Inside Hatha Yoga and Other Exercise

Volume XXI, No. 4, November 2012
Hatha Yoga and Other Exercise
By Sri Swami Satchidananda
Hatha Yoga is a form of meditation. Every posture, every
breathing practice is a form of meditation. It calms your body,
breath, and mind. After only an hour of practice, you walk
away with all peace and serenity and usually feel relaxed for
hours. It is a very great practice.
The asanas are completely different from other forms of
exercise, which are usually done with quick movements
and a certain amount of strain. Exercises accelerate your
breathing, waste your energy, and draw your circulation to
the surface of the body. They develop the muscular part of
the body. That means your vitality goes to the muscles at the
cost of the inner glands and nerves.
According to Sri Bhagavan Patanjali, the Father of the
Yoga teachings, asana literally means a posture that brings
steadiness and comfort. So, the Yoga asanas should be
practiced with utmost ease and comfort. We are very, very
careful not to make Hatha Yoga another exercise. That’s
a great difference between many other types of Yoga and
the Integral Yoga technique. Only very few do it in a nice,
gentle way. It is not our interest to make you an acrobat or a
gymnast and teach you 150 asanas. Still, they will give you all
the strength you’ll ever need — and mental strength as well.
Never forget that health is much more important than
muscular strength. You might be able to lift heavy weights,
Inside
(Continued on Page 3)
Hatha Yoga & Other Exercise by Sri Swami Satchidananda p. 1
Quickie Hatha Yoga by Rev. Vidya Vonne
p. 10
Letter from the Editor by Bharata Wingham
p. 2
Shaping Up With Big Yoga by Meera P. Kerr
p. 12
God Is Peace by Sri Swami Sivananda
p. 3
Yoga Nidra by Nirmala Heriza
p. 13
Bhagavad Gita Study by Swami Asokananda
p. 4
News from LC WF by Swami Dayananda
p. 15
Keeking His Spirit Alive by Swami Divyananda
p. 5
Hatha Yoga T.T. Summer 2012 by Daya M. Wirrell
p. 16
The Mandala of Time by Bharata Wingham
p. 6
The IYTA Column by Brahmi Milliman
p. 17
Yoga for People with Diabetes by Robin Jaya Johnson
p. 8
Senior Speakers’ Schedules
p. 18
The Best Diet by Dr. Amrita Sandra McLanahan
p. 9
Calendar of Upcoming Programs at Yogaville
p. 19
The Goal of
Integral Yoga
Integral Yoga
Teachers Association
The goal of Integral Yoga, and the birthright of every
individual is to realize the spiritual unity behind all the
diversities in the entire creation and to live harmoniously as
members of one universal family.
The Integral Yoga Teachers Association is a membership
association open to all Integral Yoga teachers. Its mission is
to provide mutual support and spiritual fellowship, to share
information, to provide inspiration, and to conduct ongoing
training and guidance.
This goal is achieved by maintaining our natural condition
of a body of optimum health and strength, senses under
total control, a mind well-disciplined, clear and calm, an
intellect as sharp as a razor, a will as strong and pliable as
steel, a heart full of unconditional love and compassion,
an ego as pure as a crystal, and a life filled with Supreme
Peace and Joy.
Attain this through asanas, pranayama, chanting of
Holy Names, self-discipline, selfless action, mantra japa,
meditation, study and reflection.
Om Shanti, Shanti, Shanti.
Ever yours in Yoga,
®
Director:
Newsletter Editor:
Graphic Design:
Photos:
Gopal Watkins
Bharata Wingham
Anand Shiva Hervé
Madhavan Aubert
Archives
Copy Editors:
Lilavati Eberle, Jeff Curry, Brahmi Milliman
Membership Coordinator: Brahmi Milliman
Integral Yoga Teachers Association
Satchidananda Ashram–Yogaville
108 Yogaville Way, Buckingham, VA 23921 USA
Tel: 434.969.3121, ext. 177 Fax: 434.969.1303
E-mail (Newsletter): [email protected]
E-mail (Membership): [email protected]
E-mail (Director): [email protected] Website: www.iyta.org
Letter From The Editor
As I write this introduction to the newsletter the tree leaves
are beginning to lose their lush green hue. To me, they are
a visual delight transforming into the intense reds, browns
and yellows so familiar to a typical autumn in Virginia. As the
vegetation starts its transition into the slower rhythms and
cooler temperatures of fall in Yogaville, I feel we are blessed
with such remarkable displays of color and contrasts.
In this Fall issue we are reminded by Sri Gurudev of the proper
attitude to take toward Hatha Yoga. Sri Swami Sivananda
helps us to realize that, “Real deep peace is independent
of external conditions. Real abiding peace is stupendous
stillness of the Immortal Soul within.”
Swami Asokananda brings a verse of the Bhagavad Gita to life
and discusses the gunas and how in performing rituals Krishna
wants us to be clear about our motives. And use them not for
egocentric outcomes but for ego-transcending outcomes, not
confusing means (rituals) with the end (Samadhi).
Rev. Vidya Vonne gives us a quick way to include hatha
practice every day in our busy lives complete with photos.
Meera Alexander brings home the message that hatha is
for every body type and almost everyone can benefit from
regular practice and with proper instruction, it is easy to
practice and anyone can participate.
I have always been fascinated by time. The Eastern teachings
have traditionally said that time was an illusion, maya and not
real. In this issue I share my explorations about the subject
IYTA Newsletter • August 2012 • Page 2
and why it is important to our spiritual
development and stress reduction to
have a clear understanding of the role our
perception of time plays in our lives.
Nirmala Heriza, Dr. Yoga, gives us a lot of wisdom about
Yoga nidra and deep relaxation in keeping healthy and
stress-free.
Swami Dayananda reports to us about the LOTUS Center for
World Faiths and the work they are doing toward its threeyear goals of being more active as an interfaith resource
system, in developing an effective communication system,
as well as expanding their interfaith relationships and service
with clergy and leaders of spiritual organizations.
Robin Jaya Johnson finishes up her article on Yoga and
diabetes and the effect Yoga nidra can have on lowering
blood sugar.
Yogaville’s, Dr. Amrita McLanahan shares with us, “The best
way to eat.”
We hope you enjoy reading about these and other
contributor’s articles in this issue. And if you would like to
contribute an article to this Newsletter please let me know
at: [email protected]. I would be very happy to
discuss the possibility of including it in a future issue.
In Peace and Joy, Bharata.
run long distances, jump to extreme heights, break chains,
or swim for miles, but are you immune to illness? Even great
mental ability comes second to health. Having phenomenal
powers of memory is of no use without a balanced mind,
one that can accurately weigh pleasure and pain, praise and
censure; one that is fearless, residing in permanent peace
and bliss.
Have some other kind of exercise if you want; it doesn’t
matter. But if you don’t have time for that, at least do the
Yoga practices. Hatha Yoga is a must. It is the main meal. The
various exercises are like desserts, side dishes.
If you want to combine other exercises and asanas, do the
exercises first, relax, and then do the asanas afterward. End
with the asanas. If, instead, you practice the asanas first and
then do the exercises, you will disturb what you have built by
the asanas.
The Pradheepika, an ancient Hatha Yoga scripture, states
that: “Anyone who practices Yoga properly and sincerely
becomes a siddha (an accomplished one); be he young, old
or even very elderly, sick or weak.” From prince to peasant,
child to grandparent, ailing to robust, all can practice these
Yoga postures with maximum advantage.
God Is Peace
By Sri Swami Sivananda
Peace is a divine attribute. It is a quality of the soul. It cannot
remain with greedy persons. It fills the pure heart. It deserts
the Iustful. It runs away from the selfish. It is an ornament of
a Paramahamsa.
You may be in quite adverse circumstances. You may remain
in the midst of calamities, troubles, tribulations, difficulties
and sorrows, and yet you may enjoy the inward harmony
and peace, if you rest in God by withdrawing the senses,
by stilling the mind and by eradicating the impurities of the
mind. Lord Jesus was persecuted in a variety of ways. He was
put to death on the cross and yet what did he say? He said:
“O Lord, forgive them. They know not what they are doing.”
How peaceful he was, even when his life was at stake. He
was enjoying the inner peace. No tribulation or calamity
could touch him.
