Often translated as “service,” Seva is much more. It is the natural extension of yoga, expressing in physical action the mental and spiritual elements of the practice.

As Sannyasi Ratnashshakti explained once in Yoga Magazine, “the word seva is made up of two words, ‘saha’ and ‘eva’. Saha means ‘with that’ and eva means ‘too.’ The word seva means ‘together with’ and [describes] those actions that seek collective upliftment through an understanding of the needs of others and are based on togetherness and integration.”

In other words, he wrote, “Seva is an expression of compassion, of the desire to
uplift and assist people.”