Living & Teaching Ahimsa
Hi everyone! I am new to Yoga Bear and excited to share some thought on my yoga practice & teaching. The next few weeks, I plan on writing some thoughts and ideas on the yamas and niyamas for everyday life and how as teachers we can bring them into our classes. I feel that it can be challenging to do so especially depending on the environment within which we teach. I love love love the studio where I teach, but my classes are shorter than I've ever taught before (oh how I love to teach an hour and a half class!) and because it is not primarily a yoga center (lots of other amazing dance + pilates are offered) there is a unique vibe. In other words, I set an intention to sprinkle my class with yoga philosophy rather than give a 10 minute talk at the end of class in order to share that yoga is more than asana.
The first yama or restraint I'd like to chat about is ahimsa which when it comes down to it means kindness. The traditional definition was "do not hurt or kill people" yet it can be interpreted to mean one should not be violent in feelings, thoughts, words, or actions. For me, Ahimsa or "non-violence" hit a unique chord during my 200 hour yoga teacher training. I have eczema and have all my life, so my skin itches...a lot. Most of the details are another story, but I started to notice that when I scratched (and ended up with the rash that comes a long with that) I was actually being pretty violent towards myself. It brought some perspective and allowed me to take the space I needed to breathe through the itchy sensation and move forward thus being kind to my body.
I also am reminded of being non-violent when I notice my mind bringing in negative chatter about my body. Setting the intention to be kind to myself really opens up my ability to notice my mind fall into negative patterns of bad mouthing myself.
Often when teaching I see students pushing through asana without compassion to themselves and what their bodies need. Sometimes, it's as if I can see the violent thoughts about their practice (or their bodies) encircling them. What a great time to remind students to embrace ahimsa and be kind to themselves. Aadil Palkivala states "if we are forcing, we are not feeling" and that "violence and awareness cannot co-exist." I love to use those 2 gems while teaching. Reminding students to be compassionate to themselves can be just what they need during that challenging pose. And by becoming more kind within, you can exude kindness in your interactions with others.
Do any of you have any stories on discovering ahimsa in your life or sharing it with your students?
Comment
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Comment by Jean Di Carlo-Wagner,MA,E-RYT500 on November 8, 2010 at 1:15pm -
Thank you for this wonderful blog! The wisdom of this teaching comes more to life to me as I age. Loving a body 'as it is' and being aware of love and acceptance as I move through life; it is more emotionally kinds, as well.
Often, I will breathe the word ahimsa, during yoga. It has the same effect on me as 'peace'. Blessings, Jean
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Comment by Regina Marie Delfino on November 7, 2010 at 7:24am -
Hi Katherine,
I'm not a teacher, but I do have a story about discovering ahimsa. I am relatively new to yoga and so all these terms seem so foreign and strange at first. When I was just beginning I was uncomfortable with the sanskrit words. Perhaps it was western xenophobic fears, and something so different from what I was raised hearing.
Anyhow, ahimsa was my "gateway" to learning some of the yogic principles, because it really resonated with me. When I was diagnosed with cancer I realized that a lot of the harm I was doing to myself was eating poorly, not exercising, not sleeping, and stressing out. The harm was not intentional, but I knew I was being violent to my body. Not respecting her and taking care of her.
Thank you for your article. I look forward to more!
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