Svadhyaya: Awakening Ourselves with Study

 (Kumar, Naveen. “Yoga.” Artist.com, 2016.)

"Yoga is the journey 

of the self,
through the self,
to the self."
―The Bhagavad Gita

As I have learned in yoga with Ms. Rohan thus far (for 2018), I am reminded every class that yoga is all about the self...but at the same time it isn't. Yoga is broken up into 8 limbs; one of which being the Niyamas or the internal aspects of the practice. A very important Niyama is Svadhyaya, literally meaning Sva- "self" and Adhyaya- "getting close to." Consciously practicing yoga and Svadhyaya results in us becoming closer and more in tune with our true inner beings.

So how do we do this, you may ask. First, it is extremely important you be aware...aware of your body, your breath, and the relationship between these. Svadhyaya relates most with self-reflection and self-observation; the more you are able to recognize and accept yourself as you are, the more power you give yourself to reach that true, pure goodness within. With this comes the potential to become the best possible version of yourself. However, as previously stated, yoga is also all about exiting the self. We must learn to breathe into a space where we awaken our divine, spiritual beings and forget the labels we give ourselves, the stress we put on ourselves, and the physical with which we surround ourselves. In doing this, we transcend to a deeper realm and unearth unlimited possibilities.

As yoga truly is a journey of the self, which first travels through the self, and ultimately to the self (Bhagavad Gita), it becomes more clear the importance of everyday practice of Svadhyaya. By consciously choosing to study and better know yourself each and every day, you become more comfortable and confident in who you are. This often translates with the development of a peaceful and secure aura. A constant practice of Svadhyaya has the power to influence and improve all the other aspects of your life. The practice can be as simple as being aware of the way you speak (like the tone of your voice) or even the way in which you breathe (as you inhale, what are you holding on to?...as you exhale, are you able to let things go?). Svadhyaya in yoga is perhaps one of the most important aspects of the practice and therefore should be treated as such.