In yoga, integrity refers to the alignment of one’s actions, thoughts, and values. It involves living with honesty, authenticity, and moral responsibility. Integrity is a quality most people respect and appreciate in leaders. So how does yoga become a tool for building personal integrity and sound decision-making in the face of challenge and uncertainty? Let’s dive in to the many facets of this:
1. Yamas & Niyamas, Moral Integrity
The first and second limbs of the eight-limbed path, which outline ethical principles and moral disciplines for living a more conscious and compassionate life. By studying the yamas & niyamas we can gain insight into the many learned behaviors and thought patterns that block us from speaking and acting in ways that align with our values and our core self. The practice on the mat then becomes a laboratory to observe these blocks as not who we are but a pattern to unlearn.
2. Asana, Physical Integrity
When it comes to the physical postures, or asanas, of yoga integrity refers to the positioning of your body to promote safety, stability, and optimal energy flow. It involves an understanding of healthy movement patterns with sustained curiosity around how we’re moving - that’s why we offer nuggets of education along with invitations to embrace slowing down on the mat! From a functional anatomy lens, physical integrity prevents further injury while promoting strength, mobility, and embodiment. From a more holistic lens, postures can build our vitality and our tolerance for being with discomfort and creating an inner experience of stability and liberation — so that we can take on greater struggles off the mat and in the world!
3. Pranayama, Energy Integrity
In Sanskrit, “prana” means life energy and “yama” means restraint. This gives us pranayama: regulation of breath and by extension, your life force. Breathe integrity means maintaining a steady, balanced breath throughout practice. While there are many pranayama techniques, they all are a tool to unhook your mind from whatever thought grabbed it’s attention and returning YOU to the present moment, the only place life exists.
4. Drishti, Focal Integrity
Drishti is a Sanskrit word that translates to “gaze” or “sight.” Practicing a single-point of attention is not only a balm for our nervous systems in a world that is always asking us to multi-task, it also plays a significant role in enhancing our physical practice. Finding an external drishti, an unmoving single point of focus, in a balancing posture can help bring stability to your body by first bringing stability to your mind. In meditation, finding your drishti means a specific inner focal point to anchor your mind and deepen concentration, such as the base of your nostrils or the movement of your breath. Overtime this framework creates more inner space - to better understand our thoughts, words, and actions and for peace, joy, and freedom to GROW!