Svadhyaya: The Power of Self-Reflection

What does svadhyaya mean in yoga? In this blog, we’re delving into the fourth of the niyamas – svadhyaya.

Self-Study

This niyama is all about the practice of self-reflection, self-study, self-awareness, responsibility-taking, action planning + alignment. Practicing svadhyaya gives us the opportunity to grow + tap into expansion in our own lives, enriching those around us as a result.

One of the yoga sutras speaks of how yoga is a selfless practice. It helps us connect with our inner peace. By connecting to our inner peace, we’re able to reflect on what is disturbing our peace + take action to remove it. Svadhyaya helps us become more aware of what feels in alignment + what doesn’t, what serves us + doesn’t, what’s for us + what isn’t. When we live a peaceful life, we’re able to SHARE the powerful vibration of peace. But we can’t share what we don’t have. So practicing yoga enhances our peace so that we can share that peace with the world around us, including ourselves.

We can practice svadhyaya to help us in many areas of our life, just like all the yamas + niyamas. We can practice svadhyaya anywhere + everywhere, whether it’s on the yoga mat, in our meditation practice, or in our daily life.

Get Quiet

To listen, we must first get quiet. Getting quiet allows us to reflect + gain knowledge about what is flowing peacefully in our lives + what isn’t. By practicing meditation + yoga asana, we create the space necessary to get quiet + gain insights.

Listening + gaining knowledge are essential, but the true impact comes from what we do with that knowledge. While knowledge is power, it is the action we take based on that knowledge that truly makes a difference.

Awareness is a part of svadhyaya, but we must also recognize that awareness is the energy that propels us to take aligned action. It all starts in the mind, but we need to embrace the practice of tapas alongside svadhyaya to bring about real change + make an impact in our lives.

For example, you may become aware that you find it difficult to concentrate during meditation. That awareness + knowledge are important, but diving deeper + reflecting on the actions you can take to improve your concentration is where healthy habits + a healthy self begin to blossom.

Space for Connection

The word “yoga” means union, + while it can be practiced in various ways, such as finding union with others, the world around us, nature, or the present moment, it can also be practiced by seeking a union with how we feel in mind + body in any given moment. This pursuit of union begins with the practice of svadhyaya, which cultivates self-awareness. We can initiate this self-inquiry through meditation or even during quiet moments.

When we create a space of stillness + silence, we open ourselves up to the opportunity to truly listen. Our bodies communicate with us not through words but through sensations. However, it becomes challenging for our bodies to be heard when we live life at a hectic pace or in a constant state of busyness. When we lead such a lifestyle, our bodies eventually have no choice but to grab our attention through pain, burnout, or illness. Instead of waiting for these negative outcomes, by cultivating daily awareness of how we feel during moments of stillness, we can begin to recognize the early signs before they manifest into more significant issues. This allows us to take proactive action in making healthier changes.

Grow, Evolve + Expand

When we ask questions + seek answers, we’re gaining insight, wisdom, + knowledge. Knowledge is power, but what is truly powerful is what we do with it. To truly transform + make a change, we need to take inspired aligned action.

Give yourself radical permission to change into the highest version of yourself. Seek the expansion + the opportunity to dive in + learn more about yourself. Life is happening FOR you, not to you. We have no control over our past. Allow it to be a place you learn from, not live in. Reflect if you go around blaming others or situations. You cannot control what other people say, do, or act, but you can choose how you say, do, or act.

When you feel out of alignment + unhappy, don’t just accept + settle – make a change + BE the change. If you’re not happy, then ask yourself why. Remind yourself that you are deserving of feeling happy. Happiness is not something ready-made. It comes from your own actions, your own mindset, + your own perspective.

Learn More

Learn more about svadhyaya + how to live a yoga-inspired life over on the Inspired Club.