Real deep Peace is independent of external conditions. Real
abiding Peace is stupendous stillness of the Immortal Soul
within. If you can rest yourself in this ocean of Peace, all the
usual noises of the world can hardly affect you. If you enter the
silence or the wonderful calm of divine Peace by stilling the
bubbling mind and restraining the thoughts and withdrawing
outgoing senses, all disturbing noises will die away. Motor
cars may roll on the streets, boys may shout at the pitch of
their voices, railway trains may run in front of your house,
several mills may be working in your neighborhood and yet
all these noises will not disturb you even a bit.
Happiness is that internal state of perennial joy, perfect
satisfaction and supreme peace wherein there is neither
craving nor desire, neither elation nor grief, neither pain
nor sorrow. The outgoing mind rests in the ever-peaceful
Soul. There are thirst, hunger and passion in men and
animals. You find here water, drinks, beverages, succulent
or juicy fruits, food of various sorts and beautiful ladies. To
satisfy the desire of sightseeing you have the mountains,
lakes, springs, rivers, oceans, flowers, etc. There must be
something also that can give Nitya Akhanda Sukha to men,
that can satisfy the one common desire in men. That hidden
unseen something is God, who is an embodiment of Bliss,
Peace, Prem and Knowledge.
The indivisible Power or intelligence that lies hidden behind
these names and forms is God. It is this mighty power that
rules our daily life. It is this great power that governs the mind
and all internal organs of the human machine (Antaryamin or
Inner Ruler).
Paramatman or the Supreme Self is an embodiment of peace.
The Srutis declare: “Ayam Atma Santah.” This Atman is Peace.
Peace is a moving power. It is a living force. It is the only reality.
Realize this peace and be free. Life on this physical plane is a
mere preparation for the eternal life of everlasting sunshine
and joy which is to come, when one gets the knowledge of the
Self through intense and constant meditation after purifying
the mind. This immortal life of supreme joy is described as the
‘Kingdom of Heaven’ in the Bible, which is within you, in your
own heart. Where Is Happiness?
Life is common in birds, dogs, ants, men, etc. Existence is
common in wall, stone, table, birds, animals, men, etc. Desire
to enjoy Nitya Akhanda Sukha is common to all. All acts have
for their end the attainment of happiness; virtue is the root of
happiness. Atman is Ananda Svarupa (embodiment of bliss).
IYTA Newsletter • November 2012 • Page 3
Bhagavad Gita Study
Commentary by Swami Asokananda
Chapter 2 Verse 45: The Vedas deal in the realm of the
gunas of Nature. Arjuna, you are beyond these three
qualities! Know this and live free and unaffected by the
pairs of opposites. Remain ever-balanced in Sattwa, freed
from the need to get or hold onto anything, and centered
in your true Self.
“The Vedas deal in the realm of the gunas of Nature.” A person
performing the Vedic rituals in the hope of some personal
gain still has his consciousness immersed in the manifested
realm of Prakriti, which is composed of the three gunas. Sri
Krishna is not discounting rituals. He wants us, though, to be
clear of our motives for performing them. Rituals can be used
for egocentric outcomes or for ego-transcending outcomes.
It is also important that the practitioner does not confuse the
means (rituals) with the end (Samadhi).
“Arjuna, you are beyond these three qualities!” The true “I”
is beyond the realm of the gunas. To go beyond the gunas is
to go beyond the mind; and to go beyond the mind is to go
beyond Prakriti. Then, Krishna says time and again, we will
discover ourselves to be the Atman or Pure Consciousness.
“Know this and live free and unaffected by the pairs of
opposites.” In this verse, Krishna is describing three sadhanas
that support each other: As our consciousness is less stuck
in the gunas, we find ourselves more able to remain steady
as we undergo the pairs of opposites
(dwandwas), and this allows us to be
“centered in our true Self.” Or, remaining
balanced through the dwandwas will help us to thin out the
gunas so that we can rest in the Self. Or, as we train the mind
to get more comfortable resting in the Self, the gunas will not
limit our consciousness, and we will not be shaken by the
ups and downs of life. From whichever angle you come at it,
these three will work together to free us.
“Remain ever balanced in Sattwa, freed from the need
to get or hold onto anything, and centered in your true
Self.” Though Krishna affirms to Arjuna that he is beyond the
gunas, He asked Arjuna to hold onto one of them—Sattwa.
He says, “Nitya sattwa sthah”—remain ever established
in Sattwa. It could be seen as a contradiction. Yet it is the
calmness, steadiness, and contentment of a sattwic mind
that allows us to be “free from the need to get or hold onto
anything.” Acquiring and holding onto stuff is not necessarily
unspiritual. But we should recognize that when we are
lacking possession of our Self, we will forever be desperately
seeking something to grab onto.
It is through the clarity of the sattwic mind that we are able to
connect with That which is beyond the gunas and mind, and
to enjoy “Atmavan”—being centered in the Self.
GOD’S GARDEN
Plant Three Rows of Peas:
1. Peace of mind.
2. Peace of heart.
3. Peace of soul.
Plant Three Rows of Lettuce:
1. Let us be faithful.
2. Let us be kind.
3. Let us love one another.
Plant Three Rows of Turnips:
1. Turn up for meetings.
2. Turn up for service.
3. Turn up to help one another.
Plant Some Squash to:
1. Squash gossip.
2. Squash grumbling.
3. Squash selfishness.
Don’t Forget a Mushroom:
Always make much room
for God in our lives.
Thank You, Gurudev for allowing me
the chance to serve.
Work is worship.
Tatanka Ohikita
Plant Three Rows of Thyme:
1. Time for Prayer.
2. Time for the Word.
3. Time for God.
IYTA Newsletter • November 2012 • Page 4
In the Spirit of our Ancestors.
Wandering Turtle
Keeking His Spirit Alive
Commentary by Swami Divyananda
Santa Barbara, California is an oasis of beauty, with the
subdued elegance of Spanish architecture and palmlined beaches set against the majestic backdrop of coastal
mountains.
Swami Satchidanandaji first wintered there in 1972,
staying at the home of Dr. Ishwara Cowan and conducting
programs in Ishwara’s living room. Thereafter Swamiji
returned each winter for four months, and in 1975 the IYI
purchased a modest residence for him in the Montecito
foothills, just south of Santa Barbara. Swamiji loved
Santa Barbara and the winter warmth, and he named
the residence “La Paz” meaning “The Peace.” Devotees
frequently assembled there on Saturdays to do Karma Yoga
outdoors on the property. These were blessed days for us
all! Also in 1975, the IYI purchased a 62-acre farm on San
Marcos Pass Road, and founded a small ashram there with
20 students who ran an organic truck-farm and a falafel
stand, and conducted their Yoga programs in the barn. It
was truly rustic! But in 1980, this property was sold and
the community moved to Virginia.
During his stays in Santa Barbara, Swamiji worked on the
designs for the LOTUS and collaborated with Dr. Prashant
Hansma, a UCSB professor, for the interior lighting
features. In addition, Swamiji conducted an annual retreat in
Montecito at a retreat center called La Casa de Maria. Each
year a hundred or more students assembled to practice Yoga,
attend Swamiji’s lectures, and observe silence for eight to
ten days around New Year’s Eve. These retreats continued
for over a dozen years, up until 1988, when Swamiji started
spending the winter months in India.
Last year, after a twenty-three-year gap, some of Swami
Satchidananda’s devotees collaborated to re-instate the New
Year’s Retreat at La Casa de Maria on a smaller scale. There
were two days of silence instead of eight, and Yoga sessions
for older bodies as well as youngsters.
The keynote speaker for the retreat was Dr. Michael Lerner,
(co-founder of Commonweal) who has conducted Yogabased programs for cancer patients for over twenty years.
Dr. Lawrence Spann, Ramdas Andre, Dr. Ishwara Cowan,
Siva Fiske, Swami Divyananda and David Vijay Hassin were
also presenters. For the 22 people who registered and the
presenters also, it was truly a great experience!
Swami Satchidananda was inclusive, practical and the master
of “keeping it simple.” In that spirit the New Year’s Retreat
2013 will be open to everyone interested, young or old,
new or experienced in Yoga. This retreat will be a great
opportunity for those who want to share in the legacy of one
of the world’s great masters of Yoga. Jai Gurudev!
(For more information on the retreat log onto
Pathwaystopeaceretreat.com
or call Robert Ramdas Andre at 805-705-4703.)
Swami Divyananda took the sacred vows of
sannyas (renunciation) in 1975 and for
thirty-five years she served the Integral
Yoga Institute in every capacity from cook to
president–plus conducting trainings for more
than 200 Yoga teachers and leading
retreats and programs internationally.
