“Self-Love is the source of all our other loves.” – Pierre Corneille

Why do we find it so easy to show unconditional love for another, yet we struggle with accepting this same gift from ourselves? What if our distorted view of the essence of who we are has become the very barrier that hinders our ability to follow the wisdom of the Self to the pinnacle of our life’s true potential?

The sacred concept of unconditional Self-love is known in Yoga as Ātma-Prema and, rather than being yet another form of western indulgence, it is the very foundation of our capacity to cultivate lasting happiness, anchored in the rich practices of faith, or Sraddhâ, and devotion, Bhâva. The belief of Ātma-Prema isn’t related to the egoic idea of self-love, but rather the identification of love for the Self that exists at the core of every being. This unites us in the understanding that we are not separate, and that the very nature of how we treat others and how we are treated is a reflection of the way we treat ourselves.

“The most terrifying thing is to accept oneself completely.” – C.G. Jung

Ātma-Prema teaches us that beyond the ego lays the reality that we all contribute to the one rhythm of the same beating heart, and it is the seed of this wisdom that gives life to the Premabhâva – the feeling of love – or recognition that, as Kabir states, “The river that flows in you, also flows in me”. However, the practice of Ātma-Prema takes time, patience and a ferocious courage, fuelled with empathy, compassion and loving kindness towards ourselves and others along the way. Despite our reluctance, only when we learn to receive the gift of Self-love do we cultivate the capacity to truly love another and, paradoxically, only once we accept all that we are completely and unconditionally can we spark the fires of real change.

As Rumi observed, “Your task is not to seek for love, but merely to seek and find all the barriers within yourself that you have built against it” and it is this understanding that forms the foundation of our next Yoga Intensive. We will take the opportunity to examine just how unconditionally loving we are to ourselves, if at all, and in a carefully crafted a journey of Svādhyāya (self-enquiry) – incorporating Āsana, Prāṇāyāma, Mudrā, Dhyāna (meditation), Prārthanā (prayer), Mantra (chanting) and an immersive guided Śavāsana of sound healing – we will move through the layers to dissolve the inner barriers of which Rumi speaks and reconnect with a way of being that more fully embraces your divine birthright of Ātma-Prema.

“You yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection.” – Mahatma Gandhi

MOKSHA YOGA INTENSIVES

Explore into the deeper layers of your practice, experience its transformational gifts and allow the true purpose of Yoga to become realised by immersing yourself in a 3-hour journey devoted to your mind, your body and your spirit – open to all levels of Yoga experience except for absolute beginners.