Niyama Defined
/nee-YAH-muh/ — Sanskrit: नियम — "observance, positive duty"The five personal observances that form the second limb of yoga—inner practices for self-development and spiritual growth. While the yamas govern our relationship with others, the niyamas cultivate our relationship with ourselves.
What Are the Niyamas?
The niyamas are five personal practices or observances that support inner development. Where the yamas focus on ethical behavior toward the external world, the niyamas turn attention inward—toward self-care, self-discipline, and self-understanding.
The word "niyama" means "positive duties" or "observances"—things to cultivate rather than restrain. Together, the yamas and niyamas form the ethical foundation upon which all other yogic practices rest.
The Five Niyamas
Saucha
Cleanliness of body, environment, and mind. Includes physical hygiene, clean living spaces, and cultivating purity of thought. The practice of clearing away what obscures clarity.
Santosha
Finding peace with what is—not passive acceptance, but deep okayness that doesn't depend on circumstances. Contentment as a practice, not a result.
Tapas
The fire of disciplined practice. Not harsh self-punishment, but the consistent effort that burns through resistance and builds transformative momentum.
Svadhyaya
Study of self and study of spiritual texts. Includes both introspection—watching your patterns and reactions—and learning from wisdom traditions. Learn more →
Ishvara Pranidhana
Surrender to the divine, to life, to something greater than ego. Letting go of the need to control outcomes. Devotion and humility in action.
Practice in Daily Life
The niyamas offer practical guidance for everyday living:
- Saucha: Keep your practice space clean. Notice what you consume—food, media, conversations. Declutter when you feel mentally cluttered.
- Santosha: Practice gratitude. When wanting arises, pause and notice what you already have. Find one thing to appreciate right now.
- Tapas: Show up for practice even when you don't feel like it. Choose the harder right over the easier wrong. Build heat through consistency.
- Svadhyaya: Journal. Notice recurring patterns. Read texts that challenge and inspire you. Ask "Why did I react that way?"
- Ishvara Pranidhana: Let go of one thing you're trying to control. Offer your practice to something beyond personal gain. Trust the process.
Niyamas as a Path
The five niyamas build upon each other. Cleanliness (saucha) creates conditions for contentment (santosha). Contentment provides the stable foundation for disciplined effort (tapas). Tapas builds the energy for deep self-study (svadhyaya). Self-knowledge ultimately leads to surrender (ishvara pranidhana)—the recognition that the self we've studied is part of something far vaster.
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