Can Yogis transform the world?

Every time I complete an asana or meditation practice I am surprised by what has changed within me. It’s hard to describe; there is something mysterious that happens when you dedicate yourself to yoga and the 8-limbs. Yoga transcends beyond the asanas, as you deepen your practice you slowly transform your thinking, your behaviour and eventually you can change your world.

In the 8-limbs of yoga the first one is the Yamas which are rules for how we should conduct ourselves. Ahimsa is the first of the Yamas and means “non-violence”. It teaches yogis to practice compassion, to be kind to yourself and to others. It is the first principle one learns when one steps onto their yoga mat. You can spend a lifetime exploring how to practice Ahimsa. Every day I find there is more to discover.

The first steps to practice Ahimsa is towards yourself, clearing your mind of harmful thoughts, and accepting yourself as you are in this moment. From there you could extend non-violence practices to all living beings. Maybe consider your diet like becoming vegan or vegetarian, or if you are not ready then find ways to reduce your consumption of animal and animal by-products. Try practicing Ahimsa when you interact with people allow yourself to understand them, who they are and their life experiences and allow yourself to feel compassion. Practice Ahimsa in how you treat the world, find ways to minimize the harm you do to the environment and take measures to reduce your footprint.

Like a drop of water in a puddle that causes circular ripples outwards, I feel a dedicated yogi can catalyse a wave of change, first within themselves, then to their circle of connections and outward to the world.

The Dalai Lama says “If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion.”