02/19/2026
🌿 Dharma Talk — Ahimsa
Ahimsa is a Sanskrit word.
“A” means not
“Himsa” means harm, violence, or injury,
So Ahimsa means non-violence.
But in yoga philosophy — especially in the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali — it expands further:
Non-violence in thought
Non-violence in speech
Non-violence in action
Non-violence toward others
Non-violence toward yourself
It is the first of the Yamas — the ethical foundations of yoga.
It comes first because if harm is present, nothing else grows well.
Non-violence toward yourself might be the hardest one.
It can look like:
Not forcing range.
Not comparing bodies.
Not pushing through sharp pain.
Not criticizing your limitations.
Not holding your breath in effort.
In a culture that often equates intensity with worth, Ahimsa invites something radical:
Move in a way that leaves you feeling more whole.
Pain is information.
Fatigue is communication.
Sensation is not an enemy.
Today, we practice listening.
And listening… is a form of love.
“Ahimsa is the highest duty."
•Gandhi
