Happy November Yogi's!
This month my students and I are studying the idea of Ahimsa. Ahimsa is one of the Yamas or moral social contracts in the 8 limb path of yoga.
8 Limb Path Of Yoga-(this is more like a wheel shape, not a linear path. You practice all or several at a time)
1. Yama: Moral Social Contracts
2. Niyama: Personal observances
3. Asanas: Body postures
4. Pranayama: Breathing exercises, and control of prana
5. Pratyahara: Control of senses
6. Dharana: Concentration and cultivation inner perceptual awareness
7. Dhyana: Devotion, meditation on the divine
8. Samadhi: Union with the Divine
Ahimsa is translated as Non-Violence but is more than that. It is cultivating compassion in life, compassion for yourself and for others. If we look at non-violence, we may think its not physically hurting others, but it also includes how we treat ourselves and how we treat others, how we think, speak, eat, treat the planet, etc. So how do we do that? How do we live non-violently? I believe it begins with having compassion on all levels. Realizing that everyone is just bumpin' around trying to do the best they know how. Seeing past the fear that are those proverbial onion layers to the real SELF, and seeing the light that is in everyone. When we see their light and our own, we start to ask, how can I help this person see it too? Or how can I help the planet heal? Or where can I be of service to people who are less fortunate? These questions are the first signs of compassion. When we take action from there we start to heal and so does everyone else we come in contact with. It has the ripple effect. Yoga is about being the best version of ourselves we can be and to help others see it in themselves. So it is perfect that Ahimsa is the first of the Yamas in the 8 limbs of yoga because when we start with this idea everything else just falls into place.
So here is a link to the audio clip:
Compassion meditation
for you on creating Compassion with in. Enjoy and I hope it is of help to you on your path!
Much love!
Namaste'
Jess
