Yoga to unlock your true nature

As part of your yoga practice, the ancient practice of Svadhyaya, which can be translated as “self-study” or the importance of getting to know yourself, is a vital tool for unlocking your true nature.

- LAURA KELLY

How often in your daily life do you stop and take stock of what’s going on in your mind and physical body? Do you get so caught on the treadmill of the everyday that you don’t realise when you’re feeling a little frazzled, until you’re a lot frazzled and headed for burnout? If you don’t slow down to feel these first negative signs, it could mean you’re not slowing down enough to feel the positive signs either.

A regular yoga practice can help you identify these signals before you hit a wall. It helps you slow down, breathe deeply, move assuredly and think with clarity. It teaches you to get curious about how you move through your everyday life. It asks you to slow down enough to consider:

How are you feeling today?

How does your body feel today?

What makes you happy?

What makes you sad?

What causes you stress?

What brings you peace?

The practice of Svadhyaya teaches you to stop and allow yourself to consider the answers to questions like these so that you can begin to recognise what happens in these moments for you. As you maintain a sense of curiosity for how you feel physically and emotionally in different areas of your life, you begin to cultivate a relationship with the inner workings of your own body and mind. And with this, a sense of compassion and understanding of your inner world develops. You get to know yourself, as you would a close friend or family member and start to better understand your true nature.

Yoga for your body and breath

Your physical yoga practice, referred to as asana, helps you understand and communicate with your body. It helps you notice how your body is feeling through yoga poses and movement sequences; some will likely feel easier than others and can differ from day to day, depending on how you’re feeling in yourself.