“The yogi who perceives the essential oneness everywhere naturally feels the pleasure or pain of others as his or her own.”
~The Bhagavad Gita, (Swami Satchidananda 6.32)

At its core, yoga is the practice of mindfulness, compassion, and awareness of how one’s actions affect others. It encourages us to seek inner peace and develop qualities that help us find harmony and connection with others. 

When most people say they are ‘living their yoga,’ they are often referring to the Yamas. The Yamas are the ethical precepts in yoga philosophy that guide us towards living harmoniously.

Donald Trump embodies none of these qualities.

The first Yama, Ahimsa, means nonviolence or non-harming. The practice of Ahimsa requires us to be non-harmful to ourselves and others with our thoughts, words, and actions.

Donald Trump’s fascist rhetoric and use of name-calling is divisive and fosters a toxic environment. He verbally attacks individuals and groups and encourages violence. He has made racist, sexist, misogynistic, anti-semitic, and xenophobic remarks consistently.

Donald Trump has been found liable for sexual abuse.

The second Yama, Satya, means truthfulness. Satya asks us to be honest in our thoughts, words, and actions without exacting harm.

Donald Trump lies. Consistently. And over and over again. One of the most significant and most apparent is his election lie. He continues to repeat the lie that the 2020 election was stolen. This is the rhetoric that incited the violence at the Capitol on January 6th.

He lied during the COVID-19 pandemic, downplaying the severity and promoting unproven treatments. This led to public confusion and hesitancy for some to follow the recommended guidelines for masks and vaccines, causing unnecessary loss of life and prolonging the pandemic.
His normalization of lying has created a culture of misinformation and disinformation. The public’s ability to discern fact from fiction will have long-lasting effects on our society.

The third Yama, Asteya, means non-stealing. Asteya asks us not to take what is not ours or more than we need.

Donald Trump has a long history of shady business practices.
He’s a felon.
He tried to steal the people’s will by overturning the 2020 election results.
He stole a woman’s right to bodily autonomy when Roe v. Wade was overturned.

The sometimes overlooked aspect of living one’s yoga is the yoga of action – Karma yoga. Karma yoga is the path of selfless service, meaning acting without expecting any reward.
We take these actions for the world’s greater good and welfare without regard to how we personally can benefit. This requires us to put aside our own personal needs and instead focus on the needs of the collective, enhancing the welfare of society as a whole, including those we disagree with. 

Donald Trump prioritizes his personal gain over the welfare of others.

Yoga, by definition, means ‘union’. It is not the practice of dividing. It is the practice of uniting.
Donald Trump’s rhetoric, lies, and divisive behavior have contributed to the polarization within our society and contribute to the ‘us vs. them’ mentality. He lacks compassion. The word empathy does not exist in his vocabulary.

To truly live yoga, one must also choose leaders aligned with the principles of yoga philosophy—leaders who will work to create a just world for all, including those they disagree with.

Donald Trump believes that those who disagree with him are ‘the enemy within.’ Trump is dangerous. A second term with him with no guardrails means the end of our country as we know it.

One cannot claim to ‘live their yoga’ and then vote for Donald Trump.

No candidate or person is ever perfect. However, Kamala Harris’s policies will lift people and help create a more even playing field. Economists agree.
Kamala Harris pledges to give those who disagree with her a seat at the table.

Kamala Harris will protect and expand rights, not take them away.
Kamala Harris will take us forward, not backward.
Kamala Harris will include all, not just some.
Kamala Harris brings hope, not hate.
Kamala Harris will unite, not divide. 

Living your yoga means voting your yoga.