Hatha Yoga – How to Deal with Physical Weak Points? – The Isha Blog

 

Here’s a short article and video from Sadhguru that helps us understand that we should not be too focused on our physical limitations but rather submit totally to being in our sadhana/yoga practice.  This is so reassuring for us aging Yoginis  who are dedicated to our sadhana!  The Blessings are constant in different ways at different points in our lives.  Thanks Sadhguru for your wisdom and for sharing with us and thanks for the Isha Foundation and volunteers that deliver so much media as virtual Darshan with us.  Namaskaram.

Do click the red link below to read the article and to view a minute long video, please share freely.  OM

 

 

 

 

Sadhguru explains what can be done if parts of the body feel as if they are not cooperating.

Source: Hatha Yoga – How to Deal with Physical Weak Points? – The Isha Blog

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OM Guru Pournami OM – Free downloads from Isha Foundation

Basking in the Blessings of Gratitude for All my Teachers, Gurus and loved Ones…..Do click on the link below to add Free Applications for your Phone/Devices….useful to keep your yogic vibrations ever-present daily…Many thanks to Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev and his Amazing Team of Volunteers for sharing so many ways for us to use our technology for our inner well being! Namaskaram OM

Sadhguru & Isha Mobile Apps.

Why An Empty Stomach is Essential for Hata Yoga Practice

Why An Empty Stomach is Essential for Hata Yoga Practice.

I recently read a remark from someone who was confused and thought I taught “Bikram” yoga.  I immediately responded by writing that Mr. Chatterjee’s American franchise is not at all what I practice and teach.  I am proud to teach authentic Indian hatha yoga.  But, then I realized I made an error and meant to write Mr. Choudhury.  I had thought of his cousin the famous musician Samir Chatterjee who is referred to by his beloved students and audiences as Pandit Chatterjee.  Then I thought how sad it is for teachers even with the financial status and name recognition of “Bikram” that his American students never give him praise and respect for the yoga he has them so “addicted” to.   I remember the one time meeting Mr. and Mrs Choudhury, it was with the Late Great Margo Jenni she was long time friends with them.  Mrs. Margo Jenni was a lovely beloved and cherished Yoga Teacher who was famous for many things in her long career and among them she taught the famous Delaney sisters from Westchester. (There was a wonderful Broadway play, “Having Our Say” after the award-winning book, in which she is referred to as their yoga  teacher. While reading the book and later watching the production I always wondered who their yoga teacher might be and was so surprised and grateful to one day later to meet Mrs. Jenni.  I remember being at Mrs. Jenni’s Memorial at the Ethical Society in White Plains listening to her students herald her legacy with their kind and loving words.)  I wonder if “Bikram” students ever spend anytime to learn about their founder, much less give praise, respect and honor to Mr. Choudhury.  I guess I shared all this to say that I think it equally important to honor our teachers and loved ones while they are alive in our midst and to commemorate them after they have passed on.  That is why I am proud and grateful to have come to know Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev and The Isha Foundation.  For all the hard work they do to share about the science of classical Indian hatha yoga.  There is so much confusion in the west where everyone thinks they are an expert because they have taken a few classes and/or done a few days of so-called training.  How one thinks they can master thousands of years of experiences, data left in Sanskrit, and from another time and place, leaves me scratching my head.  I would never be able to say that I have a handle of mastery even if I spent the rest of my life studying in India and travelling the entire sub-continent to all the sacred sites to share something of its contribution towards the thousands year old sciences of Yoga. There is not just one Yoga there are many, but not like franchised names in the west but different paths delineated long ago by Shri Patanjali in his treatise “Hatha Yoga Pradipika.”  Shri Patanjali begins his Treatise with…..”And now Yoga….”  As in you have tried so many different methods to find happiness and found no success and now are you ready for Yoga?  And so I say here….and now for the Truth from Sadhguru about the yogic sciences.  Please do click the link below the image to read Sadhguru’s article that is important for serious yoga practitioners to understand.  Please do share with your friends in Yoga…..and leave your comments, thanks for taking the time to review this post…..remember to pay homage and respect regularly to your beloved teachers as your gratitude will be deeply received by them…..OM

Do you know how to receive the Grace of Guru Pournima?

