The second of the yamas, or moral restraints, as described by Patanjali's Yoga Sutras is satya. Satya is truth. Speaking truth. Living truth. Embodying truth.



Straight from the Sutras:
satya pratisthayam kriya phala ashrayatvam

As truthfulness (satya) is achieved, the fruits of actions naturally result according to the will of the Yogi.

Truth, in this sense, requires a lifting of our own veils of self-deception. The relationship between ahimsa and satya is crucial, for nonviolence must always prevail. I have heard many times that when speaking the truth, one should exercise the following mental checklist:
1. Is it true?
2. Is it kind?
3. Is it necessary?

Thank you so much for reading. I designed the following asana sequence with satya in mind.

pranayama: Lion Mudra. breathe in throught the nose as you lift the bum off of your heels. breathe out through the mouth audibly as you extend the tongue and return the bum to the heels.


Sunflowers: the upward motion on the inhalation, the forward fold on the exhalation.

wide-stance adho mukha svanasana. come into this posture from prasarita padottanasana and walk the hands forward. lean back.

writer stretch. modify this with a belt, scarf or yoga strap.

surya namaskar, modified. add in the the following postures:

lizard, eka pada kapotasana preparation, dolphin.

parsvottanasana, vrksasana, standing ardha dhanurasana.

adho mukha svanasana, eka pada kapotasana, supta virasana, pascimottanasana, janu sirsasana, parivrtta janu sirsasana.

jathara parivartanasana, savasana.

om.om.om. shanti.shanti.shanti.

At long last, I'm back with a new post. Today, we'll talk about ahimsa, the foundational yama or moral restraint upon which all other practices grow. Ahimsa, quite simply, is the practice of living nonviolently. The sutras, as transliterated and translated by Mukunda Stiles, address the topic as follows:

"By abiding in nonviolence, one's presecne creates an atmosphere in which hostility ceases."

The practice of nonviolence has quite radical consequences in that through the action of nonviolence, you can feel a shift within yourself. In the simplest of terms, when you express pure, unadulterated kindness to others, you feel good. Doing good makes you feel good. On the other hand, treating others badly will perpetuate any negative feelings you already have within you. Ahimsa, thus, embodies a presence both with-in and with-out the practitioner. Conversely, the adage "world peace begins with you" takes on a second meaning: if you exercise nonviolence toward yourself, you'll be better equipped to practice it in the world. (This is not a traditional interpretation of this sutra, as historically the yamas have been interpreted as restraints in our behavior toward others first and foremost. This has lead to lots of debate on the vegetarian topic. )

Ahimsa shares a strong connection with the hindu notion of karma (very simply, the cosmic notion of cause and effect). Karma dictates that the energy we put into the universe, both individually and collectively, comes back to us in some form or another until balance is achieved. Practicing ahimsa in thought, word and action removes us from the future bonds of karma. This is no small feat, however, when we begin to examine our lives through ahimsa-tinted lenses. The places we find ourselves "stuck" in the practice of ahimsa represent the karma we are challenged to work through in this lifetime.

As you practice today's asana sequence, notice where your thoughts travel during the practice. If you begin to chastise yourself for the quiver in your quadricep or somesuch, remember ahimsa, and bring your mind back to your breath.

Namaste.

Warm-ups: table, bhaktasana, table, adho mukha svanasana with breath.


Variations on surya namaskar.

Tigress and parivrtta adho mukha svanasana.

Surya Namaskar A

Variations on prasarita padottanasana and malasana.

Standing sequence, featuring parsvakonasana and virabhadrasana three.

Sarvangasana, matsyasana, navasana, apanasana.

Jathara parivaratanasana, savasana.

Om. Om. Om. shanti. shanti. shanti.

Namaste.