Breathing is one of the few major physiological functions that are both involuntary and voluntary. The other such functions are blinking of the eyes, urination, swallowing etc. Involuntarily, breathing happens all the time – in the waking, dreaming and deep sleep states. However, we can have some level of voluntary control over the breathing process. We can control the duration of inhalation and exhalation, slow the breath down or make it faster and can make a few other changes. One of the most important modifications that we can make is to stop breathing for some duration of time. The Sanskrit term commonly used for breath retention is ‘kumbhaka’. We can hold our breath after a complete inhalation, or a complete exhalation or any time during the breathing cycle. In essence, we can look at the breathing cycle as composed of four components:
Pūraka – inhalation
Rechaka – exhalation
Antara-kumbhaka – breath retention after inhalation
Bāhya-kumbhaka – breath retention after exhalation
“How hard it is to control the mind! Well, it has been compared to the maddened monkey. There was a monkey, restless by his own nature, as all monkeys are. As if that were not enough some one made him drink freely of wine, so that he became still more restless. Then a scorpion stung him. When a man is stung by a scorpion, he jumps about for a whole day; so the poor monkey found his condition worse than ever. To complete his misery a demon entered into him. What language can describe the uncontrollable restlessness of that monkey? The human mind is like that monkey, incessantly active by its own nature; then it becomes drunk with the wine of desire, thus increasing its turbulence. After desire takes possession comes the sting of the scorpion of jealousy at the success of others, and last of all the demon of pride enters the mind, making it think itself of all importance. How hard to control such a mind!” – Swami Vivekananda (Complete Works – Raja Yoga)
This famous quote from Swami Vivekananda sums up the state of our mind – incessantly restless! There is constantly something or the other happening in the mind – thoughts, worries, anxieties, likes, dislikes, variety of emotions, negative feelings, positive feelings, planning, scheming …. and the list can go on. The change in the mind is continuous.
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.
You can download the 21-day Yoga Immersion flyer here. Feel free to share it with your own distribution lists.
No prior asana, pranayama or meditation experience is required.
You can participate in the program online via zoom or in-person at my home studio.
To register: please fill out the registration form , providing information in all the fields, and submit it online.
Daily routine:
Yoga sequence with focus on strengthening the upper body
Yoga Nidra
Pranayama
Brief meditation
In this short program, we’ll focus on strengthening the various parts of the body above the waist – wrists, arms, shoulders, back, chest, core area etc. Everyone is encouraged to maintain total awareness on how the body responds to each of the asanas practiced. Try to keep the practice at a level that is comfortable for you without causing undue strain to any part of the body.
I look forward to your enthusiastic participation. Please share this email with your own distribution lists. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions.
We all seek happiness in life. How we define happiness and what means we use to attain that happiness is an individual choice. Most of us seem to identify happiness with material gains achieved through fulfilment of material desires. Material desires can span the whole spectrum of attainments – getting married to the right individual, getting a child, having a certain amount of wealth, possessions like house, clothes, bank balance, real estate etc. and the list is literally unending. The problem with this approach, as we know from our experience is, that the desires are never-ending. When one is fulfilled, another one, maybe a little more of the same or in a modified form, raises its head. Now we are busy fulfilling the “upgraded” desire. Since it is impossible to fulfil all our desires, we end up having mental issues like stress, anxiety, depression, guilt feelings etc.
Problems with knees and low back pain are perhaps two of the most important reasons why people come to yoga for help. In this article, I am providing instructions for a 30-minute video sequence with a few simple poses that can help strengthen the knees and make them more flexible.
If you already have any kind of knee pain, please try to practice under the guidance of a yoga teacher. Be careful not to engage in any movement that causes more pain or discomfort as that can further aggravate your situation.
I am pleased to announce the next 14-day Meditation Intensive. In this program, I will be presenting the basic concepts of meditation and practice several meditation 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.
Flyer: You can view/download the program flyer here. Feel free to share it on social media and with your own distribution lists.
Program Information
What: 14-day Meditation Intensive
When: Saturday, April 15 – Friday, April 28, 2023
Time: 6:00 – 7:30 AM (US East Coast time, EST)
Participation: Hybrid mode
In-person at my home yoga studio located at 206 Redwood Park Drive, Morrisville, NC 27560
Remotely via zoom – zoom login info will be provided upon receipt of registration and payment
I would like to invite you to a yoga retreat in the Southern Outer Banks area, by the ocean. 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 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.
From the point of view of practicing on the yoga mat, yoga, as we know, is the composite of three main practices – asana (physical postures), pranayama (breathing) and meditation. In fact, when we look at the Yoga Sutras by Patanjali, he prescribes eight limbs of yoga – yama, niyama, asana, pranayama, pratyahara, dharana, dhyana, and samadhi. Yamas and niyamas present moral, ethical and social guidelines that help us cleanse the mind and prepare us for other limbs of yoga. Pratyahara is the ability to turn the senses inward. Dharana, dhyana, and samadhi are a continuum of deepening meditation practice.
The definition and goal of yoga is to subdue the constant chatter that goes on in the mind (sutra 1.2)1. The key practice to attain that goal, as prescribed by Patanjali, is meditation. All the other limbs of yoga help and prepare us for attaining deeper states of meditation and ultimately attaining the final goal. The sequence mentioned by Patanjali and the one most people tend to follow is to practice asana, then pranayama and finally meditation. However, given the importance of meditation, you should give the highest priority to meditation.
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