February 2023 Studio Focus: AHIMSA (Non-Violence)
Welcome, February! Each month at Ocean Bliss Yoga Studio we have one or two studio focuses to help bring awareness to different areas of our life. This month, our focuses are AHIMSA (non-violence) and UTKATASANA (Chair / Fierce Pose). Read on in this blog post to discover more about UTKATASANA!
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In his philosophical text, "The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali," Patanjali outlines and explains the 8 limbs (or parts) of yoga, which offer guidance for our practice both on and off the mat. The first limb is the Yamas (moral values), and AHIMSA is the very first Yama of Patanjali's Yoga Sutras.
AHIMSA translates to mean 'non-violence,' or 'non-harming.' This very foundational piece of yoga involves being kind, compassionate, and loving to yourself, as well as the people, objects, and world that you walk through.
Practicing AHIMSA means keeping kind and loving thoughts and actions. As we spotlight AHIMSA this month, I invite you to pay close attention to what goes on in your mind on a daily basis. How is your self talk? What happens in the mind when you are triggered by something external?
Awareness in the first step. Once we identify negative thoughts or thought patterns, it is important to not push them away, as this creates resistance and ends up doing more harm that good. Instead, take a few moments to pause, and remind yourself that you are not your thoughts: "I am love in a body." From that place, breathe lovingly into the part of your mind that needs you most. The parts of us that show up as negative, hateful, painful, or uncomfortable only want to be seen through the eyes of love, and as beings of love, we have the power (with awareness and focus) to give ourselves exactly what we need to heal and feel whole.
Non-violent thoughts release dopamine (a 'feel good' chemical) throughout the body, strengthen the immune system, and expedite healing from illness and injury. Scientific studies show that practicing AHIMSA increases your own happiness, as well as your friends' happiness by 25%, and acquaintances' happiness by 6%.
The worldwide example Ghandi lived his life on the vows of AHIMSA and Satya (truthfulness). Lao Tzu said: "Watch your thoughts; they become words. Watch your words, they become actions. Watch your actions; they become habits. Watch your habits; they become character. Watch your character; it becomes your destiny."
To conclude, AHIMSA means accepting ourselves and others completely, no matter what. Instead of judging in any given situation, we flip it and find compassion. We do not push ourselves past our edge into harm. We listen to our bodies and respect our boundaries. We let go of expectations and land exactly where we are as loving presence. AHIMSA means tending to our environments and nurturing ourselves and others with love, care, and attention.