207. Svadyaya, let's see what's presented today.

Welcome back to My Daily Thread podcast.

Jeff is still glowing from two incredible weeks in San Pancho, where he co-hosted a Yoga & Sunsets retreat with the amazing Andrea Ziegler. If you’ve been listening, you might remember when we introduced “Ziggy” to the show a couple of weeks back. Now, as we settle back in, we return to Yoga Sūtra 2:1 and the exploration of Kriyā Yoga.

Today, we focus on svādhyāya, one of the three core practices of Kriyā Yoga. Svādhyāya, the study of the self, is a fundamental part of transformation. Interestingly, it also appears later in the Yoga Sūtras as one of the Niyamas, the inner observances. Patañjali is not a verbose teacher—he rarely repeats concepts unless they hold significant weight. The fact that svādhyāya is emphasized in multiple places shows its importance.

Traditionally, svādhyāya refers to studying sacred texts and using scripture to gain insight and wisdom. But in a modern context, it can also extend to self-development literature, philosophy, or any material that challenges us to reflect and grow. The true purpose of these texts—ancient or contemporary—is to act as a mirror, helping us assess how we are engaging with the world and where we might need to shift our perspective.

Andrea Ziegler lives this philosophy beautifully with her simple yet profound question: "I wonder what the world will present today?" This is a perfect example of svādhyāya in action—approaching each day with curiosity, openness, and a willingness to learn from whatever arises.

So, where are you today? Can you take a moment to reflect? What is showing up for you, and how are you responding? Svādhyāya invites us to pause, observe, and engage with our lives more intentionally.