December 7: On the Board at Good Life Yoga

 Svadhyaya:  The Study of the Self

The fourth of the Niyamas (observances), Svadhyaya challenges us to look deeply into the nature of our self.  Imagine looking into a mirror and clearly seeing everything about yourself.  You’ll notice that you’ll need a lot of compassion.  When we don’t take along compassion, we are blocked from truly seeing the beauty and goodness of our Self.  So, let go, as best you can; refrain from judgment and stay in an observation mode.  This is our intention, or attitude; to stay open and free from self-limiting patterns.

Secondly, in order to identify everything you see in the mirror, you have to know where it’s all at.  You literally, have to collect yourself; set it in a way where you can clearly observe.  This is alignment.  We move all of our parts in such a way that they are accounted for.  On the mat, we practice ‘seeing’ from inside where all of our physical parts are. 

Thirdly, we accept there will be moments of deep clarity and moments of deep obscurity.   In this one breath I understand, in the next, not so much.  We study the Self to lengthen the time of clarity.  But we accept there is a pulsation to the level and quality of our understanding. This is to be expected.  You are after all, a limitless being who has chosen to reside in a limited reality within a limited physical self.  So, you literally know everything and have limited yourself to knowing only so much right now.  How much fun is that?  Complete fun and confounding.   Svadhyaya, the study of the Self, is an on-going, passionate art of recognition.  We find joy in knowing and joy in not knowing.  I know where my feet are, now what was I just thinking?  I know what I was thinking, but where are my feet again?  Wow, there’s humor here.  I am totally amazing, funny and at times I have no idea what’s going on but I do  know this:  it’s all Good.  At Good Life Yoga this week we joyfully practice the art of alignment and observation.  Get set to find your feet, and then to lose them again….:)

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