​Welcome to week One!

I am so excited you are starting this journey!
​
Be ready for SELF-ACCEPTANCE, GIVING UP control so you can heal, beginning ANEW, bringing yourself into your body and breath and BURN OFF the "stuff" and "stress" of life so you can deeply exhale.⁠

Everyday this week the intention is for you to:
-MEDITATE for 5 minutes
-PRACTICE at least 20 minutes of yoga/movement
-JOURNAL every day about what you are experiencing and discovering.

​You can absolutely do this!⁠

Download your workbook/journaling questions here:

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1: Ahimsa/Non Violence

Non-violence is refraining from acts of violence, harm and unkindness to others, to the earth, and to oneself.   

Practices for non-violence:
• Create balance in your life 
• Face your fears 
• Practice courage 
• Cultivate kindness and compassion to the world, others, and yourself  

​Ahimsa, the principle of non-violence, invites us to move through life with awareness, choosing actions that do not cause harm to others, the earth, or ourselves. While it’s easy to recognize violence in its most obvious forms—physical aggression, harsh words, or destructive behavior—subtler forms of harm often go unnoticed. The way we speak to ourselves, the pressure we place on our bodies, and the fears we allow to dictate our actions can be just as damaging. When the ego leads, it may operate from fear, reacting impulsively or defensively in an attempt to protect us. But true non-violence is not passive—it requires the courage to pause, to soften, and to consciously shift toward the higher self, which moves with balance, compassion, and love.

​​Practicing ahimsa is an ongoing dance between the ego’s instinct to control and the higher self’s invitation to trust. By facing our fears with courage rather than reacting from them, we loosen the grip of the ego and create space for non-violence in thought, word, and action. We cultivate kindness and compassion not just for others but for ourselves—learning to speak to ourselves with gentleness, nourish our bodies with care, and honor our own needs without guilt. 

​Creating balance in life allows us to show up more fully, and when we are in alignment, non-violence becomes a natural expression rather than an effort. As Deborah Adele so beautifully states, “Our capacity to be nonviolent depends on our proactive practice of courage, balance, love of self, and compassion for others.” In this way, ahimsa is not just the absence of harm, but the presence of mindful, intentional love.

2: Satya: Truthfulness

Truthfulness is refraining from lying with an additional emphasis on being more authentic and more real. 

Practices for truthfulness: 
• Be real rather than nice 
• Tell yourself the truth 
• Truth changes – get and stay current with yourself 
​
“As a partner to nonviolence, truthfulness prevents nonviolence from being a wimpy cop-out and nonviolence prevents truthfulness from being a brutal weapon.” ~Deborah Adele ​​

Satya, the practice of truthfulness, calls us to live with authenticity—not just in what we say, but in how we show up in the world. It is more than simply refraining from lying; it is a commitment to being real rather than just being nice, to telling ourselves the truth, and to continually checking in with our evolving inner landscape. The ego, seeking validation and safety, often bends the truth—masking discomfort with politeness, avoiding difficult conversations, or clinging to outdated identities. But the higher self understands that real honesty requires courage. It invites us to speak and live from a place of integrity, not as a means of harm, but as a way of aligning our words and actions with our deepest truths.

​Truthfulness and nonviolence are inseparable partners in the dance between ego and higher self. As Deborah Adele states, “Truthfulness prevents nonviolence from being a wimpy cop-out, and nonviolence prevents truthfulness from being a brutal weapon.” When the ego leads, truth can become harsh, cutting, and self-serving; when the higher self takes the lead, truth is spoken with compassion and awareness. Satya asks us to stay current with ourselves, to recognize that truth is not static but something we must continuously refine. By practicing truthfulness with both courage and kindness, we learn to honor our authenticity without causing harm—creating a life that is both real and rooted in love.

Are you ready to move on to other weeks of the journey?

Week 1: Ahimsa/Non Violence | Satya/Truthfulness
Week 2: Asteya/Non Stealing | Bramahcharya/Non Excess
Week 3: Aparigraha/Non Possessiveness | Saucha/Purity
Week 4: Santosha/Contentment | Tapas/Self Discipline
Week 5: Svadhyaya/Self Study | Ishvara Pranidhana/Surrender
Week 6: Review of All!