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In a previous article entitled “what, why and how of meditation”, I talked about some basic concepts and the technique of meditation. In this article, I would like to address the question of how to establish an ongoing home meditation practice.
From the standpoint of yoga practice, asana (physical postures), pranayama (breathing practices) and meditation are the three most important components of a yoga routine. If we want to derive full benefits from our yoga practice, all these three practices are equally important. However, to attain the final goal of yoga which is to still the constant agitation in the mind, meditation has been given the highest importance. So, it is strongly recommended that we develop a regular, ongoing practice of meditation.
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 Padmasana (Lotus Pose) 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.
Please note – in addition to the usual option of participating in person at the studio, you have the option to participate remotely by dialing into a conference bridge. See below for more info.
Program Information
- What: 14-day Meditation Intensive
- When: Monday, February 24 – Sunday, March 8, 2020
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 Meditation
What is meditation? Why meditate? How to meditate? What goes on in the mind when you meditate? What benefits can I expect from meditation? “My mind is constantly racing – can I still do meditation”? Can I meditate in a reclining position? When to meditate and for how long? etc …
If you have ever tried meditation, it is more than likely that you have encountered the above and possibly many more questions related to your meditation practice. So, let us try to understand the concepts and practice of meditation and learn how to establish an on-going home practice.
As you may know, Yoga Sutras by Patanjali is the most influential text that gives us an in-depth understanding of the concepts of yoga practice. In this text, Patanjali provides us with the eight-fold path of yoga, called Ashtanga Yoga (eight limbs of yoga), for the attainment of the goal of yoga which is self-realization. Of these eight limbs, the last three – dharana (focus), dhyana (contemplation) and samadhi (absorption), constitute the practice of meditation.
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 Virabhadrasana (Warrior2)
I am pleased to announce the next 21-day Yoga Immersion program. The past programs have been very well received by all the participants. For most of them, it has been truly a life-transforming experience. I invite you to join me on this exciting and deeply rewarding 21-day yoga journey.
Please note – in addition to the usual option of participating in person at the studio, you have the option to participate remotely by dialing into a conference bridge. See below for more info.
- What: 21-day yoga immersion
- When: Monday, January 13 – Sunday, February 2, 2020
- Time: 6:00 AM – 7:30 AM
- Location: Integral Yoga Studio, 4000 Bearcat Way, Suite 102, Morrisville, NC 27560
- Instructor: Subhash Mittal
- Fee:
$150 – in person participation at the studio (cash, check, Zelle or paypal)
$90 – remotely via conference bridge (audio only); bridge info will be provided upon receipt of registration and payment (cash, check, Zelle or paypal)
- 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
- At the end of the program, continue the same practice at home for another 21 days to make it a life-long habit
Padmasana (Lotus Pose)
Feel free to contact me if you have any questions or would like more information.
Get all the details here…
Here is what the previous participants have to say…
"Absolutely wonderful! I didn’t want it to end! :)…"
– Kristen Daniels
"… I was suffering from lower back pain and anal fissure for a year and half. After taking this 21-day challenge (with sattvic food) program, I completely got relief from the pain…"
– Sujatha Muthuswamy
Read all the comments here…
 Pain/suffering
“Pain is inevitable, suffering is optional” is a popular saying, usually attributed to some Buddhist source. In common usage, the words “pain” and “suffering” are often used interchangeably. Before we understand the true essence of this statement, we need to clearly understand the difference between the two words as used in the quotation referenced.
What is pain?
The widely accepted definition of pain was developed by a taxonomy task force of the International Association for the Study of Pain: “Pain is an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience that is associated with actual or potential tissue damage or described in such terms.”
Pain is mediated by specific nerve fibers that carry the pain impulses to the brain where it gets classified as mild, severe, intense, throbbing, continuous, unbearable etc.
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 Darkness to light
In the Integral Yoga style of yoga that I practice and teach, we conclude each yoga class by chanting this shanti mantra (peace chant):
ॐ असतो मा सद्गमय ।
तमसो मा ज्योतिर्गमय ।
मृत्योर्मा अमृतं गमय ॥
OM, Asato ma sadgamaya
Tamaso ma jyotirgamaya
Mrityorma amritam gamaya
Om shanti, shanti, shanti!
“OM, Lead me from unreal to the real, lead me from darkness to light and lead me from the fear of death to the knowledge of immortality”
This is a verse that appears in one of the Upanishads called Brihadaranyaka Upanishad.
Usually these prayers are addressed to either the Guru, the teacher who is known to be a realized soul, or to God.
Most verses in the Hindu tradition start with the recitation of OM, the symbol that represents Ishwara (God). Thus, before we recite the mantra, we bring our awareness to the ultimate consciousness called Ishwara.
Let us try to get an in-depth understanding of this shanti mantra.
