Tuesday, October 20, 2009

Ahimsa and Compassion for Self

At the heart of yoga, is the idea of Ahimsa. While this sanskrit word has many connotations, it is commonly associated with the ideas of non-harming and non-violence. At its core, Ahimsa signifies love and compassion. In order to truly practice Ahimsa, one must first learn to love oneself.

Central to the hatha or physical practice, is the notion of compassion for self. You must learn to love and take care of yourself before you can offer your love to the world. It is only through the practice of loving oneself, that we can become whole enough to practice ahimsa in our interactions with others. Today I encourage you to have compassion on yourself when you practice, to back off and to give yourself the love you deserve. You are your own best teacher!