Dana Niyama: Generosity

Dana Niyama - Give to Receive Peace and Wellbeing

There are 10 Yamas and 10 Niyamas - yogic take on human values and ethical practices that help us reach our full potential for personal, spiritual, and professional growth, and to liberate us from the repetitive cycle of suffering. Yoga philosophy gives us the angles to look at our own behavior, so we can understand our actions, reactions, and beliefs. When we live in contradiction to the highest values, when we avoid taking the higher road - we get stuck in a rat.

This month join us in aligning our moment-to-moment living with the value of Dana - giving and generosity, which are not as straightforward as we think. In Yoga and Buddhism, generosity, or dāna, is considered a foundational virtue that reflects a pure and compassionate heart. It is one of the key practices on the path to spiritual liberation - the selfless giving of resources, time, or compassion. Generosity of heart is not merely about the physical act of giving but about the intention behind it. When one gives without expecting anything in return, one cultivates a mind free from greed, judgments and attachments, paving the way for true spiritual growth. True generosity arises from a genuine desire to alleviate suffering and spread joy, not from a sense of obligation or a desire for recognition.

“To be generous is to show love and compassion for all beings.”
— Buddha’s Teachings

I vividly remember the moment my mind was blown by this wisdom from my psychology classes:

whenever we FEEL like we are not receiving enough, it only means that we are not GIVING enough.

The monthly contemplations are:

- Are we truly sharing from the heart, or are we expecting tit for tat?

- Are we giving our love, attention, and kindness to all?

- Are we aware of when we judge people for their shortcomings and different viewpoints? Non-judgment is a form of profound generosity and involves an open mind and compassion.

- Do we fearfully 'filter' ourselves and our gifts with the world?

- Are we forGIVING or do we keep the score and blame?

Even when you as a client come to a store, or a student coming to a yoga studio - instead of what is here for me, try this on: How can I give the best of myself today? How can I improve everyone's luck by simply being here? Am I acting forgiving or righteous? That's the sauce!

The universal flow of love works: we have to give from the heart without fear or expectation for our benefit. This daily practice of Dana helps us stay in the flow of abundance and love, creating a community that shares and thrives together. When we share from the heart, whether knowledge, a homecooked meal, our time, a listening ear, or material things, we tap into limitless abundance and magic, creating a fulfilling life for the greatest good of all.

5 Ideas on Implementing Dana Niyama

1. Create a daily mindfulness practice to connect with an open space of abundance and peace. We can't give anything good when feeling closed and overwhelmed.

2. Before starting your day, tell yourself: My contribution matters, the way I show up in my community matters, and I will put my whole heart into being compassionate and kind towards all.

3. Make a daily habit to name the 3 smallest things you are grateful for. We only can give sincerely from a gratitude mindset.

4. Take loving care of your plants, pets, and family, and ask your friend todays: What do you need? How can I support you today?

5. Let go of your belongings with ease: declutter often, and forgive instantly when you lose something, or something is taken against your will. Clearing out is key to receiving.

Take time this month to contemplate this beautiful practice - see how you can embed it in your daily life to expand your abundance and loving essence.

I look forward to seeing you in classes!

The material on my blog cannot be shared or quoted without my permission. Thank you for reading!

SPIRITUAL RESOURCES I LISTEN TO:

WHAT CLASSES DOES GLOW OFFER?

At Glow, we teach yoga for all ages as a holistic 8-Limb practice, preserving the richness of its ancient philosophy. Every month we focus on a particular subject which you can see in our Blog. We offer a thoughtful variety of classes: Flow (Strengthening Vinyasa), as well as Yin-Restorative, Meditation+Pranayama, SoundBaths, Pre/Post-Natal Yoga, 360Barre, Deep Stretch & Self-Massage classes. Please take a look at our current in-person schedule >

ENJOY OUR WEEKENDS WITH WELLNESS EXPERIENCES

Your life is now. Here. In the city. Make it more meaningful, enjoy it, and do something different. We are bringing a variety of holistic leaders and healers to educate, unwind, nurture our spirit, and entertain our curiosity every weekend >

Sending you love, health and peace,

Natasha & Glowing Team

Sending you gratitude, love and peace

Natasha & Glowing Team