Two Dimensions of Self-Study
Self-Observation
Watching your own mind, emotions, and behaviors without judgment. Noticing patterns and reactions. Asking: "What keeps showing up? Why did I react that way?"
Textual Study
Learning from wisdom traditions—yoga philosophy, sacred texts, teachers' words. Not passive reading but active engagement that changes understanding.
Practice of Self-Observation
- Journal regularly: Write about recurring thoughts, emotional patterns, reactions that surprised you
- Notice triggers: What makes you defensive, angry, anxious? These point toward unconscious beliefs
- Watch the stories: What narratives do you tell about yourself? Are they true?
- Observe without changing: Sometimes just seeing is enough; change follows naturally
Practice of Textual Study
- Read slowly: A few lines deeply understood beats chapters skimmed
- Reflect and apply: Ask how the teaching relates to your actual life
- Chant or recite: Traditional practice uses repetition to internalize teachings
- Study with others: Discussion reveals interpretations you'd miss alone
Key texts for svadhyaya: The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, Bhagavad Gita, Upanishads, and Hatha Yoga Pradipika are traditional sources. But svadhyaya can include any text that supports self-understanding—poetry, psychology, philosophy. The test is whether it illuminates rather than obscures.
Svadhyaya on the Mat
Every yoga practice is an opportunity for svadhyaya:
- Notice which poses you avoid and which you crave—what does this reveal?
- Observe your internal dialogue during challenge
- Watch where your mind wanders during holds
- Notice how you respond to the teacher's cues
Know Yourself
Find studios that integrate philosophy with practice.