ahimsa - how to practice non-judgement and compassion
What is ahimsa?
Ahimsa is one of the Yamas (a theory proposed by Patanjali about the right ways of living) and it translates to non-violence. Patanjali goes on to explain in the Yoga Sutras the importance of practicing ahimsa if you want to reach enlightenment, being non violent is the foundation of raising your vibrations and being an all over “better” human being. It is one of the core principles that yogis study, to truly practice yoga both on and off the mat - one must learn to be more compassionate to themselves and others.
How do we practice ahimsa?
There are many ways to start embodying this principle in your day to day life, both in a physical and mental manner - here is a list of 10 examples how we can practice Ahimsa:
Letting go of grudges/hostility towards others
If you are trying to cultivate inner peace, you must get rid of the inner turmoil that you hold onto through your grudges and anger towards others. If someone wronged you in the past and you STILL cannot let it go - you need to learn to manage your emotions and shift your aggressive mindset. Remember that you cannot control how others act - but you can control how you react to them. You have the power to let go of negativity.
2. No physical violence - ever
Sounds obvious, but resorting to physical abuse or neglect to yourself and others is not aligning with ahimsa. Violence is never the answer - if you are prone to destroying things and hurting others when you’re angry, this needs to be something you prioritise to change and heal.
3. Obssessive swearing has to stop
It is hard, especially when something frustrating happens and you just want to curse your way out of it. But these words have such low vibrational energy that they do not serve you any good purpose. Try to use your words compassionately, think before you speak and speak with intent always.
4. Self love - always
Something I preach about a lot - but loving yourself is the KEY to leading a better life. Ahimsa starts with yourself, when you are compassionate to yourself truly - that is when you can be compassionate to others.
5. Practicing mindfulness
You could of guessed this would be on the list and rightly so because practices like meditation and pranayama help us to monitor our thoughts and eventually change the way in which we think. They calm us down and allow us to think more rationally, letting go of the bad emotions that were there before.
6. Performing small acts of kindness to strangers
It’s easy to be nice to those we love - but how about the rest of society? It starts to feel a little bit more awkward. There is no need for grand gestures or things that feel unnatural to you, but helping someone get on the train or complimenting a stranger is a huge act of compassion which instantly shifts your vibrations to be more positive.
7. Promoting peace and harmony
Stand against injustice, be the voice for the voiceless and stand for humanity. This can be in the form of something bigger like donating to charities or attending peaceful protests for just causes, or it can be as simple as calling out a friend when they say something insensitive.
8. Extending your kindness to animals
Ahimsa does not only apply to humans, it also applies to all of the wonderful creations on earth. Take care where you can of the animals in your environment, whether it be taking your dog for an extra long walk or providing a safe space in your garden for woodland creatures. Be kind to all.
9. Stop Gossiping
For all the girlies reading this - I know this can be tough - especially when a huge part of a lot of female friendships is (unfortunately) gossiping about others. But this has to stop, you wont ever love yourself unconditionally if you put down others. So rise above other’s judgemental ways and stop talking negatively about others. The saying goes, “If you don’t have something nice to say, don’t say anything at all”.
10. Be kind to your body in your physical practice
Whether it be yoga or weight training, listen to the bodies limitations and weaknesses. Stop pushing your body and criticising it for not doing the things you want or not looking the way you want. Your body is your home, be kind to it, appreciate it and accept it.
Overall, practicing Ahimsa is a lifelong journey that takes time to become a foundation in your daily life. It is okay if you don’t always practice ahimsa, be kind to yourself and allow yourself to get back to being more positive when you can.
I hope these tips helped - spread the love!🥰
