The fourth Niymama is Svadhyaha … or study of oneself in order to bring deeper self-knowledge and understanding.
Yoga opens us up to a beautiful space and opportunity to observe ourselves in a quiet and peaceful way and by doing so to learn, amongst other things, about our moods and emotions. It helps us understand those things that sit happily in our hearts and those things which we try to avoid. Meditation is the ultimate in self study… and yoga helps us on the journey to meditation.
When we are on our mat we have and can take time to welcome every part of ourselves to be there with us … even those aspects of us that we might usually try to avoid. Welcome with open arms everything that is woven into the rich tapestry that makes you the very special, unique and beautiful individual that is YOU – and then take the opportunity to observe and curiously investigate every one of those threads that are intricately interlaced into your being.
Meditation is only one means to observe oneself, that is, by sitting quietly, focussing on the breath, a mantra or a candle, for example. However, any activity can be meditative if it occupies the verbal mind and the body. Gardening, sketching, running, knitting, stroking a pet and walking can all give us space to contemplate quietly and reflect on our gratitude, a question, trouble in our hearts or the beauty of just being alive.
The study of spiritual or awakening texts can also help with self reflection. So too can a friend, lover or relative … anything or anyone which can act as a reflection back to our true selves.
The practice of self enquiry is helped also by keeping our body fit and healthy enough to sit quietly in meditation and our minds focussed enough so they do not succombe to every single distraction when we are trying to meditate.
Basically Svadhyaya is about making time to get to know ourselves better. The more honestly we know ourselves, the more we are able to observe patterns of behaviour and be in control of our moods and emotions. Often we will note that the thing that can annoy us intensely in someone else, is in fact something that we do ourselves, but only through turning our focus inwards, openly and honestly, will we notice this.
Happily yoga gives us the time and the space on our mat to do this and set up intentions to perhaps change aspects deep within us which might not sit so comfortably with us.
I look forward to looking inquisitively into the mirror again in our classes this week ….