Newsletter May 2022
In this issue:
Want to lose weight? – meditate!
Weight loss
When new students join my yoga class, I have them fill out a registration form. One of the questions in the form asks them why they are interested in joining the yoga class and what specific benefits they are looking for. "I want to lose weight" is, as expected, one of the more common reasons mentioned.
Let's ask this question - is there anyone who doesn’t know how to lose weight?. The formula for losing weight is quite simple and known to everyone – EAT LESS, EXERCISE MORE! So how come people are not able to implement this formula? The answer is simple – lack of discipline and self-control. Because people lack self-discipline, they end up joining some "crash weight loss or crash diet program". They stay with the program for a short time, maybe lose a few pounds, but don’t have the will-power to stay with the same regimen after the program is over. As a result, they not only regain the lost pounds, but in most cases add a few additional pounds to their weight. All this, of course, leads to more frustration and more stress.
Read more ...
Weekly ongoing classes
As many of you are aware, I teach weekly ongoing yoga classes as per the schedule given below. These classes are offered both online via Zoom as well as in-person at my home studio.
Schedule:
- Monday: 6:30 - 8 PM (level 1)
- Tuesday: 6:30 - 8 PM (level 1)
- Wednesday: 6:30 - 8 PM (level 1)
- 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.
Access: In-person at my home studio, or online via zoom. Zoom access will be provided upon receipt of registration.
Schedule and Fee: Please visit my website here for the current schedule and available payment plans. If you are a new student, the fee for the first month is $40.
How to pay: check, Zelle (use subhashmittal@gmail.com), Venmo (use 9199269717) or paypal (go to bottom of page)
Upcoming Programs
Yoga Retreat with Subhash, June 2-5, 2022
 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.
Read more ...
Samkhya Karika study group, 2nd and 4th Saturday
7-day Surya Namaskar Sadhana intensive
 Surya Namaskar (Sun Salutation)
- Program: Surya Namaskar Sadhana Intensive
- Location: In-person, at my home studio located at 206 Redwood Park Drive, Morrisville, NC 27560
- Zoom access: The link to access via zoom will be provided upon receipt of registration and payment.
- When: Monday, May 23 - Sunday, May 29, 2022
- Time: 6:00 - 7:30 AM (US East Coast time, EST)
- Program Fee:
- Daily routine:
- Light stretching
- 12 rounds of Surya Namaskara with mantra chanting
- Yoga Nidra
- Pranayama
- Brief meditation
- To register: please 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
More Relaxation And Less Stress Through Combined Yoga Techniques
“Our results, which are mostly consistent across the studies we examined, show that combining different elements in yoga is better. In almost all cases, combined interventions were superior to simpler interventions,” says Karin Matko – regardless of whether the problem is high blood pressure, diabetes or depression. The combination of physical exercises with breathing techniques or meditation was particularly effective. However, there were also particularities: “In the case of asthma, for example, yoga only works if it includes breathing exercises,” says Matko, who is also a trained yoga teacher.
Read more ...
You Could Stave Off Dementia With This Popular Activity, Research Shows
Now research is showing that yoga can have a profound effect on your cognitive health, too. "When people think of yoga, they imagine stretching their body into various poses. While this is true, it also has many benefits for the brain," says Doreen Cooper, a certified yoga instructor and health and life coach. "Yoga can reduce stress and inflammation, and improve resilience in lost or damaged genetic material, creating a more 'fit brain.'"
Yoga, as it is most commonly practiced, consists of poses, breathing techniques, chanting, and meditation. These components engage different parts of the brain, explains the Minded Institute: "Each of these facets can help the brain to form new connections through the stimulation of neuroplasticity."
Read more ...
Study: Yoga and Mindfulness Can Help Prevent Postpartum Depression
"For this reason, they believe yoga should be used as an effective tool to prevent and reduce the risk of postpartum depression in healthy pregnant women. The study believes yoga might be a more effective first step in treating mild postpartum depression than medication and cognitive therapies (though both of those can also be helpful depending on the circumstance)."
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Yoga for Grief Relief
Neuroscientists are only beginning to understand exactly how two big components of yoga — mindfulness and breathing — affect the brain. A 2019 reviewTrusted Source of 11 studies shows that yoga has a positive effect on the structure and function of several regions of the brain. Yoga benefits regions that control:
- memory and learning
- emotional and behavioral self-regulation
- cognitive functions
The research also indicates yoga may reduce neurodegenerative decline.
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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