When people begin practicing yoga, many focus on Asana, or poses, and the physical aspects of the practice. However, they may find that their practices feel stale and disconnected at some point. They adhere to every cue, find picture-perfect posture in every pose, and come to their mat, at least in some sense, every day. But something still feels missing. And sometimes, that’s a different relationship with themselves.

Enter the Niyamas, the second branch of Patanjali’s Eight Limbs of Yoga.