Dear Revolution Community,
I want to share with you a beautiful yogic concept called “Satya”. It means truthfulness. It guides the yogi to practice honesty, authenticity and integrity. As I always say, yoga is a practice, not a perfect. So as we pursue these different guidelines, we recognize they are not fodder for the fire of shame or negative self-talk if we make mistakes along the way. They are guidelines to help us maintain our peace of mind.
Truth is an interesting concept in Vedic philosophy because it is nuanced. It holds many layers. On the surface level, truth is obvious to us, do not speak a lie. Such as the sky is green or the dirt is blue, when it obviously is not.
On a deeper level, it’s speaking our own truth out loud even when it feels hard to. Why? Because it purifies the voice and carries a weight with it that carries the truth back to us.
satya-pratiṣṭhāyām kriyā-phala-āśrayatvam
It says in the Yoga sutras, when one observes truth, it observes you. Truth aligns us with rta (cosmic order/dharma). I often think of this concept as a conversation we are constantly having with the universe. When we speak lies out loud or don’t speak what is in us into existence, it confuses the conversation. The universe doesn’t know what to do with it because it doesn’t align with authenticity. But, when we align with that truth, whatever the yogi says comes true.
The deepest layer of truth is recognizing what the yogis teach us is the truth of what we are. “Sat - chit - ananda.” We are eternal, blissful and unchanging. We are told this is the truth of who we are. There are contemplative practices that encourage us to shift our perspective. By comparing that which we attach our identity to against this basic formula. Is what is ailing your mind going to last forever? Is it eternal? Does it change? Is its nature or result bliss? If it’s not, then it isn’t who you are. As we chisel away at the false identities we have layered upon ourselves, we come closer to revealing the beautiful truth of who we are. We slowly let all the rest, that is not truth, fall away.
Anitya-ashuchi-duḥkha-anātmasu nitya-shuchi-sukha-ātma-khyātir avidyā
Ignorance (avidyā) is mistaking the impermanent for the permanent, the impure for the pure, suffering for happiness, and the non-self for the self.
All we are attempting in the yoga practice, is to dismantle any falsities we have come to believe to reveal who we truly are. Then we can achieve yoga which means “union with the inner-self”. Or essentially we come into union with the truth of who we are.
Every time we come to the mat, we get the opportunity to practice satya- unveiling our inner truth. Sign up for your next class today and join your community on this worthy path.
I am also honored to step into a position of guiding our community in Ayurveda and will be opening up slots for one on one clients online or in person.
Peace and Love,
Amanda and the good folks at Revolution Yoga
Originally shared in our September 2025 newsletter.