#114: A Call to Ahimsa and a Prayer For Peace in Ukraine

One moral and ethical principle unites all yogis on their path — ahimsa. Ahimsa is the practice of non-violence, a hopeful note of inspiration amid the conflict on the European continent. We are all experiencing the Russian invasion of Ukraine in real-time. Many of us live in Europe and have friends and family who live in the cities we see on the news. I am not an expert in international policy or relations, and I am not here to discuss any political motivations. Instead, I want to invite everyone to join me in a prayer for peace.  I am here to support the yoga community and all of those who feel overwhelmed. It is in our practice to live a life of non-violence, but we can feel helpless to control the countries and national leaders around us. To bring this into perspective, I am sharing background information on the history of Russia and Ukraine.  There are resources here you can take advantage of to research, understand, and support the communities most affected by the war: Donate to Disaster Relief Send Food to the Ukraine Donate to the Ukraine Crisis The Ukraine Crisis Relief Fund Donate to Help the Children Donate with Razom The International Committee of the Red Cross Operation USA International Medical Corps Project Hope UNICEF It's important to remember that every death comes with grief. Every soldier comes with a family, a story, a life. Peace and justice are intimately connected, so don't forget to consider those with a different opinion. Approaching something objectively — without expectation or judgment — is what we practice on the yoga mat, and it will be very helpful in the days to come. So join me now as we pray for peace for all of us who will be impacted by this war. Keep up with me on Instagram at @kinoyoga and visit my blog at Kinoyoga.com. If you would like to sign up for yoga courses with me, get your free 30-day membership on Omstars.com & use code: PODCAST. Keep up with us online @omstarsofficial. If you want to share what you've learned on your yoga journey, get in touch with me at [email protected]. You could be invited to a guest spot on The Yoga Inspiration Podcast.