consider if you want to keep this goal or set a new one. Evaluate the reminders and/or rewards you set for yourself, and perhaps modify these systems to ensure your success! Yoga is a practice, and successfully changing our habits is about consistency, so we will keep checking in on our goals on Tapas Days.

PS I want to report back on my Duolingo Daily Habit.. I have kept up with this goal and I am currently close to 777, going for 800 πŸ™‚ I am extra motivated by my childhood friends who also have this as their daily habit, who just hit 555 days and 1000 days in a row! Feel free to add me on Duolingo @TarrynTyler.

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

Today’s Positive Practice suggestion

Today’s Daily Yogi Practice is to get some exercise for Tapas Day and Work Out Wednesday. If you are having a hard time keeping up with the daily habits you have set for yourself, consider trying and sticking with a 30 Day Challenge! There are many free Apps for other 30 Day Challenge workouts. My favorite is a free app called 30 Day Butt, which allows the pop-up phone notifications I love so much.

I am also going to do a couple of our past Yoga Workouts today – Crab / Boat for Core and Glutes, and Upward Plank Holds for Glutes.

Want more Tapas practices? Check out our Tapas Guide!

Want more Yoga Workout Ideas?
Check our Yoga Workouts Board On Pinterest!

Disclosure: I only recommend products I would use myself, and all opinions expressed here are our own. This page contains affiliate links that at no additional cost to you, may earn me a small commission. Read full privacy policy here.

blue and purple flames on black background

Flame Gazing Meditation

Share your Practice

Please comment and share how you are doing. Have you kept up with your daily habit? Are you changing your systems or perhaps setting a new meaningful goal? Are you joining us with our Asana Challenge? Always remember, be kind!

More Positive Practices

Missed yesterday’s post? Read it here!

December 2022 Holidays – Brahmacharya (Moderation): Day 7 – Boxing Day

Happy December 26, 2022 – Brahmacharya (Moderation)

Good Morning Yogis! We are wrapping up our special Holiday Yamas Practices! December is the holiday season for many worldwide nations, cultures, and religions, so this ties in with most other holiday seasons our Yogis may celebrate. I will continue my research through the month and tie in our practices with world holidays if they tie in with our daily practices… please contact me if you have any requests or suggestions!

cool shot of purple and gray sunset over darkened pine trees in epic alpine valley - brahmacharya moderation middle path unplug digital detox Quote: We were promised a simpler life, and technology has only complicated our lives. - Freeman Thomas
We were promised a simpler life, and technology has only complicated our lives. – Freeman Thomas

Holiday Yamas Practice Schedule

We are on our nineteenth day of Holiday Yamas Practices! After counting down the first 5 Yamas with 5 days of Ahimsa (non-harming), 4 days of Satya (truthfulness), and 3 days of Asteya (non-stealing), we are now having a full week of Brahmacharya for the week of Christmas in the United States.. a time that I will enjoy the focus on moderation! We will quickly wrap up the remaining 7 Limbs of Yoga before we restart the 8 Limbs of Yoga for our January Challenge.

Holiday Season – Boxing Day Yoga

Today is the final day of a full week of Brahmacharya (moderation) practices. Today is also Boxing Day, a UK and Canadian holiday I grew up with on my calendars but never understood! Boxing Day was originally a day off for servants to celebrate the Christmas holiday with their families, and was named because their employers presented them with a “box” gift for the holiday. In modern times, Boxing Day is more like a Black Friday shopping discount holiday. Today we are closing our week of holiday moderation with one of my favorite Brahmacharya practices – a digital detox day!

Today’s Positive Practice suggestion

Today’s Daily Yogi Practice is to practice Brahmacharya / Moderation with our electronics and social media. Perhaps try an Unplugged Weekend with no electronics! Social media may be a useful tool to keep in touch with friends and family, especially in this isolating time. However, social media does not make us happy, and it can also distance us from the people we are spending time with. Many of us spend WAY too much time on our phones. It is the weekend, so many of us are off of work today. If you can, practice Brahmacharya with your phone and especially with social media, and enjoy your time with your loved ones this weekend. Perhaps encourage the entire household to spend a few hours “off the grid.” Or, go all out today with a full digital detox!

