You take deep breaths while you do asanas and you want that air to be clean, you practice it outdoors and you want that forest or meadow to be garbage-free. Maybe you won't pick up other people's trash but you certainly won't leave trash where it doesn't belong. Yoga and sustainability have an unbreakable connection, and if you want to be a part of it there is more info on Rockay. Exploring this link, we go deeper into yoga teachings, finding its core in ourselves.

Respect for oneself, others and environment

In the Yoga Sutras, which were compiled before 400 CE, yoga is explained as a complex path of growth through eight stages. The practice of asanas is only the third stage, while the first two are Yama and Niyama. Those two are the ethical principles that govern general and personal behaviors such as respect for oneself, other human beings and the environment in which we experience our existence.

It is precisely these two phases that link individual action, our life, to what happens in the world in which we live. It is from here that the practice of yoga influences and stimulates our relationship with the environment that surrounds us. It does so not as an abstract concept but as a real practice that stimulates our awareness and creates a thread that links our existence to the whole.

Are we a part of that?

Yoga is a highly purifying practice, both physically and mentally. Starting from the most practical aspects, yoga can be practiced anywhere, without the need for any special tools or structures. The yoga philosophy is imbued with a profound bond with nature: a man is a part of it and constantly yearns for it.

The asanas themselves are images of trees, plants, animals and they invite us to embody the symbolism they carry with them. They offer us the opportunity for a simple rediscovery of possibilities our bodies have. It does so in a primordial way, without the distractions of any structured, technical or choreographed activity.

Yoga is not only a physical discipline, but it also helps us clean our mental space. We constantly need to purify ourselves from the stress of the day. It is not uncommon through yoga to embrace a frugal and a simpler approach to existence. We limit unbridled consumerism and obsession with appearances in the name of discovery (or rediscovery) of deeper, authentic self and our values. This often shifts the preferences towards more sustainable and ecological choices that benefit our health and at the same time the environment around us.

Rediscovering our bond with Nature

The harmony between inside and outside worlds is an integral part of yoga philosophy. We are made of the same material as Nature and we are in very close connection with it: rediscovering this link represents, first of all, an opportunity for personal and spiritual evolution. Globally, it is certainly one of the solutions to save our planet.

So, can the practice of yoga bring a propensity to a more ecological approach in one's life? It certainly cannot be generalized but it is no coincidence that people who practice yoga regularly, over the years adopt more sustainable lifestyles. For example, you can make your yoga space more sustainable using environment-friendly equipment. While yoga teaches us to take care of our body, at the same time it helps us in developing awareness for what we eat, drink, how we move, and how our children grow. Yoga is not about rushing to save the world; it is about you creating a better world around yourself.