|
|
 Surya Namaskar (Sun Salutation) I invite you to join us for this memorable yoga event where we will practice 108 rounds of Surya Namaskar (Sun Salutations). Surya Namaskar, practiced to the accompaniment of beautifully chanted mantras, will not only invigorate and energize you but also lead you into a state of deep meditation.
- Event: Surya Namaskar Yogathon (108 rounds of Sun Salutations)
- Location: Hindu Temple (HSNC), main Cultural Hall, 309 Aviation Parkway, Morrisville, NC 27560; temple phone: (919) 481-2574
- When: Saturday, March 10, 2018
- Time: 7:00 AM to 11:30 AM (on-site registration starts at 6:30 AM)
- Program Fee (donation to the temple – includes veggie lunch): $20 with pre-registration or $25 on the day of the event; In addition, please try to find sponsors who might be willing to pledge money per round that you complete.
- Program: Om chanting, invocation prayer, a brief discussion of the mantras associated with SN (a chart of SN is available on my website here), practice 108 rounds of Surya Namaskar accompanied by the chanting of beautifully rendered Surya Namaskar mantras, yoga nidra (deep relaxation), brief session of pranayama to balance out the flow of prana, closing chants.
- Lunch: Vegetarian lunch will follow the event
- Light snacks, tea/coffee will be available in the hallway during the event.
- To register: please fill out the registration form on the HSNC website and submit it online. You can make the payment on the same page.
Continue reading »
 Virabhadrasana (Warrior 2)
If you’ve attended a yoga class with me, you would have noted that Surya Namaskar (Sun Salutation) is an integral part of the routine that we practice. Typically, we practice three rounds of Surya Namaskar. In the first round, we go through the basic sequence which has the classic 12 movements. In the second and third round, we add some variations to many of the movements. For example, in the second round some of the common poses that we practice include warrior 1, warrior 2, triangle pose, pigeon pose etc. In the third round, we usually practice the upward facing dog and also occasionally some twisting variations from the lunge position.
In today’s post, I am presenting the sequence of three rounds of Sun Salutation with the Lizard pose (uttana-prishthasana) integrated into the second round. The Lizard pose is great for opening the hips and stretching and strengthening the hamstrings, inner thighs, the pelvic area and the spine.
Continue reading »
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. Here are the particulars:
- What: 21-day yoga immersion
- When: Monday, February 26 – Sunday, March 18, 2018
- Time: 6:00 AM – 7:30 AM
- Where: Integral Yoga Studio, 4000 Bear Cat Way, Suite 102, Morrisville, NC 27560
- Fee: $120 (cash, check or paypal)
Continue reading »
 Five Pranas
The word “prana” (prāṇa – प्राण) is derived from the Sanskrit root word “an” (अन्) with the prefix “pra” added. “an” means to breathe. When we add the prefix “pra” then prana assumes a much broader meaning in addition to simply the breath. Prana can mean the cosmic life force or the individual vital life energy. It is the life force or the life principle that keeps us “alive”. In many parts of India, when a person dies, the statement made is “prana left the person’s body” and the implication is that the person is dead. At the time of death some of the organs in the body like the liver, kidney, eyes etc. may still be functional. In fact, that is how organ transplant is done from a cadaver. The only reason these organs are of no use in the body is because there is no prana in the body. In a different body where the prana is still there, this organ can replace the damaged organ and resume normal function.
There is a story about Prana that we find in ancient texts, the Upanishads. Our five main faculties – the mind, breath (prana), speech, ear and eye – were arguing with each other as to which one of them was the best and most important. To resolve this dispute they decided that each would leave the body and see whose absence was most missed.
Continue reading »
A few years ago, I attended a workshop on “yoga and eye care” taught by one Dr. Khare who was visiting from India. The workshop presented a pretty comprehensive set of practices for improving/stabilizing vision. Part of the information was based on the book, “Better Eyesight without Glasses” by William Bates. This book came out in the forties and has been a standard resource for eye care ever since. Recently I found this website which also provides similar information in a detailed manner – “The Complete book of Eye Care” – http://eye.taragana.com/ by Dr. M. S. Agarwal. I am presenting below the “7-point Program” in a condensed version of these practices.
I suggest that you add at least a subset of the eye exercises given here as a part of your home yoga practice. Those who have attended my yoga classes will recognize many of these exercises as we try to pick a different exercise for each class. Personally, I have found that regular eye exercises have helped me maintain my eye prescription the same for over twenty years now. I use glasses only for reading and computer work and have given up using them for driving or outdoor work
Continue reading »
If you’ve attended a yoga class with me, you would have noted that Surya Namaskar (Sun Salutation) is an integral part of the routine that we practice. Typically, we practice three rounds of Surya Namaskar. In the first round, we go through the basic sequence which has the classic 12 movements. In the second and third round, we add some variations to many of the movements to emphasize stretching specific areas of the body.
