[yama series]

AHIMSA

the first of the five yamas is ahimsa.

this week’s offering is a 23-minute recorded yoga nidra meditation focused ahimsa, the principle of nonviolence. in this post i first give a bit of background on the principle and a few notes on the practice.

then, under the header WEEK 1 PRACTICE, you’ll find a practice guide, recorded meditation, and reflection.

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YAMA 1: AHIMSA

ahimsa is a sanskrit word derived from the root [hims] meaning to strike. [himsa] means violence, injury, or harm. [a] is a negative qualifier. literally translated, a-himsa means the opposite of himsa. the absence of injury. absence of harm.

in practice, the principle is to limit the amount of harm or injury we cause to others and to ourselves in our thoughts, words, and actions.

violence takes many forms—some so deeply engrained, so systemic, we feel powerless in their shadow—but all violence is rooted in the same soil.

hate. fear. resentment. human faults and failings we’ve known our whole lives.

these are feelings that we can hold or set down. feelings we can let shape us, or that we can choose to shift and shape inside ourselves.

when we trace harm and violence to its root, we can begin to unroot it. first in ourselves; then in the world. there is our power. and there is where we begin.

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a few notes…

a note on getting the most out of your practice: yoga nidra is a practice of concentrated attention and deep relaxation. it may be best to complete this meditation late in the day, as you prepare for sleep, or at a time when you need to recenter and ground. i encourage you to let this practice take up space in your day. following the guided portion of the practice, stay and soak up the energy of the meditation by remaining still in savasana. allow yourself to return to the physical world slowly and with intention. take gentle movements (running your thumb over the tips of your fingers, wiggling your toes, resting in fetal pose, etc) before moving on into the rest of your day.

a note on virtual practices: i love in-person practice because of the feeling you can elicit in a room. the energy of other bodies. the sound of breath. but i love virtual practice because of how amazingly accessible it is. how it can transcend space and time so we can be together even when we are very far apart. that said, in order to make your virtual practice as rewarding as possible, i suggest you begin by curating your environment. find a space that helps you feel calm. light a candle. create a ritual.

a note on quality: i want to create the best virtual practices i can—and a lot of that comes down to audio and recording quality. i am in the midst of learning how to use audio recording and mixing software, and i am also working with limited equipment (eg free apps, my iPhone, and my laptop). thank you for your patience—and if you have any tips, suggestions, or feedback please please share <3

now, on to the good part.

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WEEK 1 PRACTICE: AHIMSA

yoga nidra meditation

before you press play on the recording get settled. find a place where you can lay fully extended on the ground. where you can strive for stillness for the next 20 or so minutes. test the volume on your speaker or computer to make sure you can clearly hear my voice.

as we move through the body, notice where your breath catches. where tension rises. use your attention and breath to soften. to release. to refocus.

choose to channel your energy toward healing.

/reflection

in this week’s offering of words “Poem by Poem” Juan Felipe Herara says:

 you have a poem to offer

it is made of action—you must

search for it     run

outside and give your life to it

when you find it    walk it

back—blow upon it

carry it taller than the city where you live

what poem is it that you have to offer? how can you practice giving your life to it? how can you blow upon it? carry it?