Balancing Satya & Ahimsa

I often say that yoga is a practice for life, but it always seems much harder to take the lessons off the mat. How do we balance Satya and Ahimsa, truthfulness and non-harming? To reduce them to “be honest and be kind” overlooks the nuance of the human experience.

Satya means truthfulness, but that does not mean approaching every situation with a “truth hurts” attitude. Our perspective is inevitably shaped by our experiences, assumptions, and emotions. Because of this, I believe truthfulness requires Ahimsa. Before we can understand a situation fully, we must first have compassion for what we feel, creating enough space to widen our perspective and deepen our understanding.

Of course, this can get messy. As a recovering people pleaser, I often find myself wondering where the line is. How do I speak honestly without silencing myself for the comfort of others? How can I remain true to who I am while still approaching others with compassion, especially when my needs seem to conflict with theirs?

I don't know if I have the answer. In fact, I struggle with this dynamic enough that I sometimes question my own practice. Yet it is that very word that brings me back: practice. We are human and therefore imperfect. There will probably never be a point where we do this whole living thing flawlessly.

That doesn't excuse harm, but it does invite reflection. And maybe this is really how Satya and Ahimsa come together; Reminding us to be honest with ourselves, learn from our mistakes, and approach the next similar situation with a little more awareness and care than before.