Global Public Articles

What is ahimsa? In the Yoga Sutras, Ahimsa is the first of the contemporary Yamas (restraints). Quite often, you hear the definition: “non-harming” is the meaning of Ahimsa. You may also hear “non-killing” or “non-violence” applied to the meaning of this demanding Yama.

How can I say this is a demanding Yama? Consider this: Whether you think humankind is inherently good, or bad, non-harming is very difficult. Many people drive automobiles. Do drivers always show respect, courtesy, kindness, compassion, and tolerance to each other?

Do pedestrians thank drivers for being courteous? How often do you see pedestrians gamble with their lives? How often do you see drivers do the same? How often do you see demonstrations of “road rage?”

So far, we have only contemplated driving with mutual respect for other humans. Unfortunately, some people have no regard for animals. Most people will stop for animals that cross the street. Some people do not respect animals at all.

How can you start practicing Ahimsa? Whether you drive an automobile, or not, you still co-exist with the rest of us. If you start with courtesy, respect, and acts of loving kindness, you will have made a “great leap forward.”

How long should you keep helping others, show compassion, and be courteous? Ahimsa is a lifestyle - it is not a fad diet. As Yoga practitioners, we should make it a point to be kind for the rest of our lives. This is more challenging and more important than performing a difficult asana.

You can be a vegetarian, Yoga teacher, and “go green,” but if you intentionally harm others, this is not a good example of a Yogic lifestyle. In the Yoga Sutras, Yama is the first limb mentioned by Maharishi Patanjali. If we cannot be kind to each other, we have missed the point of Yoga practice.

When we practice Yoga, it is important to be aware of ourselves, but it is important to respect the space of everyone. If we take our practice to higher levels, we must leave our egos behind. Ahimsa is a vow we should make and a duty we should perform.

If the believers of all the world’s religions practiced this, there would hardly be any conflicts. Showing kindness to others is a habit, which will bring world peace. For this reason alone, Ahimsa is a practice which should be practiced by every Yoga practitioner, at all times. The contribution of loving kindness, to a world that needs it, should be our legacy.

Copyright 2008 - Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500, is a co-owner and the director of Yoga teacher training at: Aura Wellness Center in, Attleboro, MA. To receive Free Yoga videos, Podcasts, e-Books, reports, and articles about Yoga, please visit: http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org/member-offer.html

In the Yoga Sutras, Satya is the second Yama (restraint) mentioned by Maharishi Patanjali. Yet, what exactly is Satya? In short, Satya is honesty. If you want to see a controversy, bring up the subject of honesty applied to law, politics, or business ethics.

A promise made by a hand shake is worthless in most courts of law. Some of us have learned very expensive lessons, when a partner failed to keep a promise. Hence, we sign contracts to hold both parties to a promise.

This is the time of the prenuptial agreement, sometimes called the premarital agreement (a contract between two potential marriage partners). Imagine needing a legal contract to trust your spouse.

Imagine again that you are wealthy beyond imagination, without a contract and going through a divorce. The court systems do a massive business, defending honesty, and the right to be deceptive at the same time.

Honesty has become a paradox within itself. Have you ever seen an honest candidate lose because he or she spoke the truth? Deception seems to be in public demand. Yet, we know that truthfulness is the correct path because most parents teach their children about the value of being honest.

This is the key to expanding Satya: It starts at the “grass roots level,” within your home. Truthful words, deeds, and thoughts must start within our minds and then expand to our family members. Keeping promises becomes an outgrowth of a family, which cultivates honesty.

You should still protect yourself in business matters. One could debate about all the reasons why a partner would, or would not, break a promise, but what does it matter when the deed is done? Therefore, a contract is wise for both parties in a business relationship.

If you had a survey of truth, you would notice a wide variety of opinions. Only a little more than three centuries ago, innocent people were executed for being witches, in Salem, Massachusetts. Did the executioners think they were doing an honest service for humanity? Sadly, they might have believed they were taking the right action.

