By Remco, The Netherlands
Table of Contents
Introduction
Have you ever rolled out your Yoga mat in silence, without a teacher, just feeling connected to your body, breath and mind? That’s the beginning of Self-practice; when Yoga becomes a mirror, and not just the application of some techniques.
Most Yoga journeys begin with the simple awareness that movement supports health. A class at a studio or online can open the door, but Yoga is much more than physical exercise. It’s a multidimensional path to Self-awareness through body, breath, mind and beyond.
This blog explores how Self-practice, the art of stepping on the mat without external guidance, can deepen your Yoga journey and bring Yoga into everyday life.
Stepping on the mat: the power of Self-practice
Entering the space of Self-practice
As your mat becomes a space of Self-discovery, a new question emerges: can I practise the same without the guidance of a teacher? That’s where Self-practice begins.
Self-practice is the process of independently engaging in Yoga without external guidance, allowing for deeper Self-exploration and Self-discovery. It is a conscious commitment to take responsibility for one’s own growth and transformation, instead of living a common life ruled by the Karmic cycle (the repeating patterns driven by past actions and unconscious choices).
Tools of inner exploration
Self-practice empowers you to take charge of your life by exploring how Yoga can express your unique inner truth. It can include:
- Asana: positioning the body
- Pranayama: aligning the breathing rhythm and energy flow
- Meditation: overcoming mind conditionings
- Chanting: building Self-expression through sound and vibration
All of these are supported by a philosophical base which connects the traditional Indian philosophy with the different practical applications. The most comprehensive source of Indian philosophy and its practical application is the Patanjali Yoga Sutra. This connection makes a significant difference as it creates clarity of vision and the ability to stay on track in the life journey.
Unlike guided sessions, Self-practice nurtures inner listening. It helps cultivate awareness of your physical, mental, and emotional states. Over time, this becomes a process of fine-tuning and harmonising your entire being. On the physical level it keeps you healthy, on the energetical level it supports expressiveness in life, and on the mental level it builds the capacity to stay in presence. Moreover, on the wisdom and soul levels it enhances the abilities of decision making and living life authentically.
Aligning yourself in the Self-practice
The essence of Self-practice
Guided Asana classes lay a valuable foundation for improving the quality of life, but true transformation emerges when you explore Yoga more deeply, including the metaphysical dimensions: life energy (Prana), the mind, wisdom, and soul. Practising on your own develops deeper listening to your body. For example, tension in your shoulders or clenched fingers may signal mental stress.
Ask yourself:
- What do you notice in your breath when no one is watching?
- What does your body say when you’re not guided by someone else?
Approaching the posture practice from awareness beyond the physical dimension, turns your mat into a laboratory for Self-exploration, adaptation, and transformation, where each posture reveals how stress manifests and offers a path to clearing internal impurities, bringing about personal growth.
The experience of Self-practice
During Self-practice, multiple processes unfold. Physically, the body releases stored tension, while breath and movement harmonise to calm the mind and sharpen awareness. The interplay of Asana, Pranayama, and Meditation gradually dissolves both physical and emotional stress. This synergy brings a state where body, breath, and mind align, deepening the connection with your inner Self.
Yoga is not solely about physical benefits but about cultivating presence and awareness. Immersing in each pose heightens sensitivity to subtle bodily shifts, revealing tension and providing an opportunity for relaxation. This awarefulness is the first step towards transformation, helping you identify areas needing healing or release.
How Self-practice builds independence
The power of consistency
Yoga often begins with a desire for transformation and freedom from internal obstacles. Life’s challenges disturb both body and mind, but regular Self-practice restores balance and clarity. Beyond flexibility and strength, consistent practice builds strength and awareness, leading to a more meaningful life where transformation extends beyond the mat. Over time, the impact of Self-practice transcends the physical, enhancing emotional stability, clearer decision-making, and a sense of ease that ripples into relationships, work, and personal choices. This holistic growth exemplifies Yoga’s transformative power.
Establishing Self-motivation
While guided classes teach principles and techniques, integrating Yoga into your Self-practice and daily life requires more than repeating what you have learnt. It’s about exploring the possibilities of Yoga and applying the wisdom in every action, thought, and word. A weekly activity can evolve into a daily practice that nurtures Self-awareness and continuous growth.
Dedicating a specific time and space for practice cultivates consistency. Whether early morning or in the evening, a structured routine makes Self-practice a natural part of life. For those seeking immersion, structured programs can offer deeper guidance. Immersive experiences, like a 200-hour Teacher Training Course at the Yoga Gita Ashram in Mysore (South India), highlight Yoga’s multifaceted nature. These programmes extend beyond Asana to include Pranayama, meditation, chanting, and philosophical insights, affirming that Yoga is a lifelong journey of Self-exploration.
