Victoria Klein

Four months ago, I wrote about the yama I chose to focus on during Yoga Teacher Training. Since then, I’ve also done 3 follow-up posts (follow-up #1 + #2 + #3) … and it’s already time for another one!

For a refresher, here is what ahimsa (the yama I chose) is all about:

Ahimsa is often translated as “non-harming”, but can also be seen as embracing compassion and love for all. It requires the belief that we are all one, cultivating an absence of anger, jealousy, and hatred. Feelings are welcomed not as failures, but an opportunity to seek their root causes.

“I am gentle to all beings.”

“I easily forgive myself and others.”

“I am free of fear and anger.”

“I move away from judging to loving.”

“I embrace all, trusting the Diving flow.”

How’s my ahimsa flowing?

In a word: wonderfully. :) It is amazing what a difference a month can make!

June has been filled with activity, both joyous + stressful: graduating Yoga Teacher Training, celebrating my 28th birthday, deciding to move + finding a new apartment, looking for a motorcycle for my husband, trying to get my Yoga teaching career off the ground … whoa!

Among all the busy-ness, I’ve still been able to cultivate ahimsa, extending love + compassion to myself + all those around me.

Naturally, having compassion for myself is continually much more difficult than extending compassion to others. Living in Southern California for only 1 year, I’ve managed to get 4 sunburns … yeah, it’s crazy.

When the latest sunburn happened a week ago, I became angry + disappointed in myself for letting it happen yet again. Instead of wallowing in my frustration, I remembered ahimsa, letting a smile wash over my face, + began to figure out how to love + support myself while my skin was deeply damaged (which is when I came up with my current walking + Yoga challenge!).

Preparing to move yet again has also been stressful + another opportunity to try and control every little thing. Instead, I embraced ahimsa, planned out what I could, + then simply relaxed and trusted certain things would work out for the best (so far, they have!). 

July is shaping up to be another rollercoaster ride (just like June has been!), but with ahimsa on my mind, I’ll envision compassion blooming in my heart every day + go with the flow :)

I’ll be writing even more about my ahimsa efforts over the next few months as my new career as a Yoga teacher develops.

How can/do YOU practice more compassion with yourself + others?