Truthfulness:

The first Yama (August 2023 newsletter) is non-violence, in Sanskrit, the word is AHIMSA.  The second Yama is truthfulness, in Sanskrit, the word is SATYA.  Truthfulness follows non-violence.  When we tell the truth, we should aim to cause the least amount of harm.  If the truth will cause pain or suffering to someone, it’s better to remain silent. 

Ways to practice truthfulness:

1)  Do no harm – be mindful of what you say to others, what you post on social media, and how you comment on other posts.

2) Be humble – recognize what you know and don’t know, what you have experienced and what you haven’t experienced.  Be curious and open to continued learning.

3) Live authentically – are you honest with yourself?  Are you living as who you really are?  How are you expressing yourself out into the world truthfully?  Are you living your deeply held values?

4) On the mat – be honest about what your body can do and what it can’t do in the poses.  Let go of any perceived ideas of how a pose should look and instead feel the pose in your body.

Being truthful is a courageous act.  Strive to be honest and truthful in your actions, your speech, and your thoughts.  This may be challenging as we all carry a conditioned mindset in our beliefs, thoughts, and from past experiences.