You know that the effects of your yoga class are working when you find yourself “centering”, focusing on your breath or relaxing your body before, during or after stressful situations. This is an example that yoga is more than just an Asana (posture); it’s a way of life.
Last week I introduced my participants to the 8 limbs of yoga; Yama’s (moral codes), Niyama’s (personal conduct), Asana (postures), Pranayama (breath awareness), Pratyahara (sense withdrawl), Dharana (focus), Dhyana (meditation) and Samadhi (union, absorption).
This week, I’m introducing everyone to the first Yama; A
himsa (non-violence). This is considered the umbrella for all Yamas and Niyams and well worth exploring. I personally like to take baby steps to understand and experience new things so we are looking at one component of Ahimsa; Creating Balance.
Think about how you feel after a long day at work; are you tired? If you’ve had a rough day, do you take this energy out on people you’re closest to? Geoff, my husband, after years of watching himself, is well aware that he can’t have a fully caffeinated coffee because he has a short fuse and much less patience than usual.
We are an overly stimulated people with media, busy schedules and continuous interaction with others. When do we stop? And what does that look like? Why would we want to stop? Just like the body needs to rest, so does the mind and the soul. When we rest, we find a new energy. This in turn gives us new strength as well as teaches us to listen to our bodies.
It was pretty easy for me to come home after work and have a beer or a glass of wine. This would definitely take my shoulders down a couple of inches but it also made me tired earlier in the evening, irritable or quite honestly, I struggled to move after a couple of drinks. Now, my “Go To” way to relax is Legs Up The Wall; Viparita Karni. When I practice this for 10 or 15 minutes before making dinner or teaching a class, I feel like I have a new energy, patience and an interest in the rest of my day.
I love this line from the book The Yamas and the Niyamas; Exploring Yoga’s Ethical Practice: “Balance is like this. Spreading ourselves thin looks impressive, but in the end we are the first to loose. The health and well being of our body, mind and spirit is a powerful resource and by keeping ourselves in balance, we can stride through life with greater competence and ease. We are primed to “win’ as we meet life from an inner place of harmony. When we are in balance, we automatically live in non-violence.”
If you’re interested in understanding more about The Yamas and Niyams, check out these two books:
- The Yamas and Niyamas; Exploring Yoga’s Ethical Practice by Deborah Adele http://deborahadele.com/and
- Yoga Wisdom at Work http://yogawisdomatwork.com/news/. Maren Showkeir and Jamie Showkeir’s
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