Part 9: Svadhyaya
Svadhyaya or self-study
Join me as I embark on 40 weeks of trying to live the yamas and niyamas off the mat. 4 weeks for each of the 10 ethical principles.
Today we explore the 4th niyama called svadhyaya or self-study. How well do you know yourself? What boxes (thoughts, ideas, projections, etc) have you wrapped yourself in? This niyama is definitely more than understanding yourself.
But first, what are the niyamas? Also known as ethical "observances", there are 5 in total, and form the second of the 8 limbs of yoga. Yes, there is much more to yoga than just the physical poses!
“We don’t see things as they are. We see things as we are.” Anaïs Nin
Here's what I discovered (& I encourage you to do some of your own self-exploration):
Projection is a key part of understanding yourself - how you describe others and the world, is how you describe yourself. This helps me have more compassion for difficult people - their harsh actions and words are usually a result of how they view and speak to themselves.
The world gives you what you see - you can’t love or hate something in others or the world, if this something isn’t already inside of you first.
We suffer because we forget who we really are. We think we are the “boxes” we wrap ourselves in - beliefs, experiences, expectations etc.
By watching our projections, tracing our reactions back to what we believe, and looking at life as it is…we can help unwrap ourselves from the boxes we keep ourselves wrapped in.
Denial cuts us off from the full reality of ourselves - study the parts of yourself that you would rather avoid. Carry these parts with love and compassion.
You don’t have to fix yourself. What a relief to hear this - instead, develop your ‘witness’. Watch your thoughts, acts, emotional disturbances, responses. This helps us watch our ego rather than identify with it. We carry thoughts, beliefs and stories…they are NOT who we are.
Svadhyaya is about understanding your belief system…rather than be stuck in it.
What I will do more of: Meditate. This is an important aspect of self-study and where we grow the ‘witness’.
Takeaway: Svadhyaya creates a path to freedom, it is is about knowing our true identity as divine.
You can practice svadhyaya with me on the mat in a free Youtube class, during which I share with you journal prompts and ways that you can practice this yogic observance of self- study in your own daily life.
I am SO excited to share with you this 10 part series where we explore the yamas and niyamas in more detail during restorative, yin style classes. See you over in class on Youtube (@Tati von Yoga).
P.S. Here are some suggested JOURNAL PROMPTS from Deborah Adele's book ‘The Yamas and Niyamas’:
* Notice what you project on to others - these things are what you are unable or unwilling to acknowledge in yourself (you can't notice something in another if it is not already in you).
* Notice how you blame others, and take responsibility for others' problems. Practice taking responsibility for yourself and letting others be responsible for themselves.
* Discover some of the ‘boxes’ you have yourself wrapped in. Do this by tracing all ripples of disharmony back to yourself. Notice what personal belief system caused the disharmony...is your belief true? Are you experiencing reality or a ‘box’?
* Grow the power of your witness by watching all your actions and thoughts as if you were watching a movie. Begin to experience yourself as surpreme strength, the fullness of wisdom, and unquenchable joy. Unwrap yourself.
Lots of love & kindness,
Tati
xx
