Ahimsa
In the Black Dog Yoga Teacher Training which just started last weekend, we introduced Patanjali, his book The Yoga Sutras, and the ashtanga path as delineated by him. Ashta means eight and anga means limb, and these eight limbs are a way to have the experience of samadhi, or complete absorption in spirit.
The first of these eight limbs are the yamas. The yamas (which literally mean "restraints") are the ethical guidelines yogis follow pertaining to relationships: with self, others and Nature. The first yama is ahimsa which literally means non-harming. When we practice ahimsa we are making a conscious decision to be kind and loving with self and others.
The last few classes I've taught have been inspired by this great virtue. How do we practice ahimsa? Well in terms of our physical practice, we practice taking care of our alignment so that at no moment we feel pain in our bodies. We practice also aligning to a greater force or current of nature, and when we align to this bigger flow, our bodies physically start to become both more stronger and radiant. We try to not obstruct this flow, instead help it along so that the energy can move with ease. We need to become aware of our patterns, of the way we hold ourselves, of the way we lean to one side, we lock one knee, we drop our heads. We become aware of the ways we are moving out of alignment with nature, and with gentleness we re-align.
We practice ahimsa with our minds also. How often we go to a class and we have injurious thoughts? Like for instance: "I'm so weak...I'm not good at this... I'm not as good as her...as him... What is wrong with me? etc, etc." Our thoughts are so powerful. We repeat them over and over creating powerful samskaras that are so challenging to overcome.
We practice ahimsa spiritually by remembering that we are not alone. That we are not separate from source. We welcome whatever we bring to class, whether we are having a bad day, whether we have an injury, whether we are struggling with loss. We welcome whatever mood we are in, we welcome our body, how it is today, and we still try to do our best on a given day.
Theme: Ahimsa
Focus: Shins in, Thighs out
Highlights:
"Be loving with yourself."
"Rest when you need to. Take child's pose when you need to."
*At one moment students where jumping up into handstand and several chose to do child's pose. I notice my tendency to commend only those who were doing the "harder" pose. And I stopped and lauded those who were doing balasana. I have noticed that teachers tend to praise almost always the students who do the harder poses. I need to include those who are taking it easy as well...
Anusara Poster Project Pose:
the marichyasana twists on the Level 1 syllabi; there's four of them.
•The sutras of Patanjali hold so much integrity in a yoga practice and when we think of doing no harm, we often don't think to include our selves. Thanks for this reminder.
•You're so right, that as teachers we tend to praise the students performing the hardest poses. And also the one's performing the best in class. As a student I sometimes get further in a pose but it's not the "best" in the class.
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Hi, I just wanted to let you know that I love your blog and your approach to yoga. You have a very genuine voice.
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