Her longest assignment was for eleven years in India, as
the director of the Yoga Samaj in Coimbatore. Divyananda
presently lives in San Francisco and conducts an annual New
Year’s Retreat in Santa Barbara and an annual tour to the
ashrams and temples of India.
“If you want to see peace in the world outside, you must first see to it that your own mind is at peace.”
—Sri Swami Satchidananda
Can somebody
please untwist
me?
IYTA Newsletter • November 2012 • Page 5
The Mandala of Time: What Time is It?
By Bharata Wingham
FlatlineTime
I sometimes ask myself how it came about that I was the one
to develop the theory of relativity. The reason, I think, is that
a normal adult never stops to think about problems of space
and time. These are things which he has thought about as
a child. But my intellectual development was retarded, as
a result of which I began to wonder about space and time
only when I had already grown up. —Albert Einstein
purposes mostly related to the technological development of
our culture, but it gives us the sense of being locked into a
present with no sense of direct connection to the past or future.
It is a reduction of the “fullness of time,” multidimensional and
dynamic, to a compact fleeting instant proceeding rapidly
into a “future.” Time becomes a “flat line” proceeding into
an indefinite future--all quantity no quality--all length and no
depth, all objective events, no interior meanings.
I’m running late for an appointment. My anxiety level is rising
fast. Suddenly, I remember to take a “holy instant,” a moment
in my mind (as my body is moving very quickly toward the
meeting) to accept forgiveness for myself for being late,
and forgiving the organizer of the event for scheduling the
meeting in the first place! TGIF: Thank God I’m Forgiven!
Unfortunately, this view of time is a product of a mechanistic
reduction, taking no cognizance of novelty and creative
emergence. The novel emergents come from the timeless
dimension breaking through into time, which the linear view
of time does not generally recognize. The present is rapidly
turning into the past. The future is always ahead.
I once heard that according to psychoanalytic theory, if you
are late to an appointment you are considered hostile. If
you are early you’re anxious. And if you are on time you’re
compulsive. You can’t win!
If creativity doesn’t happen “now” it never will, but the now
seems very tiny. There isn’t much room (time) for the new
to emerge. To get a sense of how quickly “now” comes and
goes, get a tick-tock clock, or metronome, and listen to the
ticks. The new has to emerge within the space of the ticks
otherwise it is the past or future. Not much time for “now.”
As a child and young adult I never gave time much thought.
Then in my early Twenty’s I read a book by Alan Watts, about
the Hindu concept of “Yugas” (any of the four ages or eras of
the world according to Hindu religious writings, each period
being shorter, darker, and less righteous than the preceding)1.
Alan had a gift for transmitting a sense of wonder and curiosity
about life and existence that I couldn’t resist.
To experience the absurdity of this, we could even continue
to divide the now into smaller and smaller units, reaching the
nano realm, “nano-ticks,” and have even less of a now. Well, it’s
educating to imagine this and how little time we have for the
now while it quickly turns to past or is relegated to the future.
I later read a book by Benjamin Whorf, who studied the Hopi
Indians and their conception of time. It brought me to see that
what we commonly call “time,” is a conventional idea largely
conditioned by the culture or society in which it is used.
A Meditation on the Illusion of Time
I read more and more of Watts writings and listening to
recorded lectures wanting to understand his view of time
and also space. It was as though I was discovering a part of
existence and life I had never been aware of before, although
obviously, I was living immersed in it.
Blasting off from earth, we can still see the reference points we
have for our objective time-sense. Leaving off our subjective
time-sense for a moment, we look at our digital clock, or
analog clock, or just focus on the sun, moon and earth for our
chronological orienteering.
It was as though by beginning to think consciously about time
and space, I was moving “outside the box” of time and space.
As we speed toward Arcturus, and leave our native solar
system behind, we begin to focus more on our watch or clock,
and less on the physical universe around us as our ancestors
did, to answer our question of “what time is it?”
Most of us are taught in childhood and later, that time is a
linear straight line moving from past through the present
into the future. Even though most of us could see a round
clock with the hands going round and round. Were there
two kinds of time?
This linear image of time reduces the multidimensional, radial
sensation of time to a flatline arrow of time proceeding only
from past to future with a fleeting present sandwiched in
between. It is a “tensed time”, a past, present then future.
This image may be extremely useful, and important for certain
IYTA Newsletter • August 2012 • Page 6
On the spiritual path we often hear that time is an illusion.
Let’s take a trip in our imagination to see why.
Let’s say we are now mid-way between Earth’s solar system
and Arcturus. The Sun is now a small point of light, and so
is Arcturus. There is nothing now to watch objectively that
rotates in circular, rapid fashion.
Now we notice our watch batteries are dead. Our biological
clock now becomes the prominent measure. We realize
that conventional “time” is motion and energy-dependent.
Without the sense of movement we don’t have a sense of
time. Without change, we have no awareness of time.
Now we are into “naked time,” or “real time”. Things seem
to be “just happening” without any particular order. It is very
difficult to keep a linear conception going without a sense
of movement
This is an approximation of what the Zen Buddhists call,
mutual arising, spontaneous arising – there is nothing
“trailing” something else. It is called Thusness, or Suchness.
The spring doesn’t “become” the summer. In this space
there is no problems because there is no sense of opposition.
A witnessing state of mind observes without any sense of
before or after, only being, no becoming.
Ordinarily our minds work very hard to maintain the sense
of motion, becomingness”. If we unlearn it, and slip out of
the clock/time process occasionally, we can enter into the
domain of Tatahaga, only moment to moment arising of
experience. There is nothing “causing” something else, only
a mutual dance, an inter-play of spontaneous relating.
This is a transpersonal experience, not to be confused with
the infants, pre-personal, pre-temporal experience of living
only in, and for the moment.
Thus freed for a moment from the driven-ness of time and
change, which still goes on, with or without our attention
in the background, we experience the Eternal Now, the
Golden Present. We realize that there is no Absolute, or
Ultimate Standard of location or time, we literally are lost in
time and space.
Since space and time are really space-time, a nice means of
increasing our sense of time when we are feeling short of time
is to increase our sense of space, and vice versa. More on that
later, when I discuss A Course in Miracles view of time.
“we apprehend motion only by means of a contrast with
a fxed point.”—G. Bruno
On an analog clock we have a middle stationary post, nonmoving anchor, while the hands move around it giving us the
time of day. This reminds me of the maypole ceremony in
May where everyone “dances” around the central, still pole.
The static center of the pole remains steady while the people
rotate around it. In other words, it takes a sense of two-ness,
a duality to produce the sense of time as we normally think of
it, a something moving contrasted to something stationary.
Our clocks and calendars are measuring systems that are
useful. They are also completely arbitrary, only one system
among many possible systems of measurement. The
Mayans (I sometimes wonder if their name is completely
a coincidence, given the Hindu term for time and space is
“Maya”), for example have a completely different system
of time measurement, recognized by several scholars as far
superior to our own.
This conventional measurement (causing a beginning,
middle and end) is the sense in which the spiritual teachers
of the perennial philosophy have said that what we perceive
as the world is maya, an illusion. As all measurement is an
agreed upon conventional device, so is the time we take for
granted (we’ll explore that further in a moment).
Why an illusion? For one thing the “fixed point” isn’t fixed
at all. There is no such thing as a completely still point to be
found in the physical universe. The point is relatively fixed.
All of physical universe is in motion, no single resting point
anywhere to be found. We arbitrarily pick a relatively still
point, i.e., the Sun on a macro-basis as the still point for earth
calendar. But, we have learned that the Sun is moving too,
in a larger system of galaxies. So we “make-believe” that
the sun is still for purposes of measuring our time on earth.
And before we discovered that the sun is also in motion in
a greater cycle, we believed as well that the earth was fixed,
stationary, and flat!
Measurement: the Mother of all Illusions
We can say that measurement is the “mother of all illusions.”
Why? Because as soon as we measure something we cut it
from the whole. The root of the very word “measure” is from
the Sanskrit, maya. We single it out of the whole, an illusory
process, and we pretend that what we mentally separate is
separated in fact.
Measuring is a useful procedure, carving up the Whole into
“things” or units of measure has been a great technological
advance. Measurement is so useful to us that western science
and society that it seems like it has a “toy” it just can’t put
down. Our society appears to have become “meter happy,”
obsessed with wanting to meter everything.
Bucky Fuller once said that someone would “meter” the
sun’s rays if they could find a way!
