By Nancy Weshkoff

Today is world kindness day.   Sanksrit, which is the ancient language of India and the language of yoga, describes kindness as “ahimsa”.   Ahimsa is the very first doctrine of yoga – first before you start moving (asana) or meditate.     Why is this?   You need to be kind and patient with yourself, moving in a way that is right for your body on that date.   For me, as a yoga teacher, I practice ahimsa – kindness – to the students who take yoga classes through Moonflower Yoga.  I offer encouragement, not criticism, as a student learns how to move in a certain way.

On a bigger scale, I am saddened by so much of the division and hatred that seems to exist in our world today.   We are all inhabitants of this planet.   Yes, we may have different beliefs, and that’s okay.   We can still be kind to each other and respect those differences.   When we practice ahimsa, it makes it easier to solve issues, and we can learn to live in harmony.

We also need to practice kindness to our planet.   Earth is our home.   Be kind to it   Recycle items instead of adding to landfills.   Use less-toxic products that harm the environment.   Plant a tree or some greenery.  There are many ways to extend kindness and help our planet.

I hope you will take some time today to just one small act of kindness.  Maybe you will call someone who is feeling a little sad or lonely.  Maybe it’s doing some outside clean up.   Maybe it is doing a random act of kindness for a stranger.  Maybe it’s being kind to YOU by changing negative thoughts to positive ones, such as saying “I love myself” instead of “I hate myself”.    Maybe it is joining me or one of the other great yoga teachers at Moonflower Yoga for a great upcoming online yoga or meditation class to take care of YOU, so you will feel better and can spread that good feeling to others in your life.

Let’s all practice some ahimsa – kindness – and make the world a happier place!

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Love

Written by Nancy Weshkoff

This week brings us Valentine’s Day where we acknowledge the special people in our lives and share our love with them.      However before we can truly share love with someone else we need to always love ourselves first.

Loving ourselves is not so easy.   We may look in the mirror and see imperfections.    And then there could be regrets from the past: the “should haves” or “what if” moments.     What we need to realize is that NO ONE is perfect.     The pictures of super models in glamorous magazines are touched up, and even super models have imperfections.      And life is a journey.    We may do something crazy along the way but we need to forgive ourselves and move on.   You cannot change the past.

So what does this have to do with yoga?     Yoga teaches us several things to help us love ourselves more:

–         Ahimsa:  Ahimsa or kindness is paramount under the Yoga Sutras.   This means kindness to others and also kindness to yourself.    Look at the positive things in life and stop judging yourself and others in a negative way.   When you start to see things in a more positive way, self-love can grow.

 –       Being present:   As we move in a yoga class at Moonflower Yoga, we stress to our students to concentrate on the present moment.    Let go of the past.   Enjoy the present moment and what it brings.

 –       Movement:   As you practice and move in a yoga class, you become stronger and more flexible.  This creates a positive self-image.   

To everyone, I wish you a very happy Valentine’s Day!    Share love with the special people in your life.   Remember to take positive steps to love yourself first.    It is when we love ourselves that we can truly share love with others.    If you’re in the area of Bellmore, New York, in Long Island’s Nassau County, come try a yoga class at Moonflower Yoga where we always stress the importance of love.

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By Nancy Weshkoff

Patanjali, often considered the father of yoga, designed the 8-part system on which yoga is practiced.   The first of these 8 parts are entitled “Yamas”, and the very first “Yama” is called “Ahimsa”.   Ahimsa teaches us to practice non-violence and be kind to ourselves and others.     It is noteworthy that Ahimsa is first, well before “Asana” which is the practice of movement that many of us associate with attending a yoga class.   Why is ahimsa so important that it comes first?

As a teacher, as well as the owner of Moonflower Yoga in Bellmore, NY,  I see students every day as they come to the studio to learn and practice.     As students enter the studio, I sometimes hear negative comments such as “I’m not flexible”, “I’m not strong”, “I’m too overweight”, “I’m too old”, etc.    I always address these when I hear them.       Where is our kindness to ourselves?      It is sad that we often compare ourselves to touched-up, airbrushed images of the perfect body and try to emulate this.

It is so important that we be “present” and be the very best that we can be in that particular moment.  It doesn’t matter that you are size 14 instead of size 2 or that you haven’t developed enough flexibility to touch your toes.    The fact that you are in a yoga class and working towards being stronger and more flexible, learning how to breathe more fully and deeply, and sharing in a practice with others is a wonderful thing.     Be kind to yourself as you practice and focus on positive things.  

And a funny thing happens when we start to be kind to ourselves.    When we are kind to ourselves, we can then be kind to others.     Just think of the possibilities if the world experienced a little more kindness each day…

The post Thoughts on Kindness by Nancy Weshkoff first appeared on Moonflower Yoga Inc..