Before there is asana…

As usual, I walked into the gym with my head consumed by to-do lists and mental chatter. When I got into the ladies’ locker room, I brushed something off of my shoulder.

I looked down to see what it was, and I saw a beetle on the cold tile floor. 

And I thought to myself,

“That thing is never going to survive in here” 

And before I could think about it, I grabbed a paper towel, scooped up the beetle and marched past the front desk, back outside with that crumpled towel held at arms length away from me. 

And I released the beetle into a bush. 

This is yoga too 

No asana, no long, deep inhale…no struggling to maintain a posture…

No nervous system release

Just a kindness

Ahimsa, or the yogic call to live with compassion

Is the very first directive of all of the Eight Limbs of Yoga

Before asana, before breathwork, before meditation..there is kindness