Mario Austin - Compassion is…
I met Mario through MalaforVets Aumbassador Micah...and then really got to know him when he attended the 100-hour Mindful Yoga Therapy program I co-facilitated a few years back. Mario is a DC-Area yogi…who has one of the biggest smiles I’ve seen in a long time…I think it is safe to say his heart might be even bigger!
The social and moral responsibility of a Yoga Teacher heavily revolves around compassion inside and outside of practice spaces. Specifically, compassion has helped deepen my own feelings as an instructor, and it also encouraged me to be a helping hand to others beyond my role as a teacher. Over the past few years, COVID-19 has taken a toll on the mental health of many, and anxiety levels are sky-high, particularly in communities of color. My own mental health was put to the test during the first wave of the global pandemic. I had several episodes of worry and doubt about the world’s “new normal” ahead, and I became even more worrisome about my financial future with the significant impact of furloughs and business closures. After several weeks of reflecting, I had to show myself compassion and seek help for my mental health issues. I took it upon myself to invest in therapy, and it was the golden ticket I never knew I needed. Before I continued to help others in this tragic state of events, I had to help myself first. In another case, being a helpful resource beyond my classroom has helped me show others how much I care. Simple things such as listening to my students’ issues off the yoga mat, or being a shoulder for others to cry on remind me how invaluable compassion is. You never know how impactful you can be with others based upon helpful actions. Regardless of any circumstance, compassion takes on many forms. You will always be the driving factor of how to demonstrate variations of kind-heartedness.
What does Compassion mean to you? I’d love to read about it. Send me an email and Join The Pursuit of Compassion!
