Even though I had such a wonderful morning practice, I still found myself straying in the afternoon and evening, procrastinating and escaping with video games and surfing the internet. One evening I asked myself what I was afraid of. What fear is underneath this procrastination? I found myself fearful of having a successful massage practice, […]
I realized how studying, and learning is another process that can be attributed to God. Teachers of Yoga and philosophy are channels of this God-Source. By listening, reading, and processing their information and insights, I can absorb and be a sponge for the knowledge. By incorporating the insights and lessons into my every day life […]
Each student in the Axis Yoga Teacher Training chooses a yama or niyama to experiment with in their lives. This student applied Ahimsa (non-violence) in terms of treating loved ones more kindly. The experience proved enlightening.
Chosen Yama: Ahimsa (Non-Violence) Hypothesis: If I consciously try to avoid being mean to my family, as well as increasing awareness of negative thoughts towards others, I will create a happier home, closer, more trusting relationships, and will feel more at peace within myself. Experiment: Develop and maintain a seated sadhana practice and, in general, […]
I was drawn to the ahimsa group, since I knew from my reading that my mouthy ways were going to have to go. I have, time and time again, verbally lashed out at my mom, husband, and recently my little son. Harsh words are something that I remember coming naturally to me since adolescence. As […]
In our group, we noticed that Ahimsa is the first of the yamas to be discussed or written about. I learned that this is no coincidence, of course. Ahimsa is the first and foremost, all-important Yama for an aspiring yogi(ni): “There is a deliberate order in the five yamas. Ahimsa (non-violence) comes first because one […]
I was not that surprised, but maybe a little, that I was able to, fairly instantly, just be nice. Clearly, this is not something that should be that difficult to do, but sometimes I have wondered how deeply engrained in me this behavior is. After a bad fight, I have thought to myself that I […]
Axis Yoga Teacher Training students participate in experiments as part of their certification. For this student, the process of experimenting led to personal insights and started a chain reaction of revelations. The subject of the experiment, ahimsa (no harm) became a vehicle for a broader lesson of experiencing life.
Aims: To understand the aspects of the Yama (social discipline) Ahimsa as defined in the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. The goal is to explore how the practice of Ahimsa currently exists in my life and from this investigation, develop a new way of experiencing the world with compassion, kindness and grace. Rationale: Exploring who I […]
I decided to use my experiment with the Yama Ahimsa in a self-focused way, rather than establishing my practice in a way that expended effort on the conscious non-harm to others. It felt right to do so for a number of reasons: • Engaging with the “I” is something I can do at any time […]