”When I say you are not the body, I'm not saying not to feed the body; you have to feed it if it is hungry. But if you are attached to the body, you will overfeed it. There comes the trouble. If you are not clinging to the body, you’ll just give it what it needs. So that is what you call mastery over the body and mind—you judge things in the proper light and are not affected by them. A yogic action means you raise above the dualities and do what is appropriate.“ –Swami Satchidananda
Healing from addiction or any other unhealthy habit is a spiritual practice. It’s impossible simply to say, “Oh, I don't want to indulge in this or I have to get rid of that.” We cannot. The more we try to push it away and get rid of it, the more we wind up suppressing it, not releasing it. Whenever we develop an addiction or attachment toward anything it very soon teaches us that, ‘You cannot be happy with me always. And even the little happiness I give you is mixed with 99 percent of pain.’ MORE
Why do human beings suffer? We may believe that there is something fundamentally wrong with us; that we carry a sinful or broken nature. We may also believe that our problems are caused by other people and their wrong actions or attitudes. Perhaps we understand suffering as the result of unsatisfactory conditions in our lives. In the Yoga tradition of Patanjali, the cause of suffering is precise. We suffer because of the condition of our mind. In Sanskrit, the mind is called chitta. MORE
In this inspiring contemplation, renowned Yoga teacher Erich Schiffman offers an embodiment practice. He gently guides us toward the recognition that we only exist because "The All, The One, the only Mind, Consciousness or Presence in existence anywhere is what is being you. And so, when you relax and feel you, you're not just feeling into seemingly separate little you. Because again, there is no such thing as seemingly separate little you. There is The One in infinite Self-expression." Watch here.
In March 2024, Impulse! Records released the live recordingof Alice Coltrane (Swamini A.C. Turiyasangitananda) that was part of a 1971 benefit concert for the Integral Yoga Institute of New York. "Harmony of the Soul" charts the story of how this concert came to be, the pivotal moment it was in Coltrane's musical and spiritual journey and lessons she learned from her Guru, Swami Satchidananda. [The album features artwork with Sri Swamiji at the center and photos of Swamini and Sri Swamiji.] MORE
Devotion and worship were part and parcel of Ramu’s upbringing and shaped him, his daily life, and worldview. His parents were extremely devout and raised Ramu to participate fully in traditional spiritual practices. Ramu’s childhood was filled with devotional rituals. He would walk before dawn each to a farm one and a half miles from the house. An acre of land there was set aside for use as a flower garden. Brightly colored flowers of particular beauty grew here for use in the family puja... MORE
Integral Yoga's resident Nada Yoga teacher, Narada Parker, joins Avi Gordon to discuss the profound impact of communal singing and the healing power of sound vibration, emphasizing the significance of discovering one's authentic voice. They discuss experiences in group singing settings, highlighting the importance of encouragement and support for individuals to overcome fear and judgment. Watch here.
Integral Yoga Publication's newest title: Practicing the Yoga Sutras is the perfect study guide/journal companion to Swami Satchidananda's translation and commentary of the Yoga Sutras. In addition to being a study guide and offering a journaling experience with questions for reflection, it may also be used fruitfully in Yoga teacher training, helping students and teachers connect to each other and to Yoga philosophy. Study guides for groups are included. Readers may also learn to chant each sutra using additional material found on the book’s website.
