The Yoga Niyamas -10 ways to incorporate Faith into your daily life

Hello Friends, welcome to April!  In this month many of us celebrate Easter or Passover and I thought it a fitting time to unpack the tricky subject of Faith.  Did you know that Faith is a concept of Yoga?  It’s actually the one of the Niyamas, which is the second Limb of the Eight Limbs of Yoga. 

So today I’m going to explain what the Niyamas are.  Then I’ll share a story of my own ‘test of faith’ (quoted for dramatic effect).  And I’ll finish with a list of practical ways you can incorporate this Niyama in your every day routine.  I’ll also highlight, paraphrase and pull some quotes from a good read I recommend on the subject, “The Yamas & Niyamas: Exploring Yoga’s Ethical Practice” by Deborah Adele.   Sound like a plan?  Let’s do it.

Eight Limbs of Yoga

First, here’s a quick recap – In January, I provided an overview of the Eight Limbs of Yoga which, in a nutshell, is a set of guidelines on how to live a meaningful and purposeful life.  Alternately, it has been described as the Eight-Fold Path to Spiritual Righteousness or Transcendence.   If you missed that post, or you are new reader, I invite you to read that here. 

Yamas – Restraints

In February, we explored the first Limb of Yoga – the Yamas, or ‘Restraints,’ which are a collection of 5 ethical considerations to help us guide our interaction with others.  These are in order, English then Sanskrit – Non-violence (Ahimsa), Truthfulness (Satya), Non-stealing (Asteya), Chastity or Moderation (Brahmacharya), Non-coveting (Aparigraha).

The Yamas, along with the second Limb, the Niyamas, or Observances, are sometimes likened to the 10 commandments.  Though all these practices transcend religion, not to mention, race, gender, ethnicity, age, etcetera. 

Niyamas – Observances

Now that you’re all caught up, we’ll move into today’s subject – the Niyamas.  There are 5 of these as well, which are Purity or Cleanliness (Saucha), Contentment (Santosha), Self-Discipline (Tapas), Self-Study (Svadhyaya), and Faith or Surrender (Ishvara Pranidhana).   

While the Yamas can be thought of as more social practices, or instruction on how to behave around people, the Niyamas are more personal or internal guidelines.  I like the way this quote puts it:

“Yama is what one does when others are looking, and Niyama is what one does when others are not looking.”

STUART RAY SARBACKER & KEVIN KIMPLE – “THE EIGHT LIMBS OF YOGA, A HANDBOOK FOR LIVING YOGA PHILOSOPHY”

Now one could write a novel on the subject of Niyamas, so today we’ll focus on just one, the final Niyama, AKA, Faith or Surrender.  If you’d like to read more about the other concepts of Purity, Self-Discipline, or Self-Study, please click on the hyperlinks for each.  I focused on these in my writings and exploration last year, and these studies deeply transformed my yoga practice.      

Faith

Faith – such a trigger word!  We can’t talk about it in schools for fear we may insult someone.  We avoid the subject with our friends so we don’t sound preachy.  Some of us send our kids to church/temple/mosque/insert building here, to circumvent tough talks with them. 

But it was such an important topic that the ancient Yogis did not shy away from it, so I won’t either.  Yoga was born in India, and while many early practitioners adopted the beliefs of Hinduism, Jainism, and Buddhism, the religion each yoga aspirant values has historically varied.      

For the record, I am a Christian – raised Methodist, and chose Presbyterian as an adult to be precise.  However, I will not be discussing Jesus, or the afterlife, or any biblical topics here.   I separate my religious beliefs from the views I share in this blog or in the yoga classes I teach, because Yoga is not a religion, it is a way of life.  And I write and teach for everyone, not just Christians. 

So, the number-one takeaway here is that you can practice yoga no matter what religion you identify with, or if you don’t identify with religion at all.  And, you can practice the Niyama of Faith, regardless of religion either.

Other Perspectives on Faith

While religion is separate from yoga, the concept of faith is integral to yoga.  I’ll offer 3 quotes, each from different celebrated yoga teachers and authors sharing their viewpoints on yoga and faith:

“The essence of yoga is to reach oneness with God.”     

 K Pattabhi Jois, Brahmin, one of the founders of Ashtanga Yoga   

“The yogi has learnt the art of dedicating all his actions to the Lord and they reflect the divinity within him.”

BKS Iyengar, Hindu, celebrated yoga teacher and author

“To live the life of Yoga, to repeat, is about a faith that continuously guides the teacher toward practices leading to the harmony of body, mind, and spirit.”

T. Krishnamacharya, regarded as the Founder of Modern Yoga, Vaishnavism

So, maybe you’re now asking, what is this yoga-faith?  Well, let’s break down the Sanskrit word for this Niyama – Ishvara Pranidhana.  ‘Ishvara’ means God, or Supreme Being or True Self.   ‘Pranidhana’ means paying attention to, meditating, or prayer.  So, in my words it means ‘paying attention to God,’ whatever God means to you.   Also, some texts, place an emphasis on reading, studying religious books or writings on subjects designed to improve your faith.   So, it’s this idea of carving out time in your day to dedicate to your spiritual growth. 

