Ahimsa
A little personal love note to you and to me.
Last night’s yoga practice mantra was ahimsa, and the meaning of the word and series of poses (heart openers) had me thinking. At the end, we ended with camel pose, and as I went to try the pose I’ve never been able to do, there I was, fighting it a little, but I had done it, and it unfolded as I was thinking about the word ahimsa and what it meant to me.
Ahimsa translates to respect, non-harming. Treating yourself and other living things with care and consideration through action, thoughts and speech. When you’re at peace with yourself, when you find internal happiness, it shines through. When your glass is overflowing, you can give without expecting to receive. You can love yourself, with no expectations.
Thinking about it, it’s not a coincidence to me that I finally was able to surrender to this pose I had never been able to do before. I’ve been working on my relationship with myself for a really long time, but it wasn’t until I really exposed the voice within, challenging her and telling her she no longer had a place here anymore (she still knocks on the door often), that I was able to change my relationship with myself. I opened up my heart and trusted I wouldn’t break it again, and I haven’t.
When I started my journey to recovery I thought that changing what I ate or changing the way I worked out (thus changing how I looked) was going to make her go away. Losing the extra 5 lbs, 10 lbs, 15 lbs, etc., was going to make her love me. She’d finally see I was worth something. It turns out, she just needed to get the fuck out, like yesterday. The mental transition was the biggest stepping stone for me. The moment I stopped being so fucking mean to myself after a binge, is when it all started to change. The moment I looked in the mirror and didn’t allow myself to believe what she was saying to me. The moment the judgment stopped, I was able to show up for myself, my relationships and for you
I’m not asking you to love yourself right now - I mean, I’d love if it were that easy, but that shit is hard, I understand. What I AM asking is that even if you don’t love yourself right now, treat yourself with respect, do no harm. Don’t be so mean. You don’t deserve it. You’ve really done nothing wrong.
May I be happy and peaceful.
May you be happy and peaceful.
Ahimsa
xo
If you’re looking for a safe space where you can learn how to let go of dieting for good, enjoy food without guilt, and turn exercise into something you love to do rather than something you “have” to do, submit a client application to get in contact with me! I work with clients virtually all over the world helping those who are frustrated with dieting and want to change their relationship with food and themselves.
Hi, I’m Azul Corajoria, an Integrative Health Coach, Personal Trainer & Yoga Instructor. I support my clients in making step-by-step changes so that they can live a healthy and balanced life. By recognizing the interdependent roles of mindset, nutrition, and movement I educate and hold my clients accountable for achieving their health goals through lifestyle and behavior adjustments with an emphasis on self-care. Together, we navigate the contradictory world of nutrition through intuitive eating, practice mindful movement, and implement small mindset and lifestyle shifts that empower them to be their best selves in the easiest way possible.