Did those accused of witchcraft do the wrong thing by telling the truth, and denying they were witches? Picture yourself being accused of witchcraft: If you lied by agreeing that you were a witch, and repented, your chances of living through the experience were very good.

The truth may not be popular and it is never a deception. However, be careful not to be carried away with current popular opinion. At one time, the Sun was believed to revolve around the earth. To speculate otherwise, could cost you your life.

We are much more fortunate than our ancestors. We live at a time when most of us are free to practice Yoga, speak the truth, and worship as we please. Preserve the value of Satya - it starts in your mind and is as easy as keeping a promise.

Copyright 2008 - Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500, is a co-owner and the director of Yoga teacher training at: Aura Wellness Center in, Attleboro, MA. To receive Free Yoga videos, Podcasts, e-Books, reports, and articles about Yoga, please visit: http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org/member-offer.html

Asteya is the third Yama (restraint) mentioned by Maharishi Patanjali, within the Yoga Sutras. In short, Asteya may be defined as “non-stealing.” However, the depth of this Yama goes much further. This is the Yama of giving to others.

There is an internal conflict about giving, but the Law of Karma and the Law of Attraction, agree about the end results of giving. When we give time, service, or material toward a person, or a cause, the rewards of giving always come back to us.

This happens even when you do not seek a reward. It may not happen in any way you can predict, but rewards always come back to those who give of themselves. These days it is easy to be caught up in our Email, voice mail, television shows, and work.

On the subject of work: Many of us work too much. The common reaction to this is, “Who else is going to pay my bills?” This is true, but work is a part of life. Work is not everything in life. Sometimes, we have to stop working and give to those around us who need help.

How much should one give? We give what we can afford. There is no need to give until you are “broke.” If we do not have money, our services are still valuable. Each of us has different skills. It is hard to be a “Jack of all trades.”

In the workplace: We can avoid claiming credit for someone else’s work by giving direct praise to that person. Here is an example: How many supervisors take a worker’s idea to the upper management and then take credit for it? Unfortunately, this happens quite often.

At home: We can give our time and help to those who need us. Sometimes, we do not see the true value of praising our family members. Life is an “eye blink,” and many of us wish we could tell a dear one how much they meant to us, while he or she was living. Do not let the opportunity to give praise pass you by.

Asteya is much like Satya, in that honesty is at the heart of this Yama. Asteya in your thoughts, deeds, actions, and non-actions is the key. Observe all of the good things in your life, and you will not feel the need to acquire what is not yours.

It has been said that going into debt is a result of coveting or greed, but who has not taken a loan for a home, college education, a broken appliance, or an automobile that needs repair? It is easy to tell others how to live, but what good is impractical advice?

These days, it is impossible not to borrow, unless we live a monastic lifestyle. Do not judge yourself harshly for borrowing. At the same time, we all know that borrowing too much is a miserable existence.

When you look into the Yoga Sutras is important to realize it is a “living document.” The ideals still apply, but societies have changed. The ability to give, and be honest, comes from within.

Copyright 2008 - Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500, is a co-owner and the director of Yoga teacher training at: Aura Wellness Center in, Attleboro, MA. To receive Free Yoga videos, Podcasts, e-Books, reports, and articles about Yoga, please visit: http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org/member-offer.html

Bramacharya is the fourth Yama, described by Maharishi Patanjali, in the Yoga Sutras. The literal definition of the root words, brahma and acarya, is “brahmic behavior.” In fact, Bramacharya is also the first Asrama (stage of life for a Brahman), when a student lives a life of celibacy and purity, while studying the Vedas.

In the words of Swami Sivananda: “Celibacy is to a Yogi what electricity is to an electric bulb. Without celibacy, no spiritual progress is possible. It is a potent weapon, and shield, to wage war against the internal evil forces of lust, anger, and greed. It serves as a gateway for the bliss beyond, and opens the door of liberation.”

How does this apply to the general population, who are not Brahman? How can the average Yoga practitioner live a pure life? Quite simply, Brahmacharya is the path of moderation. There is no need to embrace extremes.

