Back to School: Self Study

September. Back-to-school. The "inner" school, that is. Swadhyaya [Self-study] is one of the yamas and niyamas – the first two limbs of Ashtanga Yoga. The yamas and niyamas are the theological–divine virtues inherent in all human beings.

These traits, like precious seeds, must be cultivated and nurtured through our attention: thoughts, speech and actions in order to blossom and bear fruit. Cultivating the yamas and niyamas is the fundamental principle of yoga.

Swadhyaya, one of the niyamas, is composed of two root words: swa, meaning “Self” and adhyaya meaning “to study.” Swadhyaya means “to study the Self,” therefore one practices Swadhyaya in order to get to know one’s true Self.

Swami Kripalu defined Swadhyaya as: “listening to, contemplating and practicing the principals of the true scriptures, practicing meditation, and chanting the Lord’s name.”

Both Radical Relaxation and Chanting the Gita classes are forms of Swadhyaya. Radical Relaxation class is a meditation that often incorporates scriptural tenets while chanting the Bhagavad Gita incorporates all three of the elements of Swadhyaya!