Svadhyaya encourages the individual to engage in self-reflection and study of the self. This can include the study of sacred texts and the introspection and contemplation of one's actions and motivations. Thus, leading to greater self-awareness and understanding.

Practicing self-reflection, observation and study of the self makes you more aware of the things you do that harm you, the things that serve you, bringing you in closer contact with your true self.

Svadhyaya also encourages you to further educate yourself in whatever inspires and fascinates you, deepening your own knowledge.

Life presents an endless opportunity to learn about yourself; your flaws and weaknesses give you the opportunity to grow and your mistakes allow you to learn.

Examining our actions becomes a mirror to see our conscious and unconscious motives, thoughts, and desires more clearly.

The yogic practice of Svadhyaya also involves the study of sacred and spiritual texts as a guide to your interior world where your true self resides. Self-study requires both seeing who you are in the moment and seeing beyond your current state to realize your connection with the divine.

You can practice Svadhyaya on your mat when you bring your awareness into the physical sensations in your body, into the type and patterns of thoughts that occur whilst in the poses as well as how you respond to more challenging poses.

Off your mat you can practice by taking time at the end of the day to reflect on the things that have happened, how you have responded to them, what you have learnt and how you could do things differently in the future.  Simply ask yourself “What did I learn today?”

Self-study or Svadhyaya is an area I am currently growing into. The more I can use Tapas to slow down, the more time I have to reflect. My aim is to start a journal that I complete at the end of the day with the questions “What did I learn today?” as the journal prompt. Maybe this is a good intention as we approach the New Year…...