Walk into the Fire: Burning Transformation

I want to talk about pain. 

Our country has created a very confusing and contradictory belief system around pain.  

On the one hand we have the "no pain, no gain" model, where we are encouraged to push past our limits, abuse our bodies, never complain, and pretend we don't feel any pain so we can "gain more"...

On the other hand, we numb any first trace of pain or discomfort.  Just look at the opioid epidemic and how easily we rely on drugs (legal or illegal) to numb any sensation at all.

Pain brings discomfort, and I am not aware of many institutional conversations around a healthy relationship to pain and suffering (in the States, at least).

Because here's the thing:  if you are a human on earth, pain and suffering is inevitable. 
But that concept doesn't seem to fit well into our capitalistic, individualistic societal model.

So today, I just want to open the floor for you to think about your relationship with pain. 
What is your habitual response when things get uncomfortable, hard, or painful? 

Do you avoid?  Numb?  Distract?  

Or do you inflict pain - on yourself or others?  Are you addicted to pain?  Do you seek it out?

Take a moment and reflect on your personal relationship to pain.  

And know that whatever you find is okay.  We all have to start exactly where we are.

.....

So where's the yoga in all this?

Tapah is a philosophy from ancient Yogic texts.  It is one of the Niyamas, or inner observavnces, that contribute to our efforts of maintaining a calm mind. 

What does tapah mean?  It is often translated in modern context to mean "discipline."  

In Sanskrit, the direct meaning of tapah means "to burn." 

The element of fire is linked with transformation.  

Think of a phoenix rising from the ashes.

Fire has the ability to cleanse, burning through impurities, so we may transform into something new. 

The phoenix cannot rise and undergo transformation unless they walk into the fire and allow a part of them to die.  And that means, we must undergo and accept pain, without causing pain in return, in order to truly heal and transform.  

Tapah is our guiding light that asks us to stay committed to the discovery and evolution of our Self - even when things get hard and painful - because there is opportunity to transform that pain and integrate it into our greater Self Realization. 

This is a lot, I know! 

.....

So let's take a deep breath, and a step a few steps back from the flames for a moment.

Where in your life is causing you pain right now?  

We might see that suffering as the fire.  At first, we are standing safely back, watching it from a distance.  We can smell the heat, absorbing it through our eyes and feeling the heat on our skin.  Gradually we might walk closer, and closer, and closer.....until eventually we are standing in the fire, shedding the parts of ourselves that are no longer needed so that we may continue walking out of the fire - healed, free, transformed.  Tapah helps us remember that we can come out on the other side.  

Tapah invites us to embody this idea of intense focus, fiery discipline, and the commitment to ourselves even when things get hard or painful. 

With practice our transformation muscle gets stronger and stronger, and we learn to allow painful things to wash through us, absorbing the lessons, and easily turning them into compassion, gratitude, and love.  

I want to make it clear that I am not, nor, I believe, is yoga, telling us to accept any kind of abuse or evil and surrender to it.  Tapah is a very intentional practice with the intention of gaining more calm and clarity over your own mind.  Tapah helps us develop an inner strength that allows us to stay centered and calm even when pain, suffering or hardship is placed in our path.  

Pain and suffering may be inevitable, but happiness is our birthright.  Tapah gives us the ability to stay in control of our being despite the pain we experience. 

So where do we go from here?
Start small. 

Just notice your reactions when pain shows up in your life. 

Spend a lot of time in this observation stage so you can really get an understanding of what your current state is.  

And, little by little, stand in the fire and the discomfort a little longer, each time.  

Want to talk it out?  
I'd love to!  

Set up a free 30 minute consultation with me to talk about what's going on for you and your lifestyle goals so we can explore how yoga can keep you more centered and calm. 

Send yourself some gratitude for showing up to this article, and I hope you receive my gratitude for joining me in this practice. 

May we remember to stay grateful for all the teachers walking amongst us, giving us opportunity to practice our tapah, and our yoga, off the mat! 


Namaste, 
Allie