A Yogic Perspective on Workouts: Some Thoughts on Ahimsa
Some thoughts I had as I walked into yoga last night…
Can classical yoga philosophy enhance workouts and provide a more encompassing sense of wellness not only on the yoga mat, but also at the gym or out on a run? Is yoga asana practice uniquely placed to develop the mind/body connection, or can some of the broader principles of yoga be more widely applied to other exercise and fitness routines?
The physical aspects of yoga practice, posture and breath, are only two limbs of Patanjali’s eight-limbed yoga philosophy upon which contemporary yoga is based. Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras date back to around 1st century CE and are composed of 196 aphorisms written in Sanskrit. Asana (postures) and Pranayama (breath) are the third and fourth limbs of Patanjali’s system. The first limb is the Yamas, which are the personal restraints or moral imperatives, and Ahimsa is the first imperative.
Let’s consider Ahimsa (from the Sanskrit root hiṃsā, to harm; therefore away from, or opposing, harm)
Ahimsa translates as non-violence or non-harming. Some prefer to frame it in a positive context as compassion. On a large scale, Mahatma Ghandhi took the principle of Ahimsa in the 20th century and used it as a foundation for his philosophy and political movement of nonviolent resistance. He demonstrated how courage and non-violence are linked, and how non-violence is active rather than passive.
But how do such broad concepts apply to me, you, or a fitness routine? It seems a long stretch, but exercising from the perspective of Ahimsa may give a new take on how to approach your routine.
From Macro to Micro
While Ahimsa includes the prohibition of violence towards others, it also focuses on the importance of examining and preventing violence within. Most of us do not think of ourselves as violent, but we are often encouraged to push past our limits to be our best, or compete against another. This is one model, but what insights might we gain by changing things up and examining how to excel while practicing Ahimsa? When we push past our limits we may reach new heights, but we can also experience injury, frustration, and disappointment. Is this a necessary part of the path to improvement and excellence, or can we strive and excel without the negatives? Goal orientation is the predominant model in our culture, but is there another approach?
All our answers will be different.
When we get disappointed about not achieving a specific goal, Ahimsa can help us maintain distance from the emotional reaction and our result. This will help avoid giving up on exercise when we don’t progress the way we “should”. When constructive self-criticism becomes self-denigration, Ahimsa can help us move past disappointment quickly and feel better.
Ahimsa is a much more far-reaching concept than we have explored briefly here. There are paradoxes, of course. Ahimsa does not mean there is never violence, because there may be times when it is the choice of last resort. We will all explore our own lines, and it is the questions, more than the answers, that interest us the most and expand our perspectives.
Enhance your practice this bus time of year. Consider Ahimsa and all its meanings.
Namaste (This expresses gratitude and respect)
- Try one of FitRec’s many yoga classes and work at your own pace
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