Yoga Goes Green
by Lisa Maria
Green Yoga, “fostering ecological consciousness, reverence, and action,” has recently entered the big tent of the yoga circus (oops, I mean circuit) and, in my opinion, just in time. Having emerged from the boom in fitness and spirituality, the yoga “industry” is now poised to become just another moneymaking empire, in some instances, hawking products that harm the Earth and its inhabitants in the name of bottom-line profits.
Happily, Green Yoga has swept in like a monk in shining armor, reminding us that it is just as important to align heart, mind and actions as it is to align bones, muscles and breath. The ethical principles of yoga — the ten yamas and niyamas, include ahimsa (nonviolence), aparigraha (generosity), and saucha (purity) — are key aspects of the yogic path that are meant to be practiced, not swept under the mat in favor of getting a workout. According to Green Yoga founder Laura Cornell, “Half of nonviolence is minimizing harm... the other half is building the positive qualities of honoring and revering the Earth.”
Cornell, a yoga teacher, began the nonprofit Green Yoga Association in 2003. “I wanted to awaken and establish the idea that taking care of the planet is something we do out of love, not fear, guilt or obligation...[and] that commitment heals us as well as the Earth.” An international organization, Green Yoga’s home base is in Emeryville, California. Their first conference in September 2005 was a smash success, with a roster of top-notch presenters, sold-out attendance and glowing reviews. Their second conference, scheduled for May 18-20, 2007, will be at Mount Madonna Center in Watsonville, California.
The ancient seers developed the practice of yoga (or “union”) as a way to “control the fluctuations of the mind,” ( Yogas Citti Vrtti Nirodhah, Yoga Sutra I.2.). They saw how the uncontrolled “normal” state of mind creates suffering, separation and destruction. As Cornell says, “Don’t be afraid to be outside of the norm; the norm isn’t working.” We practice yoga to quell this rambunctious, small self (aka the ego) and step into the vast oneness of Being, beyond the personality and the body. By remembering this state of divine consciousness and learning how to live more frequently from that place, we are able to use the mind as a tool for healing, love and peace instead of having the mind use us to create despair, separation and conflict.
Green Yoga asks us to move past the destructive aspects of the ego that strive to maintain the illusion of separateness, which directly leads to the ability to pollute. Green Yoga asks us to bring our yoga into the world and live harmoniously. Green Yoga asks us to serve, heal and protect the larger environment as an extension of ourselves. “We must learn to honor our first piece of the environment, our bodies,” says SF yoga teacher Kaatchie Ananda, “then we learn to honor the Earth.”
Many in the yoga community have become disconnected from building a positive relationship with the Earth. Being connected to the rhythms of nature as part of our practice leads us directly to the balance that we seek in yoga. “Our higher forms of spirituality, including yoga, have separated us from the natural world. We don’t want to compromise the higher spiritual teachings, but we want to bring back the rhythms of the natural world and learn from indigenous traditions,” says Cornell.
Whether you practice yoga or not, consider this — the ethical principles that form the foundation for yoga are universal spiritual principles. Even if the thought of Downward Dog puts your eyes on auto-roll, you can certainly find the sense to realize that environmental actions are simply good manners. And popular.
“Paul Hawken,” says Bioneers’ founder Kenny Ausubel “discovered that the global restoration movement is literally the biggest movement in the history of the world. It is everywhere, and it is unprecedented, the whole mix of environment and justice and peace, all together.…it’s civil society, and it’s now being called The Other Superpower. What really needs to happen now, is for us to all get connected.”
Not only is it vital to get connected to people and organizations that are working to promote planetary health and sustainability, it’s critical to build a relationship with the Earth itself. Cornell reminds us, “Once you connect to the beauty of nature… to the moon, the stars, the trees... you can live with less and be completely blissful.” As we forge these connections, the most important connection to make is with your true self by whatever name works for you — God Consciousness, Divine Intelligence, Being. Then our actions become a natural expansion of that inner state of peace and love. We understand the concept “less is more” in a profound new way.
Lisa Maria teaches yoga in the Bay area. She writes regularly for CG and wants a green yoga mat for her birthday.