But, when we are cutting, measuring, carving, and deciding
where the slice is placed, we forget that an artificial division
has been made; and that what dis-membered, can and must
at some point be re-membered.
A Course in Miracles spends a great deal of time discussing
the impact on our lives of our perception of time. For
example it says all our beliefs are rooted in time, and that we
need new ideas about time.
In Physics as Metaphor, Rogers argues that, “…objective
measurement is subjective by its very nature…” There is many
ways to measure, and there is no ultimate method. There is
only a conventional agreed upon way that may be changed
if a better way is found. And if this is so, then waking up to
the reality would entail perceiving, knowing and using time
in a number of different ways.
It seems that if we have all of eternity to divvy up then, we
can slice it anyway we like; for whatever purposes we may
have for measuring it.
The end of this article will be in the next issue.
IYTA Newsletter • November 2012 • Page 7
Yoga for People with Diabetes Part 2
By Robin Jaya Johnson, M.Ed., CHES, RYT
In the last issue, we explored the basics of diabetes from a
medical perspective, risk factors, signs and symptoms, and
how to handle the most common diabetic emergency that
you may see in a yoga class. Now, we will take a look at
Yoga practices that will benefit people who have diabetes.
And here is the good news! Any well-taught Yoga asana will
benefit! People with diabetes, as was mentioned in the last
issue, come in all varieties, from children, through youth,
pregnancy, adulthood, and into the mature years – and at
each of these ages may be more or less fit. So, use your
skills to teach a class that is appropriate to the age, fitness
level, and other special needs that your diabetic student
has.
Diabetes, if not tightly controlled, eventually affects all
systems of the body. The whole-person approach of Integral
Yoga will buffer these effects. Centering, warming up,
standing or seated sun salutation, backward and forward
bending, inversions, twists and deep relaxation should all be
included in the practice for these students. When teaching
to students who are older, the postures may need to be
adapted to gentler versions. For instance, using bridge or
legs up the wall for the inversion is much more appropriate
for middle-aged persons.
Any person with a chronic disease will especially benefit
from the entire spectrum of Yoga limbs. Yoga assists people
with the delicate balance between self-discipline and selfaffection that is useful when lifestyle has to adapt to manage
a disease. It can help students accept the diagnosis, and to
adapt creatively without guilt. It is best to offer a balanced
practice, without omitting pranayama, deep relaxation or
meditation.
During asana, there are some considerations when working
with a student who has diabetes. Before mentioning some
of these, it is important to note that the student is your
best resource for what works for him. This article deals in
generalities – the student will almost surely know her own
responses to diabetes and how to best adapt.
Last issue, we noted that the stress response elevates blood
sugar in diabetics. Often, the opposite is true as well. The
relaxation provided in yoga nidra may cause a sudden
drop in blood sugar, even if the preceding asana was very
gentle. Quietly mention this to a new student, so they can
be aware of how they feel at the end of class - and have a
small snack if necessary. A blood sugar drop is also possible
when a more vigorous class is presented if the student has
not prepared with a pre-class snack.
One complication of diabetes is neuropathy in the feet.
Neuropathy is injury and sometimes death of the nerves.
Symptoms include burning, pain and numbness in the feet.
The student may not notice a foot injury, especially a cut or
IYTA Newsletter • November 2012 • Page 8
blister, so the practice area must be free of anything that
could injure a bare foot. The most common issue in asana
when neuropathy is present is impaired balance because
of altered sensation in the foot. This deprives the brain with
feedback necessary for balance, and can increase the risk
of falling in balancing poses.
Suggest fingertips on or hovering over the back of a chair
for students who are hesitant about balance, or offer twofooted balancing postures, such as coming into and out
of palm tree pose with the breath. Another option is a
balancing posture from the hands and knees: lift one leg
to parallel to the floor, then lift the opposite arm, gaze
over the fingertips. Breathe. Exhale to all fours. Repeat with
other side.
Heart disease is quite common in people with diabetes. Be
aware of the signs and symptoms of a heart problem and
be ready to call emergency services. High blood pressure
increases this risk, as does carrying extra weight and lack of
exercise. Neuropathy can alter the signs and symptoms of
heart attack, such as chest pain.
Students with heart problems or who are on certain
blood pressure medications will adapt to physical activity
a little more slowly. They are more prone to feeling faint
when they come to standing from the floor or a standing
forward bend, for instance. Leading pauses in the process
of becoming erect can help counter that and keep your
students safe.
Vision difficulties are common in people with diabetes.
If your student has limited vision because of diabetic
retinopathy, have him check with his physician about
any limitations. Extra caution about holding the breath or
limitation of inverted postures may be necessary to avoid
increasing pressure in the eyes.
A word about non-judgment: most of us become Yoga
teachers because Yoga led to greater health for us. We
have discovered some combination of physical, spiritual,
or emotional health through our practice. Seeking health
tends to be Yoga teachers’ natural orientation. It can be
tempting to view a student with chronic disease that has
a lifestyle component through our bias of self-care. Be
vigilant about not expressing or implying that the disease
is their fault. First, you do not know that – diabetes has a
genetic component, and, for instance, it is more difficult for
people with diabetes to lose weight than it is for folks with
normal metabolism.
Additionally, it is not helpful to students to lose confidence
in their healthcare practitioner(s). It is more helpful to make
suggestions about questions they might ask those providers
than to contradict the student’s provider, Diabetes Educator,
or Registered Dietician.
Your diabetic student may have atypical pain, like in the jaw
or center of the back, or none at all. So, noticing the other
symptoms and erring on the side of caution is best.
Learn the signs, but remember this: Even if you’re not sure
it’s a heart attack, have it checked out (tell a doctor about
your symptoms). Don’t wait more than five minutes to call
9-1-1 or your emergency response number.
Yoga can be a great gift to any person with a chronic
challenge. Go in peace, and teach your students with
confidence and compassion.
Robin Bewley Johnson is a Certified Health
Education Specialist who has worked at
Athens Regional Medical Center for over
30 years coordinating and teaching a wide
variety of health promotion courses and
programs.
A special thanks to Melanie Cassity, RN, Certified Diabetes
Educator, for reviewing this article for accuracy.
Signs and symptoms of a heart attack:
Chest discomfort. Most heart attacks involve
discomfort in the center of the chest that lasts more
than a few minutes, or that goes away and comes back.
It can feel like uncomfortable pressure, squeezing,
fullness or pain.
Discomfort in other areas of the upper body.
Symptoms can include pain or discomfort in one or
both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach. (Women
are somewhat more likely than men to experience
some of the other common symptoms, particularly
shortness of breath, nausea/vomiting, and back or
jaw pain.)
Shortness of breath with or without chest discomfort.
Other signs may include breaking out in a cold sweat,
nausea or lightheadedness.
The Best Diet
By Dr. Amrita Sandra McLanahan
What is the best way to eat? The very best is to eat foods as
closely as possible to the way that they come in nature. At
least fifty percent of the diet should be raw, because vital
nutrients are destroyed by cooking. Raw salads, fruits, nuts,
sunflower and sesame seeds and yogurt or cottage cheese
form the basis of the diet. These foods build a perfect body
if taken in the right quantity. To know the right quantity,
develop the alertness to eat only when you are really hungry—
not because it is a certain time of day. Ask the stomach, “Did
you empty yourself fully of the last meal?”
you will remain in a light state. You will be better able to
manifest your own inner Light.
Vajrasana
Most of all, moderation is important. The ancient South
Indian scripture, Tirukkural, says, “No medicine is necessary
for the person who eats after assuring him or herself that
what has already been eaten is digested.” Overeating any
food produces mucus. The real mucusless diet is simply not
overeating any food.
Vajrasana looks simpler than its dramatic effects reveal. It
increases the digestive fire manifold, tones the digestive tract
and eliminates gas. Keeping the knees together, kneel on the
floor. Point the toes, spread the heels and sit back on the
feet. Keep head, neck and trunk in a straight line. Let the
weight fall on the ankles; place the palms on the knees, and
relax. At first, you may not be able to hold the pose long
because of tension in the knees or ankles, but, gradually, it
will become comfortable. If possible, sit in this pose while
eating and for at least ten minutes afterward. You will notice
a great strengthening of the capacity of the digestive tract, as
well as a toning of the entire nervous system.
