28/10/2025
Last week in class, we gently explored Ahimsa - one of the ancient jewels of wisdom from the yogic path - it is often seen as the foundation upon which all the other teachings rest. It comes from the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali (a text written well over two thousand years ago), which outlines the eight limbs of yoga - a holistic map for living with awareness, balance and peace.
The first limb, called the Yamas, describes ways of living in harmony with ourselves and the world around us. They are the shared experiential discoveries of generations of yogis who noticed that when they lived in certain ways, life became lighter, clearer, and more joyful.
Ahimsa - often translated as non-violence or non-harming - invites us to live with kindness, gentleness, and respect for all forms of life, including our own. It is not only about refraining from harm - but about cultivating a deep care in how we move, speak, and think.
As Mahatma Gandhi said, “Non-violence is the greatest force at the disposal of mankind. It is mightier than the mightiest weapon of destruction devised by the ingenuity of man.”
He saw Ahimsa not as weakness, but as a radical strength - a conscious, courageous way of meeting the world without aggression or fear.
In yoga, Ahimsa begins on the mat:
• Choosing to rest when your body asks for it.
• Moving with awareness instead of striving for perfection.
• Meeting your body’s limitations with respect, not frustration.
Off the mat, it extends to every corner of our lives:
• The tone of our inner voice - could it be softer, kinder?
• The way we speak to others - can we pause before reacting – choosing our response with awareness and kindness?
• The choices we make for our wellbeing and the planet - are they nourishing or depleting?
Martin Luther King Jr. echoed this truth when he wrote, “At the centre of non-violence stands the principle of love.”
Ahimsa isn’t passive. It asks for courage - the courage to meet life with an open heart, to listen more deeply, and to act with integrity even when it’s difficult.
If this resonates with you - you might like to reflect or journal on one or two of these questions this week:
• Where in my life could I replace striving with softness?
• What would kindness look like in this moment?
• How might I meet myself and others with more love and less judgement?
Ahimsa is not about being perfect. It’s about beginning again, moment by moment - choosing compassion over criticism, presence over haste, and peace over force.
Every small act of gentleness ripples outward.
This week we will explore the next Yama - Satya. It would be lovely to see you!
