Satya - Truthfulness

“A truth that’s told with bad intent

Beats all the lies you can invent.”

– William Blake

The foundation of yoga, it is said, is love and truth. Ahimsa and Satya go hand-in-hand. Truth is a tricky thing. There is the external truth and the internal truth, or integrity. It may be easier (or not) to tell the truth about something you saw, heard, experienced which was also seen, heard, experienced by another. But, what about our internal experience? What does it mean to be in integrity with our internal truth?

In asana: Are you being truthful about your ability to move into a pose, particularly a challenging pose? If there is major misalignment based on your body’s own chronic holding patterns, is your whole body truthfully executing the pose? Assess yourself honestly. Listen to the truth your body speaks. If you’ve lost your breath, feel more tension than awareness, or go into pain, move back, modify, listen.

How does satya manifest in your work on the mat this week? Are you telling the truth about your own experience? Onsider the interplay of ahimsa and satya. When I am truthful about my own body, it is natural to treat my body with awareness and kindness.

What is a meaningful way to work with satya in your daily life? Ask: "Are my thoughts truthful? Are my words truthful and in integrity? Are my actions truthful?" Take one small step in your practice of satya.

Settle in to a comfortable, supported reclined position. Beginning with the physical adjustments of your body, listen in for your body’s truth about its needs for comfort and support.

 A meditative journey with Satya

Extend the body long to unwind any contractions held through the length of the body. If your low back is sore, support it by taking a bolster, pillow, or rolled blanket under the knees. Lengthen the legs and then relax the feet out to the sides.

Shrug the heart center towards the sky and relax the shoulder blades down and in towards the heart. Find a comfortable place for the hands – out to the sides with palms up? Onto the belly to feel the breath? What feels right for this moment?

Roll the head from side to side on the floor or mat to release any tension in the neck. If you’d like, place an eye pillow over the eyes or simply allow the eyes to close and the gaze to turn downwards towards the heart.

As you relax in this comfortable, supported pose, begin to hold this question: What is my truth?  Move through your body, heart, and mind, releasing any tension with the breath. As you create extra space in this moment, continue to hold this question: What is my truth?

Move your awareness slowly through your body from head to fingers and toes. Bring awareness to any parts of the body that feel particularly good, where you feel a sense of your strength, your absolute wellness and utter safety. As you identify places like this, breathe in gratitude. As you exhale, feel that feeling of gratitude expand. Slowly, breath by breath, feel your whole body, your whole heart and mind, filled with gratitude. Let the threads of gratitude weave and fortify this internal space, holding this question: What is my truth?

Relax and ease each part of your body – moving from the crown of the head, over the forehead, under the eyes, through the jaw, the scalp, the neck, the shoulders, the arms, the spine, the torso, the legs and feet.  Imagine the breath as nurturing hands kneeding away the tension and stress of the day. In this space of ease, hold the question: what is my truth?

Feel your breath get easier and easier. Effortless. Feel the systems of the body return to their natural state of wellness. The heart is open and easy. All other thoughts in the mind fade as you hold this singular question: What is my truth?

What is my truth?

After some time, begin to deepen the breath and expand your focus to include your body. Listen into the body as you begin to move again. Gently return to a seated position and begin to live into this question: What is my truth?