Yoga and Environmental Sustainability
Yoga can be a powerful tool for fostering a connection with nature, environmental awareness, and commitment to sustainability in children. This is because yoga encourages mindfulness and presence, allowing children to experience and appreciate the natural world around them fully, and yogic philosophy naturally teaches the value of environmental stewardship.
Taking our yoga practice off the mat might mean reducing our consumption and living a simpler lifestyle that reduces the burden on the environment and harm to its other inhabitants. We might connect with nature through outdoor activities like hiking or simply spending time in a park or garden. And we might actively promote public policies and laws that reduce environmental pollution and promote clean energy.
As Paramahansa Yogananda said, “If humanity will consciously observe non-violence, kindness, and harmlessness to nature, it will begin to recognize itself as part of the great ecology of the universe.”
Encouraging children to appreciate and respect nature can help them develop an awareness of their impact on the environment and cultivate a sense of responsibility towards the planet.
As Sri Sri Ravi Shankar said, “Nature is a living temple, and it is our duty to protect and preserve it. Let us live in harmony with nature and experience the joy and peace that it brings.”
As B.K.S. Iyengar said, “To cultivate the knowledge of non-possession is to practice the art of living, and when we practice this art, we are practicing the art of giving back to nature.”
This principle of Ahimsa encourages us to live in harmony with all beings, including the natural world. In yoga class, we explore this through activities that emphasize the importance of being a good citizen of the earth and caring for our human and non-human neighbors.
