Broadly speaking, niyama can be translated as 'individual discipline' (i.e. the observances required to build one's own character). The niyamas are given as:

These are described in more detail below:

Śauca

Sauca means purity both externally and internally.  External cleanliness through bathing is important, but more so is internal cleanliness of both the body and the mind.  Food should be eaten to promote health, strength, energy and life and should not be taken only for pleasure and sensual gratification.  One should not eat too much or too little.  Practice of asana removes toxins from the body and pranayama purifies the lungs, blood and nerves.  The mind should also be cleansed of impure thoughts.  By spending more time on deeper and more spiritual things than the body, one develops a natural disinterest in one's own and other people's bodies and shies away from sensual pleasures – one can start to feel the joy of self-awareness.

Santoşa

The yogi should feel contentment.  Contentment means just being as we are without going to outside things for happiness.  By lacking nothing one is able to concentrate and work towards supreme joy and the ultimate goal of yoga.

Tapas

Tapas mean a burning effort to develop strength in body, mind and character through purification, self-discipline and austerity.  The cleansing process may require a ruthless attitude to one's own self which may require enduring suffering, pain or poverty, but one should adapt and adjust while maintaining compassion and forgiveness towards others for their weaknesses.  By applying tapas, a yogi gains courage, wisdom, integrity, straightforwardness and simplicity.

Svādhyāya

Svadhyaya is literally the education of the self.  Traditionally it has meant the study of the sacred scriptures and recitation of mantra to gain communion with one's chosen deity.  It can also be thought of as the study of the self, realising that the energy of the self is one and the same as the energy of the universe.  By understanding the nature of the soul, one comes nearer to Self-Realisation.

Iśvarapraņidhāna

This niyama indicates that one must have total faith and fully surrender to God.  One should dedicate all one's actions to the Lord or to humanity and never to personal gratification.