The theme of my vinyasa classes this month is satya, non-deception or truthfulness. Satya is the second of the five yamas (ethical restraints, i.e. the things we shouldn’t do) and at the core of yogic moral philosophy.
Satya focuses on being honest, communicating clearly, seeing the world and our life as it is (not how we want them to be), and speaking up for what’s right and true.
Sounds so deliciously simple, right?
It actually can be pretty uncomfortable work, practicing satya.
It makes us aware of how often we mislead ourselves and others. ‘Me?’ you think, ‘misleading?’ Yes, you. And me, and everybody else (unless you're a saint). We all sometimes tell white or outright lies, ignore what’s wrong or not working, avoid the difficult but necessary conversations, all for the sake of comfort.
Practicing satya also opens our eyes to the countless ways in which we are mislead to believe untrue things about ourselves. By others, our thoughts and emotions, and layers of social conditioning. That we don’t belong here but there, we should be doing this or that, are broken and in need of fixing, or at least in need of buying product X or service Y.
The truth itself has no agenda, it is what it is. But we often find it difficult to see, because facing the truth, really seeing the truth, would mean we have to change ourselves, our lives, our views. For example, facing the truth about the changing climate would have us make radical changes in our personal lives.
Is there something in your life right now, that you find difficult to acknowledge? What is true, but is hard for you, or the people around you, to face? A, perhaps inconvenient, truth about yourself, about a situation, about a relationship? Without judgement: see this reality for what it is. Without doing anything about it just yet, simply, bravely, see it, observe it, feel it. Clarissa Pinkola Estès writes: “To be strong does not mean to sprout muscles and flex. [...] It means to be able to learn, to be able to stand what we know. It means to stand and live.”
Once we are able to see the truth, we are one step closer to speaking it. And once we speak it, we are one step closer to acting on it. And remember, ahimsa, non-violence comes before satya, truthfulness. Be loyal to the truth, but be so in a compassionate, gentle way. Don’t speak the truth simply for truth’s sake. Ask yourself: is it true? Is it necessary? Is it useful? Is it kind? As Pope Francis says: "Truth may be vital, but without love, it is unbearable. Caritas in veritate."
Long story short, practicing satya is a journey of a lifetime. Why not start (or continue) your practice in the company of a great group of fellow brave and equally struggling humans?
We meet Wednesdays 20.15-21.30 @rumahyogaamsterdam. You are welcome, even/especially if you’re a liar liar with your pants on fire.
In terms of movement there will be juicy flows with lots of options to tone down or turn up the level of your practice. A great way to practice honouring your true boundaries but not hiding behind self-constructed limits. Also, there’ll be some sweet physical exercises for loosening up the throat area, and mantra singing to get that vishudda (throat) chakra to shine bright (and blue).
💙
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