The Niyamas: Finding Balance Between Effort and Ease
One of the most profound lessons yoga has taught me is that not only can two seemingly opposite things coexist, but it’s actually rare to experience just one emotion or mindset at a time. We often carry joy and grief, excitement and fear, contentment and longing all at once. Learning to recognize and hold these contrasts has been deeply freeing. In fact, it’s a skill—one that can be cultivated and used to bring more balance, resilience, and clarity into daily life.
This understanding isn’t unique to yoga—it appears across many spiritual traditions. Zen master Shunryu Suzuki once said, "Each of you is perfect the way you are and you can use a little improvement," capturing the paradox of being both whole and ever-evolving. Hindu sage Nisargadatta Maharaj expressed a similar idea: "Wisdom tells me I am nothing. Love tells me I am everything. And between the two my life flows." This balance between humility and expansiveness reflects the tension many of us feel in our own personal growth.
When we open ourselves to this reality—that we don’t have to be just one thing or feel just one way—we expand. Our capacity for compassion grows, both for ourselves and for others. We stop clinging to absolutes and begin to embrace the complexity of being human. And this doesn’t just apply to emotions; it extends into how we live. We can be surrendered yet still actively engaged, content yet still striving to grow.
Yoga teaches this beautifully, especially in the Niyamas and Kriya Yoga. The Niyamas offer practices that guide us toward clarity, purpose, and balance, while Kriya Yoga—self-discipline (Tapas), self-study (Svadhyaya), and surrender (Ishvara Pranidhana)—embodies this very dance between effort and release. When we stop seeing these forces as opposites and instead recognize them as partners, we create space for a more fluid, intentional way of being.
What Are the Niyamas?
Think of the Niyamas as yoga’s inner framework—the practices that guide how we nurture ourselves. While the Yamas help us navigate our relationships with the outside world, the Niyamas teach us how to cultivate clarity, resilience, and peace within.
Sauca (Purity): This isn’t about being flawless but about creating clarity in our body, mind, and surroundings. Whether it’s cleaning up our physical space, nourishing our body with good food, or limiting distractions, this practice helps us remove what clouds our awareness so we can move through life with more ease.
Santosha (Contentment): Finding peace with what is. This isn’t passive acceptance—it’s the ability to meet life with gratitude, even when things aren’t perfect. It reminds us that joy isn’t something we arrive at after we achieve our goals, but something we can experience right now, in the middle of it all.
Tapas (Discipline): The inner fire that fuels our commitment to growth. It’s the discipline to show up for ourselves, even when it’s uncomfortable. But discipline isn’t about forcing—it’s about choosing the long-term benefit over the short-term comfort and trusting that transformation comes through consistent effort.
Svadhyaya (Self-study): The practice of deep self-inquiry. It invites us to study not just ancient texts but also ourselves—our patterns, beliefs, and reactions. It’s about getting curious, asking hard questions, and being willing to evolve.
Ishvara Pranidhana (Surrender): The practice of letting go. This doesn’t mean giving up, but rather trusting the process and softening our grip on control. It reminds us that we don’t have to carry everything alone.
A Few Questions to Sit With
Rather than just reading about these concepts, I’ve found it’s helpful to explore them in daily life. Here are a few prompts to reflect on or journal about:
Sauca: What’s one small way I can create more clarity in my space, body, or mind?
Santosha: Where in my life am I waiting for things to be “just right” before allowing myself to feel content?
Tapas: What’s one small commitment I can make today that my future self will thank me for?
Svadhyaya: What is a recurring pattern in my life that I haven’t fully explored yet?
Ishvara Pranidhana: What’s something I’m gripping too tightly that I could soften my hold on?
Join Me for Sutra School on March 8
If this resonates with you, I’d love for you to join me for Sutra School on March 8 from 12:30-2 PM as we dive deeper into the Niyamas—not as abstract concepts, but as real, practical tools for navigating life.
Yoga isn’t just about movement—it’s about how we meet ourselves each day. If you’re curious about these teachings or just want to explore in community, I hope you’ll be part of the conversation.
See you there?