Surrender

If, you still struggle with the word faith, you can select another translation of the Niyama – Ishvara Pranidhana which is ‘surrender.’   Here we are urged to surrender or let go of many things, such as our Ego, the idea that we have control over our lives, or the attitude that we always know everything. 

I bet you can think of someone who could use a dose of this, right?  Guilty, over here!  I am constantly trying to rationalize every situation in a way that makes sense to me.  And I tend to approach life in a linear fashion, where if one does ‘x’, then ‘y’ will occur.  And if it doesn’t, I rearrange my strategy like a geometry equation to arrive at the solution where justice (my version) prevails. 

Surrender might ask us to consider an alternate viewpoint.  That our version of justice may not align with others,’ (or even the Creator’s).  This is a useful tool in conflict resolution, especially with partners or close friends.  I actually use a version of this theory in disputes with my headstrong daughter when I sigh exasperated and declare, “Agree to Disagree!”   

This author on the subject of Niyamas, provides an alternate explanation writing,

“Surrender is knowing ourselves to be a part of this divine oneness, and then giving ourselves over to the greater whole.  We find in the process, that we do not lose ourselves, but instead become part of the greatness itself.”

Deborah adele, The Yamas & Niyamas: Exploring Yoga’s Ethical Practice

My test of faith

Now I’ll share a story of my personal faith and surrender with you.  I don’t think my closest friends even know this story, probably because of the reasons I shared earlier – we’re so touchy of disclosing anything related to faith or religion.  But here I go.  Luckily my intention was Courage last month so I am sufficiently emboldened!

Let me take you back 10 years, exactly, as it turns out.  I was engaged to my, now-husband, Mark, and we lived in a tiny apartment in Newport Beach, California.  We had “good” jobs as Architects but unfortunately they didn’t pay well, and we still had mountains of student loan debt.  Mark and I pooled our resources to pay for a modest wedding.  And we barely scraped up enough money for a down payment on a small condo.  But the thought of our larger mortgage payment was pretty terrifying. 

We got married locally but both of our parents and siblings had to travel to attend, so we rented a large beach house on the Newport Beach Peninsula which doubled as their lodging and the wedding after-party.  At the time, a beach house in July on the Peninsula for a week cost $7,000 up front – this was a tough check to write! 

Now we’re two weeks away from the wedding, 15 family members flying to California to lodge at the house, and the rental company notifies us that said house is no longer available.  I was pretty irate, as you can imagine – how was I going to find a new house for so many people in the height of summer with no notice! 

A Turn for the Worse

But it gets worse – when I asked for the refund, the rental company went silent.  No answered phones, emails, nothing.  I received no confirmation that any of the money would be returned.   My anger turned into fear – how would we pay for the wedding, and the mortgage?  Our wedding month, instead of experiencing a season of love and excitement for our future together, turned into disappointment and anxiety.  Was this an omen? A sign from above, that our marriage was doomed to failure?

The weekend after the news, I was scheduled to attend a choir retreat in Forest Falls, a remote group campground.  (At the time, I sang in my church choir) Amidst various choral practices, during our free time, I went for a solitary hike and prayed, and cried.  As I released physical tears from my body, I released my attachment to our savings.  I metaphorically gave away the 7000$, and settled myself on the fact that it was gone, and asked God to help us rebuild our savings. 

I remember feeling like such a weight was lifted from my chest.  And as I turned the corner in my hike on a narrow path of head-high native planting, unaware of the time, I came to a clearing.  I suddenly witnessed the most stunning sunset.  I was overcome with emotion and knelt down in a prayer.  The moment I decided to surrender, coincided with the exact moment of the sunset, in the exact scenic overlook to view it. 

Answered Prayer

And here’s the grand finale to my story – when I got home, I learned that Bank of America had refunded our money.  (Earlier that week, my husband made a claim to their fraud department).  I will never know if the rental company reimbursed them or not.  They never returned our calls.  But this federally insured bank came through and I will be a lifelong patron. 

To wrap up the story – I found another beach house, not quite as grand, but just as close to the ocean and accommodating.  We were married in the same church as my choir, the same church I drive out of my way to attend with my children to this day, and we will celebrate our 10-year anniversary this year, probably with brunch at the same restaurant as we dined at during our reception. 

What I’ve learned

This is a true story of my faith in God, and my surrender of control.  I essentially prayed to a higher power to provide, in a time when I felt depleted.  I surrendered a situation I could do nothing about and put my trust in something larger than myself. 

If I had kept wallowing in my worry, I believe I wouldn’t have learned the life-lesson that I was meant to.  As the sun set on that beautiful mountain, it was as if the sun was setting on that period of my life – a period of an unhealthy attachment to money.  Over the next several years, I would strive to re-prioritize the values in my life – putting my faith above finances. 

