Independence implies a freedom from being controlled or unduly influenced by an outside source. Spiritual independence suggests the freedom to live in harmony with the spiritual truth at the heart of our being. It implies freedom from depending on any outside source...
A meditation teacher of mine once quoted a Burmese teacher as saying “When everything that can go is gone, what’s left is the truth.” That sentence resonated with me. I heard it maybe 20 years ago and I still reference it and repeat it a lot. And I think that’s...
In grief and loss, the mind is powerfully affected. The way we think is changed. The content of our thoughts is altered. Particularly in early and traumatic grief, we forget things, we lose things, we are distracted and inattentive. Alternatively, we can be utterly...
Introduction I was inspired to write this article after reading Tracy Cooley’s excellent Integral Yoga Magazine article. She describes running a 108 kilometer distance. Certainly, an incredible accomplishment, particularly as a Yoga meditation. I love to swim....
In this Integral Yoga Hatha Yoga class taught by master teacher Swami Asokananda, and hosted by Yoga Alliance, the focus is on meditative awareness and allowing time for the body to release more fully. It's about getting in touch with prana, the vital force, that lies...
Yoga is effective for reducing shoulder pain, reducing stress, boosting immunity, improving circulation and mental focus, and increasing vitality. I know this to be true. A long time ago (2004) in a far-away land (New York City) I had a vision that teaching Yoga would...
A common scenario I see is people who started a meditation practice, found it beneficial, and then for whatever reason they stop. When they try to return to a daily practice, they hit resistance. They ask: I know I feel great when I meditate, but why can’t I get...
We’ve come to the final yama (in the five yamas of the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali) and the last occurrence of Patanjali’s “via negativa” approach. Aparigraha, commonly referred to as “non-grasping,” is composed of graha (seizing) with two prefixes attached: a (not) and...
My teacher, Sri Dharma Mittra, includes savasana in the category of the eight essential poses in Yoga. He is well-known throughout the world for being a master teacher and having created the asana chart, which hangs on many studios’ walls, featuring Dharma in 908...
Keep it simple,” said the Dalai Lama. “There is no need for temples; no need for complicated philosophy. Our own brain, our own heart is our temple; our philosophy is kindness.” Meditation, or contemplation, is the seventh limb of Yoga in Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras....
Integral Yogi Kalyani Verma shares some wonderful stretches and relaxation techniques in this 10 minute video. Kalyani lives in the UK and is the daughter of Siva and Gnanam Pillai, longtime devotees of Swami Satchidananda. Her parents first met Sri Swamiji in Sri...
My time on the mat began with a few sporadic classes to balance out a new fitness regime. I was in my early thirties and began noticing my high metabolism was not all I could rely on to stay healthy. Group classes motivated me to go to the gym, and I mixed up my...
There are many stories in the Zen tradition that offer a perspective on sleep, such as the enlightenment of Ananda, where he stayed awake for several days on end trying to attain Great Liberation. He finally decides to give up on attaining enlightenment and get some...
This delightful kids series is taught by Hersha Chellaram (Integral Yoga teacher and Integral Yoga Centre of Hong Kong director) and is also for the young at heart! In this class, Hersha takes you through a whimsical and fun stretching and breathing program as part of...
TaikoPeace is a movement started by renowned taiko drumming pioneer and community builder, PJ Hirabayashi, to spread the kinetic energy, spiritual vibration, and pure joy of Japanese taiko drumming for positive social change and a peaceful world. Dedicated to...
While the study of physics may sound a million miles away from Yoga, they actually have a very close relationship. From energy to forces, physics plays a part in all areas of Yoga practice. When teaching classes, I like to bring in the idea that our actions are not...