Yoga Stops Traffick 2013 was a great success. You can still donate online here.
Here in Albuquerque we chanted "Lokah Samastah Sukhino Bhavantu" 108 times. Some people counted with their own japa malas, others counted with their fingers, and we all followed the count of 108 New Mexico pinto beans dropping into a jar.
Before we began chanting, I gave a short talk on "ahimsa". Often defined as "non-harm", an easy way to practice ahimsa is to avoid violent or harmful situations. As we deepen our practice the definition grows to not only avoiding painful actions but actively working to end suffering. Perhaps it could even evolve to healing.
People sometimes wonder how can we say that we practice every day when we take so many days off (moon days, Saturdays, ladies' holiday). The answer is simple: asana is only one component of Ashtanga Yoga. While we practice asanas for just a short while on most days, opportunities to practice ahimsa are always available, both on and off the mat...
Here is a lovely video from the 2013 Ashtanga Yoga Confluence with Dena Kingsberg discussing ahimsa:
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