Practising Ahimsa in Everyday Life
Choosing kindness in thought, word, and action.
What is Ahimsa? Ahimsa is one of Yoga’s ethical guidelines, part of the first two limbs of Patanjali’s eight limbs of Yoga. These are ethical guidelines that guide us in our lives as yogis. There are Yamas, things not to do, or restraints, and there are niyama, or things to do, or observances. Both of these together create a moral code of conduct for yogis, both on and off the mat.
Ahimsa is one of the five Yamas. Yamas are self-regulating behaviours that involve our interactions with other people or the world at large. It is the practice of nonviolence. It is seeking to cause no intentional harm in our actions or thoughts to ourselves, other beings, or the Earth. Here are some ways we can practice Ahimsa in our own Yoga practice and in our daily lives:
Bringing Ahimsa into Practice & Life:
- Love yourself! Love yourself wholly and completely. Try to avoid being harsh or critical of yourself both on and off the mat. We are all beautiful and have our own unique gifts. As they say, comparison to others is the killer of joy. Be mindful of negative thoughts that can lead to self-harm or judgment about yourself.
- Be compassionate. Be compassionate to yourself and other beings. This means causing no harm, not just to fellow humans, but to all living beings. Take a moment each day to perform an act of kindness toward yourself or others.
- Don’t make judgments of others. We are all on our own paths. Every soul is on its own sacred journey, guided by experiences unseen. Before forming judgments, pause and cultivate awareness. Gently observe where your judgments arise, and let compassion replace them. We can never fully know the lessons another soul is living or the path they are meant to walk.
- Try to eliminate negativity and toxicity from your life.
- BE KIND. Do one thing for someone or another each day. Volunteer for an organisation. Listen to someone. Compliment someone. Pet your dog and take them for a long walk. Spend time with someone who needs someone to talk to or to be with. Make a new friend at AYM Yoga School!
At AYM Yoga School, we strive to put the eight limbs of Yoga into practice. You can practice asanas and postures, but lose sight of what Yoga truly means. The practice of the yamas and nyamas is essential to be a whole and authentic yogi, both on and off the mat!
How do you practice Ahimsa? Please get in touch with us and let us know! We would love to hear from you!
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