And the truth shall set you free! On this week of liberation and celebration we bring you declarations and decorations that are fair and true. We’re strong believers that you don’t need to wear your yoga to live it. We also like special, pretty things that represent our love and appreciation for a practice that can speak for us when words don’t have to.
Satya Jewelry has been creating symbolic adornments since 2002 and we’re pleased to be giving away to one lucky winner the freedom to choose anything from the Satya collection with a $150 online gift certificate. There’s no catch, no red tape and no filibuster necessary. What’s even better is the Satya Foundation takes a portion of its proceeds and donates it to children’s charities around the world (Bent on Learning, Lineage Project and Ashrams for Autism to name a few).
WIN: One person chosen at random will win $150 to use on anything from the Satya Jewelry collection. (Necklace pictured above is the Silver Sapera Necklace, part of the 2013 summer collection, “awakening the kundalini serpent.”)
TO ENTER: As YDs we know that Satya, meaning “truth” in Sanskrit, is one of the five Yamas found in the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. It’s one of the guidelines for co-existing peacefully within the world around us. But we have to start with ourselves. We’d love to hear how satya, truthfulness (or truthiness, depending how you look at it) gets folded into your life on or off the mat. Share with us in the comments!
Giveaway is open until 11:59pm Thursday, July 11. One winner will be chosen at random and announced in the following TWIY newsletter. Good luck!
WINNER UPDATE: Huge congrats to Ellen! Thanks to all for entering, for sharing your thoughts and truths. We love you.
I believe strongly in being truthful, and do not take well to being lied to. I consider whether things are “true, kind and helpful” before sharing information.
I practice satya by acknowledging that each day I try my best at work. And while I may not accomplish everything I need/want to do- the truth is, I tried my best, and I’m okay with it. There is always tomorrow. Same goes for my yoga practice. The truth is- there is always tomorrow.
Satya is folding into my life OFF the mat since I have realized that I have reduced headaches, stress and even discord by speaking my truth plain & simple, always from a place of love.
I remind my self in practice to be truthful to my body. If I can do all the asanas with breathe, that’s great and true to myself, but it is also true to myself to not be perfect every time.
Being honest with myself–on and off the mat. It allows me to take more responsibility about things in my control and “own” them. Whether it is modifying a pose to my smart boundaries (even though I may not want to) or accepting that something happened because of me, satya has opened my eyes to being honest with myself, allowing me to be more honest with others.
This is an interesting question for me, as someone very close to me, whom I love and adore, is a liar. However, because I insist on the truth, he is being honest with me about issues that make him uncomfortable. What has been most interesting for me, as someone who is a spectator to his unfolding, is how often he wants to talk. Insisting on the truth has made him want to talk more. I also have a 13-year-old who lied about things like homework to me this year, and I had to teach him in an effective but loving way why truth matters and how lying hurts. I feel very committed to truth and finding the truth (and I love satya jewelry so much!) (that’s the truth). Thanks.
I just gasped when I saw this post, because: Satya. Their jewelry is gorgeous. ANYway, it’s odd. Satya as a concept has never been something I’ve worried about. I speak so much damn truth, I suppose you could classify me as brutally honest. I feel as if I struggle far more with ahimsa (as it related to myself), and santosha (it’s why my intention is so often gratitude).
And I suppose that’s how satya gets folded into my life: in the ways in which I’m honest with myself about all the ways in which I still have to grow.
In Deborah Adele’s book on The Yamas and Niyamas, shes states ….“Truth rarely seems to ask the easier choice of us. When we are real rather than nice, when we choose self-expression over self-indulgence, when we choose growth over the need to belong, and when we choose fluidity over rigidity, we begin to understand the deeper dynamics of truthfulness, and we begin to taste the freedom and goodness of this jewel.”
That description of Satya has always made so much sense to me!
Satya on the mat for me means meeting myself where I am in that moment. Some days I can hold a handstand and some days child’s pose is enough. Satya off the mat means I practice more self observance. I tend to have a hot temper and if I don’t catch myself I may blurt things out in reaction that aren’t really true and may cause harm to others.
Injury is a fantastic tool for sitting with satya … the truths of pain + physical limitation. Cool thing is I’ve started to see my personal mechanisms + strategies for avoiding various kinds of truth. Hard but good!
First and foremost, I want to always practice truthfulness with myself.
For me personally, satya is the willingness to be authentic through courage. It is the willingness to surrender to truth. When I surrender to an emotion with truth, thoroughly whole mind-body-heart surrender to an emotion, I feel it in its entirety… which then allows me to let the emotion go or to fully embrace it. When I surrender to fear or sadness or pain, I am allowing myself to be raw. It’s pure. And something pure is easier to rid from the body than something unnatural. When I surrender to joy or gratefulness or appreciation, I am allowing myself to be genuinely happy. It’s pure. And something pure is healthier for the body than something processed. Satya is the clarity to be honest with myself, to accept my feelings and thoughts regardless of whether they are terrifying or exhilarating, and to proudly say to the world: this is who I am.
The idea of being truthful on the mat comes to me in certain poses… Not what can I wrestle myself in to look like I have the pose “right” but what actually feels right. Or what is right for my body on any given day.
