“Love and compassion are necessities, not luxuries. Without them, humanity cannot survive.” – Dalai Lama

Compassion for others often comes to us quite naturally – because we feel what they are experiencing and empathise in a way that relates and connects us to their pain as if it were our own. But when it comes to ourselves, we can be our own worst critic. We place demands and expectations on ourselves we perhaps wouldn’t dream of placing on another and wonder why we feel so swamped, overwhelmed and anxious by our own self-imposed pressures. If we act this way towards ourselves, we invariably – consciously or otherwise – place these very same pressures onto others.

The truth is we yearn for understanding and acceptance, whilst craving freedom from the very shackles we have placed on our own feet. When we treat ourselves and others in this way, we have simply disconnected from the very nature of compassion we too are starved to receive.

“A human being is a part of the whole called by us ‘universe’, a part limited in time and space. He experiences himself, his thoughts and feelings as something separated from the rest, a kind of optical delusion of his consciousness. This delusion is a kind of prison for us, restricting us to our personal desires and to affection for a few persons nearest to us. Our task must be to free ourselves from this prison by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty.” – Albert Einstein

We can often feel a sense of emptiness in our own practice when compassion is missing. This manifests most when the harsh inner critic rises, making one judgement and criticism after another. It is in this moment that we have the opportunity to learn from our practice and experience the waves of challenges as opportunities to welcome the provocation with curiosity and openness. When we can receive this gift for ourselves, we have a greater compassion for the interwoven connection of all life, as well as for each other. We are in essence intimately connected to all beings and the only way to truly make a difference in this world is to continue working on the betterment of ourselves.

The gift of Karuṇā isn’t just a momentary action that comes to the fore in moments of fear and conflict – it is an aspect of Self that comes to life in the unfolding of our day to day lives, challenges, interactions and obstacles. It arises at the point where we ask for ways in which we can observe our circumstances from a True and real place, rather than from a space where our ego becomes the filter for understanding.

“Compassion hurts. When you feel connected to everything, you also feel responsible for everything. And you cannot turn away. Your destiny is bound with the destinies of others. You must either learn to carry the Universe or be crushed by it. You must grow strong enough to love the world, yet empty enough to sit down at the same table with its worst horrors.” – A. Boyd

Scientific studies reveal the energy of compassion impacts the physical and mental body via the Vagus Nerve; part of the parasympathetic nervous system that controls the heart, lungs and digestive tract. Is it any wonder then that when we lack compassion we experience symptoms associated with anxiety, worry, lack of sleep, high and consistent stress levels to name just a few.

Our next Yoga Intensive focuses on the gifts of reconnecting to the compassionate Self through a sequence of Asana and placement of Pranayama, Mudra, Dhyana (meditation) and Mantra that taps into the Vagus Nerve – awakening the dormant presence of compassion for self and for others. These practices will guide you on a deeper journey within to remove the blocks that impede the life force of compassion from flowing freely.