Recently, I found this nice listing on the net highlighting differences between a guru and a teacher. I found some of the comparisons highly thought-provoking and insightful. You may want to go through these in some depth and reflect on the deeper significance of each.
Teacher
Guru
A teacher takes responsibility for your growth.
A Guru makes you responsible for your growth.
A teacher gives you things you do not have and require.
A Guru takes away things you have and do not require
A teacher answers your questions
A Guru questions your answers
A teacher requires obedience and discipline from the pupil
A Guru requires trust and humility from the pupil
A teacher clothes you and prepares you for the outer journey
A Guru strips you naked and prepares you for the inner journey
A teacher is a guide on the path
A Guru is a pointer to the way
A teacher sends you on the road to success
A Guru sends you on the road to freedom
A teacher explains the world and its nature to you
A Guru explains yourself and your nature to you
A teacher gives you knowledge and boosts your ego
A Guru takes away your knowledge and punctures your ego
I’m delighted to announce my upcoming 14-Day Pranayama Intensive—a deep and transformative journey into the ancient practice of conscious breath regulation.
Reclining twisting asanas are known to be the most helpful in providing relief for low back pain and improving hip mobility. In this article, I will be discussing a few variations of the reclining twisting poses.
I hope you will enjoy practicing with me using the video.
I am excited to offer an Introductory course in Sanskrit language and grammar, designed for those who wish to deepen their understanding of this ancient and beautiful language. The course will be offered for 25 weeks, once a week. For this course, I’ll be using the lessons available on the Chitrapur Math website here.
This program is being offered online via zoom only.
Registration/Release Form : Please fill out the registration form, filling all the fields, and submit it online.
Flyer: You can download the flyer here. Feel free to share it with your own distribution lists.
Program Information
What: Basic intro to Sanskrit, 25 sessions
When: Sundays, 10:30 – 11:30 AM (US East Coast time EST)
Starting date: Sunday, April 6, 2025
Approx. end date: Sunday, October 5, 2025
Zoom link: The zoom link will be provided on receipt of registration and payment.
Fee: $75 (sliding refund policy)
Full refund ($75) if you attend the program without missing a class
$50 refund if you miss one class
$25 refund if you miss two classes
Payment options: check, Zelle (use subhashmittal@gmail.com) or Venmo (use 9199269717); paypal (go to bottom of page) (Add $5)
Prerequisites:
Familiarity with Sanskrit alphabet
Ability to read the Sanskrit script known as Devanagari
Purvottanasana (पूर्वोत्तानासन/pūrvottānāsana) is an asana which engages the body in an upward and a backward stretch. It offers a nice stretch for the wrists, arms and shoulders, lower back, core, hamstring, and ankles. It is usually practiced as a counter-stretch for the pashchimottanasana, the seated forward bending stretch. In English, it is commonly known as the Upward Plank or the Inverted Plank pose.
In Sanskrit, the word ‘purva’ means both the direction East as well as the front side of the body. The word ‘uttana (uttāna)’ is a combination of ‘tāna’ with the prefix ‘ut’ and means ‘deep stretch’. Thus, Purvottanasana literally means ‘deep stretch of the front side of the body’. This is the counter stretch for the pashchimottanasana which literally means ‘deep stretch of the back side of the body’. The word ‘pashchim’ means both the direction West as well as the back side of the body.
To register: Fill out the registration form, providing information in all the fields, and submit it online
Program outline: A brief outline of what is planned for the course is given in this document (pdf) on my dropbox folder. I would welcome any comments or feedback on this propposed outline.
Commitment:
A firm commitment to complete the program without missing a day
At the end of the program, continue the same practice at home for another 21 days to make it a life-long habit
A regular practice of meditation is known to give you all the above and many more benefits.
I invite you to join me for this FREE Meditation session. In this class, I will be presenting the basic concepts of meditation and practice a guided meditation technique.
Flyer: You can download the flyer here. Feel free to share it with your own distribution lists.
No prior asana, pranayama or meditation experience is required.
Program Information
What: FREE evening yoga session on Meditation
When: Sunday, February 23, 2025
Time: 6:00 – 7:30 PM (US East Coast time, EST)
Participation: In-person or via zoom
In-person at my home yoga studio located at 206 Redwood Park Drive, Morrisville, NC 27560
Remotely via zoom – zoom login info will be provided upon receipt of registration
I am pleased to announce a short 3-session workshop wherein you will be introduced to the basics of the ancient Sanskrit language. The program is specifically tailored for its use in yoga practice. As you may be aware, all ancient texts related to the field of yoga – Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, Hatha Yoga Pradipika, Samkhya system of philosophy, the Bhagavad Gita and many others – were all written in Sanskrit. A basic knowledge of Sanskrit can help us understand these texts at a deeper level and enrich our life in general and yoga experience in particular.
Flyer: You can download the flyer here. Feel free to share it with your own distribution lists.
What: Basic intro to Sanskrit, three sessions
When: On Sundays – March 2, 9, and 16
Time: 11 AM – 12 PM
Access: Remotely via Zoom; login info will be provided upon receipt of registration
Fee: FREE
To register: please fill out the registration form, providing information in all the fields
Asanas that involve a spinal twist are known to offer many benefits. The most commonly listed benefits include improved blood circulation in the body, enhanced mobility and range of motion of the spine, managing discomfort or pain in the lower back, detoxification and cleansing of the organs. One of the most commonly practiced asanas in this category is the Ardha-matsyendrasana. In this article, I will be discussing the twisting asana called the Bharadwajasana (bhāradvājāsana – भारद्वाजासन).
This asana is named after one of the well-known ancient rishis (sages). Rishi Bharadwaj was one in the group of seven rishis known as sapta-rishi. He was the father of the famed Dronacharya, the teacher for both Pandavas and Kauravas in the epic story of Mahabharata.
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