Tapas in Action — Reigniting Your Inner Fire When Motivation Fades
Staying motivated can be hard, and I don’t think that’s news to all of us. Especially as we get older, and life gets more complex, we subconsciously come up with more excuses as to why we can’t complete said tasks, why we can’t commit to 5-10 minutes a day, and so much more.
Let us be clear, this blog isn’t designed to make you feel bad for not staying motivated, this blog is designed to inspire you, your Tapas, and provide you a few realistic ways to stay motivated during the harder seasons.
So, let’s break down what “Tapas in Action” really means first.
Tapas - say what?
In yogic philosophy, tapas doesn’t refer to small Spanish dishes (although those are delicious). It’s a Sanskrit word meaning “heat” or “discipline” — that internal fire that pushes you through resistance, discomfort, and self-doubt. Tapas is the commitment to keep going, even when the spark dims.
When we think of tapas, we can envision embodying a fiery energy of passion + discipline. Tapas represents the embodiment of discipline, determination, commitment, and perseverance as we navigate through challenges and obstacles.
Tapas is what drives us to take action. It’s about persisting even when we feel the urge to stop, persevering when we’re tempted to give up, and continuing when we long to quit. So, how do we keep that fire burning? How do we ignite it?
April and Keirst during a photoshoot with the talented Autumn Ewert Photography
Tapas on and off the mat
We practice Tapas each and every time we land on our mat.
When we realize ‘discipline’ doesn’t strictly mean pushing ourselves harder in a physical sense. We are more motivated to get on the mat and meditate, or practice for 10 minutes.
When you build this small consistency on the mat, we take it off the mat too. Tapas is an aspect of the inner wisdom that encourages us to practice even when we don’t feel like it, even though we know how good it makes us feel.
Think about alllll those small tasks we like to put off, and once we do them we feel so much better and realize it wasn’t that bad. Doesn’t that happen more often than not?
Keep reading below for our top three realistic tips to keep, gain, and build on your Tapas!
A shot from a hike during our Paradise Valley retreat in 2025. A great space, great location, and great time to soak in some Vitamin D while getting away from the colder states!
1: Start with ritual, not power.
Here at Rooted we are ALL about helping you build ritual, and letting that help find rhythm.
Instead of relying on fleeting willpower, anchor your day with micro-rituals that build discipline over time. Light a candle before meditating. Take three deep breaths before opening your laptop. Ritual creates rhythm — and rhythm sustains effort when mood doesn’t.
Discipline isn’t about pushing hard. It’s about showing up small, again and again.
2: Make Discomfort Familiar
Stop treating discomfort like a red flag. Tapas thrive on friction. Whether it's holding chair pose a few breaths longer or finishing a project you're tempted to abandon, choosing discomfort (within reason) builds resilience.
Together, with community, we work on making the discomfort familiar.
View our remaining retreats here.
3: Track the why, not just the what.
Rather than obsessing over daily checklists, Tapas in Action recommends reconnecting with the deeper why behind your actions. Write it out weekly. Stick it on your mirror. When motivation fades, remembering your purpose fans the flame.
Bilal completely crushing Dancer’s pose - Natarajasana. Paradise Valley, Arizona.
Tapas in Action doesn’t just talk about fire — it hands you the matches.
Whether you're feeling stuck, burned out, or simply blah, attending a Rooted Renewal Wellness Retreat invites you back into alignment with your deeper purpose.
