Using Yoga To Shift Terror And Violence

By Sandra Shama Kaur, Kundalini yoga teacher and founder of YallaYoga

The past few weeks have been filled with episodes of injustice, violence and terrorism. Thanks to the information age, we have immediate access to the most up-to date stories featuring ‘breaking’ news from around the world, but we’re also exposed to the slew of disturbing photographs and videos that come with the stories. We are overwhelmed with the imagery of devastation and suffering, from the displacement of the Syrian and Palestinian people, to the attacks in Paris, Kenya and Lebanon. Not to mention the flooding of Alexandria and the Russian plane crash that has left the future of Egypt’s tourism industry uncertain.

Indeed it is painful to witness these realities. It is painful to witness the suffering of mankind. It is painful to feel powerless. It is painful to lose trust in our governments, national and international. It is painful to realize that those who have power will use it the way they please, even if that way does not honor the lives of the innocent. It is painful to see how ignorance can give birth to violence. Indeed, it is painful.

The Siri Singh Sahib Yogi Ji who introduced the technology of Kundalini yoga to the West in the late 1960s often talked about the shift from the Piscean to the Aquarian Age. He talked about how the Aquarian Age will be dominated by networks, and information, where nothing is secret anymore. All information is available at your fingertips. An age where collaborations and collective consciousness will take precedence over individuality.

But what happens when our bodies, minds and hearts are ill equipped to handle all this information? We reach system overload and our nervous system reacts. We fall victim to our emotions and react obnoxiously, neurotically and with ignorance. We may lose sight of the big picture. We may lose sight of our collective consciousness. We may slander and blame others for any ‘wrongdoing.’ We may express our anger, frustration and powerlessness in a series of posts, words and phrases that create more disunity.

But what is one to do? How can we act with grace during tumultuously uncertain times? How can one savor the peace and expand it? How can we speak with elegance and decadence? How can we maintain a courteous goodwill to do and say good things?

Yogi Santokh Singh Khalsa suggests the following:

1. Have a daily spiritual practice.

Every spiritual tradition has one thing in common: a daily practice. This can be many different things — yoga, meditation, chanting, prayer, contemplation, exercise, journaling, and so on. It is not important what you are doing, but that you do something almost every day, and do it with an intention to let go of your blocks and focus your consciousness. Kundalini yoga and meditation are the most powerful tools that I have found, but everyone must find their own pathway and collect the tools for their own toolbox.

2. Don’t give in to fear, despair or anger.

There is so much happening that can trigger these emotions: the media, the environment, politics, terrorism, and so on. If you understand that these emotions are all symptoms of the Aquarian shift, then you can go through them without losing your focus.

3. Don’t be a victim.

Don’t buy into any view of reality in which you are not 100 percent responsible for making your life work. The Aquarian Age is all about empowerment and consciousness.

4. Be a source of light.

Find a way to spread your light: teach, heal, create community networks, serve, sacrifice, love. Spend your every breath spreading your light, bringing unity and creating peace.

5. Remember the yogic principles of life.

Find a way to practice nonviolence, truthfulness, non-attachment, contentment and self-study in every moment of your life.