About a month ago, Svaroopa® Vidya Ashram announced the "Succession Plan".  "Later this year, Swami Nirmalananda will unveil a program for those who wish to take vows. Her vision is clear: create a vowed order of teaching monks, who choose to live by certain standards and maintain a certain level of practice. This will allow her to take the vowed community deeper, through teachings and practices that require this level of personal commitment. " As quoted from SVA's blog. 
Having been studying and practicing the yamas and niyamas for almost eight years now, I am very pleased to have the opportunity to deepen these practices under the guidance of my Guru and support of my Yoga community. I have already taken Mother Maya's Peace Vow as recommended by Swamiji in her talk "Yoga Vows". As soon as I took the vow, there was an internal shift and expanded awareness. Swamiji also has written an entire series of articles about the yamas and niyamas. I have been revisiting "Ahimsa: Non- Harming "  from March 2011.  I recalled a time, years ago, when I learned that the practice of ahimsa even extends to not ignoring someone; not allowing them to be a part of your life is harming. This had begun a repair of my birth familial relationships. As I look more closely at how to incorporate ahimsa into my life, moment by moment, it is wonderful to have these tools, support and yoga buddies along the way. Taking a closer look at my thoughts is what I am working on right now...when someone cuts me off driving..what do I think? Is that a harmful thought toward that person?
Watch this YouTube Video...
Living Ahimsa Slide Presentation.