Newsletter January, 2021
In this issue:
Shatkarma – six cleansing practices
 Shatkarma
One of the most important texts on yoga practices is the Hatha Yoga Pradipika (HYP). This text provides information and instructions on asana, pranayama, mudra, bandha, meditation etc. The practice of Pranayama involves a variety of breathing techniques which help cleanse and energize the body. Under the category of pranayama, the text also lists six cleansing techniques, called "shat-karma", which help cleanse the entire internal system of the body. The idea is that the body needs to be clean internally, free of ailments and imbalances, for the pranayama to be fully effective.
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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 16, 2021
- Access: remotely via live video streaming using Zoom
- TIME: 2:30 - 4:00 PM
- FEE: FREE
- Instructor: Subhash Mittal
- To register: please fill out the registration form
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Free yoga January 1, 10 AM - 12 noon
 Downward Facing Dog
Let's usher in the New Year on a healthy note! Treat yourself to the gift of great health and a FREE yoga class on New Year's Day:
- What: FREE yoga class
- When: Friday, January 1, 2021
- Time: 10:00 AM - 12:00 noon (US East Coast time, GMT - 5)
- Access: Remotely via live video streaming (Zoom); login info will be provided upon receipt of registration
- Instructor: Subhash Mittal
- Register here
The class will consist of:
- Asana (physical postures)
- Pranayama (breathing practices)
- Yoga Nidra (deep relaxation)
- Brief intro to meditation
- Discussion on what causes stress and how to manage stress with the practice of yoga
21-day Yoga Immersion
 Virabhadrasana (Warrior2)
- What: 21-day yoga immersion
- When: Monday, January 11 - Sunday, January 31, 2021
- Time: 6:00 AM - 7:30 AM (US East Coast time, GMT-5)
- Zoom Access: Login info will be provided upon receipt of registration and payment
- Instructor: Subhash Mittal
- Fee:
- 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.
- To register: Fill out the registration form, providing information in all the fields, and submit it online
- 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
Yoga Sutra study group, 2nd and 4th Saturday
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
Yoga offers various health benefits
Though yoga may need to be studied more closely and extensively, many people who include it in their regular health care routines report feeling better both physically and mentally for having done so, and that may not be a coincidence. A 2004 comprehensive review of yoga’s use as a therapeutic intervention published in the Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology indicated that yoga targets unmanaged stress, which has been linked to chronic disorders like anxiety, depression, obesity, diabetes and insomnia.
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Global push: Centre recognises yoga as competitive sport
The government on Thursday offered official recognition to yoga as a competitive sport, preparing the ground for the ancient discipline’s inclusion in national, state and university level championships organised in the country.
The ministries of Ayush and sports have worked in collaboration towards making it happen with the aim of spreading awareness about yoga, the benefits it offers and the discipline’s spiritual background among the young. The ministries are also working together to ensure yogasana is recognised as a competitive sport globally.
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Can Mindfulness Help Ease Migraine?
A mind-body practice that combines meditation and yoga might help people better manage migraine pain, a new clinical trial finds.
The trial, which tested the effects of mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR), found that the approach helped relieve migraine sufferers' depression and disability. It also boosted how they rated their quality of life.
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The benefits of yoga for children
Ever wondered about the benefits of yoga for children? After all, they're super flexible and bendy naturally, right? However, if the little ones in your life are running around with too much energy, then yoga could be ideal. And the best bit? You don’t need much to get them started, either – just one of the best yoga mats (or choose one of the best yoga mats for kids) and access to YouTube, where you can find some great tutorials and classes. Just like its calming effect on adults, yoga can be great for youngsters. In fact, the benefits of yoga for children are endless.
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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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