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The health of our bodies depends on clean air, clean water, and clean food. Yoga is grounded in an understanding of this interconnection. Historically, Yoga developed in the context of a close relationship with the earth and cosmos and a profound reverence for animals, plants, soil, water, and air. This reverence towards life is the basis of the Yogic teaching of ahimsa, or non-violence, non-injury, and non-harming.
Today, the viability of earth's life systems is in danger. If humanity is to survive and thrive, we must learn to live in balance with nature. Now is the time to cleanse and heal the earth and to establish a sustainable relationship with the environment for generations to come.
Therefore, as practitioners of Yoga we will:
- Educate ourselves about the needs of the biosphere as a whole and our local ecosystems in particular.
- Cultivate an appreciation for and conscious connection with the natural environments in which we live, including animals, plants, soil, water, and air.
- Include care for the environment in our discussion of Yogic ethical practices.
- Commit ourselves to policies, products, and actions that minimize environmental harm and maximize environmental benefit.
- And if we are Yoga teachers or centers, we will incorporate these commitments into our work with students.
Endorsers of this Values Statement include:
Swami Asokananda
Barbara Benagh
Beryl Bender Birch
Scott Blossom
Kaviraj Stephen Cope
Seane Corn
Nischala Joy Devi
Shobhan Richard Faulds
Angela Farmer
John Friend
Georg Feuerstein
Lilias Moon Folan
Marshall Govindan
Ann Green
Leah Kalish
Sally Kempton
Arthur Kilmurray
Hansa Knox
Judith Hanson Lasater
Cyndi Lee
Richard Miller
Elise Browning Miller
Todd Norian
Aadil Palkhivala
Ranchor Prime
Kali Ray
Shiva Rea
Erich Schiffman
John Schumacher
John Seed
Henryk Skolimowski
Stuart Sovatsky
David Swenson
Patricia Walden |
