Daily Sādhanā

The first time I heard about Sādhanā was with my yoga teacher Shiva Rea. She talked about sādhanā, a lot. How important it is, and what beneficial it is. She described it as the groove into one’s self. “That path is often a subtle track at first as the groove is just beginning and is not yet established. Gradually, through daily process, your sādhanā shines on all aspects of one’s life as a constant light of awareness that also changes according to the season’s of one’s life.” -Shiva Rea

I used to feel that sādhanā was something forced, something I had to do to feel accomplished as a yoga student and yoga teacher. But the more I’ve practiced and the more I’ve come to dig into its meaning - it is actually something very beautiful. 

I’ve also come to understand sādhanā in a different way, now when I’m older. Sādhanā is a very beautiful thing for a woman to have in her life. As an anchor. As a way to support her. As a way for creative outlet. As a way to soothe. When I was younger I often left my practice on the yoga mat. Now I see it differently - I weave it into my life, or I weave my life into my practice. I’m more aware of my body and the rhythms of the seasons. My life is a sādhanā.

A woman’s sādhanā is a way of living life. It is a daily practice of awareness. Awareness of the body, breath and mind. Awareness of your inner rhythm and natures rhythm. The changes we go through in life. Our sādhanā is not going to be the same at the height of summer as in the midwinter. It’s shifting and changing just like we are.

Sādanā = daily practice - way of living - creativity - beauty - nature - purpose - alignment

Sometimes a sādhanā practice can be 10 minutes of dancing and bouncing followed by a nap. Or a few rounds of sun salutations with your favorite music. Gardening followed by simple stretches. A 20 minutes gentle flow practice with soothing sound of rain in the background. Strawberry picking followed by 2 rejuvenating restorative poses. A meditation followed by a morning coffee. 

It’s in the small things we do everyday that become our lives. Our sādhanā doesn’t end when the practice ends. It is part of our mundane life. It weaves into how we live and in the choices we make.