YANA YOGA

On dharma ○ Musings from class planning for this month.
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The word dharma is closely associated with “truth”—a truth that one knows for oneself. In common parlance it conveys a "right way of living”, a universal principle of order, harmony, and truth.

Witnessing is the key to allowing ourselves to let go of the judgements, desires and attachments that we carry, and just to note our experience, allowing our dharma to come into play.

In Hinduism, it is the dharma of the bee to make honey, of the cow to give milk, of sun to radiate sunshine, of the river to flow.

The more that we allow ourselves to be the witness, to flow with our karmic circumstances, the less struggle we find in our actions.

Witnessing is ultimately a loving practice that is free of clinging attachment, which moves us outside of the dramas of our lives and into trusting the inner intuitive sense of who we are. This allows us to be more loving and intuitive partners, family members and community members.

In thinking about how our actions affect others and ourselves, we cultivate connection with those around us, helping us to recognise the interconnectedness of all beings.

Image from Yoga - The New Definitive Illustrated Guide, 1990:
The triangle embodies the structure of strength & stability, with points of contact with the ground firmly rooting and grounding us in a posture like Trikonasana. The embodiment of this form in our body translates into the canvas of our mind, cultivating those values of stability & strength.

Soft
Graceful
Loving
Tenacious
Courageous
Tranquil
Fluid
Candid
Compassionate
Strong
Emotional
Intimate
Rhythmic
Calm
Trusting
Stormy
Insecure
Irrepressible
Private
Evolving
Cyclical
Open
Desirous
Expansive
Nurturing
Powerful
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WOMAN

Ahimsa ~~~⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Ahimsa means non-violence and compassion, and refers to a key virtue in Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism, and one of the ethical notions in Patanjali's 8 Fold Path. The word is derived from the Sanskrit root hiṃs – to strike; hiṃsā is injury or harm, a-hiṃsā is the opposite of this. Ahimsa can be applied to all living things, our surroundings and ourselves in both thought and action, within and outside of our practice. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
When bringing ahimsa to our Yoga practice, we can consider the following:⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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- Accept where you are at this point in time with your yoga. Embrace falling out of a pose with a smile - enjoy testing your balance and strength. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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- Know where you are at in your development. Don’t over extend yourself where you’re not ready for it. Enjoy the challenges, where you find them in your practice, without pushing yourself too far.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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- Acknowledge when your body needs rest or is unwell. While regular practice is wonderful for the mind and body, sometimes taking the day off and stepping back into stillness is what is needed.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Enjoy the space between where you are and where you want to be.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
L x⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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CO-EXISTENCE⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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What does it mean to exist in this paradigm?⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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My feeling is that it presents a great opportunity for us to examine our sense of connection - with our homes, our pets, our partners, neighbours, communites, with the natural world, and with our bodies (physical / mental / esoteric).⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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By examining the ways in which we are extrinsically connected to the world around and within us, we can come to view our existence from a more holistic perspective; which is really what we all need right now.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Go within, and take it lightly. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Happy Mothers Day to all the Mamas out there, past, present, and future.

For all the women in my life who have mothered me, my Ma and Gma especially, I hold immense gratitude.

Thank you for your love and nourishment, your wisdom, and your divine devotion.

When I remember my Self, I remember you.

♡