Yoga and service to others are two popular activities, but most people don’t think about how much they have in common. Both activities enrich your life, connect you to the community, and facilitate learning new ideas that can positively impact your world view.
When you serve others, you let go of your own agenda for a while, working toward a common goal that is bigger than yourself. In practice of Kundalini Yoga, this leads to “shuniya,” the elimination of ego-driven goals replaced by compassion, love, and a sense of belonging. To enjoy the countless benefits of shuniya, bring more compassion into your yoga practice with these three tips.
Help others enjoy the benefits of yoga
There are plenty of individuals who have not had a chance to benefit from yoga. You will find that these are people who stand to benefit the most, including veterans, prisoners, and at-risk youth. Many of these individuals feel a sense of detachment from their communities or have experienced trauma at some point in their lives and yoga can bring them a sense of peace.
Yoga shows people of all races, religions, and social backgrounds that there is an underlying equality among humans. If you are a licensed teacher, use your gifts to volunteer at nonprofits and other community groups. If you aren’t a licensed teacher, consider inviting friends and family to join you in an in-person or virtual class.
Bring Kundalini and karma yoga into your life
Karma yoga is one of the 22 forms of ancient yoga and is part of Kundalini Yoga. It is known as the yoga of egoless action. The goal is to act without ego, removing tension and expectation from your being.
Whether you are caring for children or doing chores, it’s important to bring conscious intention to your every action and be fiercely present in the now.
Support the world with seva
Seva means selfless service, beautiful work done from the heart without any thought of reward or gain. Seva takes many forms, from volunteering in community projects to silently cleaning a sacred space. One of the more public ways to practice seva is through “langar,” the Sikh tradition of serving free meals to anyone who is hungry, regardless of religion, gender, economic status or ethnicity. Food is a need we all share. Preparing and sharing meals with no expectation of reward or recognition is a pure seva.
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