Like so much that matters, progressing in the direction of ahimsa starts with awareness. Awareness of the stories I tell myself about myself and others; awareness of how these stories fuel judgement and feelings of insecurity, resentment, guilt and the rest; and awareness that these stories, beliefs and feelings do not define me and that I have the capacity to outgrow them, to shed them like a snake sheds its old skin. 

Seeds are a useful metaphor for understanding the relationship between our present actions and future outcomes - including the concept of 'karma' in Yoga philosophy. Every thought, word or deed is a seed – it sprouts a consequence for ourselves and often others. Some of those seeds eventually bear fruit, shaping our lives and those of us around us.

Our yoga asana (physical) practice is an ongoing conversation we have with our bodies. Your instructor might be able to spot something that looks potentially harmful, and they might not. We are in conversation with our bodies the entire time we are on the mat. As with most conversations, the listening part is the most important. No two days are exactly the same in these extraordinary vessels of ours.   

One thing that makes this training so powerful is that there is no faith required. The miracles of existence and awareness are ever present. With a bit of mindful practice, each of us has the opportunity to see the miracles and understand that each of us is an integral part of them.

Breathing techniques are most commonly used to cultivate and maintain calmness. Many effective methods relax our nervous systems and interrupt the reactivity that can disrupt our lives. Achieving a state of calm amidst life’s peaks and valleys is essential for living comfortably and effectively, especially when we need to recover during challenging times.

Gentle yoga (and approaching yoga gently) requires deep listening to our minds and bodies which is not an easy process. If we approach this process kindly, with self-compassion, we begin to strengthen and stretch mind, body, and spirit.

There are many reasons why I meditate, but the one that has kept me going all of these years is that it is fun! There is great joy in regular meditation. It is like going on a wonderful vacation every day.

Tom Thompson’s life is about waking up from the trance we live.