Svadhyaya – the path of self-knowledge and honest introspection

Yoga doesn't just teach us how to be calmer, more accepting, or more flexible. There's also a less comfortable, yet essential part: facing ourselves . Among the niyamas, svadhyaya represents this quality.

Svadhyaya means self-knowledge, self-examination, learning about ourselves . It is not about everything being okay as it is. And it is not about letting go of everything. Svadhyaya says:
Look at what you have and understand it.

What is the difference between svadhyaya and acceptance?

This is the most important question.

• Santosha : I accept where I am now.

• Ishvara Pranidhana : I let go of what I cannot control.

• Svadhyaya : I examine why I am here and what my part is in it.

Svadhyaya does not calm, but clarifies . It does not automatically reduce tension – but in the long run it eliminates its source.

Svadhyaya in yoga practice

On the mat, svadhyaya appears when we notice our reactions.

• Why do I get impatient with a certain pose?

• Why do I always want to overdo it?

• Why do I give up too soon?

• Why do I compare myself to others?

Svadhyaya doesn't say, "This is bad." It asks: what is happening inside me?

An asana can be a mirror. It shows not only the body, but also the inner patterns. Svadhyaya begins when we do not brush aside these signals, but observe them with curiosity.

Self-awareness in everyday life

In everyday life, svadhyaya is often uncomfortable. Because it demands responsibility.

It is not enough to say:

• "I am like this"

• "This situation brought me out"

• "I feel this way because of others"

Svadhyaya asks the question:

• What is my role in this?

• What pattern do you repeat?

• What am I trying to avoid?

• What can't I say?

This is not self-blame. This is awareness . And awareness is the only real starting point for change.

Why not revenge and why not self-flagellation?

Important difference:
svadhyaya is non-judgmental .

It's not about being bad, flawed, or inadequate. It's about having patterns , and there's a reason for them. If we don't see them, we create the same situations over and over again—whether in yoga, in relationships, or at work.

Svadhyaya helps you move beyond the question of “why does this always happen to me?” and into the perspective of “what is this teaching me?”

Svadhyaya and conscious living

Conscious living is not just slowing down and accepting. It is honesty with ourselves. Svadhyaya is the practice of this honesty.

This could be:

• journaling,

• regular self-reflection,

• conscious reading,

• or even observing a recurring emotional reaction without immediately explaining it.

Svadhyaya does not offer quick fixes. However, it initiates deep and lasting change .

Why is this especially important before or after the new year?

The new year is often about resolutions. But svadhyaya asks:
Why do I want to change?

It doesn't look for superficial goals, but for inner motivation. It helps us recognize what we carry on out of habit and what we truly want to transform.

This principle prevents us from running the same circles again – just with a new calendar year.

Ayuna Ritual tip - Svadhyaya in practice

Regularly take short notes after your practices. Not about the poses, but about the feelings. What was easy, what was difficult, and what thoughts arose during the process. This is one of the simplest, yet most powerful tools for self-knowledge.