03/08/2025
When I mention the word ‘yoga’, most people will think of physical poses, known in Sanskrit as asanas. Often, what comes to mind are advanced poses like headstands or complicated twists and binds. Or maybe the ubiquitous and inescapable sun salute? Yet, behind the social media facades, there is a whole unexplored realm of study.
Fewer people are aware of the spiritual aspect of yoga—that part of the discipline that distinguishes it from other forms of exercise like fitness training or Pilates. This might be because philosophical precepts are more difficult to teach, requiring some contemplation. However, if we focus on the important principles behind yoga, it can shed a whole new light on the way we practice on our mats.
One of the foremost texts that yoga teachers are encouraged to read during our training is Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras, thought to have been written more than 2000 years ago. It is like a handbook to a yogic life, incorporating ethical guidelines, mental disciplines and physical practices. Among these are the Yamas (moral codes) and Niyamas (personal observances). These principles help elevate our spiritual growth, promote inner peace and can extend further to createa more harmonious and peaceful world.
The first Yama and a guiding principle for our practice, on and off the mat, is ahimsa. It is translated as non-violence or lack of cruelty or injustice. Much more than that, it also implies kindness, consideration and compassion in thought, deed and action towards ourselves and all living beings.
This concept is found in many Eastern religions and is based on an awareness of the web of interconnectedness between all life: humans, animals, plants and the planet. Harming any one of these has a ripple-effect on the whole.
So how does this most commonly play out for students in a yoga class?
Read more in my latest blog, just published on The Space Between's website. Link in first comment below.
