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The Yoga of Nonviolence
One of the most important aspects of the practice.
If you want to practice yoga, you need to practice nonviolence.
In the West, yoga is typically thought of as a physical practice of postures. However, the poses are just one part of an eight-limb path that also includes meditation, breathing exercises, and ethical principles.
The first ethical principle of yoga is Ahimsa, or nonviolence. It’s the foundation upon which the rest of yoga is built.
Practicing Ahimsa can take many forms. The most obvious is avoiding causing physical harm to others, but it can go deeper than that.
Ahimsa can also apply to harmful thoughts, words, or actions beyond physical harm. It also applies to yourself just as much as any other person.
So the next time you beat yourself (or someone else) up mentally or physically, remember your yoga practice. Remember Ahimsa.
