Why Warrior?One of yoga’s primary yamas or ethical practices is Non-Harming, ahimsa, or literally non-violence. Why then are there several strong warrior, virabhadra, postures within yoga?!The best answer may be found in the underlying meaning of the conversation between two characters from the ancient text Bhagavad Gita. God-incarnate Krishna talks with fearsome warrior Arjuna on the eve of a battle. Could it be that the warrior is actually average yogis, people like you and me, struggling mightily against the enemy forces of self ignorance, avidya, on the “battlefield” of life? Krishna is our “higher self” atman always present to offer aid and comfort as he leads us to self- realization.And so the name virabhadra is a subtle acknowledgement and reminder in powerful postures of our commitment to fight the good fight.Any time we overcome our own ignorance in any given situation and do “the right thing” sometimes in the face of great adversity, we are acting in ways of warriorship.