Yoga Alliance Teacher Training India

Surrender is a topic that's come up often in our classes and discussions over the last weeks. But what are we really talking about? Is it submission? Is it giving up? Is it letting go? We sometimes associate surrender with defeat or weakness. But surrender isn't a sign of weakness at all. In fact, it's an act of courage. It's similar to how we say to be the 'bigger person' and just walk away when someone is taunting you or trying to start a fight. It can be far more difficult to turn your back than to return the insult in these situations. It takes an enormous amount of self-control and a higher level of understanding. Do these sound like qualities of failure to you? We live in a world where there's a constant battle for control, and we're afraid of what might happen if we loosen our grip on it. We want a plan and the security which that offers. But surrender is necessary in order to face the world and our lives with an open mind. We must be brave e...

Mahatma Gandhi Ahimsa is a term meaning "do no harm". The word is derived from the Sanskrit root hims - to strike; himsa is injury or harm, a-himsa  is the opposite of this, i.e. non harming or nonviolence . In general, I consider myself a pretty non-violent person. I am caring and am continuously trying to understand other people. Still, I often cause harm through ignorance and misunderstanding. It is easy for many of us to forget about the importance of being more than "good" - the importance of being intelligently good.  At the beginning of this week, I carried out a  violent action .  In the effort of challenging myself, I went too far and strained my upper hamstrings. As yoga practitioners, we have all been there. There are times when we ignore the limitations of our bodies and push for what we want - flexibility and a more beautiful asana practice. When we do this, we are in truth, acting  violently . As teachers, it is imperative to learn how t...