The health of our bodies depends on clean air, clean water, and clean food. Yoga is grounded in an understanding of this interconnection. Historically, Yoga developed in the context of a close relationship with the earth and cosmos and a profound reverence for animals, plants, soil, water, and air. This reverence towards life is the basis of the Yogic teaching of ahimsa, or non-violence, non-injury, and non-harming.

Today, the viability of earth's life systems is in danger. If humanity is to survive and thrive, we must learn to live in balance with nature. Now is the time to cleanse and heal the earth and to establish a sustainable relationship with the environment for generations to come.

Therefore, as practitioners of Yoga we will:

• Educate ourselves about the needs of the biosphere as a whole and our local ecosystems in particular.
• Cultivate an appreciation for and conscious connection with the natural environments in which we live, including animals, plants, soil, water, and air.
• Include care for the environment in our discussion of Yogic ethical practices.
• Commit ourselves to policies, products, and actions that minimize environmental harm and maximize environmental benefit.
• And if we are Yoga teachers or centers, we will incorporate these commitments into our work with students.

Endorsers of this Values Statement include:

Swami Asokananda

Barbara Benagh

Beryl Bender Birch

Scott Blossom

Kaviraj Stephen Cope

Seane Corn

Nischala Joy Devi

Shobhan Richard Faulds

Angela Farmer

John Friend

Georg Feuerstein

Lilias Moon Folan

Marshall Govindan

Ann Green

Leah Kalish

Sally Kempton

Arthur Kilmurray

Hansa Knox

Judith Hanson Lasater

Cyndi Lee

Richard Miller

Elise Browning Miller

Todd Norian

Aadil Palkhivala

Ranchor Prime

Kali Ray

Shiva Rea

Erich Schiffman

John Schumacher

John Seed

Henryk Skolimowski

Stuart Sovatsky

David Swenson

Patricia Walden