7/24/25 Live Session Recording

I wanted to hop on here to touch on class because I got roped into work and felt I wasn't fully present. Anyways, I struggle with Ahimsa, the concept, the meaning, and applying it. As I've shared numerous times, I am very angry. My early to mid twenties impending doom and unbearable awareness has set in and everyday I'm faced with Ahimsa in one way or another. I think I do a good job of not inflicting violence on those around me but Ahimsa is sooooo much deeper than that. My thoughts are inherently violent more than I'd like them to be. These aren't thoughts of harming friends or neighbors but the people who run the world. In all honesty, probably 70% of my thoughts are about the world and how we have failed it. The violence I feel is a feral desire to harm the people who are harming the people...but I can't. So there's no outlet, no relief. Accepting things the way they are and accepting that violence will not solve anything either. Also realizing that having those violent thoughts are only harming me.

I love, admire, and respect yoga to its core. But I feel a huge wall in between myself and my practice because I struggle so much with this internal anger/violence. If I see someone in public with a MAGA hat on, I just want to RAGE. I know that wound is fresh and I need to give myself grace but still, feeling that rage/violence is EXHAUSTING. I really look forward to the day that I can more healthily practice Ahimsa. Thanks for being so awesome and real Jen, so much love to you. 

Thank you for this beautiful session on Ahimsa (the core of this practice and the hardest yama, imo)!  I hated missing the live session but am so grateful for the opportunity to view the recording. I appreciated the discussion on the subtle ways we cause harm to ourselves, others and the planet. So much food for thought. The repeated question: "How can I, to the best of my ability, reduce harm?" is pulsing within me. I know I have to start from within first and that is hard! Living in a country where harming others is rampant (and even admired) is extremely difficult to deal with. My small ways of trying to help rather than harm others feel like tiny drops in an enormous bucket. But I will continue on this path to reduce harm to the best of my ability with my thoughts, words, and actions, however insignificant they may seem.

Thank you for another beautiful transmission. 🫶🏼

May you feel protected and safe.

May you feel contented and pleased.

May your physical body provide you with strength.

May your life unfold smoothly and with ease.🙏🏼 

This class brought to mind thoughts on the four brahmavihārās. These are virtues/meditations within the Buddhist practice. 

The first Brahmavihārā is Metta (loving-kindness). In my experience this is practiced by first extending thoughts, phrases and prayers to oneself or a loved one. After building this sense of well wishing and positivity you move outwards widening circles to someone you know (positive),  someone you do not really know (neutral), and then finally someone whom you do not like (negative). 

It can be hard to start by extending well wishes/positive words to someone who you disagree with. One starts where one is. This is a slow practice that gains momentum with time. 

Alongside Neem Karoli Baba, Ram Dass, Siddhi Ma, Hanuman, Shiva, Buddha and my father I keep a photo of Donald Trump on my puja table. I try to extend grace and loving kindness his way even though I do not agree with his actions. This practice has been incredibly difficult. I have removed his photo in moments of frustration only to return it in hopes of finding the place in myself where I can offer loving kindness to all sentient beings. 

Victor Frankl (holocaust survivor) is quoted as saying, “Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms — to choose one's attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one's own way.”

It is an honor to be able to choose Ahimsa as a guiding principle. I try to internalize and grow with the concept. 

Thank you 🙏🏼 

What resonated with me during this session was how the lens of Ahimsa continues to deepen, not as a new concept, but as something I’m constantly revisiting through different layers of my practice, especially in how I hold space and make choices around sequencing.

During the movement, I noticed subtle shifts in how energy moved, or didn’t move, when I stayed too long in habitual transitions. It made me reflect on where sequencing is coming from—intuition or autopilot—and how that impacts energetic regulation, especially when I’m guiding others through spaces that require safety and agency.

The Ahimsa discussion didn’t feel like a revelation, but more like a refinement. It invited me to sit with where harm still lingers, not just in external actions, but in energetic patterns I’ve inherited or internalized. There’s been a deepening of awareness around how non-harming isn’t passive, it’s active, intentional, and rooted in discernment. Especially in trauma-informed spaces, where we’re constantly navigating nuance.

This week reminded me that Ahimsa isn’t just about what I avoid doing, it’s about what I choose to uphold. How I sequence, how I listen, how I respond, not just to others, but to myself.