In today’s post I will be discussing a sequence that will help develop upper body strength. This sequence will be integrated into the second round of the Surya Namaskar (Sun Salutation) routine.
My friend Anupam Jain has graciously agreed to be your guide for the video presentation. Hope you will enjoy practicing along with the video.
Continue reading »
[This is an edited version of the transcript of the monthly workshop on the yoga sutras held on October 21, 2017. In this session, we covered the following sutras:
- Sutra 1.16: higher form of vairagya (non-attachment)
- Sutras 1.30-1.31: obstacles to the path of yoga
- Sutra 1.33: Four attitudes for four categories of people
- Sutra 2.28: why practice the eight limbs of yoga?
- Sutra 2.29: Listing the eight limbs of yoga]
Invocation to Sage Patanjali
In this invocation, Patanjali is credited with three areas of knowledge – science of Ayurveda to purify the body, the commentary on Sanskrit grammar to purify the speech and the science of Yoga (Yoga Sutras) to purify the mind.
योगेन चित्तस्य पदेन वाचां । मलं शरीरस्य च वैद्यकेन ॥ योऽपाकरोत्तं प्रवरं मुनीनां । पतञ्जलिं प्राञ्जलिरानतोऽस्मि ||
Continue reading »
 Figure 4 foot down
In an earlier post, we discussed a few of the reclining hip opening yoga poses. In the hip opening sequence given here, I will be introducing two more poses – the Baddha-konasana (bound angle pose) and the Ananda Balasana (Happy Baby pose) in addition to the figure-4 stretches that we did the last time.
I hope you will enjoy watching the video and practicing with me.
Continue reading »
Virabhadrasana (Warrior2)
As you may be aware, I have been teaching these early morning yoga programs – 21-day yoga immersion, the 14-day meditation and 14-day pranayama intensives, from time to time. Many of the participants from these programs have expressed a desire to have an occasional early morning yoga class which can help them rejuvenate their own personal yoga practice.
Here is your opportunity to either begin a new yoga practice or rejuvenate an existing one. I invite you to join me for this new early morning Suryodaya Yoga class as per details below.
No prior asana, pranayama or meditation experience is required.
- What: Suryodaya (Sunrise) Yoga
- When: Sunday, Oct 15, 2017
- Time: 6:00 – 7:30 AM
- Location: 4000 Bearcat Way, Suite 102, Morrisville, NC 27560
- Routine: Asana (postures), Pranayama (15 min), Relaxation (10-15 min)
- Live video streaming: the class will also be broadcast live via "facebook live".
- Fee: Voluntary donation (cash, check or paypal); Suggested donation:
- $10 (at the studio)
- $3 (if you are attending via live video)
- To register: fill out the registration form, providing information in all the fields, and submit it online
Do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions. I look forward to your participation.
[This is an edited version of the transcript of the monthly workshop on the yoga sutras held on September 16, 2017. In this session, we covered sutras 6 through 15 in chapter 1. Visit the podcast page on my blog for the audio recording]
Invocation to Sage Patanjali
In this invocation, Patanjali is credited with three areas of knowledge – science of Ayurveda to purify the body, the commentary on Sanskrit grammar to purify the speech and the science of Yoga (Yoga Sutras) to purify the mind.
योगेन चित्तस्य पदेन वाचां । मलं शरीरस्य च वैद्यकेन ॥योऽपाकरोत्तं प्रवरं मुनीनां । पतञ्जलिं प्राञ्जलिरानतोऽस्मि
[audio:http://www.integralyogastudio.com/sounds/patanjali-invocation2.mp3]
yogena cittasya padena vācāṃ । malaṃ śarīrasya ca vaidyakena ॥ yo’pākarottaṃ pravaraṃ munīnāṃ । patañjaliṃ prāñjalirānato’smi
"I respectfully bow down with folded hands and offer my salutations to Sage Patanjali, the highest among the Munis (sages), who has presented the remedies for removing the impurities of the body through his treatise on Ayurveda, of language through his treatise on grammar (Patanjala Mahabhashya) and the impurities of the Chitta (mind field) through his treatise on Yoga (Yoga Sutras of Patanjali)"
In the session last month, we covered the first five sutras of Chapter 1.
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