I think it also pertains to chanting and OM-ing or whatver you chose to verbalize in yoga, for me at least. Letting the mantras mean something to me, or finding one that speaks to my truth is very important… It’s great to go with the flow of what everyone is saying, but it is important to be authentic, too 🙂
The truth I try to practice is never lying to myself. I am not too old to change, I am not too old to learn, I am not too damaged to get on the mat and improve my health and my life. I am stepping off the edge of the cliff and spreading my wings.
Whenever I get irritated with another person or situation I try (try!) to apply Satya to examine whether there’s something within myself that’s causing my anger rather than the other person. Many times I realize that, in truth, it’s my own perception that’s the problem rather than external elements. I have found if you can’t be honest with yourself and acknowledge your own frailties, then it’s difficult to understand other people
As I get older, satya is almost a necessity – I don’t have the memory to remember lies. But having a son with mental illness presents a challenge as his truth is so different from mine. To me he is a beautiful, strong, intelligent man – to himself he is an ugly, weak, stupid loser. Trying to merge our truths is very difficult. Observing his behavior while honoring his inner light really necessitates the practice of satya. Namaste.
Satya has constantly been a theme in my life. As a girl and into being a young woman I had to learn the difference between Satya for the sake of being brutal and right and Satya to help advance my path. More than once I mistook truth (attached to my ego) to Satya and lost relationships over it. Thankfully I have mended relationships as an adult that I destroyed in the name of “truth.” I now live by the phrase: is it true, is it kind, is it necessary.
As a yoga teacher I now try to weave Satya into how I live, how I breathe and how I teach. I also am a science teacher, and it is essential to be true and kind when teaching in science, as it is in teaching in yoga.
Each day is a struggle to bring Satya peacefully into my life.
Becoming more honest and forgiving and supportive of myself.
Off the mat, it’s easy for me to get caught up and to make up stories that reflect how I am feeling rather than seeing the truth behind why I feel the way I do. I try to come back to myself, recognise what I am doing and be truthful with my self.
On the mat, I know I have limitations and find the practice a good way to remind me that I cannot do everything, but thats ok. I need to recognise this truth and feel my way through it.
satya in my life is not lying for social gain or ego purposes. i used to lie to sometimes feel better about myself. now, after studying the yamas and niyamas i have knowledge of satya and can gently bring myself back to the practice when i feel my ego or a lie creeping up.
I have grown in Satya off the mat by recognizing when I am placing blame or undue power on someone else instead of being accountable for my own actions.
I believe in practicing truthfulness in everything that I do – whether with my husband, my family, my friends, or my work relationships. Oh, and with myself on my yoga mat, of course.
My truth is never declaring myself to be any one specific way as if I never change. Because sure enough, once you say you are A, moments later you will find yourself leaning towards B. Change is inevitable, so I need to be open minded, take a step back and try to see a situation from the other person’s perspective, respect myself, and I will continue to see the world with compassion.
Truth with self first, and this can be tricky because the mind can invent all kinds of rationales of why something is true, even if it’s not. And then complete honesty with all others, even when it’s not comfy
I have several tattoos on my arms that remind me to be honest and brave. Being truthful is difficult, especially in the face of self doubt, oppression, and injustice. I practice forgiveness as a lifestyle, and try to work through weakness in order to be my most true, authentic self.
Being a new yoga practitioner, I’m currently learning how to be more truthful to myself, especially as I learn to change my lifestyle and eating habits from scarf-down-junk-food-on-the-couch to approaching my food with mindfulness.
I am relearning the meaning and value of truth as I teach my daughter what it means. Sometimes we get so wrapped up in ourselves and our lives we forget that what may seem like the smallest thing to lie or be untruthful about can be very big to someone else. She likes to remind of this and as I guide her I am more aware of being truthful in everything I do and in every aspect of my life, especially with myself!
In truth, the day of decision making and communication, are uncomplicated and simple.
I have certainly spent a lot of time the past year staying true to myself and my values. I have told others that they are no good to others if they are not first taking care of themselves. I have learned to live this as well.
truth in thoughts, words and actions! so simple, right? suprisingly not! i used to maybe not be truthful to protect some one’s feelings. seemed harmless enough, especially when framed in the light of protecting someone else. however i found those small good intentioned mis-truths spread to other seemingly small points of my life, but more for protecting myself (ie: making excuses about running late for an appointment or not wanting to accept a social invitation…) however over a period of time of several years, these dishonesties spread further to other areas of my life, to such a detrimental degree that when personal issues and circumstances sent life spinning out of control, i had already lost sight of the anchoring core of self and integrity. extremely scary and painful to make such a discovery. truth is in all aspects of life is very important to me and something i value highly and practice with respectful awareness.
Truth, for me, means returning over and over to how I am feeling in the present moment. I have a tendency to get carried away on the vatta winds, and grounding into my immediate experience has been very healing for me.
I also believe firmly in allowing that truth to exist in a vast sea of other truths. I work to ground in my experience and open space for the experiences of the others around me. I try to embody a “live and let live” attitude.
