self-study

•Svadhyaya•

"The term svadhyaya literally means ‘one’s own reading’ or ‘self-study’, it is the fourth of the Niyamas of Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras, and has the potential to deepen our Yoga practice way beyond the mat." 

- Emma Newlyn 

Our focus during tonight's deep stretch yoga class was this insightful term, this concept that offers you so much, yet terrifies so many. I feel energized after time on my mat. My ability to reflect and check in on my heart, my mind, and my body provides me with this time alone to evaluate myself. It is not easy. But the value of that time cannot be put into words. 

The chaos of the end of the year is swirling around me, yet the mat is still there; it is firm in its foundation and welcoming in its texture. Each day I return to continue my svadhyaya. 

We want to progress as an individual in society, yet we do not want to do the work. We look for solutions that don't require inward construction. It is unstable to portray oneself as growing when on the inside one is remaining the same, stagnant. Because of this growing gap, the void becomes detrimental and eventually one can stretch too far between these two beings. 

The work we do on the mat is only the beginning. Our self-study requires a foundation, but we our vehicles for this inner-peace we seek and create. Only through self-study can we discover how we can use our unique gifts to transfer the lessons we learn into action of our daily lives.