Ahimsa

I recently taught my very first yoga class in a studio—something that had been on my bucket list for a long time. I created a full sequence of asanas, curated a playlist, and rehearsed the flow over and over until I knew it inside out. And yet, when the day came, I was still incredibly nervous.

What if I forgot the sequence?

What if the flow didn’t land?

Was I really qualified to teach a practice so rich with history and technicality?

And what if the people in class just… didn’t enjoy it?

For October, my Dharma talk and class theme centers around Ahimsa—the first of the five Yamas, which are themselves the first of the eight limbs of yoga in the Yoga Sutras. The Yamas serve as guidelines for how we relate to the world around us. And while they’re often discussed in terms of external relationships—with people, animals, nature, and resources like earth, sky, and water—I believe they also apply internally.

Ahimsa is a perfect example. It invites us to embrace nonviolence and non-harming, not just toward others but also toward ourselves. For me, this looks like practicing “kindfulness”—a blend of kindness and mindfulness.

Just like mindfulness, kindfulness asks us to be present and aware of our inner dialogue. It challenges us to notice: Is this voice supportive and kind? Or is it harsh, judgmental, maybe even harmful? With practice, we can begin to shift that voice, first by listening, then by observing, and finally by consciously choosing to “change the track.”

As for my class—everything turned out just fine. My timing was a little off, I lingered too long in certain sections, but in the end, everyone arrived in Savasana, lights dimmed, bodies settled, at the close of the hour.

Of course, my internal critic had plenty to say afterward:

You were too slow.

You talked too much.

Your playlist was boring.

You should have been more confident.

So. Much. Judgement.

But this time, I caught it. I noticed the dialogue, paused, and chose to shift it. Instead of replaying criticism, I reminded myself that I had safely and thoughtfully guided students through a well-balanced yoga flow. They moved. They learned. They experienced something new.

And that—at least for me—was enough, for my first class.

This is only the beginning of my teaching journey, but already I’m learning that offering myself kindfulness makes the process lighter. It helps me move forward with a little more ease, a little more grace, and a sprinkle of compassion.

Try it for yourself—tune into your inner voice, soften it, and let me know how it goes.