Niyamas: Step 2

The second limb in Patanjali's Yoga Sutras are the niyamas. The niyamas are rules concerning ourselves. Many like to describe the yamas and niyamas as differing types of contracts (I don't really like this term either. I understand why it's used and its relevance, but it sounds so business like to me). Yamas are the social contracts whereas the niyamas are contracts with oneself. They describe the ways in which we are supposed to treat ourselves and take care of our inner being.  Just like the yamas, this description was taken from Victoria's Yoga Journal as well. I just love, love, love her descriptions of these steps

Saucha (cleanliness)
This concerns the purity of the body and cleansing the mind.
Eat nourishing and healthy food and look after your mind and well being.
Clean the environment you work or live in, keeping it simple and free from clutter.
Only have and keep what you need in your space.
Forgive people that have wronged or upset you and let go.
Clean the relationships in your life.

Santosha (contentment) 
Aim to develop happiness and inner peace.
Try making a list of things that you can be thankful for right now.
Be content with who you are at this moment.
Make a gratitude list at the end of each day listing three things you are thankful for.
Sit and watch your breath in that moment and be content that you are alive.
Be content in your practice at whatever version of a pose you do.
Do not feel negative if you can not perform the most advanced version or deepest pose.

Tapas (perseverance) 
Show strength in body and mind.
Exhibit courage, wisdom, integrity and straight forwardness.
Be proactive in your life and practice self discipline.
Schedule a time each day for your practice and pranayama.
Make a list of any daily commitments or tasks and practice tapas.
Invest energy into aspirations and make room in your life for downtime.

Svadhyaya (self inquiry) 
Look inward and perform self inquiry.
Obtain a knowledge of yourself.
Accept your faults and who you are.
Listen to your intuition.
Take advice from those who achieved what you want to achieve.
Make your practice your own and practice with total awareness and self knowledge of your own body.

Isvara Pranidhana (the Divine) 
Develop trust in the flow of your life and believe you are part of something greater.
Surrender your control and beliefs.
Allow yourself to flow with the beauty of life.
Believe that life is an exciting journey.
Have no fear and embrace life’s opportunities.
Accept and let go….

*Taken directly from Victoria's Yoga Journal Niyamas Post. For the original, click here.