Back in 2003 during my first yoga teacher training we were instructed to work on a karma yoga project.

Karma yoga, along with Bhakti yoga (the yoga of devotion), Raja yoga (the yoga of meditation), Jnana  yoga (the yoga of knowledge/wisdom/intellect) form four paths of yoga.

Karma yoga is the yoga of action:  taking self-less, kind, generous actions without attachment to the outcome. “The Bhagavad Gita ascribes a central place to karma yoga, stating that in life we can only act, but we should not be affected by the results of our actions.”  (from The Heart of Yoga, by T.K.V Desikachar).  

We can practice karma yoga in many ways like volunteering for a cause you believe in, taking care of your family or even performing your job, but all without expectation, attachment, or seeking recognition or fame. It’s about doing what you’re doing to be in service of something or someone greater; doing what you are doing from your heart.

The project I took on was to clean up a block and a half along Park Avenue in my neighborhood in Harlem. I began systematically, first cleaning up the sidewalk and the curbside.  Then I moved into cleaning up the tree beds.  I remember feeling so frustrated and disgusted by the lack of care.  Why couldn’t people just throw their trash in the garbage cans literally 5 feet away?  And the poor trees that had been recently planted to beautify the neighborhood were choking with weeds.  Where were the city workers to manage this? 

About halfway through my cleaning spree, Jonathan came to join me.  Between the two of us, we weeded, picked up garbage, fixed soil around the trees, and even made friends with some new neighbors.  By the time we finished, we had about five trashcans overflowing with garbage and weeds.  I felt proud of the work we had done.

While it’s been more than 20 years since we did that, I still feel the pull of Karma Yoga. And in the spirit of that project, I’m taking on a new one: cleaning the storm drains on my street. 

It’s a small act, but one I think about a lot as my neighborhood tends to flood during heavy rains.  If it helps alleviate that problem, even a little, it will be worth it. We'll see what happens...no attachment.

If you are inspired to explore your own act of Karma Yoga, let me know.  Take some pictures and share your story with me so I can share it with our community!

You can even join me for monthly clean-ups by emailing me directly, and we can grab a cup of hot chocolate or tea together.

Check out my classes here and let's move together!