Suffering, as we know, is a part of life. When the baby is born, the first sound you hear from the baby is that of a cry. During our lifetime, we go through all kinds of pain and suffering caused by disease, injury, fatigue, stress, disagreements, old age, and finally death etc. Even the so called moments of pleasure are short-lived.
Our scriptures and the great teachers from the ancient times talk about suffering and how the goal of life is to end this suffering so we can be liberated.
I am pleased to announce the next Meditation Intensive. In this program, I will discuss the basic concepts of meditation and practice several of the concentration (dharana) and meditation (dhyana) techniques. Most of the information that I will be sharing is based on the concepts discussed in Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras and related classical yoga texts.
No prior asana, pranayama or meditation experience is required.
In view of the current situation with the COVID-19 virus, I will be offering this class via live video streaming using the Zoom platform.
Program Information
What: 14-day Meditation Intensive
When: Monday, June 8 – Sunday, June 21, 2020
Time: 6:00 – 7:30 AM (US East Coast time, GMT-4)
Access: Remotely via live video streaming (Zoom); login info will be provided upon receipt of registration and payment
As students of yoga, most of us are familiar with the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali which is considered to be the most authoritative text on the underlying concepts of yoga. It deals with the human mind, how it functions, why we go through suffering, and how to cleanse/purify the mind so we can eliminate suffering and attain self-realization. Many of the concepts discussed by Patanjali in the Yoga Sutras are known to have as their basis some of the basic tenets of another philosophical system called Samkhya. In the discussion below, wherever applicable, I will try to correlate the themes presented here with the corresponding ideas in the Yoga Sutras.
Samkhya is one of the six systems of Indian Philosophy (Shad-darshana). A brief listing of these six systems is given below:
Nyaya: A system of logical realism, founded by Gautama, known for its systems of logic and epistemology and concerned with the means of acquiring right knowledge.
Vaisheshika: Philosophy founded by Kanada teaching that liberation is to be attained through understanding the nature of existence, which is classified in nine basic realities (dravyas): earth, water, light, air, ether, time, space, soul and mind. Nyaya and Vaisheshika are viewed as a complementary pair, with Nyaya emphasizing logic, and Vaisheshika analyzing the nature of the world.
Sankhya: A philosophy founded by the sage Kapila, author of the Sankhya Sutras. Sankhya is primarily concerned with the “25 categories of existence/evolution – tattvas” . The first two are purusha and primal nature, prakriti—the dual polarity, viewed as the foundation of all existence. Prakriti, out of which all things evolve, is the unity of the three gunas: sattva, rajas and tamas. Sankhya and Yoga are considered an inseparable pair whose principles permeate all of Hinduism.
I am pleased to announce the next Pranayama intensive. In this program, we will be practicing some of the main pranayama techniques given in our ancient yoga texts. I will also discuss the underlying concepts in the practice of pranayama and all the wonderful benefits that the practice can bring us.
In view of the current situation with the COVID-19 virus, I will be offering this class via live video streaming.
We are going through difficult times. With school closings, most of us working from home, no access to theaters, social and cultural events, restaurants, bars etc., life can become quite stressful. Practice of pranayama is known to provide us with a sense of well-being both at physical and mental levels even in trying circumstances. One of the known benefits of pranayama is to build a stronger immune system, something that we can use in the present situation.
A brief outline of what I plan to cover in the course is given in this document (pdf format) in my dropbox folder.
No prior yoga (asana, pranayama or meditation) experience is required.
Progaram details:
What: 14-day pranayama intensive
When: Monday, May 4 – Sunday, May 17, 2020
Time: 6:00 – 7:30 AM
Access: Remotely via live video streaming (Zoom); login info will be provided upon receipt of registration and payment
In a couple of the articles (article 1, article 2) that I wrote recently, I talked about establishing a home-based meditation practice. For the practice of meditation, the most common recommendation is to sit on the floor in any one of the common meditative postures. Of course, if you are not comfortable sitting on the floor, you can always opt to sit in a chair, on a stool or a thick cushion etc. In this article, I would like to review some of the commonly practiced seated asanas used for both meditation and pranayama.
I hope you will enjoy practicing these asanas with me using the video.
As many of you are aware, due to the current situation with COVID-19, I am offering the weekly, ongoing classes online via the Zoom video streaming platform.
Schedule (all timings are US East Coast time, GMT-4):
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)
In each class, we practice asana (physical postures), pranayama (breathing techniques), yoga nidra (deep relaxation), and meditation. We also talk about some of the underlying concepts about yoga as presented in the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali.
Here is a great opportunity for you to get introduced to the underlying concepts of yoga! These discussions can help greatly in developing a deeper understanding of your true nature and also eliminate stress and anxiety from your lives. I invite you to join me for this 14-day intensive.
In view of the current situation with the COVID-19 virus, and also strong guidelines from CDC and other local authorities, I have decided not to offer this 14-day intensive “in person” at the studio. Instead, I will be offering this class via live video streaming using the Webex platform.
We are going through difficult times. With school closings, employees being asked to work from home, no access to theaters, social and cultural events, restaurants, bars etc., life can become quite stressful. As we all know, practice of yoga is known to provide us with a sense of well-being both at physical and mental levels even in trying circumstances. A study of the Yoga Sutras can help us understand how our mind functions and how we can stay calm despite the adversity we are facing.
Understanding the Mind to eliminate Stress
What: An Introduction to the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, 14-day intensive
When: Monday, March 30 – Sunday, April 12, 2020
Time: 6:00 – 7:30 AM
Access: Remotely via live video streaming (Webex); login info will be provided upon receipt of registration and payment
In view of the situation with the COVID-19 virus, and also strong guidelines from CDC and other local authorities, I have decided to suspend all yoga classes conducted “in person” at the studio until the situation begins to improve. This includes classes offered by me, Priya Amaresh, Soumya Raghav, Disha Gala and Jyoti Shah.
In the meantime, in order to maintain continuity of practice as per the current schedule, I will be offering the following weekly ongoing classes via live video streaming using the Webex platform:
Here is a great opportunity for you to get introduced to the underlying concepts of yoga! These discussions can help greatly in developing a deeper understanding of your true nature and also eliminate stress and anxiety from your lives. I invite you to join me for this 14-day intensive.
Understanding the Mind to eliminate Stress
What: An Introduction to the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, 14-day intensive
When: Monday, March 30 – Sunday, April 12, 2020
TIME: 6:00 – 7:30 AM
LOCATION: Integral Yoga Studio, 4000 Bearcat Way, Suite 102, Morrisville, NC 27560
Fee: $120 – in person participation at the studio $70 – remotely via conference bridge (audio only); bridge info will be provided upon receipt of registration and payment Payment options: cash, check, Zelle (use subhashmittal@gmail.com) or paypal
I would like to invite you to a yoga retreat in the beautiful rural setting in Mebane, NC. 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 underlying concepts in yoga in an ashram setting under the guidance of Subhash Mittal. Subhash is a long-time yoga practitioner and a dedicated yoga teacher who has been teaching yoga since 1996. Subhash brings the best out of the traditional, ancient yoga teachings and weaves these teachings in the practice of asana, pranayama, meditation and relaxation leading to a fulfilling and enriching life experience.
Come to this beautiful retreat center to tune in to the rhythms of nature and make a deeper connection with your true inner Self! This is a rare opportunity to spend time away from the stresses and strains of daily life and immerse into a yogic way of life.
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