Yoga can teach us many things about ourselves. Svadhyaya: the sense of studying our selves in daily life
Observe yourself as though you were watching someone else; observe the way you speak to friends and family, the way you react when plans change, the way you hold yourself when walking or sitting, or even just the way in which you get dressed each morning… it all tells the story of who and how we are in this moment.
As we continue to focus on the parts of yoga other than asana we force ourselves to look within, to deepen our yoga practice and move closer towards the Self..... tapas fiery discipline, samadhi surrender, saucha pure thoughts
WE have so many daily distractions - phones, chores, emails, tv but when we are on our mat we have to know what we are doing at each moment, actually having to pay attention on a whole different level and ask Why am I doing this?
The breath tells us how we are. A short, shallow breath held high up in the chest is often a signal that we’re stressed or worried about something, or that we’re physically pushing ourselves beyond healthy boundaries during the practice. If you notice your breath resembles this, first ask yourself why. Is there a reason to be stressed or worried? And does it matter right now?
When you get to your mat, first become aware of what you can un-do before you begin to ‘do’ anything else. Ask yourself why this tension might be present, and how often does it arise during your practice?
IT may be the only time we give ourselves permission to stop, so it may also be the time when our minds decides to unload its millions of whirling thoughts. If you notice your mind becomes especially busy when you come to practice, it’s not a case of ‘blocking out’ thoughts, rather it’s more useful to recognize and acknowledge them for what they are – as this will teach us a lot more about ourselves. Realizing what thoughts enter our mind on a regular basis helps us become aware of many other aspects of ourselves.
Watch your thoughts, they become words; watch your words, they become actions; watch your actions, they become habits; watch your habits, they become character; watch your character, for it becomes your destiny. - Author Unknown
“Yoga is the journey of the self, through the self, to the Self” - The Bhagavad Gita