The first yama, (social norm of action and behavior) is to stay clear from harmful behavior, in thought, speech and action against any form of life.

Ask yourself:  “What would be the cause for me to act in violence, ignorance and harmful towards others.”

In observance and in self-reflection, the answer would be that violence comes from a lack of Respect and a lack of Love.  Other causes are fear, selfishness, anger and a lack of confidence.  These underlying currents within will be the very tools one use to create a personal culture, a personal refinement or lack thereof, towards oneself and towards Nature – all living beings with us, on this journey on earth, and even towards Earth.

Non-violence, harmless living, is the opposite of these tendencies.  Non-violence and living free from harmless action onto the self and others comes from Respect for others.  When a person lacks respect and have a distorted view on self this reflects in behavioral patterns of harmful actions. 

It is for everyone to observe their own actions, thoughts and words and to create a personal ethic to not cause injury, harm or violate anyone’s rights in this world.

Cultivating of a culture is a process.  With time and devotion can we grow and refine our personal ethics.

Grow in this consciousness and make it part of your asana practice.  The practice should not bring injury or violate breath-stability.  Become aware of the way you treat yourself, the asana and the breath on the mat.  Keep this reflection in your daily actions.  Alignment in body bears fruits in life with the integration and alignment of all the levels of our existence and consciousness (the five koshas).

See all living beings as equal.  Show and give respect.  Show and give love. When we ourselves becomes whole and integrated in our personalities, it becomes our knowing that we are one.  By harming self, we harm others.  By harming others we harm self – we harm our true nature, we inherently harm Nature.  Every action, spoken or unspoken, contemplated or executed, contributes to the escalate residue of harm and disrespect that is so prevalent on a global platform (nations, race, religion) and also in the micro cosmic cell (families, inter-personal, towards our pets, animals, exploiting nature).

If there are three things we could want for ourselves, let it be Serenity of Mind, Clarity of Words and Keeping the Body Clean and Healthy.

The practise of yoga is entered into by developing personal and social norms, followed by the repetition of asana practise until stability, strength and flexibility, poise in daily posture is developed.  Soon the voice becomes soft, as the glandular system becomes balanced and with this a level of self-restraint and a general state of dispassion for what was previously so important to the ego.

Yoga is a tool towards wholeness.  A way to collect ourselves.  It forms a backdrop, a once-melody, to which we can dance a thousandfold dances, in expressing and the search of knowing oneself on deeper levels.  It is in these deeper levels of understanding of self that we develop true self-compassion and true self-love.  This enable us to give to others from a deeper place without any expectations or attachments.

There certainly is many forms or ways to come closer to oneself.  Yoga is free from religion or dogma and renders tools towards all levels of personal well-being, the structure of a healthy society and towards harmony and peace.  It is the ancient documentation of how to make life, every breath, every motion an expression of art – conscious and liberated at the same time.

yogena cittasya pdena vacam

malam sarirasya ca vaidyakena

yo’pakarot tam pravaram muninam

patanjalim pranjalir anato’smi

abahu purusakaram sankha-crakra-asi-dharinam

sahasra-sirasam svetam pranamami patanjalim