What Is Sadhana

Tapping in to inner wisdom and living a harmonious life

Hey! It’s Jenny, your favorite Alaskan yoga teacher.

Welcome to my weekly newsletter where I share stories about my life, insights from my personal yoga practice and the best online resources, handpicked just for you.

Last week, I introduced the term sadhana and the special meaning behind it. This week, our exploration continues as we examine how sadhana works our lives.

You can access last week’s issue, It’s Time To Talk About Sadhana, and the entire Root&Rise library, in the Archive located on our homepage.

Let’s pick up where we left off last week, with the definition of sadhana.

To fully understand sadhana, we must look at it from multiple linguistic angles - English for a description of the practice and Sanskrit to unveil the purpose behind it.

The English language tells us that sadhana is a daily spiritual practice. In the clip below, Paramahamsa Prajnananandaji breaks down the Sanskrit quite eloquently. So, I’ll let him do the talking.

Sadhana is Yoga in Action

According to Paramahamsa, sadhana can be broken down into two root words: dhana meaning wealth or treasure and sad, training yourself, or engaging in, a specialized discipline. This implies that sadhana is the practice of engaging in a specialized discipline to obtain wealth or treasure.

In this context, this newsletter can be seen as sadhana. By reading new issues every Sunday, integrating the information, and continuously exploring the diverse range of yoga asanas and meditation practices it offers, we engage in our specialized discipline of yoga, both on and off our mats.

We are yogis. The treasure we seek is higher consciousness – an awareness of our true nature and freedom from suffering.

The measure of our wealth is harmony – a balanced state of inner peace and calm, and a cooperative union with every aspect of ourselves and the world around us.

The Path Of Sadhana

Though the goal of sadhana is the same for every yogi, each of us must follow a unique path to reach it. Every individual sadhana is shaped by the life experiences and circumstances of the person who practices it.

Your most reliable tool for finding your personal path of Sadhana is your own inner compass. Your path may twist, turn, and veer in countless directions over a lifetime, but you will never lose your way if you listen to your internal guidance system, which always directs you towards your highest good. By following your inner wisdom, regardless of where it leads, you embark on the path of Sadhana.

Sometimes your path will feel like warm, sandy shorelines; other times, it will resemble dark, spooky forests. You will encounter lush, vibrant gardens bordered by steep, rocky cliffs and traverse the driest barren landscapes, speckled with pools of fresh, life-sustaining water. The path of sadhana is not always smooth, predictable, or easy, but it will never lead you astray.

Some lineages refer to this as "The Warrior's Path" because, while it is not for the faint of heart, it does build strength, courage, and resilience. It teaches you to weather all storms with unshakeable resolve, bolstered by hope and an unwavering belief in your own worthiness and capability

As Paramahamsa states, sadhana for learning to swim requires swimming. Sadhana for learning to ride a bike requires getting on a bicycle…and falling off the bicycle…and getting back on the bicycle!

Sadhana for learning to live a harmonious life requires facing life head-on, with an open heart. It involves embracing challenges, and learning from them.

If you let it, your whole life can be your sadhana, teaching you to navigate the ups and downs of life with curiosity, humility and grace.

Guided Chakra Healing Meditation / Perception (Third Eye)(Anna Chakra) / Faith Hunter

10 Minutes | All Levels | Beginner Friendly

One of the best ways to connect to your inner guidance is to spend time tuning in to your third chakra, or ajna. This energy center is located in the center of your forehead and relates to intuition and perception. I recently heard someone refer to it as your “spidey senses” and I think that sums it up perfectly!

This guided meditation by Faith Hunter offers a unique and engaging way to immerse yourself in the energy of Ajna, the third eye chakra. Faith begins by teaching us about the third eye chakra, then introduces the affirmation “I am open to the wisdom within.” She then steps back, allowing us to rest in the awareness of our inner guidance.

I enjoyed soaking in the sounds and spaciousness of this meditation.

Connect With Intuition: A Gentle Vinyasa Yoga For Intuition / BrettLarkinYoga

13 Minutes | All Levels

My pet peeve is when a yoga teacher introduces a theme at the beginning of class and then never revisits it.

So, I was absolutely delighted by this short, soulful class. Brett seamlessly weaves the theme of intuition through her sequence with expertly crafted cues. I loved it. This class brought the depth I am always searching for. I adore teachers who can bring more than just lunges and planks to the table.

Be aware that this class is slightly challenging. It’s 100% doable, just a bit more physical than the usual classes I feature. Definitely worth the effort though!!

We’ve spent the past two weeks defining sadhana. Next week, it’s (finally) time to introduce some practicality into the conversation with some personal examples of how I use sadhana in my daily life. So stay tuned for that!

The flowers featured in today’s section headers were planted, nurtured, picked and graciously given to me by my cousin’s beautiful wife. They are so fragrant and lovely sitting in a jar on my kitchen table.

Have a lovely week! See you next Sunday.