This course outlines the first of the ethical principles in the 8 limb yoga system, nonviolence. Students will learn new daily habits, learn how to lay the foundation for a more challenging personal discipline and take your personal practices out on the road and into the places where we all live and work. You will explore hopeful and powerful responses to violence to practice and if you are a yoga teacher, share with all your yoga students. Yoga teachers can receive 5 Yoga Alliance CEUs in the humanities and philosophy category.

Lessons include:

  1. In this unit you will learn a variety of ways to stand against violence and how to lay the foundation for a more challenging personal discipline.
  2. In this unit you will learn to stand against violence in personal relationships.
  3. In this unit you will learn to stand against violence while raising children.
  4. In this unit you will learn to stand against violence in the family.
  5. In this unit you will learn to stand against violence in the community. Explore hopeful and powerful responses to the violence all around us in this world.

Audio files, reading material and discussion questions will follow the videos.

From the introduction to the book Nonviolence Journal and Workbook: 108 Prompts for Peace

We all have the seeds of peace inside of us. To help our peaceful seeds take off we need the most powerful nutrient on the planet, the practice of nonviolence. Many plants can grow on their own but when plants are planted together, and nurtured as a group, their roots grow deep. They begin to provide nutrients for each other. The same is true of nonviolent individuals working together. They can grow together, stay rooted together, and provide nutrients and support to each other. Nonviolent practices promote peace, alone or with others, and anyone can use them. This journal is a companion to the book Nonviolence in this Moment.  That book goes into detail about nonviolence, not harming other human beings and standing against violence in general. You hear the word nonviolence used in many contexts and sometimes it can be confusing or seem impossible. These two books should provide some clarity. As you work through the journal prompts here you will transform your ideas, beliefs and daily habits. You may let go of old, useless beliefs and discover new ones. You will set boundaries for your private life and your relationships. But it does not end there. This journal and workbook will capture your reflections about yourself, partners, family members, friends and all the environments you find yourself in.

Yoga teachers can receive 5 Yoga Alliance CEUs in the humanities and philosophy category.