Try to eat only one main meal per day; the other two very
light. Eat the main meal at noon so that it is fully digested
before bed. Train yourself to be conscious while eating of
how your stomach is reacting. Stop when it is three-quarters
full. If possible, sit in Vajrasana while eating and for ten
minutes afterward. Just as we should not overeat, neither
should we take the other extreme and fast to excess. You
can judge for yourself how much you need to fast. Start
with one day a week. If needed, try a longer one later.
Return to taking food with an attitude that food is medicine
for the body, not only sensory pleasure for the tongue. In
this way, you will avoid getting caught in overeating, and
Amrita (Sandra) McLanahan, M.D., is
a nationally recognized authority on
preventive medicine, nutrition, stress
reduction and primary family health care. As
Director of Stress Management Training at
the Preventive Medicine Research Institute
for twenty years, she worked with Dr. Dean
Ornish to document the benefits of dietary change and stress
management to prevent and treat cardiovascular disease and
cancer. Dr. McLanahan is the author of the book Surgery and
its Alternatives: How to Make the Right Choices for Your
Health and is the medical consultant for the book, Dr. Yoga.
IYTA Newsletter • November 2012 • Page 9
Quickie Hatha Yoga: Something is Way Better Than Nothing!
By Rev. Vidya Vonne
In Teacher Training you practice the whole Integral Yoga
Hatha practice once or more daily, and you may come
away with the idea that you have to have an hour and a
half for practice, or you might as well just skip it. But, as
busy teachers, parents, working folks: who always has such
a block of time available? But, reconsider! Short is beautiful!
In fact, Sri Gurudev often said that a short amount of
practice every day is better than a long session once a week
or once in a while.
The healthful samskaras or mental grooves for Yoga practice
get deeper and deeper by daily stimulation—even if it’s just
for a short time each day. Even abbreviated practice will
become like daily teeth brushing or eating or sleeping: you
just go into gear and do it. (The length of each session is
much less important than just doing something). In this way
the body and mind keep geared up for the hatha practice,
and the benefits accrue and accrue over the years.
Of course, when you have time, do a full set and really
enjoy it. But, when you can’t, do a quickie set that works
for you.
So… what to do with say 20 or 30 minutes? Here’s my
playlist. Yours will probably be a little different, but the
essential point is to do at least one backward bend, one
forward bend, one inversion (and its complement) and one
twist. And, try not to compromise on the poses that squeeze
and press on the abdominal organs (in other words, do the
cobra or bow rather than the rabbit/camel, and the sitting
spinal twist rather than the lying down version, of course
using modifications as needed for your own physical
situation).
1. Opening Mental Prayer. (1 minutes) PHOTO 1
2. Full Circle Eye Movements both directions but no break
in between. Palming (2 min)
3. Garland or Squatting Pose (Malasana) on the way up to
standing position. (30 sec.)
4. Three or four rounds of Sun Salutations without breaks
in between or just one break. (Best not to skimp on
these – do fast or slow as needed for your energy
management. Or do one medium, one fast, then the
final one slowly – like the Oms! Medium to warm the
muscles and stretch, fast to rev up the respiration, and
slow to turn your awareness in deeply). (3 minutes)
PHOTO 2
5. One balancing pose. (King Dancer, Warrior, Tree, etc.)
(2 min.) PHOTO 3
5. Advasana for a few breaths.
IYTA Newsletter • November 2012 • Page 10
6. One backward-bend–bow is most complete or
alternate cobra, locust, bow every three days). Or do a
combo: Cobra, then bend knees behind and come into
Bow. (1 min.) PHOTO 4
7. Come into Corpse or Child’s Pose for a few breaths.
8. One forward bend—either Head-to-Knee both sides,
one just Full Forward Bend (alternate these two choices
every other day). Stay as long as you can in forward
bend, letting gravity relax as well as stretch your back
side. No rest between if you do both. (2 min.) PHOTO 5
9. Savasana for a few breaths. PHOTO 6
10. Shoulderstand or Headstand or Reversing Seal (Viparita
karani Mudra) or Legs-up-the-wall (3 min.) PHOTO 7
11. Fish or Bent Pelvic Pose (1 min.)
12. Spinal Twist (1 min.)
13. Yogic Seal (30 sec.)
14. Deep Relaxation (Quick Tensing Version) (2 min.)
15. Three rounds Rapid Abdominal Breathing (3 min.)
16. As many rounds of Alternate Nostril Breathing as you
have time for (2 min.)
17. Short prayer of thanksgiving OM Shanti or Loka Samasta
Sukino Bhavantu
18. Bow down and you’re done! That was 25 minutes! If
you’re an advanced hatha yogi, an alternative could be
several rounds of sun salutations and a long headstand,
deep relaxation and pranayama. Be flexible (!) but don’t
give up.
I›ve been doing a set like this daily since my teens. See
how it works by checking out the accompanying photos
showing me today at 60 years young!
You’ll feel great at the end of your session, and you’ll feel
great for years to come!
Rev. Vidya Vonne is a Teacher Trainer for Basic Teacher
Training at our IY Academy and sits on the newly reestablished IY Teachers Council. She edited many of Sri
Gurudev’s books including The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali and
The Healthy Vegetarian, served as Editor of IY Magazine, and
has offered deep tissue (and other modalities of) massage
for 30 years. She will be teaching Basic Hatha Yoga Teacher
Training next Summer, July 21–August 18, 2013.
2
5
1
6
3
7
9
10
4
8
IYTA Newsletter • November 2012 • Page 11
Shaping Up With Big Yoga
By Meera P. Kerr
I am the first to admit I am a slacker Yogi. I knew early on
that the best way for me to get on the mat regularly was
to take teacher training, and get out and teach others. I
went to Pomfret, Connecticut way back in 1978 and spent
the month at the Ashram—yes, there was an ashram before
the ashram in Virginia-- with our old friends and teachers
Satya Greenstone, Swami Sharadananda, Prahaladan
Mandlekorn and Sister Maitreyi. It was a challenging month
sleeping in a pup tent on the back lawn, getting poison ivy,
and missing my sweetheart, Sukarta, but on the flip side, we
had frequent visits with Sri Gurudev, and subtle encounters
with the silent saints and sages that were in our midst.
I began teaching at the New York IYI as soon as summer was
over, and felt the IYI was my home. Teaching regularly has
helped me to practice outside of class, not only the asanas,
but also living my Yoga out in the world. Words cannot
express the gratitude I feel for the ongoing unfoldment in
me that is a result of taking that first teacher training.
I was one of the more voluptuous Yoginis in those days,
and was fond of fasting as a way to control my weight, keep
my appetite in check, and enhance my bhav, or sense of
devotion. But as I got into my menopause years, I began
to pack on the pounds. I couldn’t keep up the fasting that I
had always enjoyed—something about losing testosterone
or progesterone. I began experimenting with the tried and
true Yoga poses to make them more comfortable for my
curves, bumps and jiggles. I knew instinctively my evolving
practice could be of benefit to others like me who wanted
to do Yoga, but didn’t want to be miserable in a class full
of “gumby gals.”
I actually got the name for Big Yoga while I was meditating
at the LOTUS Shrine. On my walk to the noon meditation,
I had been musing on the name “Integral Yoga” and
wondered if there were a more user friendly way of
describing our beloved path. Integral is such a difficult
word—hard to say, difficult to understand—I was looking
for another way to say the same thing. As I settled into the
silence, I heard—literally heard—a voice (guess whose!) say
“Big Yoga.” Because of the double meaning, I knew it was
coming from Sri Gurudev! Big, as in expansive, inclusive
of all the various Yoga practices and techniques, but also
big, as in the bigger body!
It was several years before I began teaching Big Yoga, and
it evolves from class to class. We all carry our weight in
different places, so one pose may have several variations.
One of my favorites is to simply place a small (or large)
book under the chin for the half-locust pose. Many of my
students have large breasts, which can make this pose
uncomfortable. You may have seen students try this pose
with their chin floating in mid-air, which minimizes the
whole effect of using the chin as a fulcrum. Such a small
adaptation can work wonders for your people of size.
IYTA Newsletter • November 2012 • Page 12
After teaching a Big Yoga class in Santa Monica for a few
sessions, I asked my former husband, Sukarta (Lester)
Alexander, (compiler and editor of the first book of Sri
Gurudev’s teachings, Beyond Words) who is in the film
business, how I could get a video made of this class. He
said “Write a script.” As soon as I finished it, he hooked me
up with a friend, Rick Rosenthal, who worked with me and
produced the first video, Big Yoga Hatha 1. It’s perfect for
someone who doesn’t feel comfortable attending a class
in public. We finished shooting the video just days before
Sri Gurudev left the body in 2002.
