Newsletter August 2025
In this issue:
Six virtues for success in yoga and in life
In a previous article, I talked about the six obstacles in the path of yoga which also impact our day-to-day life negatively. This was based on the Hatha Yoga Pradipika (HYP) chapter 1, verse 15. The very next verse (chapter 1, verse 16) talks about six virtues that can lead one to success not just in yoga but also in life. Just as the six obstacles discussed in the previous article are normally referred to as "ṣaṭ-bādhaka" (षट्-बाधक) in some texts, the six virtues discussed in this article are known as "ṣaṭ-sādhaka" (षट्-साधक) or the "six enablers". In this article, we'll take a closer look at these six virtues.
Before discussing the six virtues, let us try to understand what "success" means both in the context of yoga as well as in the broader context of day-to-day life.
Success in yoga
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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.
Home studio address (for in-person participation on Mon, Tue and Sat): 206 Redwood Park Drive, Morrisville, NC 27560. Please note: in-person participation for the Wednesday class is at the Hindu Temple (HSNC) cultural hall.
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.
Zoom Access: Login info for 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)
My book on Pranayama
Pranayama
I recently published my book, “Pranayama for energy, vigor and vitality”. This book contains detailed instructions on all the Pranayama practices that I cover in the various yoga courses that I offer. You are welcome to get a printed version of the book from me ($10). You can also buy the book on Amazon – both kindle version and printed version are available.
As you are aware, buyers depend on product reviews on Amazon to make their buying decision. Once you obtain a copy of the book, I'd truly appreciate your writing a review on Amazon. That will help promote the book further so more people can get the book and derive benefits from their pranayama practices.
Upcoming Programs
Samkhya Karika study group, 2nd and 4th Saturday
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
New Study Shows Yoga May Cut Risk of Type 2 Diabetes by 40% in High-Risk Groups
" ... unveiled a landmark report titled “Yoga and Prevention of Type 2 Diabetes”. The study, presented to Union Health Minister Shri J.P. Nadda, provides compelling evidence that regular yoga practice may reduce the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes by as much as 40% in individuals predisposed to the disease."
Read more ...
Surya Namaskar can enhance brain function, say doctors at Amrita Mind Research Centre
Led by Dr Shyam Diwakar and Dr Sandeep Bodda from the University’s Mind Brain Research Centre, the study found that regular practice of the ancient yogic sequence improved concentration and memory. The findings were backed by electroencephalogram (EEG) analysis, which mapped enhanced brain activity in participants.
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From Legendary Surfers to Elite Downhill Skiers, Here’s How Athletes Are Using Yoga to Achieve Epic Feats
Now, the narrative around yoga and athletes is being rewritten by individuals who are landing in record books, including Olympic swimming medalists Michael Phelps and Cortney Jordan Truitt, all-time leading basketball scorer LeBron James, soccer player Alex Morgan and her history of game-winning goals, tennis champion Novak Djokovic and his record 24 Grand Slam titles, and countless others who slide under the radar of front-page headlines yet manage epic feats of their own.
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Yoga as beneficial as high impact sport: study
Increasing evidence that yoga is at the forefront of health and wellness improvement is backed up by a new study which shows it can also help those with heart disease.
The report, published in the European Journal of Preventative Cardiology, details how yoga is just as effective as more strenuous activities such as aerobics and cycling at cutting risks of heart disease. And due to its low impact profile, it is seen as more accessible to those with heart conditions.
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Yoga nidra meditation reduces stress and reshapes cortisol rhythms, study finds
A new study finds that practicing a guided meditation known as yoga nidra can reduce stress, anxiety, and depression. The research, published in the journal Stress and Health, also shows that even short, 11-minute daily sessions can produce measurable changes in the body’s primary stress hormone, while longer 30-minute sessions may offer additional benefits for mindfulness and physiological regulation.
Yoga nidra, sometimes called “yogic sleep,” is a guided meditation technique that brings practitioners into a deeply relaxed state while remaining conscious. The practice typically involves lying down, slowing the breath, setting intentions, and moving through stages of body awareness and imagery. In recent years, it has gained popularity under the label “non-sleep deep rest” and has been studied for its effects on emotional regulation, sleep, and anxiety. Although past studies suggested psychological benefits, researchers wanted to determine whether yoga nidra could also change physiological markers of stress, like cortisol, especially in a large, well-controlled study.
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Retinal Imaging Shows How Yoga Helps Parkinson’s Disease Patients
A yoga routine that is challenging both physically and mentally can improve symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. Doctors can use noninvasive imaging of the retina to track a participant’s progress, according to new, collaborative studies by researchers at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine and UM.
About seven years ago, Joseph Signorile, Ph.D., a professor of exercise physiology and neuromuscular research at the UM Department of Kinesiology and Sport Sciences, and his team began developing YogaCue. The program that combines standard yoga poses with interval training and cognitive challenges.
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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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