Unraveling the Ego: How Yoga Guides Us to True Self-Knowledge

Have you ever thought, "I know myself so well now"? Maybe it’s an age milestone, a major life event, or just a moment of reflection that brings this thought to the surface. But here’s something to consider: how much of this "self" we think we know is simply the product of deeply ingrained, subconscious patterns?

As Carlos Pomeda so insightfully put it, someone once claimed, "Now that I'm 50, I think I know myself really well," to which he replied, "Now that I'm 50, I know my conditioned responses really well."

Let that sink in.

What Drives Us?

Our subconscious mind is like a vast archive, storing data from every experience we’ve ever had. It holds our habits, emotional triggers, and knee-jerk reactions—our conditioning. These patterns are so deeply embedded that they often feel like the core of our identity.

But here’s the kicker: these subconscious patterns aren’t us. They’re automatic responses shaped by unresolved emotional experiences and past conditioning. And because this process happens beneath the surface of our awareness, how can we claim to know ourselves fully?

This is where the work of yoga comes in.

Yoga as a Path to Self-Discovery

In yoga, we aim to strip away the layers of conditioning to uncover the deeper truths of who we are. This isn’t about denying the ego or rejecting our human experience. It’s about stepping back and observing—becoming aware of how our body feels, how our mind reacts, and how subtle shifts arise within us.

This process of awareness, or viveka (discrimination), allows us to see our patterns for what they are: habitual, automatic, and often unexamined.

When we practice yoga with an open heart and a curious mind, we create a sacred space for self-investigation.

• How does my body feel in this pose?
• What emotions arise as I hold it longer?
• Where does my mind wander when I encounter discomfort?

These questions are invitations to notice and release the subconscious patterns that hold us back.

The Challenge of Change

Breaking free from our conditioned responses isn’t easy. Trying out new behaviors—whether on the mat or in daily life—can feel foreign, even uncomfortable. This discomfort is the subconscious mind resisting change, clinging to what feels familiar and safe.

But change doesn’t happen by staying comfortable.

It takes courage to meet ourselves with honesty. It takes patience to practice consistently, noticing the subtle ways we hold tension, avoid vulnerability, or repeat old stories. And it takes compassion to hold space for our humanity as we learn to release what no longer serves us.

Moving Toward True Identity

Yoga reminds us that our true identity is not the ego, the stories, or the subconscious patterns. It’s something deeper, something vast and limitless. By bringing awareness to the body, the breath, and the mind, we begin to disentangle from the automatic and step into the authentic.

This is how we get to know ourselves—not the “self” that reacts out of habit, but the self that observes, chooses, and creates.

As you step onto your mat today, try this:

• Tune in to the subtleties. How does your body feel, truly?
• Notice the mind’s responses. Are you impatient, distracted, or self-critical?
• Explore what happens when you choose differently. Soften instead of striving. Stay when you want to escape.

Through these small acts of awareness, you begin to rewrite the patterns that have held you captive. You begin to connect with your inner wisdom, the part of you that exists beyond ego and conditioning.

And in this connection, you discover the truth of who you are.

Are you ready to explore your true self? The journey takes courage, but the transformation is profound. Yoga is your guide, and you are your own best teacher. Let the unraveling begin.