This post was originally published on August 28, 2016. Enjoy!
As a newly minted yoga teacher, yoga philosophy has fascinated me. I love studying the different traditions of healing and finding new ways to live more simply, in alignment with nature and our energetic bodies. Reiki philosophy is very simple, it includes the five precepts, and the principles of energy exchange and gaining permission from a client before performing healing.
Yoga is a simple, elegant way to open the chakras and attune the energy body to the Universal energy that flows through all of us. It's usually one of the things I give as homework for my clients, to help them align with their already healed energy body in the physical world.
Here are the yamas and niyamas, the 10 Universal Principles of Yoga: Ahimsa (kindness and compassion)- towards yourself and others in words, thoughts, and actions. Satya (truthfulness)- living in integrity. Speaking your truth, being authentic. Not lying to yourself or others. Asteya (non-stealing)- taking only what is yours. Not stealing opportunities from yourself or others. Brahmacharya (non-excess or moderation)- embracing life's pleasures without reckless abandon. Seeing the Divine in everything. Aparigraha (non-attachment, non-greed)- not defining yourself by your possessions. Letting go of the need to control thoughts, people, or outcomes. Saucha (purity and simplicity)- in all things, Body, Mind, Spirit, and Surroundings. Santosha (contentment)- finding the joy and happiness where you are and with what you have in this exact moment. Tapas (burning commitment, self-discipline)- embracing the struggles that help you grow. The determination to go on when faced with obstacles and challenges. Svadhyaya (self-study)- observing your actions, your ego and continuously seeking out opportunities to learn about your Self. Ishvara Pranidhana (surrender)- acknowledging that there is a Divine force at work and having faith that it will lead you on the right path. Learning to live in the Flow of life rather than fighting against the current. I would challenge you to meditate on these principles and see how they apply to your life. I'd love to hear your thoughts on this. Get in touch with me at IntuitiveReconnections@gmail.com. Have a great day! Katie