Yoga for Personal and Social Resilience
"Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can." Yoga helps us develop personal resilience. Yes, the world's a mess, but I can't save the whole world. I tried and succeeded mainly at making myself miserable. I was a radio news reporter at the end of the Vietnam war. I wanted badly to change the world through truthful reporting. But I was so stressed by the chaos I saw that I was becoming more and more like the people I thought were the problem—I was increasingly unable to sort out what was true or at least accurate. Yoga became my way of coping and eventually, I realized I could serve the world by sharing tools for peace of mind better than I could by stridently objecting to the military-industrial complex. In the process of becoming a whole, happy person, I gradually became a more positive influence on the world around me. Consider this report on the epidemic of stress in 2021. The CDC estimates that stress is a causal factor in an estimated 80% of primary care doctor...
IY Teacher Feature: Retreat and Reset with Silence
Seeking silence? Overwhelmed with the constant flurry of talk, and wishing there was a pause button on life? If so, you might be ready for a Silent Retreat. For this month’s Integral Yoga Teacher Feature, three Yogaville teacher—Rukmini Ando, Roy Rodriguez, and Rev....
Couve: Brazilian-style Collard Greens
Couve is a delicious Brazilian dish of thinly sliced collard greens, cooked with garlic and onion and traditionally served as a popular accompaniment to feijoada, the Brazilian national dish comprised of black beans and pork. For Ranjani Tutia, E-RYT 200 and Ashram...
More Recent Articles
Sound Healing: The Restorative Effects of Acoustics
If you examine the beliefs of all the major traditions on our planet, they have a commonality in their awareness of sound as being the basic creative source, whether it’s called “The Word” or “Om.” Our modern scientists have finally caught up with this awareness and...
Crying on the Mat: An Emotional Release
When I begin a workshop, I often ask how many people have cried on their Yoga mat. Just about everyone raises their hand! Crying is a natural release, and often makes us feel better. This happens, according to Michael Trimble, author of Why Humans Like to Cry,...
Prison Yoga: Helping Inmates Find Freedom
Swami Satchidananda taught that freedom is a state of mind, no matter your outside circumstances. That teaching may carry even deeper meaning for students of prison Yoga classes. Inspired by the example and teachings of Sri Swami Satchidananda and other teachers, many...
Heels Over Head(stand): A Step-by-Step Tutorial
Ever wanted to get a little topsy-turvy during your Hatha Yoga practice but weren't sure how? Now's your chance! Inversions might look daunting, but with thorough instructions, a little practice, and a lot of patience, you'll be upside down in no time. Below you'll...
A Journey into Yoga: Destiny of Divine Grace
An Interview with Nalanie Chellaram There are some Yoga teachers who are so inspired, so motivated, and so dedicated that their lives warrant some study and reflection. That's just one of the reasons that we sat down with Nalanie Chellaram, a powerhouse of selfless...
Exchange Blame for Bliss with Ahimsa
Ahimsa, often translated as nonviolence, is the first Yama (ethical guideline or precept) of Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras. It is one of the foundations of Yoga and something I have practiced and thought about for many years. At a recent retreat, Nonviolent Communication...
What Brings True Happiness?
What is life? How do we find happiness in this life? These are questions that people ask themselves and try to answer without sometimes looking deeper for solutions that could last longer and have more benefits. We tend to look for the quick and easy fix, like taking...
A Yogic Adventure—for Kids!
What if your Hatha class took you on a fun-filled journey into an imaginative story? In Nitya's classes for kids, that's the reality! Nitya reveals what makes her classes so magical for little ones and shares what she has learned from teaching kid's Yoga for over 12...
Unlock Your Potential: Master Keys to Happiness
What if someone handed you the keys to a peaceful, joyful life? Would you use them to unlock your full potential? Mitra Somerville offers two helpful practices to help open up doors to our inner peace. Live in Feeling The practice of Integral Yoga helps us to have...
Cultivate Self-Love!
In last week's blog, Sampada Desai espoused the benefits of self-compassion. We followed up with her to learn simple and effective daily practices for cultivating self-love. Since who we are at the core goes beyond just the physical body, a multi-faceted approach...
A Healthy Dose of Self-Compassion
In the following interview, psychotherapist, yogini, and laughter Yoga leader Sampada Desai makes a powerful argument for why it is beneficial to be kind to ourselves. Throughout our lives we long to be loved more deeply and to find a greater sense of connection with...
Vegan Chickpea Tuna
An Ashram favorite, this mock tuna recipe was recently requested by our readers. Vegan and gluten-free, this dish is a guaranteed table-pleaser for all. You can guiltlessly indulge in this delicious, karma-free comfort food! Chickpea Tuna Recipe Makes enough for 6...