By following ethical guidelines we practice serving the flow of goodness in our thoughts and intentions, kindness in our words and life-enhancing skills through our actions. If the highest goal of practicing yoga is to remember the inter-connectedness of all life, connect to the one Universal Spirit that is the essence of everything, then it stands to reason that everything we do should honor and facilitate that awakening for all beings. Works of service off the mat are a natural extension of this. From the profound knowledge of the inextricable, delicate and wondrous interconnection of all of life, we are instinctively moved from within to cultivate skillful means of enhancing life for the entire planet.

I suggest students offer even a few hours in service at least once a month if possible. This could be done in a number of ways and at a number of nonprofit organizations that do great works of service throughout the world. I feel there is an immediate and important need for support and service for the environment. Every practitioner has to find an avenue of service that is appropriate for his or her life with regards to the amount of free time and resources they have available to offer.

If formal donation of time and resources is not possible, I encourage students to be of service to their family and friends in helpful ways. If a community member gets sick or is unable to work, offering to do fund raisers, like bake sales or donation only yoga classes, are terrific ways of offering service from the heart. Even personal commitments, like picking up trash in your neighborhood or choosing to let people into your lane during rush hour traffic, are simple and powerful choices we can all make to live our lives in ways that serve the flow of goodness, love and light in the world.

It is paramount to recognize the immense service we can offer just by being committed to being kind to people around us. When we serve the goodness of life, in all ways, then we are acting as wise yogis connected to the essence of our own divinity, to the Universal Consciousness that pulses within everything.

–– John Friend, Founder, Anusara Yoga, Anusara.com