What Yoga Teaches in Uncertain Times

We are living through a deeply unsettling historical moment. Wars rage across multiple regions of the world, violence dominates the news cycle, and the international frameworks meant to protect human dignity and safety are being dismantled. The structures that emerged after the two World Wars—institutions designed to safeguard peace, cooperation, and human rights—seem to be unraveling faster than we can process.

In many ways, the world feels disoriented. What once felt like a shared baseline of international norms and collective responsibility now appears uncertain. The language of diplomacy is replaced by the language of force. We witness destruction and suffering with a sense that the very idea of global order is being destroyed before our eyes.

For many of us, this produces a profound emotional response: grief, anger, disbelief, and a quiet but persistent anxiety about the future. When violence escalates and the world feels increasingly unstable, it is natural to feel overwhelmed.

So the question becomes: what can a yogi do in times like these?

Holding the World Without Closing the Heart

One of the most difficult aspects of witnessing conflict is staying open. The human nervous system is not designed to absorb endless images of destruction. Faced with suffering, many people instinctively shut down, withdraw, or numb themselves.

But yoga asks something different of us.

It asks us to cultivate steadiness in the midst of turbulence—to remain present without becoming hardened. This is not easy work. It requires daily practice, discipline, and compassion.

"The intimacy that arises in listening and speaking truth is only possible if we can open to the vulnerability of our own hearts". Tara Brach

Interbeing

The Zen master and peace activist Thich Nhat Hanh offered a word that beautifully captures the yogic worldview: interbeing. Nothing exists independently. Our lives are woven together with the lives of others, across cultures, across borders, across time. The suffering of one part of the world inevitably reverberates through the whole.

“When you look deeply,” Thay reminds us, “you see that you are not separate from anything.”

Yoga teaches the same truth. The practice is not only about flexibility or breath—it is about understanding that our inner state affects the collective field we share with others.

In moments when the world appears fractured and divided, remembering this interconnectedness becomes essential.

The Inner Refuge

When external systems feel unstable, yoga reminds us to cultivate an inner refuge.

This is not an escape from reality but a way of meeting it with clarity. Through practices like meditation, breathwork, and deep rest, we stabilize the nervous system and create the conditions for wise action rather than reactive behavior.

Thich Nhat Hanh often used a powerful metaphor: a boat caught in a violent storm. If everyone panics, the boat will surely capsize. But if even one person remains calm, that calmness can anchor the entire group.

Yoga trains us to become that person.

Compassion as Resistance

Remaining grounded in times of violence is not passive—it is deeply radical.

In a world increasingly driven by aggression and fear, choosing compassion, mindfulness, and non-violence becomes an act of resistance. Yoga reminds us of ahimsa, the principle of non-harming, not only in our actions but also in our words and thoughts.

Every moment we practice awareness, we interrupt the cycle of unconscious reaction that fuels conflict in the first place.

“Yoga does not remove us from the reality or responsibilities of everyday life but rather places our feet firmly and resolutely in the practical ground of experience. We don’t transcend our lives; we return to the life we left behind in the hopes of something better.” – Donna Farhi

Returning to Practice

So what can we do?

We practice. We breathe. We rest. We care for our bodies and our minds so that we do not become overwhelmed by the suffering of the world.

Because if we are consumed by fear, anger, or despair, we cannot be of service to anyone.

Thich Nhat Hanh once wrote: “We should take refuge in the island within ourselves.”

Yoga is that island.

Not a place of isolation, but a place of stability from which compassion can emerge. In uncertain times, our practice becomes more than personal well-being—it becomes a way of protecting our humanity and helping to preserve the possibility of a more peaceful world.

"Each moment is a chance for us to make peace with the world, to make peace possible for the world, to make happiness possible for the world". – Thich Nhat Hanh

To close the circle of this reflection, I want to emphasize the importance of Sangha, spiritual community. In uncertain times, practicing alone can feel difficult, and the sense of isolation many of us experience only deepens the weight of what is happening in the world. Practicing together—whether in person or even simply gathering on Zoom—reminds us that we are not alone on this path. A Sangha creates a field of support where we can rest, breathe, reflect, and remain connected to what truly matters. For those wishing to deepen their practice, nurture the nervous system, and spend meaningful time with like-minded people, I will also be hosting several retreats in the coming months. Retreat practice offers a rare opportunity to step away from the noise of daily life, rest deeply, and reconnect with ourselves and with community. I would be honored to share that space with you.

Om shanti.

Lavinia

UPCOMING 2026 RETREATS:

ITALY SPRING RETREAT

THE ART OF PRESENCE: Yoga and Culture in Southern Sicily

 6-DAY YOGA + MEDITATION + ARCHITECTURE RETREAT WITH LAVINIA 

Sunday May 31st- Friday June 5th, 2026

WOODSTOCK SUMMER RETREAT

Weekend Format Yoga Retreat at 'The Windbourne'

3-DAY YOGA + MEDITATION RETREAT WITH LAVINIA 

Friday July 24th- Sunday July 26th, 2026

More info: https://www.laviyoga.com/retreats

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