03/03/2026
Ahimsa: non-violence . This word I mention quite a lot in class, resonates today more acutely than ever.
For some reason that I cannot really explain, I have always felt very close to the Iranian fight and plight under the mollahs’ regime. And mainly the struggles of women in that country. I followed closely and supported their revolution “Women, life, freedom “ and also their uprising in January.
The violence used by the government to squash the demonstrators and kill any opposant scared me, repulsed me, outraged me, saddened me. I felt it in my guts. I just wanted Trump (whom I absolutely abhor!) to go in and rid the Iranians of these bloodthirsty dictators.
And now it is happening, I am scared! Scared and wondering.
Because violence calls for violence…
Were we right to let the Iranians be massacred by their government? Isn’t that some form of violence?
Are we right to go in and bomb them? That IS definitely a sort of violence!
As a yoga practitioner, a yoga teacher preaching non-violence, how do I react to the events in the outside world? Because it is all very good to decide to be non violent towards ourselves, even towards others in our circle from the comfort of our home (physically but also of course psychologically), but how do we reconcile our beliefs and the world we live in?
Do we let everything be and just worry about our little environment with the risk of being a bit selfish and cut off from the world or do we express ideas, opinions, support movements that can feel really violent and threatening to others?
Of course I don’t have the answer.
But I feel it is an important reflection to have as yoga practitioners trying to live by the Yama of Ahimsa. Do we act, do we stand back?
Do we stay silent, do we speak up? On reflection, I think I’d rather act and speak up according to my beliefs, my opinions. I want to feel I am doing something to make this a better world, even if it means others might differ, others might feel it is quite violent…
And of course, you are entitled to a different opinion. And that is quite all right. 😘 I wish you a day of peace and non-violence. 🕊️☮️🕊️