Order of the Niyamas

I also find it interesting that Faith is the last in the order of the Niyamas.  Now one might argue that Faith should be first – you should put your faith above all else.  And sometimes that may be true.  But I approach this with the idea that first you must focus on the other 4 Niyamas – Cleanliness, Contentment, Discipline, Self-Study, and then you are prepared to explore this relationship with the Spirit.  If the Body is a Temple – you must clean and prepare your physical and mental vessel, to house and hone your spirit.  I need to remember this, as I’m staring at my glass of wine while writing.  Sigh, one step at a time. 

How to practice Faith

Now, there are many ways to practice the Niyama of Faith.  Some are traditional, and some may surprise you.  What it really boils down to – is paying attention to the activities that allow you to feel closest with God or the Spirit.  This has changed throughout my life, and I bet it will continue to change, but now I know to pay attention to it. And in my best moments I make time to do these activities more. 

Allow me to stress one more key takeaway here: that faith, just like our yoga asana, takes practice.  Sarah Ban Breathnach writes in her lovely devotional, Simple Abundance, “Faith, without work isn’t just dead, it’s fantasizing.” Just like you need to build trust with your partner, you need to continually engage in efforts to strengthen your relationship with the spirit.  So, without further ado, here’s a menu of 10 options to practice the Niyama of Faith.  

1. Walking

I think the first time I really felt ‘moved’ was during a period in my twenties where I walked a lot.  On my lunch break I would I would trade my heals for flip flops and take a walk.  I would go for weekend hikes with my friends.  Eventually, I would wake up early and time my walk to see the sunrise.  (Ahhh, pre-children days)

I noticed, after a while, that I had the best ideas during my walks.  I would discover solutions to problems or concepts for creative projects.  At first, I didn’t even associate these mini epiphanies with Faith.  I just got this little high and knew I should repeat the activity.  And after a while, I felt this connection with God, and sensed his blessing on my walks.  I realized some of my ‘ideas’ were a sort of communication with Him. 

2. Music

I bet you’ve had at least one moment in your life where you’ve been moved by a song, whether it was the lyrics, instruments, singer, or performance.  Music can be so powerful that you can, at times, experience the divine. 

I’ve sensed this singing in my church choir, or listening to a praise band in the pews. I’ve also felt a connection listening to music in my earphones, or at a symphony in a beautifully designed concert hall.  You can even find your spiritual zone by getting lost in a pop song in the car and belting out the lyrics without abandon.  No judgement if it’s Journey or Van Morison or Taylor Swift!

3. Church

Go to church, or your religious building of choice.  Physically drive yourself there and walk into the building, instead of listening to a podcast or watching it online.  There is something uplifting about worshipping in the presence of others in a holy place.  And if you go on Easter this weekend – arrive EARLY so the stress of the crowd doesn’t mar your experience.   

4. Yoga

Okay, I know I’m biased with my love for yoga, but I’m telling you, it’s very possible to enhance your faith in a good yoga class.  There is some magic recipe with the focused breathing, the moving meditation, and the final savasana. If you’re not familiar with savasana its’ this: at the end of every yoga class, the students lay down for 3 minutes in silent stillness. And this restorative rest can prepare your soul for a spiritual connection. 

5. Community

Meet others, in-person, as a group, with good intentions.   I’m not saying you have to be in a church or other organization of do-gooders to practice the Niyama of faith. It could be simply meeting a friend for coffee to listen, or making a point to cultivate community with other honest people. Actually, it’s even written in the bible, “For where two or more are gathered in my name, there am I with them. Mathew 18:20.   I think this quote was specifically intended for this age in 2023, post-pandemic.  Meet with people, people! 

6. through 10.

Then there’s the obvious practices of prayer or meditation associated with the Niyama of Faith.  Or chanting the word Om, which is said to be the universal sound.  There’s also journaling, or writing a gratitude list.  Or reading religious texts like the Bible, Torah, etc, or other spiritual growth books or commentaries.  I won’t expand on these, because they’re self-explanatory, other than to add that it’s possible to discover direction, meaning, or answers buried under layers of scripture.  

Okay, one more – if none of these suggestions sound appealing, consider watching or re-watching Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade for inspiration.  Remember the scene in the end where Harrison Ford takes a literal step of faith by walking out over canyon on an invisible plank to take water from the Holy Grail back to his dying father?  Ahhh, I get goosebumps just imagining it! 

The end

Well, there it is, friends: my two cents on the subject of the Niyamas and Faith.  Phew, it’s over, ha.  I will return to a more politically correct subject next month!  But in all honesty, I hope you enjoyed this post, and perhaps learned a thing or two about the Niyamas and various options to deepen your spiritual connection or the notion of surrendering to a higher power or concept.  Please share in a comment how you plan to practice your faith – either an existing habit, or one I described that you may test out. 

Thank you for reading!  Leila