YOGA PRACTICE
The term ‘Ahimsa’, translated from Sanskrit as ‘non-violence’ or more precisely ‘the absence of harm or injury’ is widespread within the yoga traditions alive today.
As the first yama, or ‘life practice to observe or follow’, of Patanjali’s eight limbs of Yoga, Ahimsa is understood to be a key principle to follow as we engage the Spiritual path of Liberation.
Why?
The inner meaning of Yoga is to dissolve the illusory sense of separation between one’s sense of personal identity, one’s self-construct, and the essential nature of all Life. To abide in Yoga means to melt the edges of a sense of distinct and separte “me”ness as separate from the very innate pulse of all of life’s expression.
In Tantra, this is symbolized by Shiva (consciousness) merging with Shakti (manifestation).
Because Yoga is a state of unity with all Life,
to enter into a Yogic state of awareness,
we most certainly cannot be engaged in harm or violence.
To be violent is the antithesis of being Yogic, because it implies a distinct and rigid separation between one particular expression of life and another. The axis of one harming and harmed is dualistic, and impresses upon the mind of all involved, the opposite of union.
This is why in the tradition of Yoga, becoming aware of the energy of violence within one’s own conditioning, and gently massaging it out of one’s body-mind so as to change the pattern of conditionning, is so important.
In this Embodying Ahimsa portal, the principle of making our Yoga Practice genuinely inline with a complete absence of harm, is absolutely central.
This means slowing down, flowing with our intuitive sense of our own body-feel, and focusing on the inner quality of our postures, rather than the materially measurable aspects of our form.
Embodying Ahimsa in Yoga practice means feeling our way through postures as a ritual way of connecting to the Sacred through embodied prayer.
Embodying this principle of the complete absence of violence begins with the way we approach our own selves, and we can access the layers of conditionings that hinder this embodiment directly through experience with the body. Yoga practice from this perspective becomes a kind of de-colonization of our own bodies, a process of re-harmonizing the way we physically and energetically move through the great mystery of Life.
It is no short of an inner revolution to embark on this journey, and I am here to support you if you need a spiritual friend along the path.
Ways to connect:
Private Yoga
New to yoga and feel the need for some one-to-one connection in a safe, private space, to begin this journey of embodiment in a supported container? Public group yoga classes are an amazing way to connect in community, but the “all levels” concept is not always as all-inclusive as it may aim to be. I love and thrive in one-to-one spaces, and am honoured to hold a nurturing space for folks to connect safely to this transformational path.
Sessions available online and in-person on Cortes Island.
Yogic Guidance
Practicing yoga in a studio and finding that a lot of emotional, psychological, and spiritual stuff is coming up on the mat as you tune deeper into your body? More coming up than feels safe or appropriate to ask the teacher at the end of the class as everyone packs up and the space shifts?
As a seasoned practitionner and guide I am available to hold a safe, supportive container to assist your process in unpacking and distilling the wisdom your body is trying to share with you.
As a philosophy enthusiast and yogini of mind-yoga, I am available to answer the many kinds of questions that come up along the path.
Sessions available online.
Group Classes
Love celebrating this journey of embodiment in groups of like-hearted people learning to pray with our whole bodies? I love offering group classes, workshops and retreats. Coming together and receiving the support of others working the path is such a fortifying gift.
Check the events page for upcoming public offerings.
I’m also available for private group classes at your space, here on Cortes Island.