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.


As of August 15, 2004, there were over 250 co-signers of this statement, including many highly regarded Yoga teachers and scholars, as well as pioneers in integrating Yoga and ecology.

These names include: Shobhan Richard Faulds, Judith Hanson Lasater, Richard Miller, Arthur Kilmurray, Shiva Rea, Angela Farmer, John Friend, Georg Feuerstein, Lilias Moon Folan, Kaviraj Stephen Cope, Elise Browning Miller, Aadil Palkhivala, Barbara Benagh, Erich Schiffman, John Schumacher, The Kripalu Conscious Action Network, Kali Ray, Nischala Joy Devi, Todd Norian, Ann Green, Peter Sterios, Stuart Sovatsky, Beryl Bender Birch, Cyndi Lee, Marshall Govindan, Ranchor Prime, Henryk Skolimowski, Joan Skolimowski, John Seed, Christopher Key Chapple, Swami Asokananda, Sally Kempton, Hansa Knox, Sandra Van Oosten, Vandita Kate Marchesiello, Larry Scherwitz, Larry Payne, Clayton Horton, Scott Blossom, Jeremy Moran, Hillari Dowdle, Veronica Zador, James Bailey, Joseph LePage, Jeff Migdow, Tarika Diana Damelio, Bhavani Lorraine Nelson, Aruni Nan Futuronsky.

The Green Yoga Association
GreenYoga.org