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Tapas for transformation

by Viki Distin

Tapas is the Sanskrit word that can be translated as effort or discipline. Sometimes tapas refers to internal heat or purification. For example, when a student is in a difficult pose such as pigeon, the teacher may say something like “Be willing to sit in the fire of the difficulty of the pose.” Sometimes people are conditioned to believe that when things get tough it is time to run. We are practicing “staying” because typically when something is uncomfortable we want to bolt, medicate with any number of things, or give up. Tapas is required if we are to experience transformation.

We can think of tapas as the burning desire to become whole, realize our full potential, or even awaken for the benefit of all beings. It is written in the Yoga Sutras as: “Self-discipline burns away impurities and kindles the sparks of divinity.” As students of this difficult practice we absolutely need the energy of desire to help keep us going and to persevere when we want to quit. However, it is important to think about tapas in terms of applying the right amount. Tapas should not be confused with ambition or ego, which can lead to states that may appear desirable at first but over time will lead to suffering. If we become overly concerned with the outcome or external influences then we lose the “Yoga.”

In the beginning of my teacher training I was overly anxious and applied too much tapas in my practice. Practicing in this way provided a feeling of vibrancy in my body and I am grateful for the wonderful learning experience it offered, but it did not produce the clarity or inner peace I was looking for. Using the analogy of churning butter, if you churn the butter too quickly you will not produce cream. There is a constant refinement of finding the right amount of effort. If you apply too little then there is no transformation and possibly stagnation. However if you ignite too much tapas then it is not healthy for the muscles, joints, or even the central nervous system. Injury in Yoga is usually the result of too much tapas.

Sometimes applying too much tapas may have an energetic effect that feels charged, electric, or even super high. While for some this state may seem desirable, notice if you have an attachment to this state of being and be mindful as it is not healthy for the central nervous system. As a teacher of Vinyasa, which is a class that has the intention of using tapas to transform, I am continually interested in how the students feel after class. Because this is a high energy class, I want to produce the right energetic effect so that the students leave feeling energized, yet calm. As westerners we are conditioned to believe that more is better and effort is always a good thing. It helps to think of it in terms of finding a burning zeal for the practice that has no attachments to results. Only then can the practice be called Yoga.

It is absolutely essential as we practice this eastern ancient practice that we put aside our ego and competitive natures and trade it in for a desire to continually refine the balance between effort and surrender. When we find that place in the middle there is this inner “AHA” or inner “OM,” if you will. May we all continue to reach towards that mystical, magical plum line of the middle, which has the power to transform, heal, and ultimately cultivate light. Namaste.