INTENTION: I move myself forward by allowing Tapas to alchemize old habits, beliefs, and behaviors so that I may walk in my greatest good.
Art is born from trial and pain. The hammer and fire.
There are some days when it is just hard to get out of bed. Or go to work. Or drive the children to school. Or meditate. Or clean the house. As daylight becomes shorter, we can find our motivation a bit extinguished. The bright sunshine of summer can be the spark that ignites the fire of creativity and innovation in us and helps us aspire to something different or greater, but as Autumn progresses, it may be difficult to keep that inner fire going.
Tapas originates from the Sanskrit word ‘tap’ and means ‘to burn or create heat.’ This term often carries different connotations, such as radiance, heat, burning, and, most popularly, austerity. Tapas is viewed broadly as self-discipline, inner focus, concentration, self-sacrifice, and transformation, cultivating our inner flame of aspiration. It is a fiery, intense energy that, when applied appropriately, helps alchemize our conditioned responses (sometimes called samskaras) to reveal the parts of the self that are quieter, deeper, and freer. To shift long-held habits, you need to fuel the fire of Tapas.
We apply Tapas at any moment when we consciously go against our conditioned way of being and engage in a new behavior or way of thinking. While it is often an uncomfortable process, its benefits are great. Tapas allows us to fulfill our intentions and dreams. It focuses on the fiery determination that is necessary if we are to move forward in life, become more resilient, or overcome adversity. Without this fierce determination, it is more difficult to bring forth positive change or reach our goals.
Think of Tapas as that fire inside of you that motivates you and keeps you on track with anything of importance in life. It makes you pull weeds (literally and figuratively) when you do not feel like it. It moves you when you are feeling stuck and resistant. That inner fire motivates you to make changes when you know you need to.
Tapas is heat that is generated for internal purification, like the process of purifying gold.
I have a friend from childhood who has struggled with addiction. For years, she would overeat, chain smoke, and drink too much. She talked for years about the trauma in her life and how she needed to move forward. She went to therapists. She climbed mountains. She attained tools along the way that became crutches, and she was so dependent on the tools she had no trust in herself to walk without them. She met spiritual teachers. She met gurus. Nothing moved her forward. She was stuck. Until she met her inner guru.
She decided to take a few months and just observe her thoughts, behaviors, and habits. She practiced yoga. She meditated. She journaled so that she would remember the distinct aspects of when, how, and why she behaved in certain ways. Then she began the process of alchemizing her old ways into new ways of being. She set short-term, manageable goals. She started with one habit and worked slowly and methodically. Soon, days transformed into months and into years of not drinking, losing forty-five pounds, and stopping smoking. She started by shifting the energy of smoking into something she could be proud of – drawing and painting! Any time the desire to smoke appeared, she picked up a pencil and began to doodle, then draw, then paint! She was on fire!
Fire’s nature is that it always goes upwards. Rising upwards is its path, on and on upwards towards the sky. You may strike a flame anywhere, you may keep it in any position, you may hang a lamp upside down - its flame will still begin to rise upwards. Since ancient times the higher souls, the mystics, have clearly understood the upward, rising nature of fire.
She realized what she was doing. She used Tapas, and fiery self-discipline, to change herself. Fire saves the pure and destroys the impure. If gold is thrown into the fire, the impurities are burned and destroyed, and the pure gold comes out brighter. This is known as the ordeal by fire - the test to destroy the impure and save the pure. The ordeal by fire became a symbol to her that fire destroys that which is impure and saves and protects that which is pure. This is its natural quality. Fire is eager to protect the pure within us and to burn the impure. We know when we put things in a fire it never comes out the same. Never goes backwards. The object is transformed. Tapas transforms and changes us.
When we practice yoga or any spiritual practice, the flame of Tapas needs to burn brightly within us if we are to achieve anything more than a workout. Tapas equates with self-discipline and the passion required to burn away the impurities of the mind and body. It helps us through uncomfortable sensations, motivates us to try difficult maneuvers, and pulls in the reins when we become a bit full of ourselves or risk injuring our bodies. Tapas is the fire of our practice- the force of energy that returns us to our mats again and again.
Tapas is the heat you feel in your core when you move your body with energy and breath. It gets your heart pumping and heightens your desire for personal growth. Tapas is the passion that propels you to action. Without that inner discipline and determination, we are unlikely to look at the finer practices of yoga that, through rigorous self-awareness, bring inner peace and open us to greater awareness.
It is also about having the mental discipline to find the middle ground between pushing yourself and relaxing; it’s about not overdoing it in your asana practice to the point of burnout or injury, but rather learning to listen to what your body is telling you in each pose to find a deeper connection with yourself.
The physical practice of yoga is an access point to your spiritual practice. The physical heat you feel after a round of a vinyasa is directly linked to the spiritual heat of self-transformation. The energy governing your sense of self-confidence, inner strength, and willpower is in your core, the trunk of the body. The trunk is where your “Manipura” chakra lies, which is the source of energy for Tapas.
Like fire, too much intensity can be destructive. Balancing Tapas is crucial to its effectiveness. It is important to approach Tapas with the right intention and purpose. It should not be used to punish or harm oneself, but rather as a tool to cultivate self-discipline and inner strength. Work to finding the right amount of effort and intensity that challenges us, but also allows us to grow and thrive.
Remember, Tapas is a tool for transformation and should be approached with an attitude of kindness, passion, and zeal rather than self-denial and chastisement. Georg Feuerstein wrote, “Genuine Tapas makes us shine like the sun. Then we can be a source of warmth and strength for others.” "As we strive to achieve our goals, we must do so with kindness and respect for our bodies and minds. Listening to our bodies, taking breaks when needed, avoiding pushing ourselves beyond our limits, and finding balance is essential for igniting our inner fire and reaching our fullest potential.
Incorporating Tapas into a yoga practice can be a powerful tool for stoking the inner fire and achieving personal transformation. By setting intentions and practicing self-discipline, we can cultivate the mental and physical strength needed to overcome obstacles and achieve our goals. When we tap into this inner fire, we connect with our innermost selves and are better able to live a life of purpose and fulfillment. Whether on or off the mat, embracing Tapas can help us conquer challenges and ignite our inner flames.
The divine within you is stronger than anything that is without you. Therefore, be not afraid of anything. Rely on your own Inner Self, the Divinity within you. Tap the source through looking within. Improve yourself. Build your character. Purify the heart. Develop the divine virtues. Eradicate evil traits. Conquer all that is base in you. Endeavor to attain all that is worthy and noble. Make the lower nature the servant of the higher through discipline, Tapas, self-restraint and meditation. This is the beginning of your freedom. — Swami Satchidananda
Love & light,
Jeanne and John