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Healing Unhealthy Habits as a Spiritual Practice

Healing from addiction or any other unhealthy habit is a spiritual practice. It’s impossible simply to say, “Oh, I don't want to indulge in this or I have to get rid of that.” We cannot. The more we try to push it away and get rid of it, the more we wind up...

Understanding the Ego

God or Infinite Consciousness is That through which our own egos move. Unfortunately, the ego tends to overlook the fact that its capacity to function is from that Source, and instead it comes up with the notion that I am doing everything by myself. But it would be a...

“Bear Insult, Bear Injury, Highest Sadhana”

On September 8, 2023, we celebrate the 136th Jayanthi (Birth Anniversary) of Sri Swami Sivananda, the Guru of Sri Swami Satchidananda. In honor of this occasion, we offer this video during which Swami Satchidananda is asked to explain this well-known teaching of his...

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Yoga and the Trauma Sensitive Person

Yoga and the Trauma Sensitive Person

Dr. Bessel van der Kolk is considered one of the world’s leading authorities on Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). He has pioneered the use of Yoga as a therapy that is helping these individuals to work through their PTSD and regain a sense of mastery that has...

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The Yogic View of Emotional Health

The Yogic View of Emotional Health

Dr. Ananda Balayogi Bhavanani, son of  Dr. Swami Gitananda and director of the International Centre for Yoga Education and Research (ICYER) in Pondicherry, India, continues the scientific work of  his father. In this article, Dr. Bhavanani gives a beautiful overview...

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Vedanta and Psychotherapy

Vedanta and Psychotherapy

Vedanta and Psychotherapy would seem at opposite ends of the spectrum. Vedanta asserts that all is Brahman and psychotherapy has the psyche as its focus. But as Swami Tadatmananda, a senior disciple of  Sri Swami Dayananda (one of the most respected Vedantis)...

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The Yoga of Recovery

The Yoga of Recovery

Durga Leela is a clinical Ayurveda and Pancha Karma specialist who has been involved with 12-step programs for the past 13 years. She developed the Yoga of Recovery to help those struggling with addictions lead new, empowered lives. In this interview, she discusses...

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The Integral Yoga Approach to Balancing the Emotions

The Integral Yoga Approach to Balancing the Emotions

Integral Yoga master teacher Swami Vidyananda’s workshops on Yoga and the emotions explore Integral Yoga techniques that bring greater harmony within oneself and to one’s relationships. These workshops use Hatha Yoga and meditation, as well as sacred imagery,...

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Yama & Niyama: A Psychospiritual Perspective

Yama & Niyama: A Psychospiritual Perspective

Maharishi Patanjali prescribed inner and outer purification as a prerequisite for pursuing the path of Yoga. Yama, or the five abstinences, might be described as enlightened self-control. Niyama, or the five observances, might be defined as self-regulation. In this...

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Emotional Regulation Utilizing the Yoga Sutras

Emotional Regulation Utilizing the Yoga Sutras

Although Yoga is formally a system of liberation, it can be employed to teach skills of emotional regulation. In this article, Dr. Richard Panico bridges the gap between Yoga-based psychology and western science that offers a four-part system of emotional regulation,...

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Building Emotional Strength with Yoga

Building Emotional Strength with Yoga

In this article, Srinivasan, a senior disciple of Sri Swami Vishnu-devananda (who was a brother monk of Sri Swami Satchidananda), gives us a beautiful overview of the subject matter of our special section from the yogic perspective. Through our study and sincere...

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Q & A with Swami Satchidananda on Finding Contentment

Q & A with Swami Satchidananda on Finding Contentment

Question: I’m basically happy and peaceful but feel that something is missing. How can I find the missing part? Swami Satchidananda: If you are basically happy and in peace, what can be missing? It’s a sort of contradiction. If you are basically happy and in peace,...

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