Without getting too yogi on you, the yamas and niyamas are basically ethical guides. It might sound boring, but the teacher training lecture that broke them down was my favorite session so far. So many of the things that I love about yoga were all of a sudden articulated in it’s history, and I definitely nerded out a bit. The yamas and niyamas include things you’d expect, like truthfulness and gratitude… but one of them stuck with me more than any of the others.
At the same time, life is a practice. Despite all of the good that’s come out of these opportunities, I’ve still managed put myself in a position where I’m working a full time job, maintaining and growing Lake Shore Lady all by myself, and working towards my certification to be a yoga teacher. That is a LOT to juggle, combined with the fact that I get frustrated with myself when I’m unable to do everything on my to do list and give it all 100%… but how could I? I’m only one person. And instead of judging myself for my lack of super human powers, I can be nice to myself, and do what I can and forgive myself for what I can’t. It’s not always easy, but that’s the goal. See?! Ahimsa 🙂
Now, I know I’m not the only one who could use this reminder. Could you be a little bit nicer to yourself? Do you let negative thoughts get you down or hold you back? Think about how you would feel if you let that go. What else could you accomplish? How would you live your life differently?

I LOVEEE this post, Lauren! I've been so hard on myself lately and so needed this reminder–thank you so much!
I love the concept of "Big Self." Loved this post, Lauren, and loved these photos!!
Kelly | Kelly in the City
I love this whole concept! It's really important to care for oneself in the same way we care for others. It's kind of like "Treat Others the way you would want to be treated" only applying it to yourself. Treat YOURSELF the way you want to be treated.
Great great post.
xoxo,
Dannie
http://www.stilefotocibo.com
This is probably my favorite post I've read of yours. Please share more of your yoga wisdom, there are lots of us who geek out over it as well!
I'm glad it resonated with you, Jess!! <3
Right?!?! It's not a new concept or anything, but this way of thinking about it made so much sense to me. And Julie is such a great photographer – there's more pics from this shoot coming soon!! xoxo
So glad you liked it, Dannie! 🙂
Thanks for the feedback, Katie! I'm learning so much right now that I want to share it, so I'm glad it's resonating with people!! I already have another one in the works – stay tuned!
Thanks Katharine!
Love this post Lauren and think you truly embody positivity! I literally tell Trevor that after every time we hang haha. A great reminder to not put so much pressure on ourselves and live a little happier in the present! Can't wait to see you tonight!
Ahimsa is such an important part of yoga — how cool that you're learning the concept so indepth. I'll have a lot of questions for you. When I took yoga when I lived in India it included the Aryuvedic side as well so we were required to eat according to our doshas and to take care of our body from the inside so as to improve our yoga performance and our well-being as a whole. It was such a moving and interesting experience and I've always wanted to learn more and never have!
Thanks for this post — so excited to have someone to ask so many yogi questions to!
Xoxo,
Ashley || Sed Bona
This is SUCH a great post! Ahimsa is definitely something to strive for and I love it!
Katharine
Beverly and Park
I so love this post- both the concepts that are discussed and the way that you discuss them. Seriously. Makes ME excited about your yoga training just hearing about it.
xoxo
Great post!! I love those leggings, too 🙂
http://www.maggiealamode.com
Umm, have you been living inside my head lately?! Seriously, you just described my life 😉 I wasn't following you back in your early-twenties stage, but I went through a similar shift (including corepower's teacher training program). What's interesting to me is that I tend to be hardest on myself when I'm focused on my little self. I don't have x job or x clothes or live in x place. It's all about what I don't have, and that makes me feel less than, thus resulting in an extremely hostile attitude toward myself. Love love love the concept of ahimsa and love the reminder to focus on my big self. At the end of the day is my big self someone I like? Someone I want to spend time with? Good questions for me, thanks for the reminder and for sharing this post Lauren!
xo,
Kira
http://www.theimperfectionistblog.com
That is so sweet, Shaheen! I'm not aaaalways positive hahah but I do my best!! xoxoxo
Thanks so much, Kris!! Glad you liked it!
I will ALWAYS geek out with you about yoga! Seriously, whenever you want!! Haha it's all so interesting, and there's always something new to learn.
So great seeing you this week!!
They're so comfy, too 🙂
Kira, I'm so glad this resonated with you!! And I love what you said about how you tend to be hardest when you're focusing on what you DON'T have. Being grateful for what you DO have is half the battle, right?! Also, being cool with your "big self" makes it so much easier not to play into the comparison game. Everyone is on their own journey!