Yoga Revolution by Jivana Heyman

Author:Jivana Heyman [Heyman, Jivana]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Shambhala
Published: 2021-11-16T00:00:00+00:00

HOW TO SERVE

Karma yoga means acting without attachment to the result of our actions, without thinking about how our actions will fulfill our selfish desires. What’s confusing about this is the role of survival and self-care. Are those selfish desires? We have to care for ourselves before we can offer service in the world. How do we find the line between survival, self-care, and service?

I think the answer is that self-care is service to the body and mind. Self-care is not about spoiling ourselves occasionally; it’s about making conscious choices to protect our energy, our health, and our peace of mind. Boundaries are the best form of self-care. They allow us to focus on what the body and mind need to flourish, rather than what other people think we need or what other people need from us.

Yoga practice helps us to see this more clearly. The practices are designed to give us an unbreakable bond with the most intimate part of ourselves. Through practice, we can see through the untruths that we have told ourselves and, with kindness, change our thinking to reflect the truth of who we are. Karma yoga means we are open to learning from our actions in the world. We start to see where we have attachments and expectations from even the smallest interactions: “Why did he cut me off?” “Why didn’t she say thank you?” “Doesn’t he appreciate me?”

Having a regular yoga practice can help us build resilience—physically, emotionally, and mentally. So when challenges come, we can take that momentary pause and practice kriya yoga. It can take time, and we don’t have to be perfect at it. Even recognizing an attachment just one time will bring tremendous benefit.

I think of my formal practices of meditation, pranayama, and asana as preparation for the service I do in the world. Those formal practices are the way I care for myself so I can serve more effectively, and they help me get into the right frame of mind to serve. I always try to remember that service isn’t about what I’m doing as much as the way I’m doing it.

This is the conundrum of spiritual practice: Can I work on myself and contribute to the greater good? The answer is yes, if I practice karma yoga. I do this by looking at my life and seeing where there is tension or a need and putting my energy there without getting caught up in needing a specific result. We don’t have to travel to another country to serve people in need. We can look at our closest relationships—our friends, coworkers, neighbors, and students—to find an outlet for our service.

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