08 Apr The influence of yoga on our efforts towards sustainability
|| How yoga is guiding us to be mindful and drive sustainable consumption ||
The three of us (co-founders), embarked on our journey into the physical part of yoga at different times in our lives. Yet, funnily enough, we all intensified our interest towards the yogic living simultaneously just before COVID hit the news.
As we looked closer, we discovered that yoga was more than just physical exercise; it was a philosophy that profoundly influenced us to think more deeply about ourselves and our surroundings. And that introspection led us to think more about how we could give back, help others, create positive change, and integrate the principle of Ahimsa on a larger scale while embracing a sustainable lifestyle.
Eight Limbs of Patanjali's Yoga Sutras
One of the key aspects of yoga that expanded our understanding of sustainability, conscious living, and green practices are the Eight Limbs of Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras.
These limbs provide a comprehensive framework for ethical, moral, and spiritual growth, guiding practitioners on a path towards self-realisation, inner peace, and environmental awareness. (Very similar to holy scripts across different religions.)
To better understand the different limbs and guidelines, let's break them down:
- Yama: The first limb consists of five ethical guidelines for how we interact with the world around us:
Ahimsa (non-violence): Practising compassion and kindness towards all living beings and the environment
Satya (truthfulness): Being honest and authentic in our thoughts, words, and actions
Asteya (non-stealing): Respecting others’ possessions and not taking what isn’t rightfully ours, including material resources and intellectual property
Brahmacharya (celibacy): Moderating our sensual desires and using our energy wisely, including sexual energy
Aparigraha (non-coveting): Practising non-attachment and not hoarding material possessions or obsessing over wealth
- Niyama: The second limb includes five guidelines for personal conduct, focusing on self-discipline and spiritual growth:
Saucha (purification): Maintaining cleanliness in body, mind, and environment, including adopting sustainable practices
Santosha (contentment): Cultivating gratitude and appreciating what we have, rather than constantly striving for more
Tapas (asceticism): Consistently putting effort into personal growth, self-improvement, and pursuing a meaningful life
Svadhyaya (self-study): Reflecting on ourselves, our actions, and our beliefs to gain insight and grow spiritually
Ishvara Pranidhana (surrender to a higher power): Recognising a greater force beyond ourselves and surrendering our ego to achieve inner peace
The other limbs of yoga - more commonly known amongst people - focus on physical postures, breath control, sense withdrawal, concentration, meditation, and the ultimate state of enlightenment:
- Asana: Physical postures practised to improve strength, flexibility, and overall well-being
- Pranayama: Breath control techniques that help calm the mind and balance our energy
- Pratyahara: Withdrawal of the senses to develop greater focus and self-awareness
- Dharana: Concentration techniques to quiet the mind and enhance mental clarity
- Dhyana: Meditation, which cultivates mindfulness and deepens self-awareness
- Samadhi: The ultimate state of enlightenment, where individual consciousness merges with universal consciousness
8 limbs at a glance
By following these principles, we were encouraged to adopt a more mindful lifestyle that includes sustainable practices that respect the environment and other living beings.
The practice of Dhyana (meditation), in particular, has allowed us to become more aware of our actions and their consequences, leading to more responsible consumption habits, such as reducing waste, choosing eco-friendly products, and supporting ethical businesses that prioritise sustainability.
Yoga also teaches us the principle of interconnectedness, emphasising that everything in the universe is interconnected. By embracing sustainability, we acknowledge this interconnectedness and strive to minimise our negative impact on the environment, ultimately benefiting ourselves and all living beings.
So effectively, the philosophy yoga and our attempts to follow its guidelines, were the base we manifested within us before the concept of globalistina emerged. It is our continuous guide and motivation to research and collaborate with those who work with sustainable materials, respect other humans and appreciate artisanal skill.
We also seek opportunities to support people who need help maintaining their traditions or small groups that require assistance. We believe that the best outcomes emerge when people work together and mutually benefit from each other. This journey is a continuous path of learning, exploring, and improving to create a positive impact. A journey to do good, as we like to call it.
we can shape the way things are currently done and push towards a brighter and more mindful future.
Change doesn´t happen overnight, but we firmly believe that it begins with ourselves and our mindset.
For our own produce, we chose to start with an aspect of our lives that is dear to us: yoga. One of the first concerns when practising yoga is clothing. We believe that yoga clothes should be comfortable, beautiful, practical, and above all, sustainable. Sustainable clothing doesn’t mean sacrificing style or functionality.
And while sustainable practices may not yet be widespread in many industries, and the term sustainability is often abused for PR purposes, there are genuine ways to produce more sustainably and they will hopefully become more and more mainstream.
Through collaboration with like minded humans and mindful decision-making, we can shape the way things are currently done and push towards a brighter and more mindful future. Not forecelly, not angrily – but still determined.
One step at a time on our journey to do good 🙂
