I was talking recently to my lovely Yoga teacher training group about the practice of Satya. Most teachers translate Satya as truthfulness and advise people not to lie – which is sorta like duh. For me, I think of Satya as “integrity with my words”.
Integrity with my words mean all sorts of things like:
- speaking truthfully but with love
- seeking opportunities to spread kindness and joy rather than complaining or whining
- doing what I say I will do
- learning to say No and not overcommitting myself
- speaking my truth and my needs
- using the appropriate medium for my message.
As famous Canadian commentar, Marshall McLuhan said the medium IS the message. Sometimes the method by which we deliver our message says more than the message itself and often in our digital, one click, get it done society we lose sight of the person on the other end.
Remember in that Sex in the City episode where Carrie’s boyfriend breaks up with her on a post-it note. She was more upset about the WAY he did it than the actual break up. One of my sister’s friends received a text message from her sweetheart saying he was now snogging someone else. Ouch baby.
Just last week someone I thought to be a close friend sent me an email delivering a message that really should have been done in person. I was more hurt that I did not even warrant a phone call never mind a coffee than I was by the actual message itself. Of course this is up to me to manage my reaction and thanks to Yoga and meditation I can usually clear this pretty fast. However all this had me thinking of the practice of Satya and having integrity with my words.
My husband refuses to have business meetings on the phone. He will only do it face to face. He says it shows the other person you care enough about the issue and them to meet in person. I use to think he was old fashioned but now I can really see his point. We never want to lose that human connection. He also calls me back everytime I text him which is kind of annoying when I just want him to grab me some sushi but on the upside I am certain he will never break it off with me on a Facebook message.
So next time you are ready to fire off that email bomb or break someone’s heart just try to remember that there is a human being on the receiving end. Speaking with intregity, compassion and courage is always a great medium and a great message.
Love and blessings,
Shasta Townsend
A celebrated transformational leader and a leading pioneer in embodied spirituality and Yoga, Shasta has inspired hundreds of people through her breakthrough methods for awakening and empowering your inner voice and divine power. Director, founder and senior teacher with Balanced Life Yoga, she delivers public talks, seminars and trainings on evolution and empowerment. She draws on a wide variety of techniques including Yoga, Shamanis, meditation, energy healing, coaching and the Law of Attraction. She is especially appreciated for her passionate way of allowing individuals to make sense of their world and embodied, holistic means to become the change they wish to see.
As early as in her teenage years, Shasta embarked on her journey as a spiritual explorer which led her to India, where she studied yoga, meditation and energy healing. She has studied with many remarkable mentors and she has undergone thousands of hour’s intense practice of meditation and spiritual studies. Shasta has taken every opportunity to become adept in her field through her own practice as well as through extensive training in yoga, group dynamics, meditation and spiritual counselling.
Written by Shasta
Shasta loves to see women of all ages recognize, access, and utilize the greatness within them, and to be a small part of it. She is skilled at cracking the lockbox of limitation and revealing one’s inner gifts. She is a feisty champion of creating an unlimited life where ease, joy, and freedom reign, regardless of the circumstances. Shasta’s expertise in these matters does not come from a few letters behind her name, but from her own investigation, learning, and journey. Thanks to this, her offerings are not regurgitated from another’s textbook, but from her own personal evolution and inner guidance. Shasta shares her passion for living well as a Featured Columnist at Elephant Journal, The Good Men Project, Rebelle Society and Vivid Life. Shasta leads retreats, workshops and talks around the world. She lives in Canada with her husband, cat and creative impulse. Her debut book, Happy, Sexy, Shameless – What Our Mother’s Didn’t Know About the Birds and the Bees is available through amazon.com
