What does courage mean to you?

The root of the word courage comes from the French word coeur, which means heart. In yoga circles, it is often said that courage comes from the heart, which contains two double emotions: love and fear.

Being brave doesn’t mean not being afraid, it means choosing to do what feels right despite being afraid. Courage comes from understanding one’s own truth and believing that one will do the right thing.

When we are in a harmonious era, it is easy to express our faith and truth. Many of us yogis are surrounded by like-minded people who seek to live on higher vibration. We choose to focus on the positive side and live in a place full of sympathy and love. Practicing these principles on yoga mats will strengthen our determination to practice these principles on mats.

When truth is challenged by all parties, how can we stick to it? When we have no choice but to fight for our dignity, our values, our beliefs and even our world, how can we keep peace and be positive?

The concept of being a soldier and fighting does not necessarily mean that we are denying our spirituality.

If you have studied Bhagavad-gita, one of the pioneering texts of yoga, you will know that the protagonist Arjuna is facing his greatest dilemma, not only because he led the army to the battlefield, but because he had to fight with his family. Arjuna tried to reconcile how to become a soldier with the spiritual teaching of peace and compassion. Krsna suggested to Arjuna that sometimes doing the right thing is to stand up and fight for your values, despite the pain and seemingly insurmountable obstacles.

Learning to dig and operate from our brave heart often makes us feel uncomfortable and full of fear. At some point, we will be asked to get out of our comfort zone and take actions-usually actions that make us deeply afraid. We need to build this power from the inside out, and tap our Shakti through Sadana or practice.

Step on your yoga mat or sit on your meditation pillow with the intention of building your own strength, compassion and personal strength. Cultivate your inner light and learn how we can make a difference. The more we are in harmony with our inner truths, the more we can share them and support them, no matter what obstacles lie ahead.

This week, we invite you to cultivate strength and courage that has risen from the inside to the surface. Remember that our life on the mat reflects our life on the mat. Challenge yourself to take risks, don’t play small games, and do what you want. These yoga classes encourage you to get out of your comfort zone, integrate into more complex postures that you may not have tried before, and help you take the first step towards achieving your goals.