Self-practice strengthens discipline, builds confidence, and enhances one’s ability to integrate Yoga into everyday life. By stepping into Self-practice, practitioners cultivate strength, creativity, and an intimate connection with their inner being, making Yoga not just another routine but a way of living.
The deeper dimensions of Self-practice
Self-practice offers benefits beyond the physical dimension of Life. Enhancing your awareness beyond body level is an important step in life, but not the ultimate possibility. Self-practice facilitates to expand your awareness further, allowing for a deeper connection with Prana, the mind, the wisdom and the soul.
- Body (Annamaya kosha)
The body forms the foundation of all life experiences. Through posture practice you can nourish your body at the cellular level and maintain physical alignment to support optimal health. - Energy (Pranamaya kosha)
Prana is the dimension of energy expression which directly fuels the activity in the physical realm. Fewer blockages in the flow of energy give space for more expressiveness in life. - Mind (Manomaya kosha)
Mind is the layer based on the quality of sense perception. The more you are able to stay in presence, the less you are influenced by your past conditioning. It makes you less susceptible to different distractions. - Wisdom (Vijnanamaya kosha)
Wisdom is the sheath of inner wisdom: our capacity to discern, reflect, and make conscious, intuitive choices. This allows you to align choices with your deeper truth to break free from repetitive patterns. - Soul (Anandamaya kosha)
Soul is the innermost sheath: the blissful essence where we experience the joy of being and align with our true nature. True fulfillment arises when you live in alignment with your soul, not external expectations.
Self-practice cultivates personal growth and transformation, helping individuals build strength and confidence beyond structured classes. A dedicated daily practice builds consistency, integrating Yoga as a way of living and supporting holistic well-being.
By embracing Self-practice, you step into a journey of empowerment, independence, and continuous evolution, making Yoga an integral part of daily living.
Living Yoga: the gift of Self-practice
Self-practice as a mirror for Self-reflection
At the core of Self-practice lies Self-reflection (Svadhyaya), an introspective process essential for recognizing tension and mental blockages. Turning inward reveals how external pressures, like financial stress, relationship challenges, past experiences, manifest as physical discomfort or emotional strain. Think of this as filtering impurities from water; the clearer it becomes, the more it reflects your true nature. As you remove what clouds your essence, your body reflects its inherent wisdom and purity. Self-practice, therefore, becomes a tool for physical flexibility, mental clarity, and emotional strength.
Yoga as a way of living
Yoga, when practiced as a way of living, integrates physical, energetic, mental, and spiritual dimensions. A consistent Self-practice establishes a foundation of balance and positivity that permeates all areas of life. Facing challenges with calm clarity transforms daily experiences into opportunities for growth. Yoga thus evolves from a practice into a continuous path towards Self-realization, joy, and fulfillment.
This holistic approach allows the clarity cultivated on the mat to extend into navigating stress, improving relationships, and deepening Self-understanding. A commitment to this path stimulates ongoing Self-improvement and inner harmony.
Summary: a daily return to awareness
Self-practice is not a simple addition to Yoga classes but the essence of the journey.
Your mat becomes a mirror, reflecting not just your body’s movements, but your inner landscape. Every breath, posture, and moment of stillness becomes an invitation to return home to yourSelf. Over time, this open space reveals patterns of tension, unconscious habits, and forgotten parts of yourself, offering the opportunity to heal, integrate, and grow.
With consistency, curiosity, and compassion, Self-practice gently dissolves the fog of conditioning. It strips away the layers of expectation, distraction, and past narratives, revealing the soul’s innate clarity, wisdom, and joy.
In this ongoing transformation, Yoga ceases to be something you perform. It becomes the way you relate to yourself, to others, and to life. It becomes not what you do, but how you live.
About the author
Remco de Groot has been on a transformative journey with Yoga and traditional Indian philosophy for over 30 years. What began as a personal exploration has grown into a deep knowing: Yoga practice and philosophy are not separate; they are one.
Through living a life of Yoga, he has seen that when we align with inner clarity, our perspective expands. Life then unfolds with its natural rhythm.
Today, Remco stays at Yoga Gita Ashram near Mysore, India, together with his wife Martine and daughter Anna, as part of the global Ashram community.
As a family of volunteers, guided by Yoga Gita Ashram founder Sage ViGo, they share the possibility of holistic well-being and conscious living through Yoga with people around the world.
To learn more about Yoga Gita Ashram, see the website, or connect with them on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