My first yoga teacher is named Satya, and she embodies the concept beautifully. Following her example, I strive to embody truth through my actions and words. Life seems ever so much easier when I tell the truth. Those fleeting moments of pain that occur when I have to decline a request or be brutally honest with a friend are no match for the freedom that satya provides for all of us. Beautiful ‘contest’, thanks. Om Om Om
telling myself the full and utter thruth as much as is possible and all open hearted actions spring from that…… if i face my shadows i have room for everyone else
I practice Satya on the may being truthful about the postures I can do without pushing, and by listening to the body and taking rest when I lose the breath.
I just attended a workshop with Erich Schiffmann where he talked about how he defines love as “the willingness to recognize that which is real.” I think speaking the truth, seeing and saying things as they are, is the highest form of love for yourself and others. Namaste.
I believe truth starts from within. I focus on being true to myself, even when it’s a challenge. I am authentic with others, even when it’s a challenge. Truth heals.
BEing truth is living your truth. Follow your intuition and your heart in everything you do. I am a Reiki Master & Teacher and you BE Reiki, not DO Reiki. This is a guideline for everything you do. Do it from the heart with a pure intention and you will not fail. Have no attachment to the outcome. Thank you Bhagavad Gita for teaching me that. Namaste.
I find truthfulness in my life in communicating with others around me. I generally speak what is truly on my mind, and if I ever feel the urge not to, I explore that, to find why I am uninterested in sharing.
truthfulness is very important to me, especially at work and in my relationships. I don’t tell people what they want to hear if it’s a lie. if you do, it just sets you up for disappointment and miscommunication in the future.
One of the most profound concepts that has been shown to me on the mat over and over is that *my* truth differs greatly from that of others, and I have tried to go off the mat and be more accepting that others’ truths are just as valid as my own.
Truth is the true goodness, the absolute goodness that never dies within the self and nature. To me, life is about finding that goodness over and over again by seeking satya not only by seeking knowledge but by living honestly and maintaining a growing sense of self-awareness.
Satya and truth to me really mean being true to myself. Being true to what I want to create and do. And sometimes the truth is painful, meaning you have to let go of that which doesn’t serve you and is getting in the way of your truth.
Being true to yourself and others, is having the awareness to acknowledge when you are in the wrong, asking for help when you need, admitting defeat, but picking yourself back up and saying “I really want this, and Im going to make it happen” Being true to your dreams and never giving up. Sometimes the strongest thing you can do is to admit when you are weak. Learn from it and continue to grow. That is a strong truth to have.
Namaste
Being honest and sincere with those you interact with saves a whole lot of time. Learning to speak your truth is an ongoing challenge.
Lying takes way too much energy. Satya to me means telling the truth to yourself and everyone around you with kindness.
When I am truthful with myself, when I am truthful with others – I feel free, I feel open. Life is already filled with rocks along the path – adding to those obstacles by lying or surrounding yourself with untruthful people makes life harder and increases suffering. Reality may be difficult sometimes, but the “ugly truth” is much more beautiful than any untruth…
The truth is always better than garbage & lies.
Some people are fearful of the truth.
Even tho there’s more of the latter.
Long live the truth! Even if it sucks.
& KEEP practicing.
Being transparent with my students. I am often asked why I started practicing yoga. My answer is always the same, because of my own health challenges that I struggled with for years.
Living in my truth means accepting and embracing all aspects of ME. When we can’t embrace and celebrate our uniqueness, we conform and stuff ourselves down, eventually leading to those qualities being lost. This “other side” of us becomes our shadow self—the part of ourselves that we deny, ignore, and believe to be unacceptable. The construction of the shadow self goes back to our upbringing and what qualities were held in esteem. Since I am the only me, trying to live another’s life is simply impossible. No one else has my unique gifts and talents. Focusing on the qualities that set me apart from others, honoring my integrity in all I do, and accepting my shadow self with kindness is how I live in truth.
Truth. I strive for complete honesty in every moment. Staying present and really feeling my truth, without running away from it or judging it. And being truthful with myself when I’ve strayed (I am only human!) and becoming willing to return to acceptance.
Truth is dropping all that is not you, peeling off the layers, and bearing your authentic self. This is a work in progress, I am dropping all that is not me with my asana practice. This is what frees me to take the real, truthful me off the mat. When I give myself permission to be authentic and truthful in life off the mat, I noticed I attract like minded people. I love it!
I once had a bracelet inscribed with satya. I wanted a reminder each time I took action – reached a hand out or forward – to be truthful to myself and to others in all that I do.
Satya can also be translated as ‘reality’ or ‘unchangeable’. Recognizing reality is ‘truth’. Seeing things as they are and not imposing our preconceived ideas about situations or people. I really strive to be real and therefore of truth both on and off the mat. One aspect of satya that can be most difficult is being honest while also being kind and gentle with people and the universe. Truth is not cruel.
Truth … Everyday I try to teach my 3 year old daughter the value of owning your own truth. I tell her if I’m cranky and need to take a time out myself, I teach her I will do something if I say I will, and most importantly she shows / tells me her own truth – and she lives each day like she means it.
