The Study of Self

Over the last two months I have been exploring and restudying the eight limbs of yoga, if you follow me regularly you may have heard that before. This week we are exploring the 4th Niyama – Svadhyaya or study of self.

As I set out on this learning journey, I was looking for a topic I would be interested in writing about on a regular basis, and I was hoping to bring new and inspiring insights to my classes. Just the first two limbs, the Yamas & Niyamas, have given me a beautiful framework to write about and have helped me look deeper into myself and my daily practices.

The practice of Svadhyaya helps us look inside ourselves, put our egos aside and listen to what is truly calling. What lights you up? How do you feel in your day to day life? Are there things you want to study, see or do? These are the questions we meditate on when practicing Svadhyaya.

An important aspect of Svadhyaya is meditation. Meditation allows us to still the mind, let thoughts come and go without attachment. We notice thoughts, then let them go. Having curiosity and slowing down allows us to learn what is really important.

I enjoyed this article about Svadhyaya. And I am currently reading this book that is focused on whole body health with Ayurveda. I don’t love the title of the book because I don’t believe there is such a thing as “Perfect Health” but it was written over ten years ago, and while language has changed, the concepts of Ayurveda have remained the same over thousands of years.

These are the ways I am diving deeper into the study of myself. How are you diving into your self study? How are you tuning in to nurture your true Self? Share below!

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