Yesterday we began our journey practicing through the eight limbs of yoga. The asanas (poses) being only one of the eight limbs. The Yamas are the first limb. There are five yamas - restraints. Yama means to "rein". The yamas are tools to help guide our daily choices and lives in a direction of right-living. The first yama is ahimsa - "nonviolence". Ahimsa is the practice of love and compassion in thought, speech, and action. It is not enough to restrain from physical violence. Judgmental thoughts and gossip can be just as hurtful. If we work towards blurring the lines between ourselves and others it is easier to practice ahimsa in our lives. Finding compassion for our bodies and acceptance of our limitations when we practice asanas, we create a pattern of loving kindness towards ourselves that spreads outward when we step off our mats.
"When nonviolence in speech, thought, and action is established, one's aggressive nature is relinquished and others abandon hostility in one's presence." -Yoga Sutras
In class I shared a great book that I've used as a reference over the past few years. Rolf Gates, Meditations From the Mat. Check it out!
Join me next Sat., Jan. 23 when we practice satya - "truthfulness" on our mats. Hope to see you there...
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