Newsletter November 2024
In this issue:
Reincarnation, Karma and Samsara
Karma (actions), karma-phala (fruits of actions), and saṃsāra (cycles of birth-death-reincarnation) are fundamental tenets of Indian philosophical thought and offer deep insights into the moral, ethical, and spiritual foundation of human existence.
Karma
In common parlance, we hear statements like, “what goes around comes around” or “as you sow, so shall you reap”. These may be thought of as simplified versions of the theory of karma.
The Sanskrit word “karma” is derived from the root word “kṛ” (कृ) and literally means “action” or “deed”. The theory of karma represents the principle of cause and effect. Stated simplistically, the theory of karma can be summed up as “good karma leads to good results whereas bad karma leads to bad results”. The fruit or result of the action, called karma phala, may be experienced in this life period or in a future birth. In a broad sense, the word karma is used to imply both the action and the fruit of action.
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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
Yoga for kids/teens, 8-week session
Yoga for Kids, Teens - 8-week session
Please note: this session is being offered ONLINE ONLY via zoom.
- What: Yoga for Kids and Teens (age 7+ years), 8-week Session
- When: Every Saturday, 9:00 - 10:00 AM (US East coast time, EST)
- Zoom Access: login info will be provided upon receipt of registration and payment
- Instructor: Disha Gala (dishagada2010@gmail.com; (408) 685-5154
- Fee:
- $80 - Zelle (4086855153)
- $85 - paypal (dishagada2010@gmail.com)
- Drop-in fee: $12;
- To register: fill out the registration form, providing information in all the fields, and submit it online
Samkhya Karika 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
Role of Yoga in Modulating Vascular Aging in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
Diabetes is one of the top 10 global causes of mortality, with considerable contributions to cardiovascular disease (CVD), respiratory illness, and cancer. Yoga is a traditional Indian mind-body practice that has been linked to improved cardiovascular health, diabetic management, and reduced stress. The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of yoga on vascular aging in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).
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New Stanford Study Shows Pelvic Floor Yoga Can Reduce Bladder Leaks by 65%-
A new study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine found that women over 45 with urinary incontinence can benefit from low-impact exercises such as yoga for the pelvic floor (a group of muscles that support the pelvic organs). "Since the yoga practice emphasizes mindful awareness of bodily structures, we hypothesized that this may increase awareness and engagement of the pelvic floor muscles," explains senior study author Leslee Subak, MD, chair of obstetrics and gynecology at Stanford Medicine.
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A magic pill to control blood sugar spikes? 40-minute yoga can reduce diabetes risk, says study
There are an estimated 101 million people living with diabetes in the country, with another 136 million living with pre-diabetes, most of whom are likely to progress to diabetes without substantial lifestyle changes. A 40-minute yoga practice every day can reduce your risk of getting diabetes by nearly 40 per cent, showing better results than lifestyle intervention or drugs alone could achieve, according to a recently published study from five centres in India.
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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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