Everyone comes to yoga for a different reason. Some of the more common reasons include:
Physical Level
Flexibility & Strength: To build flexibility, strength, balance and endurance.
Pain Relief: Low back pain, especially soon after waking up, is the most common area of concern. Other parts of the body experiencing pain include the knees, hips, neck and shoulders.
Fitness: Weight management, overall energy enhancement. Athletes and sports people look for enhanced performance.
Body Awareness: Increases mindfulness of bodily sensations, leading to healthier habits.
Mental & Emotional level
Stress: Modern lifestyle with work overload, tight deadlines etc. cause a lot of stress. People come to yoga for stress relief, keep the mind calm and peaceful so they can be more productive.
Anxiety & Depression: Some people are habitually prone to anxiety and depression. Some feel anxious about trivial situations – their child not getting home on time, fear of the unknown etc.
Focus & Clarity: If the mind can stay calm in trying circumstances, one can develop better focus and concentration, eliminating unnecessary distractions.
Better Sleep: Promotes relaxation, both physical and mental, leading to improved sleep quality.
Spiritual
Mind-Body Connection: Fosters awareness of the interconnection between mind and body. In the classes that I teach, at the end of the asana sequence, we always go through a moment of reflection which promotes a deep mind-body connection. In this exercise we try to identify the roles played by the ego vs. the intellect and over time develop the ability to engage the intellect in more life situations.
Living in the Present Moment: Staying grounded and in the present moment, not bothered by past regrets or future worries.
The above is just a sample of the reasons for practicing yoga. Of course, there are many other situations in life where yoga can offer an effective solution.
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.
No prior asana, pranayama or meditation experience is required.
You can participate in the program online via zoom only.
Flyer: You can download the 21-day Yoga Immersion flyer here. Feel free to share it with your own distribution lists.
What: 21-day yoga immersion
When: Monday, January 5 – Sunday, January 25, 2026
Time: 6:00 AM – 7:30 AM (US East Coast time, EST)
Zoom Access: Login info will be provided upon receipt of registration and payment
In a previous article, I presented the concept of samskara, the impressions left in our subconscious mind by our thoughts and actions. When certain actions and behaviors are done repeatedly, their samskaras take the form of deep-seated tendencies and desires which are known as Vāsanās. Given an appropriate trigger, these tendencies and desires spring up as memories in the active mind and propel us to do further actions that fulfill the desires.
These concepts are pivotal in understanding the objectives of yoga and how they can be achieved as presented in the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali.
In essence, every vasana is a samskara but every samskara is not a vasana. The difference between the two is subtle. Many a time, we see them used interchangeably.
In this article, we’ll take a closer look at these two concepts and see how they shape our life patterns. We’ll also look at some of the yoga sutras that discuss these concepts.
A regular practice of meditation is known to give you all the above and many more benefits.
I invite you to join me for the next 14-day Meditation Intensive. In this program, I will be presenting the basic concepts of meditation and practice several meditation techniques.
No prior asana, pranayama or meditation experience is required.
A brief outline of what I plan to cover in the course is given in this document (pdf format) in my dropbox folder.
Flyer: You can view/download the program flyer here. Feel free to share it on social media and with your own distribution lists.
Supta Vajrasana (सुप्त वज्रासन) is a reclining variation of the seated Vajrasana. It involves a deep backbend and offers a great stretch for the quadriceps. A closely related asana, the Supta Virasana (सुप्त वीरासन), is a minor variation of the Supta Vajrasana pose. In the Vajrasana, the buttocks are resting on the heels whereas in the Virasana, the heels are moved further apart so the buttocks are resting on the ground. This pose also releases tightness from the hips and the pelvic area. It is one of the poses recommended for athletes like hikers, runners, bikers, tennis players etc.
I hope you will enjoy practicing with me using the video.
We often hear statements like, “I’ll be happy when I get a promotion”, ‘I’ll be happy when I get married”, “I’ll be happy when I get a divorce”, “I’ll be happy when I have a million dollars in my bank account”, “I’ll be happy when I ….”, and the list goes on. A person with this kind of mindset is always dissatisfied with the present situation and constantly seeking happiness in a future event. I recently came across the term “destination addiction” which is used in psychology to represent the above mindset. It represents a belief that happiness can only be achieved when one attains a certain future goal. Such a person finds something missing or lacking in the present situation and can find no peace or contentment in the present. When this person attains a much sought-after goal, he immediately sets his eyes on a higher goal.
Ever wonder why we seem to have mood shifts from moment to moment? You may be sitting in a very peaceful state of mind, maybe reading a nice book or listening to some soulful music, and suddenly the thought of an event from the past can throw you into an agitated state of mind. There is constant change going on in our minds. All such random fluctuations of the mind are attributed to the play of the three gunas. The gunas represent a central theme in the various philosophies presented in the ancient Hindu scriptures, like Samkhya, Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras, Bhagavad Gita, and the Upanishads.
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