The best way to take care of your heart is to not disturb it. Originally, the Creator programmed it to be a beautiful place for physical, spiritual, and emotional growth. But we don’t keep it that way; we disturb it. We don’t have to do anything to make the heart...
In November 1977, Prevention magazine published the first of two articles about Integral Health Services—a groundbreaking integrative medicine clinic in Connecticut. Possibly the first health center of its kind in North America (and even the world), it was based on...
If our aim is great, then our obstacles will also be very big. Always remember that without suffering we can never achieve anything great. That’s why I always say that the bigger the pain, the bigger the gain. No pain, no gain. Pain builds up a lot of strength in you....
In this small book by Swami Satchidananda, he gives inspiring teachings for this time — and for all challenging situations. "By being peaceful yourself, you can inspire others to be peaceful. You don’t have to bring peace to the whole world. Bring peace to the place...
Many health care providers have addressed the importance of keeping the lungs healthy, especially during the pandemic. The classical practice of deergha swasam (deep, 3 part-breathing) is an ideal practice for its health—body/mind—and spiritual benefits. This...
Over the past years, an asana controversy arose in the Yoga world concerning the shoulder stand (sarvangasana). How does this pose affect the health of the cervical spine, and is it safe for everyone, particularly beginners? Of course, we Integral Yoga teachers know...
The mother is everyone’s first Guru, or teacher. The universe itself is the feminine aspect and all mothers are expressions of the Goddess energy. Mothers have the great responsibility and joyful prospect of nurturing and raising beautiful souls. This is one of the...
As some of us were discussing the strange feel of this life with social distancing, we expressed both a sense of gratitude for being safe and healthy, and a deep pang of sorrow for those many souls who are suffering. Those in my immediate circle of friends are...
In the Yoga Sutras, we learn that the practice of Yoga is aimed at addressing the fluctuations or disturbances in the mind (chitta vritti) so we may experience our natural state of peace and joy. Some misunderstand this and think "Yoga chitta vritti" means Yoga is the...
Question: What do you think will happen to our natural environment? Swami Satchidananda: It’s already happening. We are ruining it. Now, we are thinking of repairing it. Well, that’s the way we learn. Mother Nature allows us to make the mistakes and to learn by our...
News Release: April 2020 Now is a time when many people, heeding the call to stay at home, may want the solace of being able to reach out to Integral Yoga swamis and ministers to talk on the phone and through email. Clergy-on-Call is a service recently established to...
How do we find peace and joy in the middle of a chaotic world? In the midst of the chaos, find the balance, and then you find the peace. When are you peaceful? When there is nothing to disturb your peace? That is not the true test of real inner peace. When there is...
During the days of the COVID-19, Rev. Dhyani Simonini has been writing remembrances of special interactions, over the years, with Swami Satchidananda. Here is a recent one: I’d like to share a little love tale of Swami Satchidananda—our Gurudev—and a special project...
For those who have heard about or seen the compelling Netflix documentary "Crip Camp: A Disability Revolution," Yogaville's own Swami Suddhananda (who has cerebral palsy) only appears briefly in it—but she figures more centrally in its main storyline. "Crip Camp" is...
You have to be strong to face things. Going into seclusion, or into a protected environment, helps you make yourself strong. You don’t need to be afraid of this always. Once you build up physical and mental stamina you don’t have to be afraid of anything. Nothing can...
Soon after 9/11, a large Yoga conference was being held in the USA. The organizers asked Swami Satchidananda to send a message of comfort and inspiration to those attending the conference gathering. This was his message, which seems tremendously timely in current...