By Corina D. Parkmond, M.S., C-IAYT, 500hr RYT, RPYT
Corina is a yoga therapist who specializes in working with difficult pregnancy and functional movement. She also offers assisted stretch sessions. Learn more about Corina or book a session with her today.
When we think of compassion some have a deep felt sense of kindness toward others, while others find compassion to be a sign of weakness. How do we begin to truly define compassion?
Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines compassion as “sympathetic consciousness of others’ distress together with a desire to alleviate it.” Being intentionally aware of others’ well-being, or the lack thereof, is a trait that most people naturally have by design. Having the “desire to alleviate” distress encourages our minds to resolve conflict. These aspects of compassion are not only reserved for those around us. Compassion is also a useful skill for one to have for oneself. For those who are not believers in the effects of compassion, working with a certified yoga therapist can give the ability to make space for this form of awareness.
In order for compassion to activate in our lives, a certain level of awareness needs to be had. The “sympathetic consciousness of others’ well-being” is an attribute already built within the human mind. The area of your brain called the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) holds the role of giving attention and maintaining attention through focus. No doubt, the ability to connect with others takes a certain level of conscious awareness of that person’s inner world (Hanson, 2009).
Think of the last time you were in conversation with someone. How attentive were you to their words? How often did you interrupt their train of thought, nod your head, make facial expressions, or hum “mhm” and “yeah”? Understandably, these are actions that are culturally approved while in conversation with others, but it can also be seen as a distraction or blockage from connection. Strengthening our ability to empathize with others comes by way of cultivating compassion for ourselves.
In 2022, researchers at Frontiers in Communication discovered that verbal insults have the same effect on the nervous system as being physically hit (De Mulder et. al., 2022). These insults arose from dialogue, not monologue. However, we can infer that negative self-talk would have held the same unsavory results on the nervous system (or worse). During times of distress the path to conflict resolution or even self-encouragement becomes difficult. The disconnect one has with oneself during distressing times can cause a whirlwind of verbal insults.
Rerouting the brain away from negative self-talk, in order to alleviate distress, mandates sympathetic consciousness or awareness of the Self. We know our inner world better than anyone else. By cultivating compassion for the Self, we can transform our thinking patterns and positively affect our internal environment (Ashar et. al., 2021). Skills that build the muscle for compassion improve self-love, conflict resolution, creativity, paradigm shifting, and more.
Cultivating the space for compassion to take effect would be the first step in building sympathetic awareness for others and ourselves. Because the journey to compassion can have many paths, this cultivation can look like regular moments of pause throughout the day or a time for reflection. In the United States, we live in a culture where the hardest working hustler who “tells it like it is” and speaks brutal honesty is celebrated. Putting compassion into practice fosters room for the prioritization of honesty over brutality. When a person cuts us off on the freeway, our boss makes an unwise decision for the team, or even if our kid makes another mistake at school, we ought to put compassion into practice. Compassion calls on us to pause before reacting, actively listen and watch, shift our perspective, and then alleviate the distress within the situation. These paths to practicing compassion can be made adjustable with guidance.
Working with a certified yoga therapist while maneuvering through compassion is the most ideal avenue to ultimately build sympathetic awareness. Yogic philosophy shares that there are internal observances (Niyamas) we ought to bring awareness toward. These internal workings could involve self-study, contentment, self-discipline, and so on. Taking a stock of these inner workings and how they may affect how we are able to gain a perspective of others, or even ourselves, can gauge our capacity for compassion.
The practice of compassion can be applied through external restraints (Yamas) such as non-violence, honesty, moderation, and more. Here is where thought patterns, attitudes, and perspectives are actively shifted. A certified yoga therapist holds the place of a guide in each practice of journeying through the Yamas and Niyamas.
If you find yourself struggling with compassion for self or others, feel free to reach out to Yoga Therapy Associates to work with one of our certified yoga therapists and increase your capacity for compassion today!
References
- Merriam-Webster. (n.d.). Compassion definition & meaning. Merriam-Webster. https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/compassion
- Andrews-Hanna, J., Ashar, Y., Dimidjan, S., Halifax, J., Wager, T. (2021). Effects of compassion training on brain responses to suffering others, Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience, https://doi.org/10.1093/scan/nsab052
- De Mulder, H., Struiksma, M., Van Berkum, J. (2022). Do People Get Used To Insulting Language? Frontiers in Communication. https://doi.org/10.3389/fcomm.2022.910023
- Hanson, R., & Mendius, R. (2009). Buddha’s brain : the practical neuroscience of happiness, love & wisdom. In New Harbinger Publications eBooks.