I discovered the Hatha 1 video, which follows the Integral
Yoga Hatha 1 format, was too difficult for some of my
older students, and was looking for ideas for a second
video. My friend and mentor, Hope Mell, taught a Joint
Freeing Series class that I attended at the ashram, and
I knew instantly that this was the perfect thing for my
next video, which I call Big Yoga Flex-Ability. I teach it to
everyone! Next time you’re at the Ashram, go take Hope’s
class—she’s a revelation!
There are lots more adaptations in my book, Big Yoga:
A Simple Guide for Bigger Bodies. You can get it and my
DVDs at Distribution. Doing these simple practices over
a lifetime has saved me from a host of physical problems
that often plague the overweight.
Meera Patricia Kerr has been a Yoga
instructor for over thirty years. She
started her study of Yoga in the early
1970s under the guidance of Sri Swami
Satchidananda. After giving birth to her
two children, Meera realized there was a
need for adopting traditional Yoga poses
for the more curvaceous body. From this, she developed
the Big Yoga program. Currently, Meera resides along the
lakeshore in southwestern Michigan, where she continues
to study and teach Yoga.
Yoga Nidra
By Nirmala Heriza
from Dr. Yoga: The Medical Benefits of Yoga (Penguin/Tarcher)
The Practice (Abbreviated: 3 minutes; extended 15 minutes)
Lie on your back in a comfortable supine position with your
arms and legs extended. Your legs should be about a foot
and a half apart, and your arms a few inches away from the
body with your palms up. Close your eyes and, breathing
through your nose, begin relaxing into the position. Bring
your awareness to your right leg and foot. Tense the leg.
Lift it off the floor a few inches. Tense a little more and let
it drop. Roll it from side to side and just forget about it.
Repeat with the left leg.
Now inhale and tense your pelvis and buttocks. Squeeze
the tension out. Most of us hold a lot of stress in this area,
which can lead to disorders in the reproductive system
as well as in the pelvis and hips. Now inhale and fill your
stomach with air. Hold it for a few moments and then release
through your mouth. Just let it gush out. Inhale again; fill
your stomach with air. Then bring it into your chest. Hold it.
Open your mouth and let it gush out. Experience the warm
sensation of the release.
Bring your awareness to your right hand and arm. Inhale,
close your hand into a gentle fist and begin tensing tightly
all the way to your shoulder. Then release. Repeat with your
left hand and arm.
Inhale and raise your shoulders to your ears. Hold for a
moment. Then release. Turn your head from side to side,
slowly. Then center and relax. Bring the awareness to your
face. Open your mouth and drop your jaw. Move it from
side to side. Then center and relax. Now tense your face
into a tight prune face. And release. Open your mouth
wide and extend your tongue as far as you can. And then
relax. Your body should be completely relaxed and free of
tension at this point.
To begin the second phase of the practice, without
moving, bring your mental awareness to your feet. Begin
mentally relaxing your feet. Now bring your mental
awareness up your entire body, relaxing each part until
you reach your head. Once your body is free of all stress,
bring your mental awareness to your breath. At this point,
when your breath is quite still, bring awareness to your
mind. Begin watching your mind. Begin watching your
thoughts as they enter and leave your mind. You most
likely will find that your mind begins to fill with thoughts at
this point, particularly if you are new to this practice. It’s
a common experience. The important thing is not to push
the thoughts away. Don’t force anything. Just continue
watching the phenomenon as though you’re watching a
film. After doing this practice a few times you will find that
eventually your mind will begin to relax and let go of the
thoughts. Then you’ll begin to experience a very relaxed,
blissful quality within yourself.
Remain in this quiet place of detached relaxation and deep,
calm awareness for a few moments. Then slowly bring your
awareness back to the breath and let it gradually deepen.
Imagine that you’re breathing all the way into your feet. Let
the awareness rise through your body, waking up all the
parts until you reach your head. Then begin gently moving
parts of your body. Observe the relaxed and easeful
quality within them. Sit up and prepare for your pranayama
(breathing practices).
Because much of its emphasis is on reducing stress, the
deep relaxation is considered by physicians such as Dr.
McLanahan and Dr. Ornish to be strategic in strengthening
and supporting the cardiovascular system. The guided
relaxation has been shown to affect both biochemical
and nervous discharge in the direction of a more relaxed
state. Blood pressure falls and breathing slows, allowing
your heart to rest deeply. The process is physiologically
more restful than a good night’s sleep, yet takes only a few
minutes.
During the relaxed state of Yoga Nidra, which is similar
to meditation, your body is perfectly still but your mind is
loose and on its own. In hyperdrive. You might suddenly
start wondering about random, unexpected, unusual or
even very ordinary things. About parallel parking. The
sexual orientation of your cat. Or your own. What to have
for dinner. Where Dick Cheney is. David Letterman’s
hair . . . No matter what subject comes up the trick is to
keep watching and creating a distance between you and
these random thoughts. Ultimately, you will find that none
of the chatter matters. In the perfect present moment of
your meditation, all that matters is that you go beyond the
worries, differences and everyday thoughts so you can
recover from their effects on you.
You can continue enjoying the everyday drama and
minutiae of your life. If a thought persists, try making a
deal with your mind. Make a mental note and tell it you’ll
give it your undivided attention when the practice is over.
I give this advice to my patients and students and have
done it in my own practice many times. If you keep at it
and don’t give in, your mind will eventually surrender and
relax into a more neutral and peaceful state. This has been
proven effective many times over, even in the most difficult
cases. This is where you begin experiencing the empirical
medical benefits of the practice of both deep relaxation
and meditation.
Physiological and verified clinical benefits of Yoga Nidra
and Meditation.
By letting go of tension, by contracting and releasing the
body parts and slowing the breath, the body enters into
a much deeper state of relaxation, measured to be even
IYTA Newsletter • November 2012 • Page 13
more restful than a good night’s sleep. This deep state
of relaxed awareness lowers blood pressure, removes
stressful impediments from the natural healthy circulation
of the blood and lymph and allows all of the body’s
primary glands and organs that affect the immune system
to rebalance themselves.
When your subjective mind and controlling ego step
aside, your system can respond to the mechanisms of the
practice that will bring your blood pressure back to normal,
strengthen your immune system and stabilize the sinus
rhythm of the heart. In this way your system can actually
begin to experience the medical benefits described by
Drs, Ornish, Benson, Pacia and McLanahan in their studies,
and that other medical professionals talk about in the
many clinical studies now being conducted through the
NIH (National Institute of Health) in association with such
renowned medical institutions as Harvard, Johns Hopkins,
Mayo Clinic and University of San Francisco Medical
Center. Studies that now verify that Yoga and meditation
can effectively both prevent and reverse heart disease
and prevent and treat other acute and chronic illness.
When we reach this place in the meditative part of Yoga
Nidra, beyond all the differences, conditions and conflicts
of politics, relationships, race, religion, sexual orientation
and fashion, we not only prevent but let go of the causes
of our disease and adverse conditions. We experience the
oneness in us all. We can begin healing, not only ourselves
but our relationships and the whole world.
In addition and equally important, the calming, centering
and transcendent experience of the meditation will
dynamically influence the way you interact with every
aspect of your daily life—your relationships with others and
with yourself, shopping for groceries, driving in heavy traffic,
absorbing world and domestic crises, playing tennis, writing
a book, directing a film, being alone. With the influence of
conscious deep relaxation and meditation, every moment
will begin to bring you closer to you. As my Guru, Sri Swami
Satchidananda, whose Integral Yoga Teachings provided
the foundation for my medically adapted Yoga Cardiac
Program at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, as well as Dr.
McLanahan and Dr. Ornish’s work, has said, ultimately your
entire life itself will become a meditation.
Dr. Yoga, The Medical Benefits of Yoga, (Penguin/Tarcher),
in preparation for its second printing, is available to buy on
Amazon.com and at Barnes and Noble.
Nirmala Heriza, BA, CYT,CaC,CMFT (doctoral candidate)
developed the Yoga Cardiac Program, a clinical adaptation
of Integral Yoga for Cedars Sinai Medical Center’s Cardiac
Rehabitation Center. Certified Yoga Cardiac specialist and
clinical Acupressure therapist, President, Integral Yoga
Center of Los Angeles, Clinical Yoga Cardiac Therapist,
Chairman, United Council of Yoga; Science Partner of the
President’s Challenge Fitness and Fitness Awards Program
for the President›s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports;
Yoga Cardiac Consultant for Dr. Dean Ornish. Author, Dr.
