Know Thyself
“Yoga is the journey of the self, through the self, to the Self.” The Bhagavad Gita
When you are a witness to someone’s life it is easy to see what they cannot. You can foresee how things will play out and could even prescribe “better” options for them. Will they listen? Probably not.
If we’re being honest, we don’t always listen either. However, it is possible to apply the bird’s-eye view insight we offer others to ourselves.
Svadhyaya, Sanskrit for self-study, is the practice of observing or witnessing yourself and developing an understanding of your connection to a greater presence. It is the inner work at the core of the self-help and the personal development industries.
Off the mat, Svadhyaya may look like reading the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, the Bible, or the Quran and making meaningful connections to the divine. As you grow and evolve everyday, Svadhyaya is a practice you can do daily.
On the mat, Svadhyaya is what you become aware of during certain poses. I don’t know about you, but I have many thoughts and sensations in pigeon pose!
Nonetheless, this introspection helps to guide our future behaviors with grace and wisdom. Because I have learned that closed doors lead to better opportunities, for instance, I am no longer disappointed by rejection. This understanding comes from my Svadhyaya.
What lessons have you learned from your personal study or reflections from your favorite film?
Namaste
