Newsletter December 2022
In this issue:
Essential message of Bhagavad Gita (part 3)
Arjuna and Krishna
Major themes in the Gita
As mentioned previously, the Gita, in its 18 chapters and 700 verses, discusses many different concepts that can help develop a better understanding of our true nature and eventually lead to self-realization. Below I am presenting some of the key themes that are discussed in the Gita.
Actively resist evil
Lord Krishna tells Arjuna that he has to fight the war to root out evil in the form of the evil actions being done by the Kauravas. The Kauravas refused to play a fair game by not giving the Pandavas their fair share of the Kingdom when they returned from their 13-year long exile. The war became inevitable when all efforts to prevent the war and reach an amicable solution were thwarted by the Kauravas. Of course, Arjuna, in his weak moments decides to lay down the arms as he did not want to kill his own kith and kin. That is when Krishna tells Arjuna that it is his “dharma” to fight since the Kauravas represent evil in the society and thus must be rooted out. Here is Arjuna’s last effort to tell Krishna that there is no purpose served by fighting this war:
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
7-day hip opening yoga intensive
Kapotasana (pigeon pose)
You can view and download the flyer here.
- Program: 7-day "hip opener" yoga intensive
- 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, December 12 - Sunday, December 18, 2022
- Time: 6:00 - 7:30 AM (US East Coast time, EST)
- Program Fee:
- $65 - cash, check, Zelle (use subhashmittal@gmail.com) or Venmo (use 9199269717)
- $70 - paypal (go to bottom of page)
- Instructor: Subhash Mittal
- To register: please fill out the registration form , providing information in all the fields, and submit it online.
- Daily routine:
- Basic yoga sequence with focus on hip opener asanas
- Yoga Nidra
- Pranayama
- Brief meditation
For a preview of some of the asanas that we will be practicing in the program, please visit my youtube channel here.
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
New Research Now Suggests Yoga Is Good for the Brain
In this research, the investigators found that yoga has the ability to improve many of the brain structures and functions similar to what aerobic exercise provides benefits.
The researchers looked into 11 studies, five of which involved individuals without a background in yoga practice. They were made to engage in one or more yoga sessions every week over a period of 10 to 124 weeks.
Read more ...
Meditation Program Fights Anxiety as Well as a Prescription Drug
They found that an intense, 8-week program of mindfulness meditation brought the same 20% reduction in severe anxiety symptoms as the prescription drug escitalopram, the generic name for Lexapro.
In the study, 276 adults with untreated anxiety disorders were separated into two groups. One group received a daily dose of Lexapro of 10 to 20 milligrams. The other group had weekly mindfulness classes that lasted 2 ½ hours each; 45 minutes of daily meditation homework for 8 weeks; and a day-long retreat around week five.
Read more ...
$3.2 million grant helps to study the benefits of mind-body practices for patients undergoing surgery
Can mind-body practices such as gentle yoga or self-reflection benefit patients undergoing surgery? It's a question that researchers at Wake Forest University School of Medicine are examining with the support of a five-year, $3.2 million grant from the National Cancer Institute (NCI).
Research shows that yoga practices such as meditation, mindful movement and deep breathing reduce pain, psychological distress and sleep disturbances. Self-reflection through supportive conversation and journaling can also improve physical and psychological health. Yet, little research exists to evaluate the potential benefit of practicing yoga or self-reflection in coordination with surgical care.
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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