Yoga: The Medical Benefits of Yoga (Penguingroup/Tarcher).
Visit Dr. Yoga Fan Page on Facebook.
Two men meet on the street.
One asks the other: “Hi, how are you?”
The other one replies: “I’m fine, thanks.”
“And how’s your son? Is he still unemployed?”
“Yes, he is. But he is meditating now.”
“Meditating? What’s that?”
“I don’t know. But it’s better than sitting around
and doing nothing!”
IYTA Newsletter • November 2012 • Page 14
News from LOTUS Center for World Faiths
Reported by Swami Dayananda
Beloved Integral Yoga Teachers,
Hari Om. Loving Greetings of Peace. LOTUS Center for
World Faiths (LCWF) serves to share Sri Gurudev’s message,
“Truth is One, Paths are Many,” and furthering interfaith
understanding and cooperation in the world. Many Integral
Yoga teachers and friends have shown deep interest in
and commitment to the interfaith aspect of Sri Gurudev’s
teachings. We wish to share with you what has been
happening this year through LCWF.
LCWF Three Year Goals
In September, we worked with ICCCVA to organize the
International Day of Peace Meditation at the Pavilion in
downtown Charlottesville.
Unity Church of Charlottesville is very active in its interfaith
outreach. Swami Dayananda was recently invited to speak
on Shinto faith and to be an interfaith prayer representative
for International Day of Peace (Interfaith Prayers). There
are Charlottesville’s ongoing monthly interfaith prayers
for peace and many other opportunities for corroborative
interfaith activities. LCWF plans for more of our local Sangha
to participate in these events.
Our most important three-year goals are to become
more active as an interfaith resource center; to develop
an effective communication system; and to expand our
interfaith relationships and service. This last item includes
expanding our relationships with clergy and leaders of
spiritual organizations; facilitating the offering of our
Light of Truth Universal Service worldwide; and attending
interfaith conferences.
Interfaith Relationships and Service
These activities began this year here at Satchidananda
Ashram-Yogaville and at our neighboring city, Charlottesville,
Virginia. We also attended more interfaith events and
conferences, reaching out to let people know about LOTUS
and making connections with other interfaith organizations.
In July we attended North American Interfaith Network
(NAIN) Connect in Atlanta. NAIN celebrates its 25th
anniversary next year. It is an important organization which
serves to support the work of member organizations and
sponsors an annual conference. Next year, we plan to attend
the NAIN Connect held in Toronto, Canada.
2012 Activities toward the Goals
Serving Locally: An Interfaith Resource
At the Ashram, we are sponsoring monthly presentations
by guest speakers who are practitioners of various faiths
represented at LOTUS. All have been excellent presentations,
helping us to have a clearer and deeper understanding of
each faith. Alongside these presentations, Prof. Prashanti
Friedmann, who teaches a comparative religions course
at UVA, has been offering a detailed course on each faith,
providing opportunities for questions and discussions.
LCWF also sponsored an inspiring special satsang with Geshe
Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche, Founder and Spiritual Director
of Ligmincha Institute’s Serenity Ridge Retreat Center, our
neighboring spiritual center, offering the teachings of Bon
Buddhism in Shipman, VA. Another event was with Nawang
Khechog, one of Tibet’s foremost musicians and composers,
who filled the All Faith Hall at LOTUS with his divine flute music.
Amaleswari Forga is serving as the Program Coordinator
for LCWF to offer these great educational and inspirational
presentations at the Ashram.
We are a member of United Religious Initiative and
attend the monthly meetings by its Charlottesville affiliate,
Interfaith Cooperation Circle of Central Virginia (ICCCVA).
We attended three conferences this year so far. First
was the World Interfaith Harmony Week Program at the
United Nations General Assembly Hall in February. This
gave us a real view of worldwide interfaith movements.
While in New York City, we visited the Islamic Cultural
Center and Tibet House.
We also attended the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA)
annual convention at the Convention Center in Washington
DC in early September. The theme of the conference was
“One Nation Under God Striving for the Common Good.”
Mostly Muslim participants numbered in the thousands.
ISNA has an interfaith component through ISNA Office for
Interfaith and Community Alliance. At the large gathering,
ISNA’s President emphasized the need for understanding
and respect amongst all faiths. Swami Dayananda attended
several well-presented interfaith workshops as well as very
informative lectures on Islam. ISNA’s President, Mohamed
Magid, showed appreciation in finding out about LOTUS
and expressed interest in visiting.
One of our sangha members, Brahmi Romero, was also at
ISNA, presenting a film, “Besa,” for screening. The film tells
the story of Albanian Muslims who risked their lives to save
Jews during World War II.
We will be attending the upcoming Native American Arts
and Film Festival in Las Vegas, at the beginning of November.
Attending the conferences this year has helped us to let more
people of various faiths know about LOTUS, gain greater
knowledge of what’s happening currently in the interfaith
world in North America, and to make a connection with
those people and organizations active in the interfaith world.
IYTA Newsletter • November 2012 • Page 15
The LCWF committee members are Swami Jyotirmayananda,
Swami Dayananda, Ganesh MacIsaac and Amaleswari Forga.
Twice this year, we met with those who have been involved
in Sri Gurudev’s interfaith work for many years. Discussions
were organized around matters of present interest related
to interfaith and spiritual movements in the world. We are
blessed and privileged to build on the great work that has
already been done throughout the years by many dedicated
devotees of Sri Gurudev.
Swami Dayananda
Director
LOTUS Center for World Faiths
Please let us know if you have any thoughts or comments
about our activities. We would also appreciate news of any
interfaith activities in which you are involved or observe in
your area.
For the year 2013, we look forward to connecting with
you more about how Integral Yogis worldwide and LCWF
together can serve in this area corroborating for a more
peaceful world through interfaith work. Please connect with
us through [email protected]
With our loving best wishes.
Hatha Yoga Teacher Training Summer 2012
By Daya (Michelle Wirrell)
After years of suffering from mental, physical, emotional
abuse and unbelievable stress in my life my body began to
breakdown. From the age of forty I had a stroke, three knee
surgeries on both knees, a tumor removed from my arm,
the aortic valve in my heart replaced and an aortic aneurism
repaired, a brain tumor, years of debilitating migraines, the
large colon rupturing and avoiding death by 12 hrs. But the
final push into despair happened in an elevator accident
which left me in unbearable pain for 7 years. Between the
pain and the constant state of prescription drugs to keep me
sedated I finally gave up.
After seven years of being a zombie I fought to grab hold
of my life again. I had the doctors wean me off of drugs and
fought to overcome the pain and slowly regain my life.
In November 2011 I decided to take a Yoga class, something
I had been wanting to do since the 70’s. I took an Integral
Hatha Yoga Beginners class and my life was transformed.
Seven months after starting Yoga classes I started the TT
Hatha beginners class at Yogaville and I am now a Hatha
Yoga teacher. I walked into my first class with a metal knee
brace on, my body hurting everywhere and the toes on my
left foot hadn’t bent in 24 years, also I have a 70% hearing
loss in both ears and wear two hearing aids. Thirty days
later I no longer wore the brace, my body no longer hurt all
the time. My toes were bending and I was doing positions
(asanas) I never thought I would ever do. My body may be
64 but my spirit is still in its 30’s.
Never say never or I can’t. I’m here to tell you that if I can
overcome all my obstacles anyone can. I have been through
so much in my lifetime, but it was all for my reason for being
here; to help others in the same situations. To let them know
there is a better life for them. To show them how to obtain it
and to give them the courage to never give up.
You will meet students in your class with similar problems.
Treat them with love and compassion. Encourage them and
share my story with them.
I started going to Yoga classes 4 - 6 times a week and began
meditating again. I asked God what I was supposed to do
with the rest of my life. You know the saying “Ask and you Love, Peace, Joy and the Light of God and the Universe
shall receive”; well He’s had me on a fast track ever since. I
was given specific directions as to what He wants me to do Namaste
with the rest of my time here on earth.
IYTA Newsletter • November 2012 • Page 16
The IYTA News By Brahmi Milliman
For this column I am featuring the Yoga of Communication
workshop that I took with Swami Asokananda of the New
York Integral Yoga Institute. Every program that I take I
experience an “aha!”moment and this was no exception.
We invite you to come and experience potential insights
for yourself. Make the space and let the change begin.
