Ahimsa is the highest duty. Even if we cannot practice it in full, we must try to understand its spirit and refrain as far as is humanly possible from violence.
~Mahatma Gandhi
~Mahatma Gandhi
Happy Thursday beautiful hearts! Yesterday I had the opportunity to fill in at the Yoga studio. As I sat down to plan my class, a burst of inspiration arose from the principal of 'Non-violence,' or ahimsa. If you are new to the practice of Yoga, no worries. The Yama's are thought of like an ethical restraint. Something that we can observe in our lives both on our Yoga mats and off of our Yoga mats.
When I was thinking of 'non-violence' it seems obvious all the ways we can be outwardly violent towards others, but what about the ways in which we are violent towards ourselves? We can silently attack ourselves with unkind thoughts. Even if we don't speak it, when we think something unkind it still becomes animated in our energy field. It happens when we judge ourselves. We can lash out with unkind words, and the list goes on and on. Or perhaps we put the lid on our emotions and allow a whole world to simmer under the surface. When we deny how we are feeling we are practicing violence towards ourselves. A beautiful friend of mine always says, "You have to feel it to heal it."
We are living in a time where non-violence is so needed. There is a blatant display of violence towards so much in our world right now. It truly breaks my heart. So instead of feeling helpless, I turn to the principal of ahimsa. If I can practice this principal in my life, then I am able to send out kind vibes to the Earth. If you practice ahimsa in your life, then the positive thoughts grow and multiply. We are living in very powerful times. Let us use our powers for good.
When we practice Yoga, we are reminded of our impermanence. The thought that we so tightly cling to slips away in the next moment. Ahimsa becomes a practice that we are invited into again and again. There is no space for perfection, simply the awareness that we could reach for the next highest thought about ourselves and others. We reach with kindness and compassion and a heart dripping in loving kindness we can invoke deeper inquiry. Be curious. Be kind.
May You Sweetly Seek:)
In Gratitude,
Sarah
When I was thinking of 'non-violence' it seems obvious all the ways we can be outwardly violent towards others, but what about the ways in which we are violent towards ourselves? We can silently attack ourselves with unkind thoughts. Even if we don't speak it, when we think something unkind it still becomes animated in our energy field. It happens when we judge ourselves. We can lash out with unkind words, and the list goes on and on. Or perhaps we put the lid on our emotions and allow a whole world to simmer under the surface. When we deny how we are feeling we are practicing violence towards ourselves. A beautiful friend of mine always says, "You have to feel it to heal it."
We are living in a time where non-violence is so needed. There is a blatant display of violence towards so much in our world right now. It truly breaks my heart. So instead of feeling helpless, I turn to the principal of ahimsa. If I can practice this principal in my life, then I am able to send out kind vibes to the Earth. If you practice ahimsa in your life, then the positive thoughts grow and multiply. We are living in very powerful times. Let us use our powers for good.
When we practice Yoga, we are reminded of our impermanence. The thought that we so tightly cling to slips away in the next moment. Ahimsa becomes a practice that we are invited into again and again. There is no space for perfection, simply the awareness that we could reach for the next highest thought about ourselves and others. We reach with kindness and compassion and a heart dripping in loving kindness we can invoke deeper inquiry. Be curious. Be kind.
May You Sweetly Seek:)
In Gratitude,
Sarah
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