Using Tapas to Find Discipline with Yoga
Let’s be honest—staying disciplined is tough, isn’t it? How often have you planned to start a new habit, only to find yourself hitting the snooze button, skipping your morning practice, or postponing that important conversation? It’s all too easy to let things slide, but here’s what’s wrong with that: when you don’t hold yourself to your promises, you’re not just missing the mark—you’re chipping away at your own belief in yourself. So, let’s find discipline with Yoga to avoid this mistake!
If you’ve been struggling to create discipline in your life, it’s no wonder you feel stuck. Without that staying power, progress in any area—whether it’s your health, your work, or even on the yoga mat—becomes a distant dream. And let’s face it, if you’re not seeing results, it’s hard to stay motivated. You might even stop trying altogether.
Get Started By Taking Action
Here’s something to think about: How long are you going to let this slide? How long are you going to put up with stress, general inertia, feeling uninspired at work, or being stuck in a relationship that doesn’t serve you? Indefinitely?
When new members at the studio start talking about how much they need a practice but then make excuses about why they can’t commit to a class, this is the question I ask: When you have a toothache, do you make time for the dentist? When your GP prescribes antibiotics, do you take the full course or just whenever you remember? If you want to go on holiday, do you book the ticket, plan your trip, and make sure you get on that plane?
Of course, you do! And once something is scheduled, the good news is you’re 99% more likely to follow through with it. So why should your yoga practice—your time for yourself—be any different?
Training Yourself to Prioritise You
Your goal should be to train yourself to value the appointments you make with yourself as much as you value the appointments with other people or things. In fact, you should value them even more. This is how you learn to make yourself a priority.
Showing up is 90% of the battle. And here’s the beauty of a committed yoga practice: it helps you build the inner strength to keep showing up for yourself. You’ll learn to overcome all those excuses and tendencies that keep you from taking action. In yoga, we call this Tapas.
Understanding Tapas
Tapas is a Sanskrit word that often gets translated as “discipline,” but it’s much more than that. It’s not about punishment or deprivation—it’s about creating positive, lasting change. Tapas is the inner fire that strengthens you, helping you overcome your habits and addictions, whether that’s the habit of skipping your practice, reaching for junk food when you’re stressed, or staying stuck in a negative mindset.
Tapas is the heat that drives you to keep the promises you’ve made to yourself. It’s what helps you push past discomfort and grow stronger in the process.
But don’t get it twisted—Tapas isn’t about pushing yourself to the point of exhaustion. It’s about making consistent choices that move you closer to your goals. It’s about rolling out your mat even when you’d rather stay in bed. It’s about choosing a healthy meal when you’re tempted by something less nourishing. It’s about having that tough conversation instead of avoiding it.
Leaning into Discomfort
Let’s not sugarcoat it—taking action and staying committed to your goals often means leaning into discomfort. Whether it’s the discomfort of a challenging pose, the discipline required to stick to a routine, or the effort it takes to break an old habit, growth rarely happens in the comfort zone.
But here’s the silver lining—discomfort is where the magic happens. It’s in those moments when you push past resistance, overcome inertia, and tap into that inner reservoir of strength and energy that you really start to transform. This is where Tapas and another concept, Tejas, work hand in hand—Tapas gives you the discipline to stay the course, while Tejas keeps you motivated and vibrant along the way. This is how we find discipline with Yoga.
Come to class and cultivate discipline!
This month in our classes, we’ll be focusing on practices that help you cultivate Tapas. Expect sequences that challenge your body and mind, pushing you just outside your comfort zone in a way that’s both manageable and meaningful. Remember, Tapas is about finding strength in the discomfort, not suffering through it.
If you’re ready to build that inner fire and finally start following through on your goals, join us in the studio or on the YL App. Our community is here to support you every step of the way. Let’s stoke the flames of discipline together and see just how powerful you can become when you stay committed to your goals.
