10/16/2025
The practice of Yoga asks us to direct all of our attention towards our actions in the present moment, allowing our awareness to expand & our actions to be carried out skillfully. This applies to both the physical practice of Yoga postures & the “Yoga of everyday living”, which we interpret as a way of thinking & living that does life on purpose! Yogic thought invites us to give attention to our actions so that we guide ourselves towards behaviors that are in alignment with our good intentions.
The Yamas & the Niyamas are ethical disciplines that act like a compass, aiding us in taking ownership of our own life & directing it toward the fulfillment we seek. Ahimsa is the first Yama; perhaps the most important.
In her book The Yamas & Niyamas: Exploring Yoga’s Ethical Practice, Deborah Adele summarizes Ahimsa in this way “Non-violence is a stance of right relationship with others and with self that is neither self-sacrifice nor self-aggrandizement. This tenet guides us to live together, share the goods and do what we want - without causing harm to others or ourselves.”
When we think of violence, we often think about gross forms, such as physical violence or abuse. Violence, however, has many subtle forms. Negative self talk is an act of violence. Engaging is gossip and spreading negativity is another subtle form. Violence can come in many many forms. Bottom line, non-violence flows from right relationship with self & others, violence comes from imbalance, pain & fear.
Ahimsa challenges us to examine our relationship with ourselves. The quality of that relationship affects our relationship with others, which we are also called to examine. We are also called to examine our behaviors so we gain the ability recognize violence & grow as needed, this practice helps us navigate life with skill.
As a space who honors the ethical guidelines of Yoga, we adhere to the principle of Ahimsa and do not tolerate violence in any form. It’s our mission to create a safe space for all & there is no room for violence, only love.
So friends,
♥️ Be kind to yourself in thought, speech & action
♥️ Be kind to others in thought, speech & action
♥️ Choose non-violence
🙏
