Yoga and Patterns of Behaviour (Samskara)

Yoga requires discipline to practice and find balance in life.

🧘🏾Our yoga practice is a spiritual discipline that aims to cleanse the body and mind of old and destructive habit patterns. These patterns are called samskaras. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Samskaras are manifested through our thoughts and personality. We are driven by these unconscious motivating forces that lead to suffering. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Our yoga practice provides us with discipline and tools to change the habits and patterns that we identify with. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Tapas (third of the niyamas) is the practice of discipline to overcome the things that lead to suffering. It motivates us to do the things that are good for us.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

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Practicing tapas look like:⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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- Getting up earlier to practice meditation and asana⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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- Going to bed earlier (not going out as much) so that we can get up for our yoga practice⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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- Saying ‘no’ to things that do not serve us - not feeling guilty for having boundaries ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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- Committing to a daily yoga practice: 5 minutes of meditation, 15 minutes of asana or regularly checking in with our thoughts and aligning them to yogic philosophy ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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- Eating things that nourish us ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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- Being aware of negative thoughts and changing them for positive ones ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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- Drinking less caffeine and alcohol⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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- Choosing compassion towards ourselves and others rather than conflict and resentment⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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- Sustainable living: buying less, walking rather than driving, choosing green energy… ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Tapas is rooted in love 💙 —not punishment. Sometimes we get this wrong, for example, on our yoga mat, we push ourselves to our limits resulting in injuries. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Instead, choose a kind voice when reasoning with yourself to do the things that you know are good for you.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

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🍂Why not join us for a yoga class?


#mindfulness #yoga #fitness #wellness #meditation #wellbeing #exercise #selfcare #mentalhealth #change #sustainable