Satya - truth
Explore Satya, the Yama of truthfulness, and how practicing honest self-awareness balanced with non-harming it can transform your yoga practice and daily life. Learn how truthful movement, mindful energy, and compassionate self-honesty create deeper alignment on and off the mat.
A little recap -
The 8 Limbs of Yoga are the steps to spiritual realization outlined by Maharshi Patanjali in his ancient Yoga Sutras.
Often called the “father of yoga,” Maharshi Patanjali composed 196 sutras simple yet profound threads of wisdom that guide us toward understanding yoga and ultimately reaching Samadhi, a state of unified oneness.
These 8 limbs serve as both a pathway and a guide offering ethics, discipline, and practices that clear, prepare & strengthen the mind and body.
As you know, we already explore four of these limbs in our sessions: Asana, Pranayama, Meditation, and Pratyahara.
But I thought we could take a closer look at some of the others and explore how they can apply to our everyday lives.
Let’s begin with the first limb - Yama.
There are five Yamas, or “vows,” which can be seen as a way of using our energy wisely - in relation to others and ourselves:
- Ahimsa (non-violence)
- Satya (truthfulness)
- Asteya (non-stealing)
- Brahmacharya (right use of energy)
- Aparigraha (non-greed or non-hoarding)
Today we'll look at Satya.
Satya, truthfulness, asks us to live in alignment with what is real not what we wish were true, and not the version of ourselves we present to appear “fine” or “capable.” It’s an invitation to meet ourselves honestly, both on and off the mat.
But Satya cannot stand alone. When we pair it with Ahimsa ( non-harming) truth becomes something spacious and compassionate rather than sharp or self-critical. We can speak truthfully without causing pain, to others or to ourselves. It becomes a practice of clarity rather than cruelty. Our truth is ours alone.
When we begin to live, speak, and practice truthfully held within the tenderness of Ahimsa, the physical practice of yoga naturally becomes more enriching and rejuvenating. When we’re not attuned to our truth, we tend to practice from ego or comparison. We override sensations, force ourselves into shapes, or push beyond our limits.
I know this from experience. Years ago, I sustained an injury because I wasn’t practicing truthfully. I dismissed what my body was telling me & pushed myself into a posture that wasn’t right for me. To return to a truthful practice, I had to accept my body as it was, listen to how it moved, and respect its boundaries. From that moment on, everything began to feel more aligned. Once i let go of thinking I had to be a "bendy" person - my practice transformed.
Satya is never about perfection it’s about presence. About answering honestly when I ask, “How are you feeling today?” About acknowledging your current energy rather than the energy you think you should have. About letting your practice meet you exactly where you are.
How does it feel for you to answer truthfully?
Do you find yourself minimizing your truth to look after someone else's?
Has it ever caused issues?
Has it ever been kinder to withhold your truth?
It's interesting to contemplate what it means for us to live truthfully.
Living truthfully should foster compassion & integrity & allow us to tap into our authentic nature in our daily life.
