Exploring and Embracing Ahimsa (Non Violence) Authentically On and Off The Mat January 18 2026

As I have in prior years, I began January with the plan of discussing the eight limbs of yoga; I planned to update and recycle my prior blogs. I pivoted.

The first limb of yoga, the Yamas, is code of moral discipline. The first of the five yamas, ahimsa, is non harming (in work, thought and deed). As I browsed my prior blogs on the topic, I had to put my pen down (ok, stopped typing), and started to think. With all the turmoil in the world today it seemed it was approropriate to revisit my thoughts on ahimsa a little more deeply, authentically. It seemed disingenuous to avoid the violence that is happening in the world and talk about ahimsa in the sanitized theoretical or beautifully curated way that we yogis sometimes do. Some may say that yoga is not political, yoga has always been political. Yogis throughout history have stood up against tyranny, defied oppression and did not stay silent when others suffered.

Ancient yogic texts like the Bhagavad Gita revolve around politics and war. Gandhi used yoga teachings in his political nonviolent resistance which aided in the demise of the British colonial government. His work inspired Martin Luther King who used similar tactics in his work for civil rights. Ancient Nath yogis during the Mughal era in India were persecuted; in colonial India there was a ban on wandering ascetics in Bengal and British India, effectively criminalizing yoga.

I believe that yoga is a way of living one’s life consciously, healthfully and spiritually. It is not a religion or a cult; the eight limbs are a road map that help guide us to be the best version of ourselves that we can be. This includes the part of our self that is a family member, friend, colleague, community member, and citizen of the world. I believe if as yogis we create space for healing, stand for human rights and dignity, work for a better world, we are not politicizing yoga, we are honoring its core tenets.

Ahimsa teaches reverence for life in thought, word, and action. It teaches us to avoid intentional harm. To practice this fully, it is not only about not doing harm but also about cultivating compassion and actively creating this lack of harm to others and the planet by how we speak, how we vote, and how we show up.  

There are so many acts of violence around the world today, violent and hateful speech, physical violence and the violent act of not caring or engaging. I am suggesting that we be clear with ourselves, understand what our core beliefs truly are, and how our individual conscious guides us to cultivate ahimsa. My personal belief is that sending troops to silence citizens who are exercising their constitutional right to demonstrate is not keeping the peace, it is breaking ahimsa at its core.

We often end our yoga classes with mantras about living each day with peaceful thoughts, kind words, love, and compassion. The intent of these mantras does not end when we walk out of the studio. Yoga asks us to embody non-violence, not just on the mat, but off it. Our commitment to being a yogi, and an engaged citizen, demands more than that.

Meditating on Ahimsa

Gandhi said, “Non-violence is not a cloistered virtue to be practiced by the individual for his own peace and salvation, but it is a rule of conduct for society…. The religion of non-violence is not merely for the rishis. It is meant for the common people. Non-violence is the law of the human race and is infinitely greater than and superior to brute force.”

As we contemplate this first of the yamas this week, let us engage with it actively, not just theoretically, taking our yoga off the mat.

This week we will repeat the mantra: Lokah Samastah Sukhino Bhavantu - sounds like - lo-kah sah-mah-stah su-khee-no bha-van-too)

This translates to “may all beings everywhere be happy and free” reminding us that true well being means extending that same compassionate intention to all creatures. The belief in universal love, peace and interconnectedness is the essence of ahimsa.

Below is a video of Krishna Das playing the harmonium and singing this beautiful mantra:

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/ysPQKJ8kQss

Our Practice – Heart Opening Poses

The goal of practicing ahimsa is not to force the heart open but to create space to allow for acceptance of others, of our own vulnerability and to be open to possibility.

The premise of ahimsa is that all creatures in the world contain a bit of divine spiritual energy, therefore, to hurt or to lack compassion for others is to also hurt oneself.  

In addition to opening our hearts and heart chakra to love and acceptance, heart opening practices like camel stretch the front of the body, particularly the chest, abdomen, quadriceps, and hip flexors. They creates space in the chest/lungs and can increase breathing capacity.

See you on the mat!

Namaste,

Julia Anne