Non-harming, the First and Foremost Principle of Yoga

 Hello and Happy Yoga Month!

Throughout September, each of our Monday Morning Meditation classes will use one of the five guiding principles called Yamas (say it with a Boston accent - yah mahs) as our theme. This is a complimentary, online-only class through The Yoga Sanctuary that runs from 7:30 to 8am ET. You can join from your bed if you like, with fabulous bed head hair, and in your jammies! 

The first of the Yamas, which are guidelines for how we comport ourselves in connection with other people and the planet, is Non-harming. The Sanskrit word for this is Ahimsa, which is composed of the root, himsa, which means to cause pain, and the prefix a, which means not. (Keep using your Boston accent for pronunciation).

So, above all things in life, do not cause pain. Do Not Harm. This first yama underlies all the others, and is what we test against when we aren't quite sure what the right course of action is. More on that in the weeks to come!

Most everyone is familiar with the first of the Ten Commandments, Thou Shalt Not Kill. That rule is very clear and quite specific. Ahimsa is similar, but you can see right off that it is broader and more encompassing than simply not killing other living beings. Ahimsa refers to refraining from committing violence in all its forms - thought, speech, and action - towards ourselves and others.

                                 

           

When we inflict harm on others with our thoughts, words, or actions, it is an outward expression of the conflicts that are going on inside ourselves. And as we've all learned, when we wound others, we also wound ourselves, so our behavior can create quite a vicious cycle.

With this expanded concept of what it means to harm, we can reflect on the many ways in which we maybe harmful to ourselves. Here are just a few examples:

• Thinking undermining thoughts like, "I never do anything right," or "I don't deserve to have good things happen to me" 
• Constantly criticizing ourselves
• Subjecting ourselves relentlessly to feelings of guilt and shame
• Taking on too much responsibility
• Excessive worrying
• Over-indulging
• Harboring resentment or anger toward others

You get the idea. 

So, we begin by understanding ourselves and the roots of our behaviors, and this is what we will be invited to explore during our first Monday Morning Meditation class of September.

Hope to see you there!

Here's the link to register: The Yoga Sanctuary Class Schedule