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 Vishnu Mudra
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.
No prior asana, pranayama or meditation experience is required.
Here are the particulars:
- What: 14-day pranayama intensive
- When: Monday, December 9 – Sunday, December 22, 2019
- Time: 6:00 – 7:30 AM
- Location: Integral Yoga Studio, 4000 Bearcat Way, Suite 102, Morrisville, NC 27560
- Instructor: Subhash Mittal
- Daily Routine: Light stretching (10-15 minutes), Pranayama (45 min), Relaxation (15 min), Yoga philosophy/meditation (15 min)
- Commitment: A firm commitment to follow this schedule and attend every day
- Fee: $120 (cash, check or zelle)
- To register: fill out the registration form, providing information in all the fields, and submit it online
Continue reading »
Virabhadrasana (Warrior2)
I am pleased to announce the next 21-day Yoga Immersion program. The past programs have been very well received by all the participants. For most of them, it has been truly a life-transforming experience. I invite you to join me on this exciting and deeply rewarding 21-day yoga journey. Here are the particulars:
- What: 21-day yoga immersion
- When: Monday, October 28 – Sunday, November 17, 2019
- Time: 6:00 AM – 7:30 AM
- Location: Integral Yoga Studio, 4000 Bearcat Way, Suite 102, Morrisville, NC 27560
- Instructor: Subhash Mittal
- Commitment:
- A firm commitment to complete the program without missing a day
- At the end of the program, continue the same practice at home for another 21 days to make it a life-long habit
- Fee: $150 (cash, check, Zelle or paypal)
- To register: Fill out the registration form, providing information in all the fields, and submit it online
Continue reading »
Padmasana (Lotus Pose) For most people, the word “yoga” is synonymous with the physical aspect of yoga involving the practice of asana (yoga postures) only. In most yoga classes taught in gyms or fitness centers, the entire duration of the class is usually spent in an intense practice of asanas. Some of the more physically oriented yoga styles include Ashtanga Yoga, Power Yoga, or Flow Yoga etc,. Toward the end of the class there is usually a brief (about five minutes) period devoted to “shavasana” or relaxation. The main objective of these classes is to achieve physical fitness.
Asana, however, is only one of the eight limbs of yoga as given by Sage Patanjali over two thousand years ago in the Yoga Sutras. The Yoga Sutras by Patanjali, as you may know, is the most authoritative and revered text that contains the underlying concepts of yoga. The eight limbs of yoga as given in the yoga sutras are – yamas, niyamas, asana, pranayama, pratyahara, dharana, dhyana and samadhi.
Continue reading »
Padmasana (Lotus Pose)
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.
Here are the particulars:
- What: 14-day Meditation Intensive
- When: Monday, September 9 – Sunday, September 22, 2019
- Time: 6:00 – 7:30 AM
- Location: Integral Yoga Studio, 4000 Bearcat Way, Suite 102, Morrisville, NC 27560
- Instructor: Subhash Mittal
- Daily Routine: Light stretching (10-15 minutes), Pranayama (15 min), Relaxation (10-15 min), Discussion and meditation practice (40-45 min)
- Commitment: A firm commitment to follow this schedule and attend every day
- Fee: $110 (cash, check, Zelle or paypal)
- To register: fill out the registration form and submit it online.
Strongly recommended
- Light,’sattvic’, nutritious, VEGETARIAN food
- No alcohol, drugs, tobacco or any other item of similar nature
- A personal commitment to continue the practice after the program is over
Please visit here for more details…
Do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions. I look forward to your participation.
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Video DVD
Yoga with Subhash (asana and pranayama)
- Basic asana sequence (~50 min) ($18)
- Pranayama/Meditation (~35 min) ($12)
- Set of above two ($25)
Video recording of special programs offered in the past
(Links to YouTube videos will be provided)
- 21-day yoga immersion - $40
- 7-day hip opening intensive - $20
- 14-day meditation intensive - $30
- 14-day pranayama intensive - $30
- 7-day hamstring/quad intensive - $20
- 14-day Level 2 yoga intensive - $35
Payment options:
- cash, check, Zelle (use subhashmittal@gmail.com) or Venmo (use 9199269717)
- PayPal (go to bottom of page) (add $5 to the fee listed above)
Please contact me if you would like to buy.
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Recent Posts
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FREE session on Intro to Mediation, Sunday, Feb 23, 6-7:30 PM (EST)
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Intro to Sanskrit for yogis, 3 weekly sessions, March 2,9,16
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Bharadwajasana, spinal twist
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FREE class – focus on Pranayama, Sunday, Jan 12
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Samskaras: deep subconscious level imprints that shape our lives
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Free yoga session, focus on Pranayama and Meditation
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Reincarnation, Karma and Samsara
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14-day Beginner level yoga, Oct 20-Nov 2, 2024
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