Remember, as an IYTA member you receive a 10% discount
on programs and guest stays.
In dealing with conflict one might also use the locks and keys
in Sri Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras, book 1, sutra 33. In this sutra, we
are taught to have disregard toward the wicked. Disregard,
in this sutra, means to keep your peace, but not necessarily
to ignore. To me, it means to act when you can and in a
skillful manner, and to surrender when you can’t. To me, the
word “wicked” has many shades, including children who
misbehave, or someone who is just annoying.
Most of the workshop was on dealing with conflict. We
talked about slowing down, preparing for a conflict situation,
and not rushing in with a disturbed mind. Wait for the mind
to be peaceful. Approach the situation with love. Most
people, Swami Asokananda said, enter conflict with the idea
of winning something, with an “I win, you lose” attitude.
Instead, he suggested, enter with the idea of understanding
the other’s point of view, with a “win-win” attitude. At that
time, I had an awareness of how I dealt with conflict in my
20 year marriage. My attitude was “you win, I lose.” In a spirit
of love, I tried to understand my husband’s point of view,
making excuses for his behavior, while discounting my own
needs. In trying to love him, I had forgotten to love myself.
In effect, he was the winner, and I the loser. Over the longterm, we both lost. I imagine this “you win, I lose” attitude is
common among women. Can you relate? Visit the IYTA on
Face-book and on the Forum to join the discussion.
(www.facebook.com/groups/integralyogateachersassociation
and http://groups.yahoo.com/group/iytaForum/.
Take, for example, the case of a neighbor who mows his
lawn early in the morning when you are trying to sleep. Your
peace is disturbed because your sleep has been disturbed
twice a month all summer long. You are feeling irritable and
aggressive and are tempted to throw a loud party late at
night. What do you do? In this case, the noisy neighbor is
the wicked one, whom Patanjali advises us to disregard. This
means NO LOUD PARTIES! Instead, skillfully pick a time to
approach your neighbor; choosing a time in which you are
relaxed and feeling positive. View it as a discussion with the
idea of problem solving, rather than a battle to be fought.
Ahead of time, clarify your intention. What do you need? For
example, your intention might be to ask that he only mow
the lawn after 8:00 a.m. He may counter with the argument
that he has to mow early when it is cool out. He may
refuse to compromise. Then, perhaps, it’s up to you to
surrender. Next time you are awakened early in the morning,
don’t worry, be happy, and remember mowing season will
be over soon!
Fall 2012 / Winter 2013 Programs
Enjoy fresh air and a serene country setting.
Transforming Lives
Not Too Tight; Not Too Loose: The Balance of Effort & Letting Go
Frank Jude Boccio
November 9–11
Relax & Rejuvenate with Restorative Yoga
Letícia Marques
November 30 –December 2
The Foundations of Yoga
Swami Vidyananda
November 16–18
Yoga for Pregnancy
Renata Gregori
November 30–December 2
Yoga for Stress Management with Gary Kraftsow
December 7–9
New Year’s Silent Retreat: What Really Matters:
Chinnamasta
1-800-858-9642
Moving into the New Year with Vision and Focus
December 28–January 1, 2013
[email protected]
www.yogaville.org
IYTA Newsletter • November 2012 • Page 17
Integral Yoga Senior Speakers’ Schedules
Please contact local representatives for times, costs, pre-enrollment requirements, schedule changes, etc.
Swami Karunananda
Contact
Nov. 2–4
Where the Rubber Meets the Road:
Living According to Yogic Values Workshop at Yogaville
Dec. 28 - Jan. 1 New Year’s Retreat at Yogaville
[email protected]
[email protected]
Swami Asokananda
Oct. 2–Dec. 15 Intermediate Teacher Training at the New York IYI
Dec.–Jan.
Yoga of Communication Course at the New York IYI
Jan. 29–Feb. 12 Programs at the San Francisco IYI
Swami Ramananda
Nov. 17, 11 am workshop: Work, Love, Lunch and Laundry, Integrating Yoga into Daily Life at the San Francisco IYI
Nov. 22, 9:30 am Gratitude in Motion Hatha Yoga workshop raising funds for Yoga At School at the SF IYI
Nov. 10, 2 pm
Sangha potluck meal North Orange County, near Los Angeles, CA
Nov. 11, 2 pm
Sangha Potluck meal Los Angeles, CA, Dec. 1, 6 pm
Satsang, Yoga Teachings for Family & Relationships
at the San Francisco IYI
Dec.8, 11 am Workshop: Deepening Your Practice:
Hatha Yoga as a Tool for Self Discovery, at the SF IYI
Dec. 22, 6 pm
Jayanthi Satsang, at the San Francisco IYI
Jan. 23–Mar. 27 Intermediate Teacher Training, at the SF IYI
[email protected]
415-821-1117
[email protected]
415-821-1117
Satya Khouri
[email protected]
Deepa McNulty
[email protected]
[email protected]
or 415-821-1117
[email protected]
415-821-1117
[email protected]
415-821-1117
[email protected]
415-821-1117, ext. 375
Swami Divyananda
Dec. 29–Jan. 1
Pathways to Peace Retreat
La Casa de Maria, Santa Barbara, California
Jan. 25–27
Sangha Retreat
Stress Management Teacher Training, at the SF IYI
IYTA Newsletter • November 2012 • Page 18
Ramdas
805-705-4703
Swami Divyananda
917-500-3306
Upcoming Programs at Yogaville
Featured Programs
The Foundations of Yoga with Swami Vidyananda
November 16–18, 2012
This program will give you guidelines, instruction and inspiration to develop and deepen a successful at-home practice of
Yoga. Explore the power of motivation; employ short, complete Yoga sessions and meditations for your busy schedule;
develop fun and simple preparation and practice; incorporate relaxation for healing and mood management; and take
Yoga off the mat by living a Yoga lifestyle. Regular Yoga enhances your entire life. You see the world in a more positive
way, and enjoy health and peace of mind. With a strong foundation, your Yoga practice will give you the building blocks
for a successful life. Come join the fun.
Yoga for Stress Management with Gary Kraftsow
December 7–9, 2012
This weekend with Gary Kraftsow, founder of the American Viniyoga Institute, will include lectures and practice to explore
methods to relieve musculoskeletal tension, relieve headaches and improve sleep. He will also discuss techniques to
increase feelings of well-being, improve coping strategies for dealing with stressful events and the subsequent negative
symptoms of stress and offer home/office strategies. In this workshop the tools for managing stress that Gary will introduce
are asana, breathing techniques, relaxation, mental techniques and education.
November
2–4
Where the Rubber Meets the Road with Swami Karunananda, E-RYT 500
2–4
Yoga Retreat: Living and Loving What’s Real with Emily Jasenski, E-RYT
9–11
Basic Meditation with Swami Gurucharanananda (Mataji )
9–11
Not Too Tight; Not Too Loose: The Balance of Effort & Letting Go with Poep Sa Frank Jude Boccio
16–18
Recovering Your Natural Sanity Through Hatha Yoga with Louis Mahadev Carlino, M.A., L.P.C.
16–18 The Foundations of Yoga with Sw. Vidyananda
22 Thanksgiving Day Service and Meal
23–25
Gathering in Gratitude—Interfaith Celebration and Dialogue
with Sw. Dayananda and Rev. Manjula Spears, E-RYT 500
30–Dec. 2 Yoga for Pregnancy with Renata Gregori
30–Dec. 2 Relax and Rejuvenate with Restorative Yoga with Leticia Marques
December
7–9
Yoga for Stress Management with Gary Kraftsow
22
Jayanthi Celebration
24
Christmas Eve Program
25
Christmas Day Luncheon
28–Jan. 1 New Year’s Silent Retreat: What Really Matters: Moving into the New Year with Vision and Focus
31
with Swami Gurucharanananda (Mataji)
New Year’s Eve Celebration
January
11–13
R&R enhanced guest stay
12 Free Laugha Yoga Workshop with Bharata Wingham
18–20 R&R enhanced guest stay
20–Feb. 17 Winter Basic Hatha Yoga Teacher Training with Lalita Vigander LMT, RYT 500 & Lilavati Eberle
25–27
R&R enhanced guest stay
IYTA Newsletter • November 2012 • Page 19
Integral Yoga® Teachers Association
108 Yogaville Way
Buckingham, VA 23921
RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED
U.S. Postage
PAID
Permit No. 3
Nonprofit
Organization
Dillwyn, VA
23936