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 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
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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. 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
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 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.
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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.
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.
What is willpower?
What is willpower? Merriam-Webster dictionary defines willpower as “energetic determination”. That means we make an enthusiastic mental resolution to achieve a certain goal in a certain period of time and then use “energetic determination” to stay on course to achieve success in our endeavors.
We are all too familiar with people making lofty New Year resolutions. Just a few days or weeks into the New Year, these resolutions seem to evaporate into thin air for most people. Why is that so? It is all because of the lack of willpower or the “energetic determination” to stay on course with the resolve made on the New Year Eve.
Let us take weight loss as an example. This is perhaps the most common resolution people make for the New Year. Of course, at a high level, everyone knows how to lose weight. It involves only two ingredients – exercise more and eat less – more output, less input! Simple, yet difficult to achieve. What prevents them from following this simple regimen? Lack of willpower!
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The Buddha, in his Four Noble Truths, stated:
- Life is suffering (Dukkha)
- There is a cause for this suffering
- We can put an end to this suffering
- Here is the eight-fold path to follow to end suffering
Five Kleshas
The Yoga system of Patanjali presents a concept of suffering, or pain, which is very similar to the one mentioned above from Buddha. In modern terminology, ‘stress’ is another name for this suffering. Patanjali uses the term ‘klesha’ to denote afflictions, pain or suffering. He talks about five different kleshas, their cause and the remedy. These keshas are:
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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, August 5 – Sunday, August 18, 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: $110 (cash, check, zelle or paypal)
- To register: fill out the registration form, providing information in all the fields, and submit it online
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 Kapotasana (pigeon pose)
In today’s post, we are going to focus on one of the poses that is highly recommended as a hip and chest opener – the Kapotasana – कपोतासन -(Pigeon Pose). There are a few different variations of the pose that are commonly practiced, some more challenging than the others. We are going to focus on the beginner level pose and a couple of variations. Even these variations can seem somewhat challenging for those with tight hips, knees or thighs. As always, maintain your stretch at a level that is comfortable for you.
I hope you will enjoy practicing with me using the video.
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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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