THE YAMAS & NIYAMAS - TAPAS

Tapas: The Fire That Sustains You

There’s a fire that burns us out—and a fire that lights us up. Tapas, one of the niyamas from Patanjali’s Eight Limbs of Yoga, is about the second kind.

The word tapas literally means "heat," and it often gets translated as discipline, austerity, or determined effort. But it’s not about punishment. It’s not about pushing through exhaustion or forcing ourselves into uncomfortable shapes. In the deeper tradition of yoga, tapas is the fire of transformation—the steady heat that clears away what’s no longer needed and strengthens what is.

Tapas in the Yoga Sutras

In Yoga Sutra 2.43, Patanjali writes:“Kayendriya siddhir ashuddhi kshayat tapasah” Through tapas, impurities are burned away and the body and senses become refined.

This isn’t about becoming perfect. It’s about becoming clear. Tapas is the commitment to show up for what matters—even when it’s hard, even when it’s quiet, even when no one else sees it.

It’s your decision to keep choosing growth. Not out of shame, but out of love.

Discipline as Devotion

In modern life, the word “discipline” can carry a lot of baggage. Many of us associate it with harshness, restriction, or being “not enough.” But in yogic philosophy, tapas isn’t rooted in punishment—it’s rooted in purpose.

It’s the effort you make because your soul is asking you to. It’s the commitment to care for your body, your boundaries, your dreams—not to prove anything, but to stay connected to who you truly are.

As Ram Dass once said:

“The spiritual journey is not a disciplined march—it’s a surrender into the mystery of love.”

Tapas is less about grinding, more about tending—like keeping a sacred flame alive.

Burnout vs. Inner Fire

Tapas should never be confused with overwork or perfectionism. Burnout is the fire that destroys. Tapas is the fire that refines.

When trauma has taught us that we have to “earn” our rest, or that we’re only worthy when we’re productive, it’s easy to mistake relentless striving for strength.

At Wild Soul Studio, we believe in balanced effort.The kind that respects your nervous system.The kind that honours your energy.The kind that asks, “Is this the fire that nourishes me—or the one that depletes me?”

Practicing Tapas in Daily Life

Tapas isn’t always grand. Sometimes, it’s deeply quiet.

• Rolling out your mat even when you don’t feel like it. Not to achieve—but to stay in relationship with your body.

• Drinking water instead of reaching for another coffee. Because you’re learning to care for yourself like someone you love.

• Saying no to what pulls you off-centre. Even if it’s hard. Especially if it’s hard.

• Sticking with something meaningful. A breath practice. A walk. A boundary. A truth.

• Being consistent, not perfect. Tapas doesn’t need to be intense. It just needs to be true.

Tapas in the Studio

Every time you show up to your mat, you’re practicing tapas.Every time you breathe through resistance instead of pushing it away, you’re building strength—not just in your body, but in your spirit.

Tapas is what holds you steady when motivation fades.It’s the fire in your belly that says, “I’m not giving up on myself.” It’s not loud. It’s not flashy. But it’s powerful.

And over time, it transforms you.

So this week, maybe ask: What effort in my life feels meaningful right now? What am I tending to, with love and consistency? And then—even if just for five minutes—let yourself show up for it.

Not because you “should.” But because something inside you is ready to burn a little brighter.

With warmth,

Sara 🙏