Wikipedia defines tapas as literally meaning “heat”. It is derived from the Sanskrit tapasya and refers to a personal discipline accompanied by pain or suffering. Its earliest mention is in the Rig Veda where it is described as physical pain or suffering rooted in spirituality. Ardent spiritual seekers in Hinduism Sikhism and Jainism practice tapasya to purify and strengthen their devotion to God and ultimately obtain spiritual liberation. In meditation, tapas involves completely focusing upon God while ignoring all outer environments or distractions. Those who practice tapas might also practice brahmacharya, ahimsa, and are vegetarians. They reduce the amount of food they eat and the amount that they drink and learn how to control their mental faculties thereby reducing their biological needs. (Wikipedia)

If this sounds a little too harsh, you can always choose the other definition of tapas which comes from the Spanish word tapar meaning “to cover” and is the name of a wide variety of appetizers or snacks in the Spanish cuisine. The serving of tapas is designed to encourage conversation since the participants are more focused on each other rather than the meal. In some countries, guests stand and move about while eating tapas; a custom very similar to the serving of hor d’ouvres in the United States and elsewhere. According to legend, the tradition of tapas began with King Alfonso X of Castile. He recovered from an illness by drinking wine while eating small dishes between meals. After regaining his health, the king ordered that taverns would not be allowed to serve wine to customers unless it was accompanied by a small snack or "tapa." (Wikipedia)

Strangely enough, there seems to be some thread of overlap between these two practices. Let’s look deeper. Quoting from Nischala Joy Devi’s book, The Secret Power of Yoga, she equates tapas with the power to ignite a purifying flame. She quotes from the Gayatri Mantra, “Bhargo devasya dhimahi….Evoking the resplendent flame” She says, “Tapas is taken literally to mean burn or purify. In a higher sense it is an attitude that allows us to embrace all of life’s experiences as a means for purification, be they pleasant or unpleasant.” Nischala further explains that any tapas which are associated with asceticism and go as far as harming the body either emotionally or physically are not true tapas and ultimately don’t offer the kind of spiritual growth that is positive. She says, “These austerities are not the highest form of tapas. Conjuring up any form of tapas is not really necessary, as it seems that with each new day the world serves up new challenges by which we are purified.” (p.111-112). So, in truth, tapas is the ability or the strength to meet all challenges in all circumstances with love, patience, and compassion. In that way, the resplendent flames begin to purify us from within.

Nischala Joy Devi is really echoing Lord Krishna when he is speaking to Arjuna in the Bhagavad Gita. He says,
“To offer service to the gods, to the good, to the wise, and to your spiritual teacher; purity, honesty, continence and nonviolence: these are the disciplines of the body. To offer soothing words, to speak truly kindly, and helpfully, and to study the scriptures: these are the disciplines of speech. Calmness, gentleness, silence, self-restrain, and purity: these are the disciplines of the mind”. (Chapter 17, 14-16)
And further Krishna says:
“Disciplines practiced in order to gain respect, honor, or admiration are rajasic; they are undependable and transitory in their effects. Disciplines practiced to gain power over others, or in the confused belief that to torture oneself is spiritual, are tamasic.” (Chapter 17, 18-19)

Lord Krishna is making it clear that spiritual progress takes disciplined action. According to Eknath Easwaran, “The root of the word tapas is tap, which means to be hot or to suffer pain; and in fact tapas can also mean heat or suffering. The connection is that when certain spiritual practices are mastered, they create a feeling of heat in the body, which is a sign of increased spiritual potency. Krishna dispels the mistaken belief that tapas means mortifying or torturing the body, and points out that spiritual disciplines can be sattvic, rajasic, or tamasic. The sattvic kind of tapas is offered for a truly spiritual goal.” (The Bhagavad Gita, p 194) Tapas can be viewed as the spiritual power obtained by practice and commitment to the spiritual goal. And in that power, we evoke the resplendent flame “Bhargo devasya dhimahi. “

Returning to our yoga practice, tapas is also the ability to keep our body fit by creating heat in order to cleanse it from the inside both emotionally and physically. It is the idea of getting rid of that which causes us physical dis-ease as well as emotional dis-ease. We use asana and pranayama to help keep our bodies healthy. This includes paying attention to what we eat and our patterns of breathing as well as the patterns of our thoughts. Gradually, we learn to watch what we think, what we say, and what we do.

Now we can return to the Spanish definition of tapas. The king learned that by eating smaller amounts of food, he was able to give his digestive system a rest while at the same time providing enough nourishment for the body to heal itself. The combination of the two allowed his body to once again ignite his digestive fire! Without consciously knowing it, the king was practicing a form of tapas in order to regain his physical health. The same principles apply today throughout eastern medicine and are now becoming important in western thinking. Dis-ease created through poor eating habits, lack of exercise, lack of proper breathing habits, negative thinking and speech all work to decrease our tapas, that resplendent flame which keeps our eyes bright, our bodies strong and healthy and our thoughts positive and focused toward spirituality.

You can increase tapas in your yoga practice by practicing! Move your body and allow yourself to sweat. Breathe deeply and feel how the breath can hold an asana when your muscles are tired. Work to your edge not in violence and competition but with an inquisitive mind. Our bodies can do much more than we think they can if we can just step aside a little bit. Fear keeps up from injuring ourselves but sometimes it also keep us from moving forward. Become aware of what holds you back; when you can move forward, when you need to pull back, and when you need to stay right where you are, breathing and enjoying the pose. It’s all part of your yoga practice. Experience doing your asanas to music and let your body move with the rhythm. I’ve taught classes using music from the Beatles to Leonard Cohen to Krishna Das. It’s all good!

The ways and opportunities to create the fire of tapas are everywhere. Enjoy the experience on your mat and in your everyday life as you keep your resplendent flame burning bright!

Shanti, Shanti, Shanti, Om

NOTE: Francesca is offering a series of lesson plans on the digestive system, including the entire digestive system and its organs in relation to yoga and asana. These are available for purchase at www.shreeyoga4u.com

As a lifelong advocate of both physical fitness and spiritual growth, Francesca finds the practice of yoga a natural. She began studying yoga seriously 6 years ago when first introduced to the philosophy and alignment principals of Anusara Yoga. She is now a registered SOYA yoga instructor with a RYT 500 designation with the Yoga Alliance and is a faculty member of the South Okanagan Yoga Academy in B.C. Canada. She says, “Taking the seat of the yoga teacher is a gift and a responsibility given to me by my teachers. I take this position seriously since I now function as both student and teacher. My desire is to share my love of yoga and the philosophy that enlivens it with all my students.” She encourages people of all ages, shapes, and sizes to come to class and enjoy the many benefits of a yoga practice. You can email Francesca at francesca.shree@me.com or visit her website for more information at www.shreeyoga4u.com