Within Patanjali Yoga’s ashtanga there are a few guidelines for living what the ancient greeks would describe as an eudaemonic life or a life worth living.

These guidelines are split into two groups known as yamas and niyamas or as Georg Feuerstein translates them (moral) disciplines and (self) restraints.

“If the five rules of yama harmonise their [yogins] relationship with other beings, the five rules of niyama harmonise their relationship to life at large and to the transcendent Reality.”

The Yoga Tradition

One of the niyamas I find most interesting is tapas, usually translated as austerity and refers to the practices of asceticism or renunciation. Tapas means “heat” and yogins deep in the practice of tapas create a numinous psychosomatic energy called ojas that is said to be so potent that it can shape destiny. Now cards on the table I can hardly claim that I do without anything at all in my very privileged existence. Maybe my attraction to asceticism in general is a reflection of the fact that I want for nothing really and any choice I make to go without is choice I have the luxury of making.

So despite my best efforts I find at times my practice of tapas starts to get away from me, in particular I find that it doesn’t take much before I’m drinking more than I need to, more often than I need to and I benefit from a period of refocused attention on the practice of moderation.

It just so happens that this is again one of those times and I thought that as well as doing something worthwhile for myself I could also attempt to harmonise my relationship with life at large by: 

• Making a contribution to Medecin Sans Frontieres of £5 for each day of June I abstain from drinking. 
• Inviting you good people to join me in this practice and abstain, renounce or simply cut down something you can do without over June and potentially make a small donation if you wish.

As with all good things I’ll put up a sign up sheet in the studio and if you want to join me ticking days off and I don’t know potentially getting a sticker at the end of the month(!) I’d love a little company.

In addition I’ve booked a Salt Water Sauna at Avon beach on the Summer Solstice 21st June at 19:45 as a personal incentive, if you’d like to join us just let me know when you sign up.

“Asceticism that is performed for the sake of [gaining] good treatment, honour and reverence [from others], or with ostentation – that is called here [in this world] rojas-natured. It is fickle and unsteady.”

Bhagavad-Gita

Although I hope I have affected the breezy air of someone with an iron will none of this is particularly easy for me and I hope you will forgive any ostentation for the sake of doing something useful.