11/11/2024
In the yoga tradition, there are stories about warriors and the battles, traumas, and questions they wrestle with. One of the oldest comes from the Bhagavad Gita.
Basically, Prince Arjuna doesn’t want to fight. He know if he does, he will lose family and friends — many lives will be lost. He seeks the guidance of Krishna, a deity but in disguise serving as Arjuna’s charioteer. Their conversation folds open into a discussion of souls, the intention of yoga, and one’s life purpose.
In Western cultures, we often separate mind, body, and spirit. In many yoga traditions, they are connected. More and more in modern treatments for injuries, chronic pain, and PTSD — experiences many vets face — mind-body connections open pathways for healing.
Healing isn’t always a soft process. But even when it’s hard, we can learn to be gentle and listen to the body’s wisdom. Ahimsa, one of the yogic principles, can help us witness and hold the impacts of war with compassion. We can start by tuning into the signals of our own flight-fight response and build different mental pathways that offer more ease in face of hardship. That way we can show up and create that kind of peace for the people around us, for our society’s soldiers, and even stretch that compassion to war-torn communities around the world.
In that spirit, may you be well. And may our veterans rest easy, heal, and be happy. May all beings everywhere be safe, healthy, and at peace.
🔗 Interested in learning more? Check out the Veterans Yoga Project www.veteransyogaproject.org and the amazing work they do. (Link in Bio)
(Repost from 11/23)
