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We concluded the last 12-day pranamaya/meditation intensive on Sept 18. We had 20 participants for this session, the maximum number that the studio can accommodate. It is truly heartening to see that there is growing awareness among yoga practitioners that pranayama and meditation are very integral to the practice of yoga. Most people practice yoga purely for physical benefits. However, since yoga has the potential to impact us at various levels including physical, mental, emotional, intellectual and beyond, when we limit the practice to physical only, we miss out on all the other benefits that yoga has to offer. I have been offering these pranayama/meditation intensives to emphasize the value and benefits of these components of yoga.
The feedback from all the participants in the program has been very positive and encouraging. Even though waking up early enough to start the class at 6 AM was a challenge for most of them, they all seem to have adjusted to it within a couple of days. Here is a sampling of some of the comments from the participants:
"Wonderful!! I learned so much about the history and philosophy of Hatha yoga in 12 days …"
"I felt the energy level was high after doing Yoga and Pranayama… "
"… Subhash…you are a kind and passionate teacher and I hope to know you for many years…"
You can read all the comments on my website here.
As many of you are aware, I offer two kinds of morning programs – the 21-day yoga challenge and the pranayama/meditation intensive. Please let me know if you would like to participate in a future similar program.
At the end of the last 12-day pranayama/meditation intensive, as per our tradition, all the participants got together over a potluck breakfast. These breakfast get-togethers provide a great opportunity for everyone to socialize and meet each other in a relaxed and informal atmosphere. Moreover, we all get to sample some of the most delicious veggie dishes that everyone shares. Here are the recipes for two of the many delicious dishes that we enjoyed that day.I would like to express my gratitude to Maddy and Claudia for sharing these recipes.
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As I mentioned in a previous post, I will be writing about the various aspects of Ashtanga Yoga ( अष्टाङ्ग योग – eight limbs of yoga) in my upcoming posts. The word Ashtanga is composed of two words – ashta, meaning eight and anga, meaning limbs. Ashtanga Yoga refers to the eight limbs of yoga that Patanjali has advocated in the Yoga Sutras as a means to eradicate ignorance and gain an understanding of our true identity. The eight limbs are: yamas (guidelines for social interaction), niyams (guidelines for self-discipline), asana (physical postures), pranayama (breathing techniques), pratyahara (sense withdrawal), dharana (concentration), dhyana (meditation), and samadhi (total absorption). For a brief introduction to the eight limbs of yoga, please visit here.
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At the end of the last 21-day yoga challenge program, as per our tradition, all the participants got together over a potluck breakfast. These breakfast get-togethers provide a great opportunity for everyone to socialize and meet each other in a relaxed and informal atmosphere. Moreover, we all get to sample some of the most delicious veggie dishes that everyone shares. Here are the recipes for three of the many delicious dishes that we enjoyed that day.I would like to express my gratitude to Tim, Claudia and Kristen for sharing these recipes.
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So far I have written about balancing poses which are done in a standing position – for example the Tree Pose or the Dancer Pose. Today’s post is about the Tiptoe balancing pose ( – Padangushthasana – पादाङ्गुष्ठासन, a balancing pose done from a squatting position. This is an intermediate level pose and it improves strength and flexibility in the toes, ankles, knees, hips and thighs.
When I first saw a picture of this pose on the cover of a yoga magazine, it looked like a deceptively simple pose. However, when I started practicing the pose, I realized that in addition to physical and mental balance, the pose requires strong toes and ankles as well as flexibility in the knees and hips. Like any other balancing pose, depending upon your physical and mental state at the time of practice, you may find it easier to balance on a given day as compared to other days.
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The Ardha-chandrasana (अर्धचन्द्रासन) (Half Moon pose) is one of the intermediate level one-leg balancing poses. It is an excellent pose for developing strength in the legs and especially for stretching the hamstring and the gluteal muscles.
