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Karma Yoga

Writer's picture: Sylvia'n' YogaSylvia'n' Yoga

For many practitioners, Karma yoga is not often mentioned. Personally, I had never heard of it before doing my Yoga Teacher Training.

I learned more about it while studying the Bhagavad Gita, where it is described as:

Karma yoga is the spiritual practice of "selfless action performed for the benefit of others".

It means that, when someone practices Karma Yoga, they are not motivated by the result the action they perform is going to bring to them. I'll try to explain with an example: you see your old neighbour coming back home with big shopping bags and selflessly help her to carry these home. As you're doing that, you shouldn't have any motivations, may they be material (she's probably going to invite me in for a cup of tea) or psychological (it's going to make me look good to everyone in the neighbourhood).

In your everyday life, Karma Yoga can take many forms and a lot of us are actually practicing it without noticing, and here I encourage you to think about this: when was the last time you did something like that?

 

It's not only the Bhagavad Gita that mentions Karma Yoga, the Vedas say:

One should perform Karma with nonchalance, without expecting the benefits, because sooner or later one shall definitely get the fruits.

The text here goes a little bit further, saying that even if you shouldn't perform these selfless actions without expecting anything in return, you will get something no mater what. Maybe not today or tomorrow, maybe you'll even have to wait until your next life, but all these actions will serve you at some point.


I am no expert in Hindu texts, but my interpretation of all this is that if everyone practices Karma Yoga once in a while, at our own little level, then the world will become a better place and everyone will benefit from this.

 

So, what's my point in all this?

Well first of all, to encourage you in taking part in these selfless actions. As we go towards Christmas, there are many families/people for whom it is not a happy season, so look around, maybe you can give some of your time to these people.

Then, second of all, I gave free classes in the park over the summer based on that principle, however, some people insisted on making a donation and I am really grateful for that. As it does not seem right for me to keep this, I have decided to give it all to a charity: Endometriosis Association of Ireland.

Some of you might wonder why and it's because I know so many women around me struggling with this, whether it is to live with chronic pain or to not be able to become pregnant, and it's definitely not talked about enough.



I can't thank all the yogis that donated enough, YOU made it possible and for that, I would be honoured to do it again.

Same place next year?

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