How a Little Pain, Misery, and Torture Never Hurt Anyone
Tapas every day leads to transformation.
I'm a princess when it comes to the weather. Ask my husband, and he will verify that I have a temperature range of three degrees of comfort. One degree outside this small band, I’m opening a window or grabbing a sweater.
I wasn’t always this way.
My temperature sensitivity has worsened with age. At my annual gynecological appointment, I mentioned I had never experienced hot flashes but was usually cold. The doctor explained that 90% of women will be perpetually hot after menopause, while the other 10% will be cold.
Ten percenter here! 🥶 🥶 🥶
Today it's 70°F (21°C), I am in sweatpants and a T-shirt and have a fleece nearby. When did I become such a fragile person?
On my way to my old job, I used to drive by an elderly woman in her 80s wearing a mumu with a sweater on top, cutting her grass with a push mower in 90°F (32°C) heat.
I thought it was odd at the time, but now that old lady and I could be BFFs and possibly even roommates.
But I don't live with that old lady--I live with my husband, who's almost always hot. He wears shorts until December and rarely dons anything warmer than a fleece.
One of us has to change.
To work on my temperature intolerance, I take weekly cold showers. I know I should do them more often to benefit, but I’m not there yet. Once the cold water hits, I force myself to focus on breathing.
The quicker I shift to the breath, the faster the discomfort dissipates, and I settle in.
I recently stumbled on a podcast where a woman my age said she goes in the ocean every morning before the sun all year round. She says it is so empowering because afterward, she feels like she can do anything.
”No pain, no palm; no thorns, no throne; no gall, no glory; no cross, no crown.” – William Penn
Maybe the podcast lady was an impetus, but now I look for opportunities for discomfort. In the spirit of true torture, I recently purchased an acupressure mat. If you don't know what one is, see the top photo for a closeup. The 17” x 29” mat has rows of plastic disks with spikes you lay on or use to apply pressure to various body parts.
I love deep-tissue massages—the deeper, the better, so the mat seemed up my alley. When I lie on my Shakti mat, I have a new opportunity to breathe through pain, burning sensations, and nausea. The intensity doesn’t last more than 60 seconds.
It’s fun.
It’s also a great way to drive home the yogic belief that I’m not just a physical being.
I don’t want my pleasure-seeking body to control my decisions. Cold showers and a Shakti mat are perfect ways for me to become more disciplined, which we call tapas in yoga.
Tapas is a Sanskrit word that refers to the self-discipline and effort one applies to their practice to generate inner heat and transformation.
Tapas is also one of the niyamas, or personal observances, in yoga. It is often associated with fasting, meditation, and breathwork, which help generate inner heat and cultivate self-discipline.
To give you an idea of how far people will go with their tapas, meet Mahant Amar Bharati. Bharati is an Indian Sadhu who has kept his right arm raised for 48 years without putting it down as his devotion to Shiva.
Click here to see him and his arm.
The last article I found on him was from September 2022, and as far as I know, he is still going strong.
Imagine how many times his body had begged him to lower his arm. He didn’t, despite the pain, doubt, and many sensible reasons to do so.
That arm has no power over Mr. Bharati.
While we don’t have to do anything this extreme, there are always opportunities for tapas, such as working through difficult yoga poses or challenging yourself to go deeper in your meditation practice.
Ultimately, the practice of tapas is about cultivating the inner fire of transformation and using that fire to purify and strengthen our body, mind, and spirit.
What are your tapas? Comment below.
I recently celebrated my 60th birthday. Here are 5.5 hours of songs I’ve loved throughout the years on one Spotify playlist. Hope you enjoy :)
I have learned to push through pain, but have had a hard time learning to love cold showers. Some kinds of transformation just aren't that important to me! I ordered the Shakti mat, so I'll report back after I give it a try.
For me, extremes are not necessary for transformation, only consistent dedication. Although, for some, extremes may be the perfect way, for most, moderation is the way. Most importantly, recognizing when I’m veering off the path, to gently come back without chastising, and accepting, that too is the path. Thanks Ilona, Mr. Bharati is an example when someone does something extremely different it catches the attention of others and inspires them to question themselves and perhaps do something they resonate with to improve themselves. I value the use of my arm. Ha ha ha. Interesting story. 🙏