I used to say, “Truth is subjective; there is no one universal truth.” What one person believed, another opposed. Now, I recognize truth as alignment. Truth is woven throughout life. One can choose to ignore truth, allowing dis-ease to develop, or one can opt to live truth, honor truth, and BE in truth through every blessed aspect of life. In my own life, I have lived both sides of the coin. Although I have always been verbally honest, I have not always lived my highest truth. With age, wisdom has brought me this awareness. Through practice, I become more genuine, more aligned, more connected with truth. I seek daily to honor my core, my spirit, my relationships, my planet, my dharma, my life, my truth. ॐ Namaste.
I always practice being true to myself and to others around me. Through experience, I’ve found the truth to be very liberating.
Satya is the absolute truth, and being able to perceive the world as it is, and not how our senses tell us it is, that’s the highest yoga. I try to withdraw the senses in my daily practice, disassociate myself from how I might feel about things – and gosh, then someone brings cupcakes to the office and my unruly senses run wild! 🙂
I am teaching my kiddos (6 & 7) about Satya on a daily basis. They are learning that if they tell the truth the consequences are always less than if they lie. They may still get in trouble for whatever the event may be, but if they are honest I always thank them and we have more of a discussion than anything…all of us end up learning something this way.
I tell my students all of the hard truths-about myself-and I think we are all the better for it. I do not pretend to be a saint who has zero vices or unlimited patience. That-to me- is setting an unreachable expectation for all of us. To start where you are, you have to be truthful about where you are.
Satya…is blue. Satya is beautiful. Satya is liberating. When you notice the truth about yourself it can really set you free. If it’s a simple… man am I grumpy today, Ok, just notice that and speak the truth, no judging, or perhaps it is a … man I feel compassionate to all today! notice that too, no ego, no judging, just the truth.
We are quick to notice when we are unhappy. We should notice also when we are happy! Blue and Blue, the truth, it’s OK. Satya.
Truth on the mat to me means be where you are and that is good.
I practice satya both on an off the mat by being honest with myself when I have hit a physical limit. I have pushed past those limits too many times and usually end up injured.
Patanjali really challenges us with the yamas. Each open seems like a straightforward practice like satya, but they aren’t straightforward at all! Try using one as your New Year resolution and see!
Satya is something I try to do in each of my interactions with myself and others each day. It isn’t easy walking the path of truth while being non harming (ahimsa)! On the mat, satya helps me be safe as my body ages. I attempt to be truthful with myself each practice about my ability that day.
Best advice in the world from my dear Grandmother….be sweet and kind and true!
On the mat I practice Satya by not honoring where my body is at that day. Not pushing myself past my edge.
Truthfulness comes from admitting when I need help and must accept some limitations. It is often associated with recognizing my ability to manipulate/deceive myself and others and the need to be mindful of that nuance. My experience of practicing Satya cured my chronic insomnia and I sleep very well these days.
I practice Satya in my daily life by listening to my intuition and staying grounded in my own personal truth. It’s easy to get caught up in what others are doing and the latest trends in popular culture, but when I live in line with my unique truth I am able to rise above these distractions and communicate my truth through my actions. I am honest with myself and others, even when it’s not easy and may actually make things harder or illuminate myself in a less flattering light. I try to focus on what unites us all and view the contrast between us as something to be celebrated and not erased. I have let go of the soap box of trying to convince people that my way is the way, and now live by example. This translates into my asana practice into a unique flow that is an expression of how I am feeling at that specific moment in time, without pretention and judgment. I have stopped comparing myself to others and now realize that my life, my asana practice, is simply a beautiful expression of my truth.
Satya sometimes means refusing to stay silent, even when it feels risky to speak out, when I know what I have to say would help illuminate a problem or raise a difficult issue — and always with compassion.
Truth in my life = I am for integrity in everything I say and do. Namaste!
Truthfulness is knowing where my limits are and to what extent can I push beyond them. It is acknowledging my weaknesses and growing my strength so that overall, I grow. 🙂
I don’t let myself make excuses. Or when I am making excuses, I at least acknowledge that I am doing so and try to be as honest as possible with myself and others. My friends, family, students, and co-workers know that I will give them the honest truth even when it might not be exactly what they want to hear.
As a small child, I believed that God could hear my thoughts. As I grew, I learned that others do not accept general time people and free thinkers, I learned to lie to avoid confrontation and failing expectations. The idea that God could hear my thoughts never went away, lying resulted in guilt and shame. Somewhere between teenagehood and adulthood I chose to grow into my truth and avoid the truths that harm while balancing truth that allows me to grow.
Being non-voilent and a promoter of truth, I faced my own humanity the day that our dog ran off for the upteenth time, a bit of a scrapper, on a day when I had a transport truck in front of my house moving my things out of our family home, in the process of divorce. When animal control found him he was missing a tooth, had obviously been in a fight and I made the difficult decision of having Seamus euthanized. That day, I lied to my children. They were losing their home, their sense of family and moving into the unknown. I lied and said that Seamus had not been found. They believed me, I am tearing remembering how this lie stuck in my throat. It was the right thing to do that day.
A few years later, I sat them down and told them the story of what had happened that day. Facing their scorn was not as difficulty as choosing to end a dogs life, but humility in the midst of adversity was my lesson in Satya.