 

OM window at Omlink Yoga Studio, West Harrison, New York, USA

The Significance of Guru Purnima | Isha Celebrations.

Saturday, July 12th is Guru Pournima/Purnima, do you know the Significance? If you are benefitting and practicing Yoga/Meditation, this is one of the most important times to be aware of and do some special Pranams.  I usually go to Ganesha Temple and Sai Baba Temple in Queens with my Temple Buddy Nandini, and we will do so this year, (my favorite Isha Satsang Hosts are in India for this Special time and for the Inauguration of the AdiYogi Complex, ).  If you like to know more please do click the link below the image of OM.  This link offers an eleven minute video with Sadhguru, as well as some informative texts, and ways to sign up for the live webcast.

Once again thanks to Sadhguru and The Isha Foundation Volunteers for they are hosting a huge Program, In India,  which is going to be a live webcast.  I do hope one day soon a huge transition occurs here in the USA when people who practice so-called “yoga” will turn up their sadhana a notch and seek to grow inwardly with humble acts leading to Gratitude and Grace.  I wish that each one of us may seek true Blessings from conscious actions we choose to practice.  Please share….OM

 

The Timeless Wisdom of Eknath Easwaran: Video

Video Clip: Dealing Calmly with Criticism 4 minutes : The Timeless Wisdom of Eknath Easwaran.

Thanks to The Blue Mountain Organization began by Eknath Easwaran for sharing this precious video.  Easwaran gave us many gifts: his teachings, his translations of the sacred Sanskrit text into English, and so much more.  He had made his Mahasamadhi years back now, but I still treasure and read his “The End of Sorrow/Volume I,” his translation and explanation of each verse of the Bhagavad Gita.  I recommend it to all serious students of hatha yoga and I try to read it at least once a year.  I have read many of his books and have always been rewarded deeply.

Facts about the Evolution of Yoga to Impress your Friends | Isha USA Blog | Be, Breathe, Blossom

Facts about the Evolution of Yoga to Impress your Friends | Isha USA Blog | Be, Breathe, Blossom.

Please click the link above to connect to the article posted by Isha USA Blog, thanks and please do share, Namaste.

Sadhguru knocks it out the box again…how many Yoga Teachers/Gurus give it to you straight like this? Watch my Fav Yogi……OM

Guru Pournami Sathsang with Sadhguru – YouTube.

If you think you are a true Seeker I recommend you watch this YouTube.  Perhaps ask yourself “has my Yoga Teacher ever mentioned anything remotely close to this?” If not and you are intrigued you may want to get on board the Isha Foundation Liberation train by doing the online Inner Engineering course.  A good starting place is to follow the Free video about the Isha Kriya, you can find it on my blog in SEARCH, on YouTube and Isha Foundation website.  Also, checking out the Isha Foundation website for courses you may want to attend in person and preparing by watching the hundreds of videos uploaded.  Show some respect and gratitude by making donations to Isha via Google Wallet or direct to their website.  Change is going to begin with You…are you ready?  Om Shanti OM

p.s. just click the link below the pix to watch the video

Recognizing the Adiyogi | The Isha Blog

Recognizing the Adiyogi | The Isha Blog.

I wish to give Pranams, Gratittude to my Teachers for all they have shared with me, helping me find the best aspects in myself as a teacher, for fine tuning my skills as a teacher, and having the patience and  compassion to share their knowledge with me.  Each teacher has imparted a measure of shakitpat upon me and given me immense capacity to teach with knowledge graced with love and compassion.  Thanks and Blessings always to: Dr. Tripathi (first picture to the right), The Late Sri Radha Kant Jha (last picture on the right), Mani Chaitanya (third picture on the right)  and Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev (second picture on the right).

