Living Life in Moderation - The Practice of Brahmacharya
Understanding Brahmacharya
Brahmacharya is a concept found in Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism. While it's often translated as celibacy, this interpretation mainly applies to those living a monastic lifestyle. For most people, especially folks living busy lives in a busy city, Brahmacharya takes on a broader meaning related to managing energy, moderation, and productivity.
Brahmacharya in Yoga
In the context of yoga, Brahmacharya is part of the process towards quieting the mind and finding inner peace. As Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras provide us with a framework towards this ultimate goal through the lens of the 8 Limbs of Yoga, this particular Yama guides us towards ‘right use of energy.’
Here are three key aspects to understand in order to practice Brahmacharya:
Moderation: This means channeling your energy in ways that support inner peace. In yoga poses, this is about finding a balance between effort and ease.
Energy Conservation: This involves managing physical, mental, and spiritual energy. It's about controlling desires and distinguishing between wants and needs.
Self-Discipline: This means being mindful of your thoughts, words, and actions. Consider whether your actions are draining or replenishing your energy. Negative thought patterns and constant worrying can deplete your vitality.
Practical Examples
Media Consumption: Be mindful of the information you consume. Avoid content that is harmful or distracting.
Exercise, Sleep, and Nutrition: Maintain a balanced routine that supports your overall well-being.
Digital Detox: Take regular breaks from digital devices to recharge.
By practicing Brahmacharya, you can lead a life filled with meaning and purpose, ultimately finding the peace and freedom that yoga aims to cultivate. Let’s dive a little deeper into these practical examples.
Media Consumption
“Cruelty makes the headlines precisely because it is the exception. But the world goes on because we care for one another.” - From the power of kindness by Piero Ferrucci.
I picked up the power of kindness at Bloom Holistic Retreat Centre during some downtime between yoga classes. They have an incredible library of wellness/yoga books and, instead of bringing my own reading material, I told myself I would pick one intuitively. I couldn’t have picked a more aligned book and the first few pages validated many thoughts and ideas I had in my brain for years. I chose to read parts of what I had learned in class and unexpectedly was moved to tears. I’ve chosen to not consume ‘the news’ in many forms and consciously limit my intake of information yet I still have my fathers voice in the back of my mind telling me that I’m ignorant for not knowing what’s happening in the world. I often wondered to myself though…If I’m teaching a yoga class at 5:45pm on a Monday night that has 40+ people in it, how many more of these are happening in Toronto at this time? In Canada? In North America? In the world?
When I look around outside, on my way to the studio or going for walks, everybody is plugged into earbuds consuming information. People are almost, always consuming some information all of the time. When is it enough? Whether it’s good news or bad news, informative or educational, it can be draining. Pay attention to your media consumption. Practice yoga by being selective about the information you choose to intake. Is it uplifting you or is it harming you?
Exercise, Sleep and Nutrition
I love this one because when I limit my media consumption I find I have more time to balance these three things. My mother always said ‘health is wealth.’ Practice yoga - brahmacharya - when you’re weightlifting, resting and cooking by understanding how these aspects can increase or decrease your vitality. Choose to be active, to go to bed early and eat well in order to support your energy. Making these choices consciously is an excellent way to practice Brahmacharya.
Digital Detox
Lastly, give yourself a break from your devices, please. I would say sleep is probably the only time most get without devices but that also may not be true. The reality is many are so wired that they’re now tracking sleep as well. I also cannot understand for the life of me why students are ‘tracking a workout’ in a yin yoga class….🤯
I often say yoga class is probably the only time in a day you are without your phone and while this is true for most I still see it all the time in classes. People check their phones, reply to messages and are distracted. Consciously choose moments to be without your phone, to put it away and disconnect. Use Brahmacharya as your guiding light and know that this is just as important as your downward dogs.
tying it all together
This is why I love yoga so much. This ancient practice has such practicality to it. Spirituality is practicality. It’s connection to yourself and understanding your own habits. I do not understand when people try to teach yoga without spirituality. What is there to be afraid of? The deep answer…People are afraid of themselves, in my opinion. We distract ourselves so we don’t have to pay attention to the thoughts, pains and emotional turbulence happening inside. The journey of yoga is one that can help us identify these parts of ourselves and end our suffering. A connection to mind and body equals the end of suffering within. And brings us closer to ourselves, helps us find peace and helps us awaken the teacher inside of us. It truly is such a beautiful practice.
Thank you for reading. I’d love to hear your thoughts, comments and musings in the comments below. Please share.
Namaste ✌🏽&🤎