I believe in acting and feeling with honest intention to the best of my ability at all times. I may not be who or what someone else needs at the time, but if we can live with pure integrity, then the universe will surround us with all that is meant to be there.
Satya is acknowledging that being flexible isn’t easy for me; either on the mat or in daily life. However, I try to deepen into each bend and embrace each extension of myself each day. It’s a slow process, but I hope to stay true to who I am along the way. Thanks for a great giveaway.
Truth comes out on my mat if my brain isn’t focusing on my practice. If my mind is wandering, I’m wobbly and discombobulated, and frustrate easily. If I’m present in the asana, then I am strong, and able to acknowledge my weaknesses.
I try to always live with satya because it is easier than remembering what lies were told. Satya brings a sense of peace and clarity. However, I try to include a good dose of ahimsa along with the satya. Sometimes blurting out the truth can be blunt and painful, whether to others or to oneself. There are usually ways by which the truth can be stated tactfully and in a way that encourages growth.
letting my heart guide me!
If I am true to myself, the rest will fall into place. The hard part is digging in to discover/uncover/rediscover my true self and then follow that path, even when it is different than I’ve imagined.
For a long time, my first, most beloved yoga teacher wore one of those Satya necklaces where it says Truth on one side and then “satya” in sanskrit on the other. I got the same necklace shortly before I moved away, and for a long time I always wore it, as a constant reminder both of the yoga lineage I’d chosen and of the teacher I so admire who led me to the decision to commit to one practice. In life, I try to remain truthful about my actions and about what I see in others (though I usually call it something more along the lines of having “low bullsh*t tolerance”). Approaching the world from a truthful, genuine place tends to make people reflect their real selves back to me.
Truth to me is simple = before you speak ask yourself, is it true? Is it kind? Is it necessary ?
Truth to me is revealed when i get on the mat. Even if i think i’m not over extending myself, once i get into my practice my body either flows or it doesn’t. My body only knows honesty, and yoga lets my mind catch up and convince me to give myself a break when i need it.
Do unto others as you would have them do to you.
Truth for me involved realizing my limitations and checking my ego for a more honest practice.
I have a family member who is a pathological liar. It’s unsettling, to say the least, and having that experience makes me more interested in being truthful even if it is a little painful at times, like when admitting mistakes.
Sometimes it irks me to see her get ahead in life by lying (on resumes or about phony illnesses or celebrity connections, etc.) but her way is not the way I’d ever want to live. More truth means more peace of mind.
Me! Me! Me! All I can say is: Let it be.
Satya is within me and around me. Through my yoga practice I break all those skins the don’t let my truthfulness connect with the one the surrounds me; nature.
Truthfulness starts with oneself. If someone does not hold themselves to being honest within their own being, they cannot keep with Satya in their exterior relations. For me, getting healthy started with me being truthful to myself. I could no longer allow myself to pretend my lifestyle was going to be “okay” and turned to yoga for a stepping stone into my new way of life. I’m certainly not a yogi (more truth!) but I’m striving to progress into a stronger, healthier woman.
truthfulness on the mat is not worrying about what bothers are doing/can do, but being true to yourself and taking your practice to what is right for you. truthfulness off the mat– I like to try my hardest to cut out those little white lies that you don’t really think twice about, “I’m 10 minutes away (when you haven’t left the house).” 🙂
When I’m on the mat, satya is one of the most important mantras at my disposal. It reminds me to not only know my limits, but also that the voice that says, “this is too hard, it’s too hot in here, I could never balance on my head” is not my truth. I have to remember that my satya is that I want to be on the mat, no matter how tired I may feel.
I practice satya by taking every opportunity to tell my family and friends how much I love them.
Truthfulness unfolds on & off of the mat for me in the fact that the more that I dive into the understanding of consciousness, the more aware of my truth within my own space (physically & mentally) & interactions with others. What a beautiful experience!
we were raised to be honest and truthful to ourselves and those around us. We raised our children the same. We live in a world were we need so much more. I am truthful and honest to those around me everyday. We can learn so much from others by being so-it can be simple and difficult but so rewarding
For me, its about finding what is true for me, and acknowledging that it may not be the same as someone else’s truth.
It took me a very long time to realize that the most important way I can be true is to be true to myself. To do the things that make me happy, to make the decisions I know are right for me and create boundaries that are necessary for me to thrive. At 26 years old I am finally learning how to take care of myself and a huge part of that is constantly reminding myself to be truthful in how I live, experience my life and process my feelings.
Satya on the mat shows up in my body stories. I feel the strength, weakness, instability, and glory of my body. I find myself wanting to relate those sensations to an old injury of the heart, mind, or body. I dive deeper to discover the perfection in that moment and fill up that space with pure love, devotion, and the TRUTH. Truth is…there’s always 3 sides to every story…yours, theirs, and THE truth.
So when I let go of that association to my experience and learn to put the storybook down…I can be more present, fearless, painless, and free.
Satya off the mat looks pretty similar and it’s an ongoing practice to listen without association, without need to share my story, to get caught up in the details, to just simply be present in THE Truth. Honor other people’s story with compassion, and soften the drama in my own story by viewing with my third eye. Stepping away from the addiction of connecting via our wounds, and just honoring what is TRUE right now.
