Our efforts for the environment

If we turn to that guide to yoga practice that has stood a long test of time, the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, we find that an ethical responsibility is a foundation upon which the whole of our yoga practice is to be based.

Ahimsa, the first of the Yamas, the outward ethical practices that are the first of the eight limbs of yoga Patanjali outlines in his section on practice, is "not-harming". Just that. No qualifications. Not - not harming humans but all else is fair game. No. Just, not harming.

On the basis of ahimsa alone, it is at the heart of yoga not to harm our planet. Not harming our planet is afterall fundamental to not harming all the creatures that depend upon it, including our own species.

It is really hard to not harm the planet in this modern age. For a start it is hard to get the product you need that doesn't come wrapped in plastic, or made of plastic. All we can do is to be thoughtful and to try to reduce the harm that our consumption does.

At Yoga Spirit Studios we are doing our best to not harm our planet, and here are some of the ways we are doing that.

• We stopped burning candles and T-lights except for one T-light at reception. We used to burn through a hundred T-lights a month. First we found out that we could not recycle the little aluminium cup. Then we discovered that all of the T-lights and candles we were burning contain palm oil and that it is not from sustainable sources. Palm oil production is responsible for massive destruction of forests in Asia, an alarming loss of biodiversity, and loss of habitat for a host of creatures including the iconic orangutan. (We looked at soy but it is too expensive and turns out that soy production is also suspect.)
• Instead of candles we use "electric" candles and fairy lights that operate on AA batteries, and we use rechargeable batteries in them.
• We source hand-washing liquid that is free of palm-oil, or uses palm oil from sustainable sources. We pay a little more for this but it is ethical.
• Toilet paper, paper towel and tissues are sourced from "Who Gives a Crap". This is a fabulous company making these paper goods from recycled paper and also supporting the building of toilets in under-developed countries to make a huge difference to public health. Quality is good, ethics are great. You might switch to them at home!
• We really try to sort our garbage well and reduce the waste to landfill. Used paper towels are sent to green waste. We collect organic waste in green bags for the green bin. We sort clean paper products and appropriate plastic products that can be recycled into the recycle bin.

You can help us by being careful of which bin you are putting things into. Did you know that one contaminant in a truck load of recyclables of green waste could result in the whole load being sent to landfill?

(Author, Tina Shettigara)