When I think of studying, I flash back to the days of being holed up in the McGill University library, pouring through stacks of Anthropology and English books, hurriedly putting together research papers. While studying in yogic terms does not have to be as stressful or daunting, the practice of Swadhyaya does ask us to crack open the tomes of ancient yogic knowledge and commit to some intense study.
The Science of Liberation
Swadhyaya, being the second yogic practice of the Niyamas, means commitment to knowing the truth. If we study the teachings of wise beings (through reading yogic texts) and also study ourselves (through meditation and reflection), we can reach a greater understanding of what it means to be human. This is also called, in yogic terms, the science of liberation. Once we understand the truth of our existence, we can transcend so much unhappiness to live in joyful acceptance.
Wait a minute, didn’t I say that the yoga of study should be less stressful and daunting than preparing for final exams? And are you now doubting this because the ‘science of liberation’ sounds way more intimidating than any ill-humored professor you have ever encountered? Do not be dismayed, dear yogi. You will have more than enough help along the way!
Om-Work
Your first yoga assignment, or om-work, is to practice conscious awareness. Notice all the thoughts that swirl through your mind during your yoga practice. Notice how you react to them at a mental and physical level. Does a stressful thought make your body tense? Do you fall down the proverbial rabbit-hole of self-criticism? Study yourself first, all of yourself, the things you love and dislike, on and off your yoga mat. This self-knowledge is the first chapter of Swadhyaya.
Stretch Your Mind
Next, pick up a book. This is a refreshing change from opening up your hips and hamstrings; your yoga practice is now about opening and stretching your mind. The two foundational yogic texts are The Yoga Sutras and The Bhagavad Gita. While these texts are cornerstones for your yogic study, they are also very difficult to digest. This is because they come from a culture and an era vastly different from ours. While these texts have been linguistically translated for us to read, they also require a certain amount of cultural translation for us to fully understand them. Stephen Cope has done an incredible job of this in his books, Yoga: The Quest for the True Self and The Wisdom of Yoga. I highly recommend reading these books, as well as the original texts.
Studio as Classroom
Finally, engage with your yoga teachers and fellow students. Listen to the concepts they share with you during class and commit to studying them. Your yoga teachers, while being fallible human beings, are great resources to support your yoga practice of Swadhyaya. Talk to them, ask them questions about yoga poses and yogic texts, engage with them — and you will open a new door of knowledge. You can also start a dialogue with other yoga students and learn from each other while strengthening your local yoga community.