Get today’s Daily Yogi Positive Practice in your inbox
Register for our email list!

Processing…
Success! You're on the list.

Share your Practice

Please comment and share how your Brahmacharya practice went today. How did it make you feel? Always remember, be kind!

January 2022 30 Day Challenge: Day 29 – Saucha (Purity): Imbolc & Flame Gazing Meditation

Happy January 31, 2022 – Saucha (Purity)

Good morning Yogis! We completed our round of practices of the Yamas and now we are moving on to the Niyamas! Last time we practiced the first of the Niyamas – Saucha (Purity) with our bodies, with a deep clean or pampering self-care practice. Today we will try a different form of Saucha.

30 Day Challengers

Doing our 30 Day Challenge? Click here for today’s post!

This may be Day 30 of your Challenge if you started with our 1/1 intro weekend- congratulations! We have Day 30 planned for tomorrow to complete 30 days if you started on Monday with the first Ahimsa Practice. Please stay with us.. we will check in with our monthly daily commitment on Tapas Day and have another Svadhyaya Journal Day this week.

Imbolc

I have mentioned my interest in mythology of all kinds, and my super Irish name (Tarryn) means I am particularly interested in Celtic mythology. Today (at sunset) is Imbolc, one of the four seasonal Celtic holidays, half way between the winter solstice and spring equinox. It was traditionally celebrated January 31-February 1 because Celtic days began and ended at sunset, rather than at midnight as they do today. There are many interesting ancient Imbolc traditions and rituals, the main one which has carried into modern times is Spring Cleaning! You can read more about the history here if you are interested. We will focus on two of the traditional Imbolc rituals – spring cleaning and bonfires (fires for purification).

Today’s Positive Practice suggestion

Today’s Daily Yogi Practice is to practice Saucha or Purity with our surroundings. We will have a bonus review of Flame Gazing Meditation, a Dharana practice also below!

cool shot of purple and blue sunset over darkened pine trees in epic alpine valley - saucha purity clean cleanliness cleaning Quote: Decluttering can be overwhelming, so start with that one small thing. Clean out your junk drawers. It can lead to so many more beautiful things. Start there, and you’ll find yourself cleaning the whole rest of the house. - Bobby Berk
Decluttering can be overwhelming, so start with that one small thing. Clean out your junk drawers. It can lead to so many more beautiful things. Start there, and you’ll find yourself cleaning the whole rest of the house. – Bobby Berk

I personally do not do well when my home is cluttered or disorganized. I need everything to have its own place to go back to, or else I cannot find anything! Pick an area of your home or office to declutter and clean. Get storage bins, drawer organizers, or whatever you need to help yourself keep this area clean and organized going forward. Whether it is your closet, garage, junk drawer, basement, car, or your e-mail inbox, work on bringing Saucha to one of your spaces that you feel needs some TLC.

Want more Saucha practices? Check out our Saucha Guide!

Want more Cleaning Ideas and hacks?
Check our cleaning Tips & Tricks on Pinterest!

Disclosure: I only recommend products I would use myself, and all opinions expressed here are our own. This page contains affiliate links that at no additional cost to you, may earn me a small commission. Read full privacy policy here.

Flame Gazing Meditation

blue and purple flames on black background

Want more on Meditation?
Check our Meditation Board on Pinterest!

Share your Practice

Please comment and share whether you practiced Saucha and/or our flame-gazing Dharana exercise today. How did it make you feel? Always remember, be kind!

More Positive Practices

Missed yesterday’s post? Read it here!