I'm sorry to have missed this class and I am grateful for the recording. The concept of ahimsa is something I have been thinking about a lot lately with everything going on in the world. I feel like I do a pretty good job of practicing ahimsa externally but I'm not so good at practicing ahimsa toward myself. I'm grappling with why that is. I think a lot of it is shame for bad choices that I have made that I can't seem to forgive myself for. Going to dive deeper into this in my personal journal. 

Hello everyone!

I wanted to express my gratitude for the invitation to connect with sound. Like many people may have also felt in this space, I noticed how my body reacted quite deeply with sound – I felt chills.  Given the power of our senses and our bodies’ unique intelligence, I appreciate the nudge Jen offered towards creating a more trauma-informed approach when incorporating sound. For example, giving an opportunity for participants to prepare for sound, giving a chance for participants to hear and experience it, etc. Additionally, the note on dissociation and how shifting guidance or invitations for participants to “inhale air into your body through your nose” and the idea of naming whose body it was in the space of practice was especially powerful. As I consider my own practice and sharing it with others, I am very thankful for the awareness of language, and painting its importance so beautifully in this week’s space.

It can be so challenging to fully integrate into the space while regular life stuff happens. And at the same time, I noticed how almost immediately, my body and my mind felt like we could just put this weight we were carrying around aside, to set it down. I was able to take a breath and realize the air that was moving throughout my body. And during this practice, I thought of everyone in this community setting our days aside to connect to ourselves and this community, together. Energetically, I was aware of this peace and warmth in my chest, a feeling of fullness almost. I am reminded of how deep this connection is, the one we have within ourselves and I am grateful to share this with you all. A message that came up for me during this gathering was, you are working really hard. 

Reading this message was one thing for me, and hearing this message and really taking it in was another. I had a deep emotional release of tears following this practice and gathering, and I am feeling called to reflect more personally. Thank you all!

Ah! I wrote a whole post, and when I tried to add it, everything disappeared. So, I'm going to try this again 🙂

Our discussion of ahimsa reminded me how deeply this principle extends beyond physical action into our thoughts, words, and treatment of ourselves, others, and the natural world. One line I wrote down was, “I need to show up for myself the way I show up for others.”  Often we sacrifice our own health and wellness for the sake of others, but self-care is necessary if we truly want to be of service. I’ve noticed that I am deeply sensitive to external energy and interactions, and often protect myself by detaching. It brought attention to the fact that maybe I need to work on healthier ways to deal with harm. 

I appreciated the conversation connected to the harm we see in our current political climate. I wrote down Jen’s words: erratic, explosive, and impulsive. These actions create constant stress on a daily basis. It’s easy to minimize pain or wrap it in humor instead of fully acknowledging it. 

The topic of veganism also resonated, since I spent a portion of my life as a vegan out of concern for animal welfare. While I’m not vegan now, it remains an important consideration in how I try to live with less harm. I appreciated the reminder that we are all on our own journeys, and some aspects of non-harm are more accessible to some than to others. I really want to return to a way of living that feels more in line with ahimsa for me. 

Our conversation about generational harm brought up my gratitude for my parents, who broke cycles of substance use and abuse and created a supportive environment. They really changed the trajectory of harm in our family.

In work with incarcerated individuals, ahimsa takes on another dimension. So often people in those settings have experienced such substantial harm inflicted by family members, partners, government, and institutions. And then, of course, even themselves. Yoga in that setting might be the first act of non-harm and self-care that they have experienced in a long time. Creating a safe, respectful space where yoga is offered without judgment or force can be such an important step in beginning this journey. 

I loved this session on Ahimsa and the discussion around our relationship to this Yama on both an individual and collective level. I also really appreciated Kelly’s centering practice at the start of the class and the nuanced feedback regarding how to incorporate sound in a trauma-informed way for people experiencing incarceration. I noticed during the movement practice that I had a mix of high and low energy at the same time, so being given the opportunity to move my body in a way that served me in that moment was beneficial, as it increased my self-awareness and allowed me the autonomy to move at my own pace and rhythm. I also appreciated the option to sit or stand during the practice and to modify the practice for “today’s body” rather than try to mold myself into a particular shape which is often the expectation in a typical yoga studio. I really valued that this sequence was truly “all levels” and invited us to be curious through the guide of our breath and body: to notice sensations as they arise and to move in a way that is in alignment with your own felt sense of comfort and ease. I did notice judgmental thoughts around my own body and physical ability which is where the ethic of ahimsa can help – by noticing my inner dialogue in a curious non-judgmental way, I can slowly begin to change the relationship with myself, others and the world around me. Ahimsa invites us to share compassion with ourselves first so that we can be of genuine service to others: by excavating harm within our own hearts and minds we start to shift this compassionate energy outwards to the people, places and communities that we serve. Ahimsa allows me to let go of the expectation of how a sequence or yoga posture “should” look, and instead, encourages me to share yoga from a belief that participants are already whole and have the inherent capacity to heal.

