Tapas – The Fire That Transforms
This July, we turn our focus inward to explore the concept of Tapas, one of the Niyamas in the yogic path, often translated as "discipline," "austerity," or more poetically, "the inner fire." Tapas is the heat that builds when we commit to a practice—especially when it’s uncomfortable. It’s what keeps us coming back to our mat, to our breath, and to ourselves when things feel overwhelming.
And let’s be honest: there are few life experiences more transformative—and at times, more challenging—than pregnancy and parenting. Tapas invites us to stay steady in the discomfort, to find strength in surrender, and to move through change with integrity and presence.
The Power of the Breath: Ujjayi Pranayama
To stoke our inner fire without burning out, we turn to Ujjayi breath—often called "victorious breath" or "ocean breath." This is a powerful breathing technique that helps regulate heat in the body, builds mental endurance, and calms the nervous system—making it perfect for a Tapas-focused practice.
How to practice Ujjayi:
Inhale and exhale through your nose.
Slightly constrict the back of your throat, as if you’re fogging up a mirror, but with your mouth closed.
You’ll hear a gentle, whispery sound, like waves or wind.
Benefits of Ujjayi in a Tapas practice:
Enhances focus and builds stamina
Regulates energy and prevents overheating
Creates a rhythmic anchor for movement
Balances intensity with calm—a key skill in both labor and long nights with a newborn
Whether you’re in the third trimester or navigating toddler tantrums, Ujjayi breath is a lifeline to presence and power.
July’s Posture Focus: Strong and Supportive
Tapas is not about pushing through pain—it's about meeting challenge with compassion. We’ve chosen three postures this month to reflect that dynamic strength:
1. Chair Pose (Utkatasana):
This fiery pose ignites the thighs, activates the core, and cultivates endurance. As you sit low and reach high, you’re literally practicing how to hold effort and ease at once—a perfect metaphor for pregnancy and parenting.
2. Plank Pose:
Plank teaches us how to support ourselves. It builds core stability and mental resolve. Whether you're holding your newborn or holding space for your teen, the strength you build here matters.
3. Camel Pose (Ustrasana):
Opening the heart isn’t always comfortable. Camel invites vulnerability, courage, and trust. It stretches the front body while energizing and restoring the spine—a great balance to all the forward-folding we do in daily life (and parenthood).
Modifications and props are always welcome—Tapas is about dedication, not perfection.
Let the Fire Refine You
Tapas is the willingness to stay. To return. To begin again—especially when it’s hard. Pregnancy and parenting both demand that kind of resilience. There’s heat in the sleepless nights, in the contractions, in the constant evolution of your role.
But there’s also grace. Tapas is not about harsh discipline—it’s about choosing to show up for transformation. Not just once, but again and again.
This month, let your breath be your guide, your mat be your refuge, and your inner fire lead you—not toward burnout, but toward breakthrough.
