Newsletter March, 2020
In this issue:
Establishing home meditation practice
 Padmasana (Lotus Pose)
From the standpoint of yoga practice, asana (physical postures), pranayama (breathing practices) and meditation are the three most important components of a yoga routine. If we want to derive full benefits from our yoga practice, all these three practices are equally important. However, to attain the final goal of yoga which is to still the constant agitation in the mind, meditation has been given the highest importance. So, it is strongly recommended that we develop a regular, ongoing practice of meditation.
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Upcoming Programs
Understanding the Mind to eliminate Stress
- What: An Introduction to the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali
- When: Third Saturday of the month
- Next Session: Saturday, March 21, 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)
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Yoga Retreat in Mebane, NC, April 30 - May 3, 2020
 Lakulish Ashram 1
Mark your calendars for this amazing life experience - a yoga retreat at a lovely yoga ashram in Mebane, NC, August 3-6, 2017. At this retreat you will be able to slow down and experience yourself at a deeper level, nourished and supported by the beauty of natural surroundings. You will be able to deepen your personal yoga practice and develop an understanding of the yoga philosophy in an ashram-like setting under the guidance of Subhash Mittal.
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Surya Namaskar Yogathon, Sunday, April 12
- Event: Surya Namaskar Yogathon (108 rounds of Sun Salutations)
- Location: Hindu Temple (HSNC), main Cultural Hall, 309 Aviation Parkway, Morrisville, NC 27560; temple phone: (919) 481-2574
- When: Sunday, April 12, 2020
- Time: 7:00 AM to 11:30 AM (on-site registration starts at 6:30 AM)
- Program Fee (donation to the temple - includes veggie lunch): $20 with pre-registration or $25 on-site on the day of the event.
- Program: Om chanting, invocation prayer, a brief intro to the history and practice of Surya Namaskar, practice 108 rounds of Surya Namaskar, yoga nidra (deep relaxation), brief session of pranayama to balance out the flow of prana, closing chants.
- Lunch: Vegetarian lunch will follow the event
- Light snacks, tea/coffee will be available in the hallway during the event.
- To register: please fill out the registration form on the HSNC website and submit it online. You can make the payment on the same page.
We will take short breaks after every 12 rounds. Everyone is strongly advised to practice only as many rounds as they are comfortable with. Feel free to take breaks on your own even during each round and rejoin the session at any time.
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, March 8, 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
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
Looking for a Non-Med Treatment for Your Lower Back Pain? Try Yoga
Even among runners, lower back pain tends to be far too common, and popular treatments include medication, surgery and physical therapy, and of course, the tried-and-true methods of heat and ice. But new research suggests you may want to add mindful movement—such as tai chi or yoga—into the mix, and these choices may even replace traditional treatment options.
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World's first yoga university outside India to start classes later this year
World's first yoga university outside India would start its post graduation course later this year in the US along with research in the ancient Indian practice and the admissions for it will begin in April, university officials said on Saturday.
The Vivekananda Yoga University (VAYU) has established its initial campus in Los Angeles with a budget of USD 5 million.
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What does science say about the effects of meditation?
Meditation “keeps our minds and hearts calm, peaceful, and loving, i.e., in the right place,” a casual practicant of mindfulness and meditation told Medical News Today.
Indeed, most people who become interested in meditation are drawn to it thanks to the widespread notion that it will help them feel calmer, more balanced, and less exposed to the effects of daily stress.
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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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