Self Care is Community Service

While at first glance the two concepts of self-care and community service may seem to be contradictory or mutually exclusive, from the perspective of yogic science, the exact opposite is true. Although you might be getting the message from your family or your culture that taking care of yourself is actually selfish and you should set aside your individual wants and needs for the greater good of the family or community, in yogic philosophy taking care of yourself is a requirement for creating a better world... depending on how you are choosing to do self care.

The main practice of yoga and meditation is to unite our embodied self with our Infinite Self which also means to become self realized or to reach the state of pure consciousness. While it is an individual path, it is not just a personal goal. This goal in yoga is recognized to be part of the liberation of all life and is done for the unity and good of all. Yes, by bringing yourself into a space of health and harmony, you are helping to bring health and harmony to the greater community, too!

A modern analogy for the importance of self-care as a precursor to caring for others is the example of the oxygen on the airplane. If you are traveling with children, the guidelines are always to put the air mask on yourself before helping your child. At first, this may run counter to your instincts to protect your children before yourself. And in a crisis or emergency this may be your choice. But over the long run, putting your needs last creates overload, fatigue, stress and, often, resentment. This leads you back into a place of reaction from old triggers rather than choosing conscious, self-serving actions. And, when you are in the previous states of being, you are likely not going to be a good caregiver to yourself or your loved ones.

My whole philosophy for my work is that just one person coming into a space of empowered healing and harmony will create an effect, a vibration rippling out to their families, their community and their world. One person living a life of health and happiness, one family living in harmony, one community living in abundant interdependency, one world at peace - this is my passion. So go ahead and do your part by embracing self care. Support your process to health and harmony, and one person at a time begin to create a happy, healthy world!

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©Jamie Durner, 2009

Jamie Durner is an accomplished wellness professional with a diversified background including twenty-plus years experience and over 3000 hours of professional training in holistic healing. She offers empowering resources to support wellness on all levels of body, mind, and spirit through individual consultations, group programs, corporate wellness in-services, keynote presentations, self-care home products, and healing retreats. Find out more about her services at http://www.ayurvedawellness.org.