January 2021 30 Day Challenge: Day 29 – Saucha (Purity): Imbolc & Flame Gazing Meditation

Happy February 1, 2021 – Saucha (Purity)

Good morning Yogis! Happy February! We completed our round of practices of the Yamas and now we are moving on to the Niyamas! Last time we practiced the first of the Niyamas – Saucha (Purity) with our bodies, with a deep clean or pampering self-care practice. Today we will try a different form of Saucha.

Imbolc

I have mentioned my interest in mythology of all kinds, and my super Irish name (Tarryn) means I am particularly interested in Celtic mythology. Today is Imbolc, one of the four seasonal Celtic holidays, half way between the winter solstice and spring equinox. It was traditionally celebrated January 31-February 1 because Celtic days began and ended at sunset, rather than at midnight as they do today. There are many interesting ancient Imbolc traditions and rituals, the main one which has carried into modern times is Spring Cleaning! You can read more about the history here if you are interested. We will focus on two of the traditional Imbolc rituals – spring cleaning and bonfires (fires for purification).

blue and purple flames on black background

Today’s Positive Practice suggestion

Today’s Daily Yogi Practice is to practice Saucha / Purity with our surroundings. We will have a bonus review of Flame Gazing Meditation, a Dharana practice also below!

I personally do not do well when my home is cluttered or disorganized. I need everything to have its own place to go back to, or else I cannot find anything! Pick an area of your home or office to declutter and clean. Get storage bins, drawer organizers, or whatever you need to help yourself keep this area clean and organized going forward. Whether it is your closet, garage, junk drawer, basement, car, or your e-mail inbox, work on bringing Saucha to one of your spaces that you feel needs some TLC.

Want more Saucha practices? Check out our Saucha Guide!

Want more Cleaning Ideas and hacks?
Check our cleaning Tips & Tricks on Pinterest!

Disclosure: I only recommend products I would use myself, and all opinions expressed here are our own. This page contains affiliate links that at no additional cost to you, may earn me a small commission. Read full privacy policy here.

Flame Gazing Meditation

Want more on Meditation?
Check our Meditation Board on Pinterest!

Share your Practice

Please comment and share whether you practiced Saucha and/or our flame-gazing DharanaΒ exercise today. How did it make you feel? Always remember, be kind!

More Positive Practices

Missed yesterday’s post? Read it here!

November 2020 Intro Yoga 30 Day Challenge & Celtic New Year

Happy November Yogis! Also, welcome to our 30 Day Intro Challenge! November 1 is the start of the New Year for the Celtic Calendar so today we are combining our Resolutions / Intention Setting & Intro to Ashtanga / 8 Limbs of Yoga for our Intro Challenge Weekend.

New & Intro Challenge Yogis – Please navigate to our intro weekend posts below!

00 Birthday/New Year Resolution
Ashtanga – The 8 Limbs of Yoga (must read!)

Today’s Daily Yogi Practice is to set our own intentions and goals for this new month. Our daily practices will stay synced up with our 30 Day Challenge Group throughout November. Please consider setting an intention for yourself for this month, or keeping another daily Yoga practice (ie Asanas, Pranayama, or Meditation) that is meaningful to you!

I had a minor shoulder/neck injury early last month and had to let my daily Asana practice slide, so I am getting back to daily Sun Salutations first thing in the morning, and building back my daily Asana practice. In addition, to help maintain my daily meditation practice from last month, I am switching to guided meditations before bed rather than in the morning with my coffee. I also keep waking up in the middle of the night lately, so I am experimenting to see if an 8-hour sleep meditation will help me STAY asleep… I will report back πŸ™‚ I am also keeping practice not perfection in mind – because of my healing injury, I will very likely have to skip a few days of Sun Salutations πŸ™ The key here is getting back to it when I am able, not getting discouraged and throwing in the towel because I missed a couple of days!

Next INTRO CHALLENGE October 2023

Days
Hours
Minutes
Seconds

Please comment if you would like to share your intentions or your own personal bonus daily yoga practice for this month. Stay tuned tomorrow for our first positive practice from the Yoga Sutras – we will stay synced up with our 30 Day Challenge Group throughout November! Always remember, be kind!