What Does Tapas Mean in Yoga?

If Santosha is about finding peace in the present, Tapas is about finding power in persistence.
In this blog, we’re exploring the third of the Niyamas — Tapas — the inner fire that fuels our practice, our growth, + our ability to keep showing up.

Fiery energy

The word Tapas comes from the Sanskrit root tap, meaning to burn. It symbolises the heat of transformation — the energy that arises when we commit to something meaningful + see it through.

Tapas is the embodiment of discipline, courage, + determination. It’s what keeps us going when the initial spark of motivation fades. It’s the promise we keep to ourselves — the one that says, “I’ll still show up, even when it’s hard.”

This fiery energy doesn’t just burn away resistance; it purifies. It teaches us to endure discomfort, to grow stronger through it, and to stay steady through challenge.

Daily inner fire

Just like all the Yamas + Niyamas, Tapas can be practised anywhere — on the yoga mat, in meditation, or in daily life.

Everyday life constantly gives us opportunities to strengthen this inner fire: choosing patience over frustration, consistency over comfort, and courage over fear. These are small acts of discipline that build lasting transformation.

As you move through life, you always have a choice — to give up, or to show up. Each time you choose to show up, you build Tapas.

Showing up

Fear is often what stops us before we even begin — fear of failure, fear of being seen, fear of the challenge itself. But the truth is, every great shift begins with action, not certainty.

As Henry Ford said, “Whether you think you can or can’t, you’re right.” Tapas helps us keep taking steps, even when doubt whispers otherwise.

We can live a life full of “I wish I had” — or one full of “I’m glad I did.”
Tapas helps us choose the latter.

Simple, not easy

Meditation is a perfect example of Tapas in action. It sounds simple — sit, breathe, focus — but simplicity doesn’t always mean ease.

Every time the mind wanders, we have a choice: to give up, or to return to our focus. That return — again and again — isTapas. It’s where discipline is forged.

Meditation reminds us that stillness takes strength. It’s an act of devotion to the present moment, and it trains the same inner fire we carry into every part of life.

Tapas on the mat

On the mat, we can feel the heat of Tapas physically. In a challenging Asana, muscles burn, balance wobbles, + the mind wants to give up long before the body needs to.

But Tapas isn’t about pushing through pain or forcing the body. It’s about building awareness, patience, + compassion alongside strength.

Each time you fall out of a posture and return, you’re practising Tapas.
Each time you rest instead of push, you’re practising Tapas.

Discipline and softness are not opposites — they’re partners in growth.

And perhaps most importantly, Tapas teaches patience. Growth takes time. Heels reach the floor in Downward Dog, legs lift in Handstand, and confidence blooms in its own season. Tapas helps us honour that journey — with effort, trust, + grace.

Habits + inner strength

Tapas shows up in our habits. Transformation isn’t about one big decision — it’s the sum of countless small ones. Each repetition strengthens our commitment.

As the yogic teachings remind us, “We cannot meet the goal with mere words alone. Without practice, nothing can be achieved.”

Books like The Source by Dr Tara Swart + Atomic Habits by James Clear explore this power beautifully — how consistency shapes identity, and how small steps create lasting change.

You will never have an idea you don’t have the ability to bring to life.
It may not happen easily or quickly, but every obstacle is training for what’s ahead.

Living with Tapas

Tapas is the courage to keep showing up.
To meet life’s challenges not with avoidance, but with trust in your own resilience.

So as you move forward, remember: the fire of transformation is already within you.
You don’t need to find it — only to tend to it.

Choose the journey of growth, expansion, + a life full of “I’m glad I did.”

Learn more

Discover the meaning of Tapas + explore the other Yamas + Niyamas in the ‘Yoga Lifestyle Course,’ inside the ‘Inspired Club’ — your online space for yoga-inspired living — or through my other yoga-inspired lifestyle offerings.