I feel confident in my teaching due to the Blessings of my Teachers, all from different perspectives, different ages, but all true to Indian Classical Hatha Yoga traditions.  As a Seeker I have found endless wealth at the Feet of these Great Teachers and I shall always do my best to uphold their lessons as I go forward.

Jai Shree Gurudev, Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudeva Gurudev Tripathi, Gurudev Radha Kant, Gurudev Mani, Gurudev Sadhguru, Jai Shree Gurudev, Om Shanti OM.

I wish to thank my Friend, Nandini for being my Temple Buddy and always making the time to travel together to attend and receive the Blessings, Big Thanks to Nandini!  Its not so easy in suburbs of New York to get to the temple, we have a congested long drive and it’s always nicer to share the travel time with a like-minded person and to have a companion to be with at the Temple.  It’s quite different from walking down the lane to the Lakshmi Temple in Pondy, or jumping in a rick to stop by as in India.  I also want to acknowledge Nandini for the contributions she makes to the Temple to do whatever she can to help, she sets an important example for me to remember to make offerings and not just to take blessings because contributions help maintain services.

Please do click the link above to read an important short article written by Sadhguru about what Blessings the Adiyogi, Shiva, has made for all Seekers.  Please do take the time to acknowledge your teachers, even in a small way such as placing flowers and candles before their pictures.  Do make references of Gratitude whenever possible.  Many in the West just practice asanas at yoga studios, many just buy discount coupons or go to free classes always jumping around to any cheap class they can find and completely miss the biggest boon having the Blessings of an Enlightened Teacher, my wish for these lost practitioners is that they one day become Seekers, and find themselves at the Feet of a True Master one day soon.  My recommendation for anyone thinking about taking their Yoga to the next level of becoming a Seeker is to embark upon the Inner Engineering Program from Isha Foundation, two options are available to complete the course online or in many centers worldwide, it’s a great beginning!

Thanks for  reading this Blog and do continue to share with others, Jai Shree Gurudev OM

Guru Pournami on July 22nd…..OM

OM Window at Omlink Yoga Studio, New York

The full moon day in the Ashadha month of July/August (Indian Yogic calendar) is known as Guru Pournami.  This sacred day honors the ancient lineage of Enlightened Beings who have graced the world with their presence, imparting the knowledge of the Self to those who seek inner transformation.  The word Guru in Sanskrit is translated as  “dispeller of darkness.”  The Guru dispels darkness of ignorance and leads seekers on their Path of Enlightenment.  The day of Guru Pournami is traditionally the time when seekers offer the Guru their gratitude and receive blessings.  Guru Pournami is also considered an especially beneficial day to practice yogic sadhana.  This year Guru Pournami is celebrated on July 22nd.  If you would like to watch how it is celebrated at Isha Foundation, check the website for live webcast, and if possible donate something in gratitude for all Isha does to share with us globally.  Some temples have extended celebrations for more than one to five days, and some are on Sunday only, as Monday is a workday for most.  However, we can take the prasad offerings, the vibrations of the chants, the smoke of the havan in our hair and clothing, the tilak on our foreheads forward into the next hours and days as ongoing blessings for this period.

This auspicious day offers the energy set by the Adiyogi, Shiva, thousands of years ago, offering the possibility that a human being may evolve beyond all limitations set by their physical nature, if willing to strive.  (I want to acknowledge Yoginis: Maureen, Jane, Luann, Mayra & Peta,  who have been practicing regularly these super hot days seeking to weave the yogic vibrations deeper, thanks for your courage, discipline, joyfulness! OM)

This first full moon day after the solstice is a time when the planet and all life upon it are most receptive to the cosmic energies and possibilities.  The next six months till the winter solstice is the best time to strive for evolving and experiencing the divine possibility that is innate in a person.  For those who choose to honor this day it is recommended to attend a yoga class and a great time to invite a friend or family member to share yoga for the first time.  Listen to Sanskrit chants and/or bhajans.  Other recommended practices are: Practice Silence, Aum Chanting ( rounds of 21) and Practicing the Isha Kriya. [This post is a compilation from the Isha Foundation website, thanks so very much, Namaskaram!]