Niyama is the second step in ashtanga yoga.The five niyamas are Saucha, Santhosha, Tapas, Swadhyaya and Ishwara pranidhana.
Saucha brings the discipline of the body and controls the contact with other bodies.
Santhosha means contentment. It is a state of satisfaction.
Tapas is a practice to remove the impurities of body and mind.
Swadhyaya includes spiritual discourse, reading, and thinking.
Ishwara pranidhana means devotion to God; the Absolute.