The last of the niyamas is ishvara pranidhana, which literally translates to “surrender to the Lord.” There are many different paths available to find your own comfortable means of ishvara pranidhana. Every human being is different, and who or what they surrender to may be as well. Whether it be dedication to a higher power or ritual in the daily activities of your life, find your means to connect with the universe at large.

The greater grace

The purpose of ishvara pranidhana is to see the bigger picture—and you do this by surrendering to something bigger than yourself. You shift your perspective from the ego-centric “I” to the greater grace of being alive. You approach your life, practice, and day-to-day tasks with a spirit of offering versus of taking. And you stay connected to love and openness no matter what arises.

Dedication to the yogic path

Since ishvara pranidhana marks the end of the yamas and niyamas, the first two limbs of yoga, let’s examine the way each of them can contribute to the daily practice of dedication. Ahimsa:

Satya:

Asteya:

Brahmacharya:

Aparigraha:

Saucha:

Santosha:

Tapas:

Svadhyaya:

Virtue is its own reward