I used to think telling the truth meant not lying. But speaking your truth is SO MUCH MORE than that. I grew up feeling I wasn’t allowed to have a different opinion from others. Allowing myself to observe my thoughts and taking time to speak my own truth has changed my life completely. I have learned to always ask myself these questions before speaking: It useful? Is it truthful? Is it necessary? And is it kind? If I can answer yes to all four, then I speak my truth (or differing opinion) as gently as possible.
Being truthful is the only way I can look in the mirror. I strive to be truthful to myself and others in all interactions.
Positive self exposure to my inner life blood
Truth is the only way to Self. I try to live my life as an open book…and with an open heart. Namaste
I try to live a truthful life by incorporating my on the mat practice off the mat. By breathing with my thoughts and actions rather than against it I am able to keep my mind and heart clean, pure, and truthful. Even if the truth is hard to swallow, it always seems to lead me in a positive yet challenging direction.
ॐ
Emily
If a person is true to oneself, he or she can achieve the the personal best. Let yourself shine!
For me, the truth can be found in nature. I try to step outside throughout the day and reconnect.
I practice Satya everyday in my daily life. I believe that being honest and truthful to both yourself and others is a crucial part of living and growing to be the best person you can be. If you are true to yourself you can open so many doors and opportunities for yourself! Thank you for the chance to win! Satya has beautifully spiritual pieces! 🙂
Truth is very difficult to aspire to because so many people don’t want to hear it and society will condemn you for saying it.
But….if you are honest but not mean about it….then I think the admittedly few friendships you will make will be much more meaningful.
Sounds simple but i ask myself is it true, is it kind, is it necessary? before speaking……..not always easy to do AND it has helped me not to gossip as much. thank you for this reminder to be more aware….love satya jewerly too
Satya, Truth….honesty, transparency, no games.
Create your world as you would want others to live their life. Be true to yourself and your principles, even when it may not follow the flow of society. Self honesty is truth.
Satya means listening to my inner being and opening myself to the truth.
I practice satya by being truthful to myself and by loving myself, which has been incredibly hard for me since I know how truly imperfect I am. When people say something nice to me, I feel guilty about it because I know if they knew what thoughts I sometimes have (or had), or what actions I have taken in my past, they would have nothing but negative things to things to say to me. But strangely enough, those are the lies I tell myself. Satya teaches me to listen to the truth I know in my soul. Does that make sense to anyone?
Satya is in essence a foundation for my practice on and off the mat. Without being true to myself and my purpose, I cannot help others. I cannot help them with proper alignment unless I am transparent with my own practice. I cannot help them find their own bliss unless I am open to mine and humble in accepting it’s flow.
I live in truth by following my intuition, putting my ego in my heart to live from a heart centered existence.
Honesty creates harmony. It is only the truth that can give pure freedom. When we are truthful to ourselves on the mat, we can prevent injury and allow acceptance of our bodies and abilities. And know that if not today, then maybe tomorrow.
For me, truthfulness is a continual spiritual practice of learning to connect with my own truth and inner wisdom and trusting that space in my life.
Truth just is.
I lie to get myself out of trouble, I lie to my kids when they ask questions to which I don’t think they should know the answers to and I lie to my husband when I have overspent on a purchase…..I am aware of these lies and so every time I lie I am consciously aware of it and make a mental note to myself on how I could have responded in a truthful manner. In the hope the next time the situation arises again where my first instinct is to lie I instead respond with truth. Sometimes this works sometimes not but this continual awareness of my imperfections is my way of practicing truthfulness.
I strive to be truthful to myself and to others, in a way that does not cause harm.
Having been raised in a blue collar environment, I was exposed to biased comments, jokes and philosophies by those I revered. Now when a thought or feeling of bias surfaces, rather than shame myself, I remind that I am giving power to someone else’s,words.
We write our own narrative, and I can control my feelings to reflect the person that I truly am.
I’ve been teaching the yamas to my college students for a few years now. I am always amazed to hear which ones touch their hearts. They often say that they believe in satya, but that they have trouble with the white lies we tell others. What they do not argue with is satya with ourselves- it is being truthful with our faults and the ways we sabotage ourself that can lead to us becoming stronger and the person we want to be.
I personally try to embrace satya when I encounter anger or criticism on my own person. To dispel anger, I try to use satya to honestly ask myself what truth exists in their complaint. What could I be doing that is contributing to the problem. Only in this way can I grow and do better.
Truthfulness is too often used as an excuse for people to be blunt and rude. For me, satya is about being honest but also being kind, staying true to yourself but not at the expense of other people’s thoughts and feelings. On the mat, I’m still working to stay true to my body– I like to think I’m a lot stronger and more bendy than I actually am! 🙂
I find myself facing Satya every time I come to the mat – can I be honest with myself in how I’m feeling today. Can I honestly allow myself to slow down when I am tired or push myself when I am feeling good. To me, Satya means to LISTEN carefully to my body, my mind, my soul to connect with my true self on any given day, on and off the mat. Satya, truth, is to remind myself that any given day, is a good day. Can I think pure thoughts, speak with truth, and give with love, even on the hardest of days? — Yes, and this is Satya to me.
