i started my yoga classes! and there is homework every week, which i know will be fine but my subconscious brain is thinking about missing them all already. anyway, the couple assignments i’ve done already are essay-esque in nature, so i thought i’d start posting them here as well.

 

Write your thoughts and reflections on the yoga philosophy presented last week in class: Ahimsa

Today I did a longer ashtanga yoga practice on youtube, one that I’ve done before, when the teacher mentioned ahimsa. She contextualized it with making sure not to go too far in a pose – that protecting your joints from pain is necessary, and that this is a part of ahimsa.

I’ve probably done this particular practice four or five times, but this is the first time I noticed the word ahimsa. And the fact that she applied the word to bodily harm primarily to ourselves really stood out to me.

When I think of non-violence, I first think of non-violence toward others: try to keep our words, thoughts, and deeds involving other beings in a loving manner. But the source of non-violence has to come from our own self, and in order to put forth a true non-violent attitude to others, we have to have a non-violent attitude within.

This includes all kinds of self-harm, whether it’s physical, mental, or spiritual. Working to maintain an attitude of self-love can be a difficult and even contradictory thing sometimes, especially when there are imbalances in the brain that can contribute to self-harm. Perhaps someone sees a physical manifestation of violence to the self as a way to relieve the mental violence. Extreme exercising that exacerbates an injury can be the result of wanting to be rid of anxiety or the brain’s need to meet a goal. Negative self talk could be the only way someone knows how to get through a crisis based on their past. And many times we are more decent toward other people than we are ourselves.

When we embrace ahimsa firstly within ourselves, it will radiate in the everyday part of our lives and interactions with others. While some self-practice of ahimsa may be deeply ingrained and difficult to overcome, others not so much. As I heard my teacher mention ahimsa today, I brought to mind how my right knee is a bit trickier than the left when I bend it. I made sure to not pull it in as far so I could maintain ahimsa during my practice. Every little practice of ahimsa helps.