Dear Revolution Community,
In the Srimad Bhagavatam, the sage Dattatreya shares that the Earth herself was one of his greatest teachers. Why? Because she endures all things — storms, footsteps, wounds, and seasons — with quiet strength and unshakable patience. Despite it all, she continues to give.
The yogic path is meant to develop this kind of steadfast temperance that the earth teaches us.
In Bhagavatam, it says,
“From the Earth, I learned patience and doing good to others.”
“Even when she is trampled, dug up, burned, and polluted, she bears it all and still nourishes everyone.”
This relates to the yogic principle of tapas — discipline that stokes a fire within us that purifies and transforms.
Tapas is something that I’ve personally worked through in the asana (yoga postures) practice. For a long time, my practice was very disciplined, very steadfast and intense.
Every morning I would do the primary series, which is a very challenging sequence of postures. Holding a headstand for 25 breaths can feel endless.
There is a discipline required to stay, continue and breathe when you have sweat dripping in your eyes, your muscles are shaking and you are experiencing every corner of discomfort in your body.
Tapas is knowing that the pay off is worth the struggle, (It’s the mother enduring birth to bring forth the child with love). So we continue, even when things are hard, because we are all birthing something important into the world that will benefit the whole. A more refined consciousness.
I think that it’s necessary to incorporate tapas into our spiritual path, because the spiritual path is not necessarily the easy path.
We can spend decades creating habits and imbalance in the body, in the mind, and to undo that, is greatly difficult. It’s not necessarily comfortable until you get to the other side of the discomfort. Then we reach bliss. But the road can feel rocky, even tumultuous at times.
This requires a kind of tolerance, a discipline, a kind of bravery that the Yogi is always attempting to cultivate. The yogi knows this will purify the body and mind. So the struggle is necessary. (If you are irritated by every rub, how will you become polished?-Rumi)
We still try to do the right thing even when things are uncomfortable. We still try to be in service to humanity.
Tapas isn’t just about pushing through challenges. It’s about choosing to stay present in discomfort, like the Earth beneath us — steady, grounded, and willing to hold space for change.
The yoga philosophy presents us with these ideas that we can explore through the practice on the mat and off the mat. These philosophical concepts will completely change your life for the better. They will let your mind blossom into all of its potential.
I’m so proud to be able to introduce new teachers to you this month! One who will be guiding you through Yoga philosophy, another who will be introducing the advanced concepts of Kundalini yoga.
So much more to come! Please check out all of our offerings below and happy Spring!
Peace and Love,
Amanda and the good folks at Revolution Yoga
Originally shared in our April 2025 newsletter.