Exploring the Yamas and Niyamas: Satya (Truthfulness)

Continuing with our exploration of the Yamas and Niyamas, the next of the Yamas is Satya. As Debra Adele states in her book "The Yamas & Niyamas: Exploring Yoga's Ethical Practice" she concludes that truth is much larger than not telling a lie, but rather it demands integrity to life and to our own self. Truthfulness is found through self-expression, growth out of our comfort zone, and always reassessing beliefs we held as facts. 

Debra Adele speaks of "cleaning our lens" periodically to re-observe the world. Personal beliefs which we hold as truths are shaped by our own life and experiences. No two people experience the same event in the same way, and therefore hold these different perspectives as "truths." As we grow and change and allow our lens to refocus we often see that an old truth may no longer serve us and is now a lie. We may become stagnant and cease growing if we allow these "old truths" to keep root and not recognize that they are no longer serving us. 

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In our yoga practice, whether we are a beginner or have been practicing for 20 years we come to our mats with existing "truths." When I was new to Baptiste yoga I held to the "truth" that half moon pose was my nemesis. I mean this quite literally. I would feel angry and started going through stories in my head as to why I shouldn't have to do half moon pose, and that if I let my gaze lift to the ceiling I would fall down. This went on from session to session until I stopped even trying to set my gaze to the ceiling. Finally, I was in a class and a teacher assisted me in my half moon pose and I didn't fall, even when she walked away! This "truth" that I had fixated on for so long was now a "lie", and by letting it remain my truth for so many sessions I was holding myself back from growth.

How can you bring Satya into your life this week? And where in your yoga practice can you challenge a "Truth" that you once held to be true?