In the first aphorism of the second pada of Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras, he explains the 3 “kriyas,” or actions required for one on the spiritual path of yoga. The first of these is “tapas” which translates to something like self-discipline. This is the intensity, commitment, and passion that drives us to keep working steadily towards our goals. It is an important pillar because we can’t expect growth and transformation to come about if we don’t show up for our practice with consistency.
But what does it mean to “practice yoga”? Our practice can be different things on different days. You don’t necessarily need to roll out your yoga mat and commit to an hour of physical practice every day. It is great if you can, but certain times in our lives might require us to use our time in different ways. Some days your yoga practice might be 5 minutes of meditation in a hotel room. Other days your yoga practice might include reading spiritual texts that cause you to introspect and reflect on your behaviors in the world. Some days your yoga practice might be a sweaty vinyasa flow, working out the kinks in your physical body and breathing deeply. And other days, your yoga practice might be sitting down for a heart-to-heart conversation with a friend or family member in need and being fully present with them. All of that is yoga practice when it is done with intention and presence.
The self discipline that is necessary on the yogic path doesn’t need to be rigid or harsh but it does need to be consistent. I love the idea of committing to 10 min of spiritual practice each day. On the days you have time to do more, DO IT! But on the days you don’t, savor those 10 min. It might be 5 min of meditation and 5 min of reading something uplifting. Make a commitment to 10 min (or more) a day and see how it improves your mental health and well-being.
“The irony of commitment is that it’s deeply liberating - in work, in play, in love. The act frees you from the tyranny of your internal critic, from the fear that likes to dress itself up and parade around like rational hesitation. To commit is to remove your head as the barrier to your life.” Anne Morris
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