Based on the “Yoga Sutras of Patañjali“. Patañjali was basically the original “mind coach” of yoga. His Yoga Sutras are short little wisdom lines that help us understand our thoughts, handle stress better, and feel more grounded — on and off the mat.
November : " Return to What is Real"
Patañjali’s Yoga Sutra 1.3, “Tadā draṣṭuḥ svarūpe avasthānam”, translates as “Then the seer rests in their true nature.”
It follows Sutra 1.2, which describes yoga as the quietening of the fluctuations of the mind. The idea is that when we become less caught up in our thoughts, worries and external distractions, we can begin to recognise the part of ourselves that simply observes – the steady awareness beneath it all.
November – Return to what is Real
This month think about: Turning Inwards – Finding Stillness Amidst the Noise
November is a beautiful month of transition. Autumn is drawing to a close and the trees have almost shed their leaves. There is a particular beauty in the passing of things, and the impermanence of the leaves makes them all the more precious.
This time of year is wonderfully symbolic as we gather around bonfires and watch fireworks light up the sky; celebrating the light and warmth even as the days grow shorter and darker.
But November also reminds us that December is just around the corner! Before the festive rush, endless to-do lists and social commitments begin to take over, perhaps this is our invitation to pause and come back to our true nature.
In yoga philosophy, this turning of our attention inwards is known as Pratyahara. It’s about gently stepping back from all the noise and stimulation around us and reconnecting with what’s happening within.
We spend so much of our time responding to the outside world – messages, demands, conversations, expectations and distractions. But what happens when we give ourselves permission to switch off from all of that, even for a few moments?
We begin to hear ourselves again.
We remember that we don’t have to attend to everything, be everywhere or keep everyone happy. We can choose where our energy goes and make space for the things that genuinely matter.
So before the busyness of December arrives, step back from the noise, expectations and constant demands of life, and begin to notice that we are more than our thoughts, emotions, roles and responsibilities.
Beneath all of that is a quieter, steadier part of ourselves – the awareness that observes without needing to react or fix everything.
This is what Patañjali is pointing towards when he says, ‘The seer rests in their true nature’ – that beneath the noise of our thoughts and the demands of everyday life, there is a quieter, steadier part of us that we can return to.
You don’t have to wait until life gets quiet to find a little peace within it.
Enjoy a Quote:
“At the centre of your being you have the answer; you know who you are and you know what you want.”— Lao Tzu
Practice:
Sit quietly for a few minutes.
Close your eyes if comfortable and gently turn your attention away from the outside world.
Notice your breath, the sounds around you and the sensations within your body.
Notice when you feel an urge to move or do something and rather than reaching for the next distraction, simply be.
Memorize a mini poem:
As the leaves fall,
I turn within.
Less noise, more stillness.
Less doing, more being.
Repeat an Affirmation:
I give myself permission to slow down.
I choose where my energy goes and make space for what matters.