Learning ourselves

In my early 20’s I used to joke with my theatre colleagues about how some of our acting and ensemble activities felt like "a lot of navel gazing".

Now in my 40s I lovingly joke with my yoga and wellness colleagues that it feels like we are literally navel gazing, for all the self-study we must do.

Thankfully with years of experience in both arts and athletics, in humor and healing, I can clearly see the benefits of learning the self.

The ancient yoga masters had a word for this practice of learning the self, in Sanskrit, they call it svadhyaya (sva-dah-yaya).

One simple way of summarizing this big idea is to be aware of your actions as they are happening. Reflect on them later. Use your reflections to make positive changes in your actions in the future. 

Each time we come back to any mindful movement practice; we reconnect to learning the self. We get the opportunity to draw awareness to intentions and actions, to observe reactions and responses, and we can reflect on the effects of the practice, body-mind, emotions, and spirit.

Why all the self-study? 

When we learn ourselves, we can gain clarity in what we see in ourselves and the world. 

We can gain clarity of the world we want to see.

We can gain clarity in how we show up in the world we want to see.

I invite you on the journey of self-study. 

The journey is artistic and athletic, humorous and healing, and all there is to learn is already inside of you. 

Join us in the movement.