Nonviolence–What’s it to You?

Nonviolence–What’s it to You?

The first limb of Raja yoga is the yamas, the ethical disciplines we practice so that we can harmoniously relate to ourselves and the world. The very first yama is ahimsa, nonviolence. What qualities come to mind when you hear that word? What qualities are displayed by a person who has mastered nonviolence? Give yourself a minute to think of an answer. I’ll wait until you are done. I took a moment pondering those questions when I set about...

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I Got Eight Limbs–and I Ain’t Afraid to Use ‘Em!

I Got Eight Limbs–and I Ain’t Afraid to Use ‘Em!

Yoga is a way to harness our awareness and anchor it in this moment. The eight limbs of RajaYoga give us a framework in which we can build and practice present moment awareness in our day to day lives. We move away from the trap of thoughts like, “I would be happy if I could have (more money, a better relationship, a nicer boss, unlimited free babysitting, a bigger house, that cute pair of shoes)” and we embrace our aliveness in this moment. We...

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Yoga–Just Another Way of Getting a Good Workout, Right? NOT!

Yoga–Just Another Way of Getting a Good Workout, Right?  NOT!

Note: This is a repost from my former blog site. I wanted to share it with you here as a little food for thought before I launch into an exploration of the eight limbs. Enjoy! What do you think about when you hear the word yoga? I’d venture to say that most people envision somebody twisted into exotic looking postures, looking perfectly peaceful and serene as they do amazing feats of balance, strength, and flexibility. When they think of yoga...

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