The Five Yamas is a simplistic, beautiful way of life…. so very similar to “The Four Agreements”, by author don Miguel Ruiz. Blend the two… and you’re path of enlightenment will glow from within~
Honesty is so important in all relationships, but as I’ve gotten older and wiser I find that being honest with one’s self is probably most important of all. When we don’t admit the truth to ourselves we lie to everyone around us, causing those relationships to be based on falsehoods. When I’m practicing yoga, I *must* ask myself how I’m feeling that day or I’ll go too far and hurt myself. After 12 years of practicing this during yoga, I’m able to do the same thing in my everyday life – how am I truly feeling? Am I on the right path, or am I heading toward hurting myself or others?
Satya directly relates to integrity to me. Integrity of postures on the mat– being truthful to where my body and mind are that day/that moment and progressing/regressing accordingly. Integrity of my practice of yoga as a lifestyle– sticking to my meditation practice, eating well, expressing kindness and compassion with myself and others.
I practice satya on and off the mat by being as open and honest with not only others (as hard as that is sometimes) but with myself as well. Somedays it is quite the struggle. Before speaking I ask myself is it true, is it necessary and will these words hurt another?
As they say, the truth will set you free.
Speaking and living truth is a huge challenge for me, and I’m still practicing.
I am a firm believer in telling the truth. It shows character and good manners. My folks raised me properly and being honest was something I learned early in life.
It’s on your mat, where you can’t hide, that the truth of yourself reveals itself, inescapable: at least for the rest of class…
Ooooh…what a great question. I used to be so unhappy and I hid the truth of who I was from everyone, especially myself. The last few years (since I hit 30 really) I have been doing a lot of soul searching, yoga and therapy to find out who I am and what my truth is. To me, being in your truth, or being truthful is about being honest with yourself and with those you love, even if it hurts or is hard. The truth isn’t always pretty, but it IS powerful and honestly, it’s easier to remember. Lies always change, the truth, it stays the same. Stay in your truth, love who you are and you’ll find out you are more powerful than you can imagine and you will love yourself more for it!
My father always taught me (and my brothers and sister) to be truthful. I didn’t know it’s full meaning until I started practicing yoga. It’s so much more than not telling lies …..
The truth shall set you free. One of my favorite Yoga teacher has a cat named Satya, and I have not removed my Satya necklace in over 2 years. That is all. 🙂
Truth (not the TELLING of truth – but telling and knowing and accepting your OWN truth) is something that comes with age – it’s like an awakening. The comparisons between yourself and others becomes more noticeable, and you realize it’s just a delusion….that everyone underneath the surface is suffering…some people put on really brave faces and don’t let others in. That for me is truth. Accepting who I am, past and present and trying not to judge.
Practicing satya on the mat means listening to my body and tailoring my practice to what it needs rather than forcing it to do something it doesn’t want to do. Practicing satya off the mat is a lot more complicated. One wants to be truthful in all things, but one also feels obligated to be socially tactful and propagate myths about Santa Claus…
Finding Satya in your practice is being honest with yourself about where your limitations lie, but also where you can find a little more room to grow.
When I come to my mat, I come with my whole self: a body that has Type 1 Diabetes, a mind that has experienced deep depression, a soul that has thirsted for meaning.
I come there, bringing that all instead of running from it, and try my best to spend time devoted to the Now.
It is a practice to be living as truth, with truth, and in truth. It is a practice as physically, mentally, and emotionally real as yoga asana — it is also as beautiful and unique to each person and their experience as the postures can be.
Sadly in my line of work (theater) telling the truth sometimes not possible or kind.
It’s a weird twist because we “strive for truthfulness” on stage to bring realism to our characters, but you’re acting out a story that isn’t true.
Yoga and meditation helps me keep my balance and keep honesty in my personal life and in my heart – and gives me the strength to be honest yet loving in my relations with cast and crew.
The truth, It needs no PROOF, either it IS or it ISN’T.
Satya has painted mandalas of peace, profound beauty, synchronicity, and simplicity in my life and relationships. It’s not just a practice, its who I am!
Honesty in thought, word, and deed not only improves your relationship with yourself, but with those around you. Being genuine to your best self and being that genuine person as you walk in the world will liberate you.
Being truthful to yourself is important. But I am in the entertainment industry, where the truth is hardly ever thought about. I try to be true to myself not matter what life might throw my way. Sure, it is sometimes easier to give into the lies, but it won’t help you in the end. Yoga, my true friends and family help keep me grounded and stay true to myself.
My truth is knowing when to come back to myself, inward. I work in social services and can often over extend myself to my clients and cause that I”m working towards. I can find myself becoming overly extended and out of sorts, not realizing that I’m not being truthful to myself and listening inward to my body about what my truth is. It’s taking time away for myself to be able to express other truths more effectively and consistently for my clients, peers, family, and loves ones in my life. Being able to return to me is what sustains all parts of my “truth”.
I practice satya by remaining true to myself and being honest with others. Yoga and meditation help me reconnect with myself and stay true to the best I can be.
