Ahimsa — Non-Violence

Yoga philosophy gives us a moral framework to work within. It’s called Ashtanga and is sometimes called the “Eight Limbs” of yoga.

These are the eight steps to yoga:

Yama:  Universal morality
Niyama:  Personal observances
Asanas:  Body postures
Pranayama:  Breathing exercises and control of prana
Pratyahara:  Control of the senses
Dharana:  Concentration and cultivating inner perceptual awareness
Dhyana:  Devotion, meditation on the Divine
Samadhi:  Union with the Divine

The first limb is the Yamas, which refer to moral precepts, and the first of the Yamas is Ahimsa, which is non-violence or compassion for all living things.

“Non violence is the central principle of Yoga. When we no longer harm ourselves, our fellow beings or Mother Earth, peace blossoms forth like a radiant flower unfolding to the morning sun.”
Bhava Ram — The Eight Limbs of Yoga 

With so much violence and anger in the world at this time, it’s always worth repeating these words to ourselves and knowing that if we were all to act with kindness and patience towards ourselves and others we could and would make a difference.