Siddhartha Gautama, the Buddha, described the “Middle Way,” as the middle path between an ascetic lifestyle and one that is devoted to the world as we know it. Again, this is moderation in our thoughts, words, actions, and non-actions.

You can apply this to relationships, diet, work, religion, and everything else in life. If we consider diet, you may be amused by the findings. Contemporary Yogis and Yoginis have, in some cases, banned coffee. Coffee contains caffeine and, therefore, it must be “bad” because our senses are over stimulated.

After a lecture about the spiritual and physical “evils” of coffee, a number of Yoga teacher interns decided to give up their morning cup of coffee. They were actually going through a form of chemical withdrawal the following day. By lunch time, some of them had left to get a coffee, and they said they felt better during the afternoon Yoga session.

To be honest, some of us can give up coffee without much effort, while others will get a headache without coffee, and this is a reaction to physical dependence of caffeine. So, where do we stand on a cup of decaffeinated coffee? Is giving up coffee going to get you a pass to heaven?

So far, we have only discussed moderation in drinking coffee, but let’s expand our thoughts to another subject. If we spend our lives in worship, but have poor relationships with others, there is something missing. The people around us are worthy of our attention, and we still live on Earth.

When you consider extremes, look at our history and the role fundamentalism has played in holding humankind back from progress. The path of moderation is full of tolerance for those who do not live like us. A Yogic lifestyle requires moderation, and therefore, avoidance of extremes.

Copyright 2008 - Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500, is a co-owner and the director of Yoga teacher training at: Aura Wellness Center in, Attleboro, MA. To receive Free Yoga videos, Podcasts, e-Books, reports, and articles about Yoga, please visit: http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org/member-offer.html

Some situations are ironic. Yoga teachers often help their students with stress management techniques. Can you imagine a Yoga teacher intern stressed out over his or her exams? It happens more frequently than you think, but here is a way to finish your studies, without stress, and become a Yoga teacher, within a reasonable time frame.

Mark Twain said: “If you eat a frog, first thing in the morning, the rest of your day will be wonderful.” What in the world was he referring to? In a nutshell, he is referring to procrastination. Do the tasks you avoid the most, first. When you study, know what you want to avoid and do it now.

A Yoga teacher must be a self-starter. Every Yoga teaching position requires an independent-minded person, who can take hold of responsibility. Otherwise, we can work for a supervisor, who is responsible and makes decisions for us. It takes discipline, and practice, but you can complete your assignments by scheduling them.

As a result of creating good study habits, you might even have some “spare time.” If you do, complete your work early; you can always double check your assignments and improve your grades. You could also partner with another intern. This allows you to challenge each other, and reach peak performance, as a result.

Always take notes: Whether you are attending an intensive, or watching a DVD, the act of writing notes is good for memory retention. This method helps preserve concepts for your long term memory.

When you are at your limit with studying your books, working off the PC, or reviewing lectures and techniques, stop and practice asana, pranayama, or go for a walk. This is a great way to give your mind a break, and you still will be able to review techniques in a relaxed manner.

If you decide to go for a walk, you could practice walking meditation. In fact, while you are taking that break, you could make a point of practicing positive visualization. For example: Picture yourself as a Yoga teacher, after you have successfully completed all of your exams.

This may seem obvious, but make sure your diet is clean while you are studying. The Sattvic diet is full of whole and natural foods, which may contain slow burning sugars, but will not cause you to be distracted by a “sugar high.”

Finally, the company you keep can make or break you. It is impossible to study in the presence of friends who are stressed out, or people who have no objectives. If you have friends, or associates, who fit this description, schedule them in, but do not let them take you away from your studies.

Your objective is to complete your Yoga teacher training course. If you know someone who has spent a lifetime without goals, you might be able to help them, but you would be wise to finish your assignments first.

Copyright 2008 - Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500, is a co-owner and the director of Yoga teacher training at: Aura Wellness Center in, Attleboro, MA. To receive Free Yoga videos, Podcasts, e-Books, reports, and articles about Yoga, please visit: http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org/member-offer.html