Why Simplicity Brings Inner Peace
This conversation explores the importance of simplicity and authenticity in spiritual practice, emphasizing the value of honoring diverse paths while staying true to one’s own. It touches on balancing technology with awareness, fostering meaningful dialogue across traditions, and speaking truth with love. The discussion highlights how creativity can deepen spiritual growth and the role of discernment in navigating new ideas and societal pressures. — Les Anand Roberts was born in Shropshire, England, in May 1953 into a working-class family. After dropping out of high school at 16, he spent two years working in manual labor before returning to education at 18. He eventually qualified as a Company Secretary and worked in various accounting roles, though a career breakdown in the early 1980s led to significant life changes. He later moved to Gibraltar, where he worked for Ernst & Young and other companies while navigating a challenging second marriage. Les’s life took a…
When I Feel Peace, I Feel Guidance with Mitra Somerville
Description Mitra Somerville and Avi Gordon discuss how we find peace, and the practical advantages that come from it. Quotes From the Interview: Fortunately in yoga there’s a lot of different techniques, and the more techniques that we know about and the more that we…
Why Study About Death and Dying?
One of the most important things we can do to prepare for death is to think about it. Bring it into your life, and as Don Juan said, “Use death as an advisor.” What would you do if you had six months to live? What would you cut out of your life? What would you do if…
More Recent Articles
Mindful Warriors: Addressing the Effects of Warfare with Yoga
Q&A with Daniel Hickman, E-RYT 500, YACEP After returning from combat, many military veterans are being introduced to Yoga and meditation practices to help address the physical, mental, and emotional effects of warfare and trauma. Yoga teachers like Daniel Hickman…
Embrace the Power to Heal
Do you believe you have the power to heal yourself? The power to heal others? When most of us think of healing we imagine going to a bona fide “healer,” someone who purports to possess the rare and mystical power to heal. This could be a spiritual or religious…
Applying Yoga Therapy in Healthcare
Application of Yoga Therapy into Healthcare Dilip Sarkar, MD, FACS, CAP, C-IAYT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT: Yoga Therapy is the adaptation of the Yoga practices for patients with various chronic dis-eases. Yoga is a stepwise practice for self-realization. During the practice a…
Yoga for Moms: How to Relieve Mama Shoulders!
No one told me that one of the side effects of having a new baby was stiffness like all get out in the upper body and shoulders! It’s chronic in the first few years. I remember being 5 or 6 months postpartum and catching sight of myself in the mirror: my…
Yoga as a Peace Practice: A Curriculum for Our Times
Yoga as a Peace Practice teaches ancient, contemplative practices of Yoga to help individuals and communities that have been impacted by violence improve their well-being and move toward self-love and wholeness. Yoga as a Peace Practice (YPP) is the first…
Meditating with Mantra: A Swami’s Experience
Did you know that there are many different ways to practice meditation? One type of meditation technique is called mantra japa, or repetition of a mantram—a sound structure of one or more syllables which represents a particular aspect of the divine vibration. In the…
The Neuroscience Is In: How Yoga Works
If you practice Yoga, you have probably experienced the physical, mental, and emotional benefits that it brings. But have you ever wondered why Yoga practice makes us feel so good? Modern research in the field of neuroscience is showing us just what’s happening in our…
Campers, Get Ready for Summer!
If you’ve visited Yogaville during the summer, you may have seen a group of young yogis attending puja at Kailash, or you might have had the privilege of witnessing the boisterous fun of the Camp Yogaville talent show, or attending a lively Saturday night satsang…
Teaching Teens, Saving the World
In the early years of my career as a Yoga teacher, I worked with a lot of different populations—adults, seniors, cancer patients, kids and even toddlers. But I very consciously avoided one group… teens. I didn’t want to deal with their attitudes and hormones, and I…
Nourish Your Soul: Q&A with Marni Sclaroff
Sometimes, a sense of disconnection with who we really are sends us searching—for depth, for meaning, for reconnection. “Who am I?” is a question that has been asked since time immemorial. Too often it brings more questions than answers! Marni Sclaroff explores this…
Embracing Empowerment: Releasing Victim Mentality
The stories we tell ourselves about our lives help us understand the world and our role in it. But when those internal narratives become negative, blameful, and disempowering, then they may no longer serve us. Sid McNairy, former football coach at Northern Illinois…
Non-Greed (Aparigraha): The Folly of Craving
If you’ve ever taken a class with Swami Karunananda, you know that she is a Raja Yoga master and a fantastic storyteller. That’s why we couldn’t miss the opportunity to share her most recent satsang talk on Aparigrapha (non-greed). Below, Swami Karunanda offers many…