Svadhyaya -The Practice of Self Study

In this episode we are exploring the fourth of the Niyamas, Svadhyaya.

Svadhyaya is often translated as self- study or self- inquiry. 

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Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:14

Welcome to Canny Stars Yoga. Hi, I'm Lisa, a lifelong student of yoga and Ayurveda, and a lover of travel and discovering the sacred woven through everyday life. Thank you for joining me as we explore yoga philosophy, the eight lens of yoga, the wisdom of Ayurveda, and the many styles of yoga practice that help guide us back home to ourselves. Whether you are new to yoga or have been walking this path for many years, this podcast is here to support our growth gently, practically and stealthily. A gentle note before we begin, this podcast is offered for educational and inspirational purposes only. It is not medical or psychological advice. Please always listen to your body and seek professional care when needed. So take some time for yourself, take a slow, steady breath in, and exhale arriving here with me. Hello everybody, and in this episode we're exploring the fourth of the Miyamas, Swadhayah. Swadhaya is often translated as self-study or self-inquiry. And it might sound like something academic, as though we're being asked to analyse ourselves or somehow figure everything out. But yogic self-study is much gentler than that. It's not about fixing ourselves or becoming someone different. It's just about being curious, curious about who we are, curious about the patterns that shape our lives, curious about the thoughts, beliefs, habits, and stories that influence how we move through the world. And if you think about it, we spend our lives learning about everything around us. We learn skills and we take on education to learn our careers and we learn how to care for others. But we don't often take the time out to learn about ourselves. And we are the one person that we spend our every waking moment with. And sprayayaya invites us to become a student of our own experience, to observe without judgment, noticing without criticism, and just simply becoming aware. And this can begin in very ordinary moments. You might notice how you respond when things don't go to plan, how you react when you're stressed, maybe even how you speak to yourself when you make a mistake. How certain situations bring about patience while others trigger frustration. And we're not here to judge these responses, it's just about noticing them. Because when we are aware, transformation can begin. And often we move through life on autopilot, just repeating the same habits, having the same reactions, telling ourselves the same stories without ever questioning them. And Spadhyaya gently interrupts that pattern and it asks us, is this belief true? Is this habit serving me? Is the reaction coming from my present experience or from an old story that I've been carrying for years? And sometimes the answers can be surprising. Perhaps you've always believed that you're not good enough, or you've convinced yourself that rest must be earned, or you've spent years trying to meet expectations that were never really truly your own. And when we begin to look honestly at these patterns, we create space for something new, not through force, but through awareness. And one of the beautiful aspects of Spadhaya is that it teaches us to observe ourselves with compassion. The yogic path is not about becoming perfect, it's about becoming conscious. And consciousness grows through observation, noticing our strengths, our challenges, our habits, our gifts. All of it belongs. All of that, all of it can teach us something. And this practice can also include studying sacred teachings, spiritual texts, or wisdom traditions. The ancient yogis understood that there's value in both looking inward and learning from those who have walked from the path before us. And as we read, listen and reflect, we often discover that the teachings illuminate something within ourselves. The outer study supports the inner study. And the inner study gives meaning to the outer teachings. And in today's world, self-study can be supported through many different practices. Journaling, meditation, time in nature, quiet reflection. Even a simple pause at the end of the day just to ask yourself, what did I learn about myself today? What challenged me? What brought me joy? What am I being invited to understand more deeply? Just taking the time to build a relationship with yourself. A relationship rooted in honesty, curiosity, and compassion. And perhaps that's one of the greatest gifts of Swadhayaya. The more we understand ourselves, the more freedom we have. Freedom from unconscious habits and limiting beliefs. And from the stories that no longer fit our lives. We begin to live more intentionally, with more authentic or more authentically, more in alignment with who we truly are. And these practices, they're ongoing, they're lifelong unfolding. And there'll always be more to discover. More opportunities to learn. It's part of the beauty of the journey. And as you move through your day, you might carry this reflection with you this week. What am I learning about myself right now? And not focusing on things that need fixing or changing. What am I beginning to understand? It's just about remembering who you have always been, all along. And meeting yourself there with curiosity, kindness, and an open heart. Sending you love. As we close today's podcast, thank you so much for spending your time with me. If you'd like to stay connected, you can find more yoga, meditation, and Ayurvedic wisdom at countingstars.com.au. And you can also practice with me in studio or online. You can find me on Instagram and Facebook at Counting Stars Yoga and subscribe to the Counting Stars Yoga YouTube channel as we explore sacred places. Until next time, take a breath, move gently through your day, sending you lots of love.