In my own practice, I try to include Ardha-chandrasana in my routine about once or twice a week. When I started working with the pose, I started with the variation where I took the support of the elbow against the wall (described below). It was only after practicing against the wall for a couple of years that I developed the stability and balance to start practicing on the mat. Even today, I feel a little more stable and comfortable when I am balancing on my left leg than on the other side. When I practice on my right leg, I find it a little harder to bring my body into a single vertical plane. I am sure you have observed similar imbalances in your own practice. It is only with constant practice that we can bring our body and mind into good balance.
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Until I went for my yoga teacher training at the Swami Satchidananda Ashram in Yogaville, VA in 1996, I had never heard of Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. Before that my yoga practice consisted of about a 40 minute session of a few asanas which I practiced, on an average, 3-4 times a week. The only other "yoga" training that I had prior to that was introduction to Transcendental Meditation â„¢ for which I had gone to the Mahesh Yogi ashram in Rishikesh in late sixties. In the beginning I practiced meditation twice a day for 20 minutes each, as guided by the TM teacher. Unfortunately, gradually my meditation practice became irregular and I started skipping days or even weeks at a time. During my TT course at Yogaville, in addition to the asanas we were introduced to different types of pranayama (breathing) practices and meditation. After this training my own individual practice became much more well-rounded and integrated and now includes asana, pranayama, meditation and study of scriptures.
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Hanumanasana (हनुमानासन) is named after Lord Hanumana, friend and a devoted servant of Lord Rama in the epic story Ramayana. For those who are not familiar with the story, here is a very brief recap :
At the time when Rama, his wife Sita, and brother Lakshamana were in exile as hermits in the Dandaka forest, Ravana, the demon king of Lanka (Ceylon, now Srilanka), came to their hermitage in the guise of a monk and captured Sita, taking her to Lanka. In their search for Sita, the brothers asked Sugriva, the king of the monkeys, for help. Hanuman, the chief of the army of monkeys, was sent in search of Sita. Hanuman, leaping over the straits, crossed the Indian Ocean between the Southern tip of India and Lanka, and found Sita in Ravana’s palace garden. He brought the news to Rama, who built a causeway of stones across the sea to Lanka and after a gruesome battle killed Ravana and rescued Sita. During the battle, Lakshamana had been struck by an arrow and was almost fatally wounded. It was said that the only cure was to administer the juice of a specific herb which grew in the Himalayas. Hanuman, with his great abilities, was assigned the task of getting the herb. With a grand leap Hanuman crossed the sea and reached the Himalayas to bring back the herb. However, unable to recognize the herb, he decided to uproot the entire mountain which he then carried on his hands while leaping over the ocean to reach Lanka. The herb, called Sanjivani (that which can bring life to a dead being) saved the life of Lakshamana. Hanumanasana is thus named after Hanuman in recognition of his great leap.
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For most people practicing "yoga", the word yoga is synonymous with the physical aspect involving asana (yoga postures) practice. 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. Many of these classes follow the yoga styles such as Ashtanga Yoga, Power Yoga, or Flow Yoga etc,. Toward the end of the class there is 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 per the system of yoga (Yoga Sutras) given to us by Sage Patanjali several thousand years ago. The eight limbs are – yamas, niyamas, asana, pranayama, pratyahara, dharana, dhyana and samadhi.
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Due to the overwhelming response for the 21-day challenge that is currently going on (June 13-July 3, 2011), I decided to offer another one in July. The next 21-day challenge is scheduled for July 11-July 31, 2011. Once again, I’ve had a very positive response and all the spots for this program are now filled. If there is enough interest, I plan to offer the same program again in August. Please let me know if you would like to participate in the 21-day program in August.
Here are the particulars for the July session:
- When: Monday, July 11- Sunday, July 31, 2011.
- Time: 6:00 AM – 7:30 AM
- Where: Kalasrishti – 3000 Bearcat Way, Suite 112, Morrisville, NC 27513 (off Aviation Parkway – the studio is located on the back side of the last building in the complex)
- Commitment:
- A firm commitment to complete the program without missing a day (except in an emergency).
- At the end of the program, continue the same practice at home for another 21 days to make it a life-long habit
- Cost: $125
You may like to visit the testimonials page on my website to see what some of the previous participants have to say about this program.
Please contact me if you would like to participate.
Get all the details here…
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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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