|
|
Introduction
Vishnu Mudra
To breathe is to live, and without breath there is no life. As you may be aware, the theory of Karma is recognized as a key part of the Indian philosophy. As stated by Patanjali in the Yoga Sutras (sutra 2.13), our karmas determine these three attributes of our future birth – future species that we’ll be born into (jāti), our life span (āyus) and the nature life experiences – pleasant or otherwise (bhoga). One of the common beliefs is that the life span is measured in terms of the number of breaths that are allocated to us at the time of birth based on our karma. So, from the first inhalation taken by a newborn at the time of birth to the last exhalation at the time of death, the total number of breaths is predetermined by the previous karma.
Prāṇa, the most important function of the body
Breathing may be considered the most important of all the functions of the body. All the other functions, physical, physiological, mental etc., depend upon it. Man may survive for some time without food, even up to a few months; a shorter time without drinking; but without breathing one’s existence may be measured by a few minutes.
There is a well-known story in the Chandoyga Upanishad (5.1.6-15) which tells of a dispute among all the sense organs, each claiming its superiority over the others. To resolve the dispute, they all went to Prajapati, their father and asked him, “who is the best among us?” Continue reading »
Padmasana (Lotus Pose)
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.
You can join the class either online via zoom or in person at my home yoga studio.
Program Information
- What: 14-day Meditation Intensive
- When: Thursday, August 18 – Wednesday, August 31, 2022
- Time: 6:00 – 7:30 AM (US East Coast time, EST)
- In-person: At my home studio located at 206 Redwood Park Drive, Morrisville, NC 27560
- Zoom access: The link to access via zoom will be provided upon receipt of registration and payment.
- Instructor: Subhash Mittal
- Fee:
- $90 – check, Zelle (use subhashmittal@gmail.com) or Venmo (use 9199269717)
- $95 – paypal (go to bottom of page)
- To register: fill out the registration form and submit it online.
- 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
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.
Padmasana (Lotus Pose)
In the past, I have written about the concept of kumbhaka (breath retention) as one of the attributes of breath used in various pranayama practices. In today’s post I will discuss the integration of kumbhaka and bandhas (energy locks) in one of most commonly practiced pranayama techniques – alternate nostril breathing (Naadi Shuddhi or Anuloma Viloma). I have discussed the basic technique for Naadi Shuddhi in an earlier post.
In a previous post, I also discussed the practice of bandhas (pranic locks). These bandhas are usually applied while the breath is being retained in kumbhaka. It is, therefore, natural and common to practice both kumbhaka and bandha together.
Continue reading »
In previous articles, I have talked about the concept of the four components of a breathing cycle – inhalation (pūraka), exhalation (rechaka), retention (called kumbhaka) after inhalation (antara-kumbhaka), and retention after exhalation (bāhya kumbhaka). In addition to these, breath retention can be introduced at any time during the process of inhalation or exhalation. One of the prāṇāyāma practices that involves such a breathing technique is called “viloma prāṇāyāma” or “staircase breathing” in English. In the viloma prāṇāyāma we interrupt the breathing cycle in steps of two seconds for a duration of two seconds each. For example, during inhalation we begin by inhaling for two seconds, then hold the breath for two seconds, again inhale for two seconds and continue in this manner until we reach the end of inhalation. Similarly, during exhalation we create these two second steps. Because of this step-wise progression of breathing, this technique is commonly translated as the “staircase breathing” in English.
I hope you will enjoy practicing with me using the video presentation.
Continue reading »
Padmasana (Lotus Pose)
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.
You can join the program either online via zoom or in person at my home studio.
You can view/download the program flyer here. Feel free to share it with your own distribution lists.
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.
Continue reading »
 Tip-toe balance
21 days to Transformation
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.
- What: 21-day yoga immersion
- When: Friday, June 10 – Thursday, June 30, 2022
- Time: 6:00 AM – 7:30 AM (US East Coast (Ney York) time)
- In-person participation: at my home studio located at 206 Redwood Park Drive, Morrisville, NC 27560
- Zoom Access: Login info will be provided upon receipt of registration and payment
- Instructor: Subhash Mittal
- Fee:
Continue reading »
 Surya Namaskar (Sun Salutation) 7-day Surya Namaskar Sadhana intensive
I am pleased to announce a new morning intensive – “7-day Surya Namaskar Sadhana”. You can join the program online via zoom or in-person at my home studio.
- Program: Surya Namaskar Sadhana Intensive
- Location: In-person, at my home studio located at 206 Redwood Park Drive, Morrisville, NC 27560
- Zoom access: The link to access via zoom will be provided upon receipt of registration and payment.
- When: Monday, May 23 – Sunday, May 29, 2022
- Time: 6:00 – 7:30 AM (US East Coast time, EST)
- Program Fee:
Continue reading »
Weight loss
When new students join my yoga class, I have them fill out a registration form. One of the questions in the form asks them why they are interested in joining the yoga class and what specific benefits they are looking for. “I want to lose weight” is, as expected, one of the more common reasons mentioned.
Let’s ask this question – is there anyone who doesn’t know how to lose weight?. The formula for losing weight is quite simple and known to everyone – EAT LESS, EXERCISE MORE! So how come people are not able to implement this formula? The answer is simple – lack of discipline and self-control. Because people lack self-discipline, they end up joining some “crash weight loss or crash diet program”. They stay with the program for a short time, maybe lose a few pounds, but don’t have the will-power to stay with the same regimen after the program is over. As a result, they not only regain the lost pounds, but in most cases add a few additional pounds to their weight. All this, of course, leads to more frustration and more stress.
When you think of the above scenario, it becomes clear that losing weight is not just about losing calories. It is more about developing a strong will-power and a highly disciplined approach. This is where yoga comes in.
Continue reading »
Yoga at the beach
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.
Continue reading »
It’s “déjà vu” all over again! It was around the beginning of this year (2022) that I started feeling pain in my left shoulder. Every now and then, the pain would get aggravated, even during some of the common activities like washing the dishes or doing a simple yoga pose. Over time, gradually I continued to lose strength and flexibility in my left shoulder. Since my right shoulder was already weak, I began to have trouble performing my daily activities. It became obvious that I need to see the doctor to find out what was going on. Because of my previous experience, I was already suspecting yet another tear in my left shoulder. The MRI confirmed the suspicion, and it was labeled as “full thickness tear”. Because of my previous surgery on this shoulder and the size of the current tear, the doctor felt that the traditional treatment of “repairing” the tear would not work. It was declared as a “massive irreparable tear”.
As I mentioned in an earlier blog post, I had surgery in January 2017 on my right shoulder to repair a tear in the rotator cuff. As per the surgeon, the surgery went well. Unfortunately, though, the shoulder was re-torn during one of the post-surgery physical therapy sessions. As mentioned earlier, that was the second unsuccessful attempt to fix the tear on the right shoulder. After the previous surgery also, done in 2013, the shoulder was re-torn during a PT session. As such, I was left with no option but to live with the tear in my right shoulder.
Continue reading »
|
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.
|
Recent Comments