My truth is very simple. Several years ago I came to the conclusion that I no longer care what other people think of me. People will judge anything and sometimes everything about another person, simply because they feel it is their right to do so. Others judge without thinking. I live and love my life as I choose and a negative opinion expressed by another individual is of no moment to me. Reaching the point in my life when I realized the opinions of others is not important to me was one of those “aha” moments and was totally liberating, freeing me to be me, and that’s the “satya.”
Sataya to me is searching for and believing the truth in myself. A life-long process I’m sure. Over the years I’ve learned that nothing is more important than being true to the feelings you have inside you and having faith that what you are and what you do is exactly as it should be. No need to force changes on yourself to be what you think others are expecting. Trust yourself and have faith in your natural personality.
I live an open and honest, truthful live. I want my children to be authentic, honest human beings and I must lead by example. I am openly gay, I have faced many challenges, but I have to be myself in order to be happy and spread love and light to others. I only speak the truth and if I can’t be honest, I simply state why. I am a yoga teacher in training and I have learned so much about myself and all I have to offer and it always goes back to the one thing. The truth, MY truth, truth in love, friendship and in honest living. But most of all, I always try to be true to myself, that is the hardest truth of all.
I find truthfulness the most when I’m in the moment – not telling myself a story about something else. Being completely present, in whatever I’m doing, is the most truthful way to experience the world.
Satya is part of my everyday life in that it’s easier to live the truth than a lie. Whether it’s personally, professionally or on the mat it’s just easier to be truthful about my strengths or weakness or just what ever is happening in the moment. Living the truth is easier. I can’t do a handstand and I have no desire to do that. It’s just so much easier to live my truth than spend hours trying to master a pose I have no desire to master. Same goes for everything else in life!
I have a phrase from Cheryl Richardson (life coach) posted on my wall at work. It says something like, “Honor the people in your life by telling them the truth, even if it hurts.” I live by this “rule” because I’ve found that even if truth initially hurts me (coming from someone else) or another (coming from me) – that in the long run, it hurts MUCH less than a lie. And it liberates and opens up the opportunity for healing to happen.
I practice over and over every day to stay in my truth; with the words I speak, the thoughts I think (especially if they aren’t all zen, flowery and perfect), the energy I give to others and how I am in the world. It is not easy work – and to help me, 5 years ago on the anniversary of 9/11 I got “satya” tattooed on my wrist in Sanskrit. Satya is with me every day.
When I think of Satya, I think about the Truth of my being. I am not my body, I am not my thoughts. The Truth is my Essence, my Divine Nature. When I connect with that Truth, everything that is unnecessary falls away. Then I can connect with people from my Truth and see theirs. To practice this I need time to meditate on it. I read about it to remind myself. It can be quite a challenge, but when I commit to do it then it becomes more easy to remember when I’m facing challenges.
When I think about satya, truthfulness I think about my personal struggles with the truth of my life. This past year I have suffered much loss, and have shouldered a burden that is untruthful and pessimistic. I am trying to change my energy outlook by focusing on the truth in my life, the positive parts of everyday. When I take the time to find the truth in the universe, I realize that no matter how big the defeats of my life; the successes tip the scale to joy. This truth is what I hold onto, the truth that suffering is a part of life, but life is beautiful and that suffering is only a small part of my truth.
“Like the Sun” is a short story by Indian writer R. K. Narayan and is a fine example of truth–sometimes sharing our truth burns others or ourselves so we must learn to temper and practice ahimsa at the same time Such a difficult balance! But now isn’t that life? So grow the eight limbs, so grow the roots, so grows the tree.
Satya for me means learning to separate my ego’s chatter from my true Self, separating illusion from reality.
Satya is included in my life both on and off the mat because I always try to be truthful to myself. I am a human with precious gifts and with faults and I always try to accept myself for who I am–the true me. I try not to be who I think I should be, but who I truly am. <3
When you speak your truth it clears the space. If there is a withhold or a lie in the space, everyone can feel it – we all know at the soul level what’s really going on with each other – and when everybody’s speaking their truth, no matter how hard it is, the energy stays clear and clean. In practice, it means living your truth is the easiest way to go. For me now, I’m trying to be conscious of what’s really going on inside me ALL the time, of staying aware, a practice of inner authenticity if you will.
I practice satya by being authentic. I accept who I am and don’t try to pretend I am anything/anyone else.
Truth is the only thing I can count on. As difficult as it can be to speak the truth or to hear it, it is always a strengthening, centering thing for me.
I have been through so many things in my life that have given me the courage & strength I never thought I possessed. To be able to design a necklace with symbols that represent aspects of your personality is very powerful. Wearing this jewelry gives you the power to endure anything you’re confronted with. That’s why Satya jewelry stands apart from all the rest. You feel that you can overcome anything, that G-d is always with you.
Thank you for ding this giveaway and good luck to all.
Diane K.
kleimanlaw at aol dot com
I try to think about my actions (though usually after, not before!) and what the root is of the behavior–whether it is work, spending time with my family and friends–what is my core motivation? It is a selfish, attached want? Or is it a fundamental need that is required by myself or my loved ones?