What is Ahimsa?
Ahimsa is a fundamental principle rooted in Indian philosophy and religions, particularly Jainism and Hinduism. It is a Sanskrit term that translates to "non-violence" or "non-harming." Ahimsa promotes compassion and respect for all living beings, emphasising avoiding causing harm or injury to any living creature, including humans, animals, and even plants.
Yoga and Ahimsa are closely linked concepts, with Ahimsa serving as a fundamental principle of yoga philosophy. Yoga is a comprehensive discipline that includes physical postures (asana), breathing techniques (pranayama), meditation (dhyana), and ethical principles referred to as the yamas and niyamas.
I selected several key concepts from the book The Yamas and Niyamas by Deborah Adele (a foundational yoga philosophy resource, in my opinion) and wrote these on pieces of paper, which we then used as discussion points. If you click on the image below you can expand to see the 'bare bones' of what we talked about. I urge you to get hold of a copy of the book and explore the chapter in full for yourself.
I also introduced the concept of 'Nonviolent communication' and suggested we all read about its principles. I have provided a link at the end of this post.
We enjoyed a Loving Kindness meditation, a powerful practice rooted in cultivating compassion and goodwill toward oneself and others. During this meditation, we focused on sending positive intentions and well-wishes to all beings, including those we love, those we feel neutral toward, and even those we may have difficulties with.
This practice helps us develop empathy, kindness, and a sense of interconnectedness with all living beings. By repeating phrases such as "May I be happy, may I be healthy, may I be safe, may I live with ease," we foster a sense of loving-kindness towards ourselves. Similarly, by extending these wishes to others, we nurture a sense of universal love and understanding.
Optional homework this week:
For this whole week, assume you are complete. There is no need to expect anything from yourself or to criticise, judge, or change anything about you. There is no need to compete with anyone or be more than you are (or less than you are). Note your experience. Notice how much pleasure, kindness, and patience you can have with yourself.
Journal Prompts for Ahimsa
Reflect on a moment this week when you embraced yourself just as you are. How did it feel?
Write about a time when you noticed self-criticism creeping in. How did you respond to it?
Describe a situation where you typically need to compete or compare yourself to others. How can you shift this mindset to one of self-acceptance?
Explore a quality or trait about yourself that you often judge harshly. How might you show more kindness towards this aspect of yourself?
Consider a goal or expectation you have set for yourself. How would approaching it with self-compassion rather than pressure change your experience?
This weekly session runs every Wednesday between 7.30 and 8.30 at The Midwives Circle and Wellness Centre in Kettering. It is a donation-based offering and you can find out more here.
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