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Introduction to Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, 14-day Intensive, via live video straming

Here is a great opportunity for you to get introduced to the underlying concepts of yoga! These discussions can help greatly in developing a deeper understanding of your true nature and also eliminate stress and anxiety from your lives. I invite you to join me for this 14-day intensive.

In view of the current situation with the COVID-19 virus, and also strong guidelines from CDC and other local authorities, I have decided not to offer this 14-day intensive “in person” at the studio. Instead, I will be offering this class via live video streaming using the Webex platform.

We are going through difficult times. With school closings, employees being asked to work from home, no access to theaters, social and cultural events, restaurants, bars etc., life can become quite stressful. As we all know, practice of yoga is known to provide us with a sense of well-being both at physical and mental levels even in trying circumstances. A study of the Yoga Sutras can help us understand how our mind functions and how we can stay calm despite the adversity we are facing.

Understanding the Mind to eliminate Stress

  • What: An Introduction to the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, 14-day intensive
  • When: Monday, March 30 – Sunday, April 12, 2020
  • Time: 6:00 – 7:30 AM
  • Access:  Remotely via live video streaming (Webex); login info will be provided upon receipt of registration and payment 
  • Fee:  $70
    Payment options: check, Zelle (use subhashmittal@gmail.com) or paypal
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Online video streaming of yoga classes

In view of the situation with the COVID-19 virus, and also strong guidelines from CDC and other local authorities, I have decided to suspend all yoga classes conducted “in person” at the studio until the situation begins to improve.  This includes classes offered by me, Priya Amaresh, Soumya Raghav, Disha Gala and Jyoti Shah.

In the meantime, in order to maintain continuity of practice as per the current schedule, I will be offering the following weekly ongoing classes via live video streaming using the Webex platform:

  • Monday, 6:30 – 8:00 PM
  • Tuesday: 6:30 – 8:00 PM
  • Saturday: 10:15 AM – 12:00 noon

WebEx Meeting Info:

  • Join online (live video streaming): click here
  • Join by phone (audio only) +1-415-655-0003 US Toll; Meeting number (access code): 851 990 113

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Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, 14-day Intensive, Mar 30 – Apr 12, 2020

Here is a great opportunity for you to get introduced to the underlying concepts of yoga! These discussions can help greatly in developing a deeper understanding of your true nature and also eliminate stress and anxiety from your lives. I invite you to join me for this 14-day intensive.

Understanding the Mind to eliminate Stress

  • What: An Introduction to the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, 14-day intensive
  • When: Monday, March 30 – Sunday, April 12, 2020
  • TIME: 6:00 – 7:30 AM
  • LOCATION: Integral Yoga Studio, 4000 Bearcat Way, Suite 102, Morrisville, NC 27560
  • Fee:
    $120 – in person participation at the studio
    $70 – remotely via conference bridge (audio only); bridge info will be provided upon receipt of registration and payment
    Payment options: cash, check, Zelle (use subhashmittal@gmail.com) or paypal
  • Daily Routine: Light stretching (10-15 minutes), Pranayama (15 min), Relaxation (10-15 min), Yoga Sutra Discussion (~45 min)
  • To register: please fill out the registration form, providing information in all the fields and submit it online 
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Yoga Retreat with Subhash, April 30-May 3, 2020


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Lakulish Ashram 1

I would like to invite you to a yoga retreat in the beautiful rural setting in Mebane, NC. 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 in an ashram setting 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.

Retreat feedback from past participants

register here

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Establishing home meditation practice

In a previous article entitled “what, why and how of meditation”, I talked about some basic concepts and the technique of meditation. In this article, I would like to address the question of how to establish an ongoing home meditation practice.

From the standpoint of yoga practice, asana (physical postures), pranayama (breathing practices) and meditation are the three most important components of a yoga routine. If we want to derive full benefits from our yoga practice, all these three practices are equally important. However, to attain the final goal of yoga which is to still the constant agitation in the mind, meditation has been given the highest importance. So, it is strongly recommended that we develop a regular, ongoing practice of meditation. 

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14-day Meditation Intensive, Feb 24 – Mar 8, 2020

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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.

Please note – in addition to the usual option of participating in person at the studio, you have the option to participate remotely by dialing into a conference bridge. See below for more info.

Program Information

  • What: 14-day Meditation Intensive
  • When: Monday, February 24 – Sunday, March 8, 2020
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What, why, how of Meditation

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Meditation

What is meditation? Why meditate? How to meditate? What goes on in the mind when you meditate? What benefits can I expect from meditation? “My mind is constantly racing – can I still do meditation”? Can I meditate in a reclining position? When to meditate and for how long? etc …

If you have ever tried meditation, it is more than likely that you have encountered the above and possibly many more questions related to your meditation practice. So, let us try to understand the concepts and practice of meditation and learn how to establish an on-going home practice.

As you may know, Yoga Sutras by Patanjali is the most influential text that gives us an in-depth understanding of the concepts of yoga practice. In this text, Patanjali provides us with the eight-fold path of yoga, called Ashtanga Yoga (eight limbs of yoga), for the attainment of the goal of yoga which is self-realization. Of these eight limbs, the last three – dharana (focus), dhyana (contemplation) and samadhi (absorption), constitute the practice of meditation.

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21-day Yoga Immersion, Jan 13 – Feb 2, 2020

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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.

Please note – in addition to the usual option of participating in person at the studio, you have the option to participate remotely by dialing into a conference bridge. See below for more info.

  • What: 21-day yoga immersion
  • When: Monday, January 13 – Sunday, February 2, 2020
  • Time: 6:00 AM – 7:30 AM
  • Location: Integral Yoga Studio, 4000 Bearcat Way, Suite 102, Morrisville, NC 27560
  • Instructor: Subhash Mittal
  • Fee:
    $150 – in person participation at the studio (cash, check, Zelle or paypal)
    $90 – remotely via conference bridge (audio only); bridge info will be provided upon receipt of registration and payment (cash, check, Zelle or paypal)
  • To register: Fill out the registration form, providing information in all the fields, and submit it online
  • 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

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Padmasana (Lotus Pose)

Feel free to contact me if you have any questions or would like more information.

Get all the details here…

Here is what the previous participants have to say…

"Absolutely wonderful! I didn’t want it to end! :)…"
– Kristen Daniels

"… I was suffering from lower back pain and anal fissure for a year and half. After taking this 21-day challenge (with sattvic food) program, I completely got relief from the pain…"

– Sujatha Muthuswamy

Read all the comments here…

Pain is unavoidable, suffering is by choice

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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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“Lead me from darkness to light”

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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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