Newsletter January, 2020
In this issue:
Pain is unavoidable, suffering is by choice
 Pain/suffering
"Pain is inevitable, suffering is optional" is a popular saying, usually attributed to some Buddhist source. In common usage, the words "pain" and "suffering" are often used interchangeably. Before we understand the true essence of this statement, we need to clearly understand the difference between the two words as used in the quotation referenced.
What is pain?
The widely accepted definition of pain was developed by a taxonomy task force of the International Association for the Study of Pain: “Pain is an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience that is associated with actual or potential tissue damage or described in such terms.”
Pain is mediated by specific nerve fibers that carry the pain impulses to the brain where it gets classified as mild, severe, intense, throbbing, continuous, unbearable etc.
Read more ...
Upcoming Programs
Healing Yoga for Low Back (HYLB) with Jyoti
 Back pain spine
(A 6-week series)
- When: Every Thursday for six weeks
- Next session starts: Thursday, February 6, 2020
Please note: no class on February 27
- Time: 6:15 - 7:45 PM
- Where: Integral Yoga Studio, 4000 Bearcat Way, Suite 102, Morrisville, NC 27560
- Fee: $149 (for full series, payable upon registration) (No drop-ins)
- Registration required. Click here to fill out the student information and waiver form for Low Back Care program.
- Instructor: Jyoti Shah
- Contact: to sign up or if you have questions: Jyoti Shah: 919-387-1804, jyoti@yogasheila.com
Understanding the Mind to eliminate Stress
- What: An Introduction to the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali
- When: Third Saturday of the month
- Next Session: Saturday, January 18, 2020
- TIME: 2:30 - 4:30 PM
- LOCATION: Integral Yoga Studio, 4000 Bearcat Way, Suite 102, Morrisville, NC 27560
- FEE: by voluntary donation
- Instructor: Subhash Mittal
- To register: please fill out the registration form (if you have filled the form recently, send me an email to register)
Read more ...
21-day Yoga Immersion
 Virabhadrasana (Warrior2)
Please note - in addition to the usual option of participating in person at the studio, you have the option to participate remotely by dialing into a conference bridge. See below for more info.
- What: 21-day yoga immersion
- When: Monday, January 13 - Sunday, February 2, 2020
- Time: 6:00 AM - 7:30 AM
- Location: Integral Yoga Studio, 4000 Bearcat Way, Suite 102, Morrisville, NC 27560
- Instructor: Subhash Mittal
- Fee:
$150 - in person participation at the studio (cash, check, Zelle or paypal)
$90 - remotely via conference bridge (audio only); bridge info will be provided upon receipt of registration and payment (cash, check, Zelle or paypal)
- To register: Fill out the registration form, providing information in all the fields, and submit it online
Read more ...
Yoga for kids/teens, 8-week session
- What: Yoga for Kids/Teens, 8-week Sessions
- When: Every Sunday
- Kids (5+ years) 5:00 - 6:00 PM
- Teens (Age 12 - 19 years) 6:15 - 7:15 PM
- Starting: Sunday, January 5, 2020
- Location: Integral Yoga Studio, 4000 Bear Cat Way, suite 102, Morrisville, NC 27560
- Instructor: Disha Gala (dishagada2010@gmail.com; (408) 685-5154
- Fee: $80 (cash or check, due on the first day of the class)
Drop-in fee: $12
- To register: fill out the registration form, providing information in all the fields, and submit it online
Yoga Sutra study group, 2nd and 4th Saturday
- Event: Yoga Sutras of Patanjali Study Group (YSP SG) meeting
- When: Second and fourth Saturday of the month
- Time: 2:00 – 4:00 PM (followed by social tea)
- Location: 206 Redwood Park Drive, Morrisville, NC 27560 (Breckenridge sub-division)
- Recommended texts for study:
- “The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali” by Swami Satchidananda
- “The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali” by Edwin F. Bryant
- “Science of Yoga”, by I. K. Taimni (free pdf download)
- “Yoga philosophy of Patanjali”, by Swami Hariharananda Aranya
- Summary of earlier discussions - YSP blog (your comments on the blog posts are welcome)
- Audio recording of yoga sutras – in Sanskrit, English and Sanskrit+English
- Invocation to Sage Patanjali and the closing Shanti Mantra
- Podcasts of my talks on Yoga Philosophy in the monthly workshops
Metabolic reset yoga with Soumya
- What: 10-day Metabolic Reset yoga program by Soumya Raghav
- When: Friday, January 3 - Sunday, January 12, 2020
- Time: 6:00 - 7:30 AM daily
- Location: Integral Yoga Studio, 4000 Bear Cat Way, suite 102, Morrisville, NC 27560
- Instructor: Soumya Raghav, YTT 200 soumyapavaman@gmail.com; (919) 945-4224
- Fee: $80 (cash or check, due on the first day of the class)
Drop-in fee: $10
- To register: fill out the registration form, providing information in all the fields, and submit it online
podcast channel
As you may be aware, I have been offering monthly workshops wherein I discuss various aspects of yoga philosophy. The main focus in these workshops is to discuss the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali in some depth. In addition, from time to time, I also discuss concepts from the Bhagavad Gita, Upanishads and other related ancient scriptures. In order to preserve these talks for future reference, I have been making an audio recording of these discussions and sharing them with the participants. These audio recordings are now available on the podcast channel on my blog. You are welcome to download these audio recordings for your use. In addition, you can listen to these podcasts as well as subscribe to them on itunes as well.
youtube channel
As you would have noticed from many of the recent posts on my blog, I have been adding short videos of many of the commonly practiced asana and pranayama sequences. I strongly urge you to subscribe to my youtube channel and visit the channel frequently to get instructions for your own asana and pranayama practices. Please share the link to the channel with your friends who might benefit from these detailed video instructions.
I would love to hear your feedback and, of course, would welcome suggestions for future videos that you would like to see on the channel.
Yoga in the News
Why Does Yoga Breathing Improve Our Health?
"There was a significant decrease in heart rate variability in participants when the action of the parasympathetic nervous system was blocked by the chemical treatment. This indicates that activity by the parasympathetic nervous system, specifically the vagal nerve, is involved when we see the positive effect of increased heart rate variability in response to the type of low breathing rates that occur in yoga practice."
Read more ...
Yoga Effects on Brain Health: A Systematic Review of the Current Literature
This review of literature reveals promising early evidence that yoga practice can positively impact brain health. Studies suggest that yoga practice may have an effect on the functional connectivity of the DMN, the activity of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex while engaged in cognitive tasks, and the structure of the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex- all regions known to show significant age-related changes. Therefore, behavioral interventions like yoga may hold promise to mitigate age-related and neurodegenerative declines.
Read more ...
Yoga Could Be Your Primary Relief Against Menstrual Cramps
Yoga, a common yet powerful practice, could dramatically ease or put an end to period pain according to a new study. Yoga not only floods your system with feel-good hormones and improves circulation, but also provides relief for common menstrual complaints, the researchers found.
Read more ...
14-yr-old girl discovers magic of ‘Om’
Listening or chanting ‘Om’ can reduced fatigue, and this has been proven by a 14-year old student. Anwesha Chowdhury who is a class IX student of Adamas World School, Kolkata, recently topped the Science Congress organized by the state government by proving that the sound ‘Om’ reduced fatigue.
Read more ...
Have a question/suggestion?
If you have a yoga-related question, please write to me and I would do my best to provide an answer in a timely manner. I would love to hear your suggestions for future newsletter articles.
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