Hello,
My name is Nola Bloom and today I'm sharing a meditation on Ahimsa and the embodiment of this mindset through the practice of self-care.
At the very seat of Yogic philosophies is the practice of Ahimsa,
Which is a practice of non-violence in all aspects of life,
Including the physical,
The mental and the emotional.
Not just towards those around us,
But towards ourselves also.
When we are aligned in this practice,
We feel alive,
Vibrant and full of divine light.
When we're not aligned,
We can feel angry,
Sluggish and even depressed.
Often these heavy feelings manifest because of unconscious,
Subtle daily actions that we're doing that contain elements of violence towards ourselves and we're not even aware of it.
It can show up by harnessing negative emotions,
Not getting enough sleep and not setting clear boundaries for work time,
Private time and for screen time.
The practice of Ahimsa really invites us to look deeply at our daily habits and reflect on how we can live better by listening to what our body and soul needs to be nourished.
So let's find a comfortable seated position with a straight spine.
Close your eyes and find complete stillness with the only movement being the movement of the breath in the body and consciously slow the breathing down.
Allow yourself to feel calm as you settle into this meditation practice of cultivating an Ahimsa mindset.
Big breath in and make breath out.
Let's begin with Ahimsa self-care affirmations to shift our intentions towards a happy and healthy lifestyle.
Allow yourself to feel and believe each affirmation to be true while you repeat them softly to yourself.
I am worthy of receiving love.
I am worthy of being my first priority.
I am worthy of the highest quality of life.
I am mindful towards what I put on my skin and what I put in my body.
I have a balanced relationship to my electronic devices.
I allow myself time for physical exercise so I feel renewed,
Refreshed and recharged.
I allow myself time for yoga,
Meditation and other practices that bring peace to my mind and serenity to my heart.
I am allowing myself to rise and shine and live to my fullest potential.
Now let's take a moment here to allow each affirmation to touch the body,
Mind and heart.
Just imagine now that you are sitting in the middle of a large open field of grass,
Flowers and beautiful butterflies.
The sunshine illuminates the field and warms your skin and a soft soothing aroma of the flowers make you feel calm and safe.
It's quiet and the only noises you hear are the sounds of nature surrounding you.
You know that this is where you need to be.
You feel grounded and know that you are safe here.
Now softly whisper the word Ahimsa.
Feel how just saying this word activates and elevates the body,
Mind and spirit.
Ahimsa.
Now tune into your heart space and reflect on this question.
What does it mean to embody Ahimsa?
What daily habits do I have that are not in line with the practice of Ahimsa that could possibly be causing me self-harm?
What habits could I change so I am embodying Ahimsa with a regular self-care and self-love routine?
What would make my body,
Mind and soul feel fantastic?
Allow any feelings to arise and just wash over you.
Now reflect on any new boundaries you need to put in place to protect your precious time,
Energy and emotions.
Give yourself permission to say no to anything that does not feel right.
Give yourself permission to say yes to anything that sets your soul on fire.
Now watch yourself rise up and move swiftly through the tall grass in the field.
Feel the sunshine on your face and the blades of grass sweeping through your fingertips as you move.
In your heart you know you deserve to feel good.
In your heart you know you deserve to shine.
Breathe in self-love and breathe out self-care.
This is the practice of Ahimsa.
Namaste.
