Newsletter May, 2020
In this issue:
Overview of Samkhya Philosophy
As students of yoga, most of us are familiar with the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali which is considered to be the most authoritative text on the underlying concepts of yoga. It deals with the human mind, how it functions, why we go through suffering, and how to cleanse/purify the mind so we can eliminate suffering and attain self-realization. Many of the concepts discussed by Patanjali in the Yoga Sutras are known to have as their basis some of the basic tenets of another philosophical system called Samkhya. In the discussion below, wherever applicable, I will try to correlate the themes presented here with the corresponding ideas in the Yoga Sutras.
Samkhya is one of the six systems of Indian Philosophy (Shad-darshana). A brief listing of these six systems is given below.
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Online video streaming of yoga classes
As many of you are aware, due to the current situation with COVID-19, I am offering the weekly ongoing yoga classes online via Zoom video streaming platform.
Schedule (all timings are US East Coast time - same as New York time):
- Monday: 6:30 - 8 PM (level 1)
- Tuesday: 6:30 - 8 PM (level 1)
- Wednesday: 6:30 - 8 PM (level 1)
- Thursday: 6:30 - 7:30 PM (Pranayama and meditation)
- Saturday; 10:15 AM - 12:00 noon (level 1/2)
Instructor: Subhash Mittal
Registration: Fill out the registration form, providing information in all the fields, and submit it online.
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Upcoming Programs
14-day pranayama intensive (online)
 Vishnu Mudra
- What: 14-day pranayama intensive
- When: Monday, May 4 - Sunday, May 17, 2020
- Time: 6:00 – 7:30 AM
- Access: Remotely via live video streaming (Zoom); login info will be provided upon receipt of registration and payment
- Fee:
- Instructor: Subhash Mittal
- Daily Routine: Light stretching (10-15 minutes), Pranayama (45 min), Relaxation (15 min), Yoga philosophy/meditation (15 min)
- Commitment: A firm commitment to follow this schedule and attend every day
- To register: fill out the registration form, providing information in all the fields, and submit it online
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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, April 18, 2020
- Access: remotely via live video streaming using Zoom
- TIME: 2:30 - 4:30 PM
- FEE: by voluntary donation
- Instructor: Subhash Mittal
- To register: please fill out the registration form
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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
The Healing Power of Music, Meditation, and Yoga in Alzheimer's Patients
"Pauli was diagnosed four years ago with early-onset Alzheimer’s disease, and he believes the classes not only kept Pauli’s mood positive and her body strong, but they also kept her brain engaged, helping ease her memory loss and cognitive decline."
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Study Says Yoga May Reduce Testosterone By 29% In Women With PCOS
A study published in the Journal of the American Osteopathic Association found mindful yoga practices might help ease symptoms of PCOS, reduce androgen (a group of male sex hormones, which includes testosterone) levels, and improve feelings of depression and anxiety.
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Can Yoga Improve Memory?
FOR DECADES, SCIENTISTS have known that aerobic exercise improves your brain function. Unfortunately, studies also show that to achieve those brain-boosting benefits, you must exercise vigorously, which, for many, is impossible. However, new research hints that yoga may have similar benefits. This is hopeful for those who are not capable of performing vigorous exercises.
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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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