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It's yoga month and we're celebrating by offering free yoga to the community this Saturday at Amsa Yoga in Columbia. I also thought it a great time to explain why it is no coincidence that I am both a green writer and a yoga instructor. In fact the two lines of work are very well connected.
Green and Yoga: What's the Connection?
1. Yogis are often vegetarians or vegans.
Yogis and yoginis are taught that the food that they eat really does affect their overall well being. For example, many practitioners are vegetarians or vegans. Yoga teaches us that all living beings are connected and deserve to be treated with respect. According to Sharon Gannon, one of the founders of Jivamukti Yoga, "a vegan recognizes that animals do not belong to us -- they are not ours to eat, to wear, to experiment on or to use for entertainment or any other exploitive purpose."
I've said it before and I'll say it again: animal agriculture takes a devastating toll on the earth. It uses too much land. Feed for farm animals requires water, fertilizer, and other resources that could be used directly for producing human foods like grains, vegetables, fruits, legumes, and nuts.
2. Yoga can relieve common health ailments and even prevent others.
Yoga works to stretch and engage nearly every part of the body. As we age, the parts of the body that go unused harden and begin to ache. Sitting hunched over at a desk all day causes the upper back and lower back to begin to tighten and harden. Yoga is great for back pain because it works to stretch out muscles and prevent them from clinching all the time. It also sends fresh oxygenated blood to those areas, awakening them. Yoga poses also bring fluidity to the joints preventing and curing some types of arthritis. And certain yoga poses can even focus on stretching out the tissue between the toes caused by years of high heels and bad shoes in general. And that's just the tip of the iceberg. The point is that yogis don't need to pop pills because they generally feel better in their bodies and that means a lighter impact on the planet.
3. Yogis feel connected with the planet.
People that like yoga often like to be outside because again they believe in a connection between all living things. My yoga teacher was big on protecting the planet because it's as much a living thing as we are. One of the main tenants of yogic philosophy is the practice of Ahimsa--non-violence, non-injury, and non-harming to all living things and that includes the planet. When yogis become disconnected they like to reconnect by heading outside. It's a lot easier to work to protect the planet when you're well connected with what you're protecting.
4. Yoga retreats and events are often really green.
For yogis, a retreat is an opportunity to deepen your yoga practice. It can also be a time to spoil yourself and get back in touch with nature. Yoga retreats should be about getting back to you, not fancy, luxurious hotels with wasteful spas and no connection with the outdoors. Try a retreat at OjoDel Mar Lodge in Costa Rica. The lodge hosts all sorts of yoga retreats throughout the year. If you can't come during a retreat, it also has yoga year round. Additionally, if you sign up for a retreat through the Green Yoga Association, you can be sure that your retreat will have minimal impact on the planet.
5. Yoga is about simplicity.
Money won't buy you happiness. We've all heard the term but many of us don't really seem to believe it. But yogis and yoginis truly believe in living a clean, healthy, mindful existence free from unnecessary objects. This goes for living green as well. The more simplistic your life and the less stuff that you consume in terms of food, energy, and just plain stuff, the better off the planet.
More on Yoga:
How to Go Green: Back to Basics
5 Simple Yoga Moves to Beat the Heat Naturally
Get a Natural Face-lift with Face Yoga
