Values ​​and Yoga: Forgiveness #2

Every person has certain values ​​that are important to them and by which they live. In our 'Yoga and Values ​​Series' we want to introduce you to the values ​​and values ​​of our society and our coexistence through yoga teachers. Tatjana, yoga teacher and physiotherapist from Hesse, writes today about the value:

forgiveness

Wikipedia definition:

Forgiveness (alternatively: pardon ) is a key concept in various world views, world religions and philosophies. It describes the acceptance of expressed remorse and the forgiveness of someone else's guilt. A special, official or legal way of forgiveness is pardon (power of clemency). Related terms to forgiveness are apology and reconciliation, and in a weaker form also forbearance.

We all hold a grudge against something or someone from time to time. We feel hurt or disappointed and are angry with another person or even ourselves. We are unhappy with a situation and blame someone else or ourselves for it. The easiest way to seemingly get rid of this unpleasant feeling is repression. We push the thought aside, we don't talk to the person, and we ignore the feeling until it goes away. However, it doesn't really disappear, but lies in wait so that it can come to the surface again at the next appropriate opportunity and let us clearly feel that something is stalling there and blocking our energy or that there is unhealthy energy there.

Untreated resentment, hatred, anger, blame and accusation are like a wound that cannot heal unless it is cared for and given oxygen. Bitterness and harshness manifest within us, we harm ourselves and we harm others.

“Holding a grudge against another is like taking poison and hoping that the other person will die.”

Wanting to get back at the other person or being unyielding starts in small ways, for example. B. in the dispute over a parking space at the supermarket and is shown to us to a greater extent every day in the news about world events.

If we can forgive, we can change a seemingly deadlock situation. If another person is involved, it is not necessary for that person to forgive in turn. The decision to allow forgiveness and thus change a situation lies with us. Once the issue has been clarified within us, we can let it go. Maybe the other person is still not our person of heart, but the sore spot in us is no longer triggered.

Forgiveness and thereby letting go of resentment, hostility and blame requires a willingness to be soft and forgiving. We find these qualities particularly in the Anahata chakra, the heart chakra. We develop kindness, mercy, love, compassion and understanding when we are willing to allow these feelings with an open and soft heart.

An asana that particularly expands the chest area and promotes softness in the heart area is Anahatasana (heart melting pose) .

Yoga and forgiveness

Meditation for Compassion:

• Sit upright in a position that is comfortable for you and place both hands on your heart. Breathe softly and calmly and be aware of your heartbeat for a while.
• Direct your thoughts to all the qualities we attribute to the heart chakra. Feel love and compassion and let your heart space be completely filled with it. Stay in this softness and let love fill you completely.
• Now form a bowl with your hands and hold it against your heart space. Imagine love and compassion flowing into this bowl with each exhalation. Do this until the bowl is filled.
• Now with each exhalation you can move your hands forward and out in a generous gesture, as if you were spreading all the love into the world. Maybe you can mentally include a person who needs to be forgiven.

There can never be too much quality of heart in our lives! Namaste.

My name is Tatjana. Since 2006 I have been on the yoga path, which supports me in my life and brings me joy. I am a physiotherapist and, as a yoga teacher in Bensheim (between Darmstadt and Mannheim), I am happy to pass on to interested people all the wonderful tools that are available to us in yoga and enrich our lives.

Favorite yoga position: Utthita Balasana (Extended child's pose), because it resonates with me so wonderfully.

If you want to find out more about Tatjana and her yoga, then pay her a visit - you can go to her profile here or visit her website .

Would you like to share your thoughts on a value in our society related to yoga? Then please send us an email to mail[at]findedeinyoga.org . We are happy!

You can find all previously published articles in the “Values ​​and Yoga” series here .