Ahimsa – Week 1

Starting this week I am diving back into my yoga studies. I finished teacher training in 2017 and over the pandemic I embraced online yoga teacher training and studied everything from Ayurveda to Art History of Yoga. Once things started opening up again and I started teaching more in-person classes, my studies or Svadhyaya (self – study) fell a bit to the wayside.

In an effort to jump back in and add a bit of yoga study for my students, over the next 16 weeks I will be re-exploring the Eight Limbs of Yoga here online and in my classes. Why 16 weeks? Well, the first two limbs are the Yamas (how we live in the world with others) and Niyamas (how we treat ourselves) and each of these limbs have five different restraints (Yamas) or observances (Niyamas) associated with them.

This week, I am focusing on the first Yama, Ahimsa, which means non-violence or non-harming. This might be a simple practice of being kind to others, thinking kind thoughts and avoiding conflicts or violence. But what might be overlooked is the idea of Ahimsa for ourselves. As we hear on an airplane, we need to put on our own oxygen masks first before we can help others. The same goes with Ahimsa, before we can offer kind acts to others, we need to first take care of ourselves so that our cup is full and then we will be able to give back.

While self-care can look like bubble baths, manicures and lovely smelling candles (which are all wonderful). It also can mean, doing your laundry, moving your body with some yoga or a walk outside or just planning the meals for the week. The idea is that you are taking care of your immediate universe, your home, your family, your needs and once you have taken care of yourself in a kind and loving way, then you will have the energy and capacity to help others and the world around you with acts like recycling, composting, and eating vegetarian every so often.

Whatever your self care looks like, make sure it is nourishing and impacts you positively and when you feel full, then take small steps to offer that love and compassion out into the world.

(*Note: This post contains some affiliates links, as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.)