@mary-fishelgmail-com Me too :/

I am not going to retype my entire post, but the condensed version is that I rather enjoyed the discussion of Ahmisa, the sequencing and the invitation to curiosity, and the reminder that all of this is a practice. 

I loved the idea of your arm, your heart. Instead of THE. 

What are we allowed to bring into facilities? Which makes me wonder, as a larger person, I rely on blocks a lot, so what happens if we can’t bring blocks? 

I like the language that was used during the flow, where is our energy right now? “ each of our bodies accept this day differently?” “What does a pause mean for you.” 

In relationship to ahimsa I enjoyed the conversation. I felt activated by a few of the words. Race. Religion. Body design. 

1. Race, this sounds crazy but I firmly believe in reparations and sometimes I feel guilty for being white presenting? I am middle eastern and Eastern European so my ancestors caused a lot of harm. Especially within regards to religion. This causes a lot of guilt. Especially since I married to a Jewish man. 
2. In continuation of that, his family is highly religious and refuses to acknowledge our union or my daughter’s existence and have shunned him. I’ve also seen the damage that organized religion has done to this world and I deeply resent it. 
3. Body design. I was thinking of what Laurel shared, and how my body would most likely be ridiculed for wearing something skantly clad because I am in a larger body and how that causes harm. 
4. LOL I am even worried my post will cause harm. 

Anyway these topics are tough and I think we are all awesome warriors for having the stamina and willingness to bring them to light. GO US! 

This session resonated heavily with me because I am really trying to find balance in my life right now.  I find myself, because of my job, doing more for others then myself. I love my job but it can be overwhelming at times emotionally.  I resonate with the rage you spoke about.  (That feeling feels so icky though.) But, this movement is full of it (rage) for a very good reason. I am trying to break free from this because I am lacking in self care and peace.   I am currently in school as well and when you spoke about knowledge that had me thinking about my college journey right now and how I am not completely connected to my studies the way I want to be.  Knowledge is so important to me.  I appreciate this lesson because I am taking a deep look at my life and making some changes at the moment so it was a great way to see the bigger picture.... when you listed the various ways we find ourselves veering off the path of Ahimsa.  Language is a struggle for me too.  Maybe for different reasons then others though.

• What did you notice during the movement portion of the session, particularly around energetic awareness or your relationship to sequencing?It felt good to stand for this movement sequencing and I was grateful that I could really embody the invitation to engage by 'accepting' the invitation. This is a nice example of yoga's giving permission to my Self, as in agreeing to join or not. I do wonder sometimes if that is yoga's greatest and most gentle strength, permission to or 'not to'. Everything else in life seems to be a demand or a responsibility and these can be draining. I was aware that I wanted to direct my energy from my heart and lungs outward right through every cell and nerve. I enjoy the anticipation of getting into the groove when breathing in and out harmonise with the movement and I disappear into the practice, like a physical mindfulness. I imagined that I went from wanting and needing to direct the energy, to becoming the energy, and then I know I have arrived because I can fell it.

• How did our discussion of Ahimsa invite you to think differently about non-harming — in your body, your teaching, or your interactions with others?I love the ancient philosophy of yoga and I remember writing about Ahimsa before. Non-harm has a wide breadth and depth of meaning for me as a counsellor and a yoga teacher or facilitator. I am mindful of not harming myself and others by doing or not doing, and sometimes wrestle with the idea of should or shouldn't I. The implications of harm are for me physical, psychological, and emotional. I am aware that if I practice non-harm consistently and keep it in my awareness in my practice as a cautionary venture rather than a fear, it can be empowering. I know that I am a good person and since childhood have always avoided hurting bugs, friends, or things, and protecting myself. Going further., I also know that I go out of my way to protect people and things, and have always been in a profession that protects people. If I therefore know that I am a good person, or try to be, then the idea of Ahimsa might be a companion on my journey. Finally, I am aware that harm can be a real thing, and it can be imagined or perceived when in Hari Kirtana Das' teaching, where objective reality is absolute truth and no harm exists, it can still be perceived for a person or myself through perception and experience.