Newsletter August 2021
In this issue:
Habits - how to control them
 Habits
Habits. We are all slaves of our habits. When a certain behavior pattern is automated, it is a habit. Most habits are so deeply ingrained in our system that we do them without even thinking.
How are habits formed?
When you have a pleasurable experience, it leaves an impression in the mind along with a desire for a repeat of that experience. When a similar desire comes up, you repeat that experience. The impression in the mind, called samskara, gets stronger and stronger. Now that becomes a natural response, and you may develop a craving for the same experience to happen on a repeated basis. This is what is labelled as a habit. In Sanskrit, this deep attachment to a desirable object/experience is called “raga”. When the need to consume some item becomes totally compulsive, we call that an addiction.
When we have an unpleasant experience, it leaves a negative impression in the mind along with a desire to avoid similar experience in the future. Now, when we have an experience which is “seemingly” similar to that unpleasant experience, but may be totally unconnected, we still want to habitually avoid that experience. In Sanskrit, this aversion to an undesirable object/experience is called “dvesha”.
Read more ...
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, August 21, 2021
- Access: remotely via Zoom or in-person at the home studio
- TIME: 2:30 - 4:00 PM
- FEE: FREE
- Instructor: Subhash Mittal
- To register: please fill out the registration form
Read more ...
14-day yoga immersion, Level 2
Prerequisite:
- An ongoing yoga practice including asana and pranayama.
- Ability to practice basic asanas and asana sequences like Surya Namaskara etc.
Program Info:
- What: 14-day yoga immersion, Level 2
- When: Monday, Aug 16 - Sunday, Aug 29, 2021
- Time: 6:00 AM - 7:45 AM (US East Coast time, EST)
- Access:
- Option 1: Remotely via Zoom; login info will be provided upon receipt of registration and payment
- Option 2: In-person at my home yoga studio
- Instructor: Subhash Mittal
- Fee:
- 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
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Yoga Sutra study group, 2nd and 4th Saturday
Metabolic Reset yoga program by Soumya Raghav
- What: 7-day Metabolic Reset yoga program by Soumya Raghav
- When:Monday, August 2 - Sunday, August 8, 2021
- Time: 6:30 - 7:45 AM daily (US East Coast time, EST)
- Access: Live video streaming via zoom. Zoom link will be provided upon receipt of registration and payment.
- Instructor: Soumya Raghav, YTT 200 soumyapavaman@gmail.com; (919) 945-4224
- Fee:
- 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
Tongue Exercises May Ease Sleep Apnea
Doing certain tongue and facial exercises for 30 minutes daily may ease the severity of obstructive sleep apnea, a Brazilian study shows. The study included 31 adults with moderate obstructive sleep apnea.
Speech pathologists taught 16 of the patients to do tongue and facial exercises for half an hour daily. Those exercises included brushing the tongue with a toothbrush, putting the tip of the tongue on the soft palate and sliding the tongue backward, pronouncing vowels quickly or continuously, and keeping the tongue in a certain position when eating.
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A Regular Yoga Practice Can Relieve Work-Related Stress
Increasing your range of motion and flexibility can benefit your performance on the bike, and studies suggest a regular yoga practice can help improve both. But a new research review in the Journal of Occupational Health found it may also alleviate work-related stress.
Researchers reviewed 15 studies that involved 688 healthcare workers total. That population is considered particularly vulnerable to stress right now due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and in need of some intervention that can offer more physical and mental respite. Studies assessed the effects of yoga, massage therapy, progressive muscle relaxation, and stretching.
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Yoga eases moderate to severe chronic low back pain
Low back pain can range from a dull, constant ache to a sudden, sharp sensation that leaves you incapacitated. The pain can begin abruptly as a result of an accident or lifting something heavy, or it can develop over time due to age-related changes of the spine. For many people, low back pain persists longer than 3 months (chronic pain). For about 20%, chronic low back pain persists for more than one year.
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What to know about yoga for asthma
Yoga is a practice that focuses on mindfulness through movement. It improves flexibility, balance, breath management, and more. Regularly practicing yoga may help individuals with asthma by reducing the severity of their symptoms.
Although yoga is not a first-line treatment for asthma, it can be part of a comprehensive treatment plan. Certain yoga poses can manage symptoms by reducing stress levels, opening the chest, and encouraging deep breathing.
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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