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Integral Yoga Magazine: How does Sri Patanjali define practice in the Yoga Sutras?
Rod Stryker: Patanjali defines practice as abhyasa, which means: to be in the endeavor. That means we are doing something—not that we do it perfectly, but we are endeavoring to do it. The critical term that Patanjali adds to his description of abhyasa is “tatra,” which means “there.” So, practice is the endeavor to be there. Before we begin to consider the notion of cultivating a regular practice, we should seriously consider the “there” to which Patanjali refers. MORE
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In 1970, after the popularity of the legendary Woodstock Festival, CBS decided to learn more about the Swami who opened that Festival and set a tone of peace and hope for the nearly 500,000 young people attending it. CBS produced a documentary on this new movement of young people studying the classical Yoga tradition with the "Woodstock Guru," Swami Satchidananda. This film, entitled "Swami's Children," aired as a television special in New York.
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Hatha Yoga is a great practice for reducing the stress we store in our bodies. It might not, however, root out the cause of stress which is the mind. Raja Yoga roots out the cause of stress. If we don’t include a Raja Yoga foundation in our Hatha, then doing Hatha is like taking a “Yoga pill.” For example, you go to Yoga class, and after the class your body feels good. You get in your car to drive home and you get behind a slow driver and road rage comes out. We have to ask: What is our Yoga really doing for us? MORE
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Pranayama is one of the most powerful, yet subtle practices in Yoga.... But if we mistake these techniques for the intent, we cut ourselves off from the full scope of what the teachings are designed to give us. We use the breath, but we must move beyond the breath to discover the more profound purpose of pranayama. Sri Swami Sivananda says: “Pranayama or the control of prana, is that means by which the yogi tries to realize in this little body the whole of cosmic life...” MORE
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The Sculptor of Light
In this video, Asangan Binstock (Integral Yoga teacher and retired NASA architect) talks about his journey as an artist, as well as the intersection of his interest in Yoga, science, and sculpture. Known as the “sculptor of light," his art adorns museums and major buildings around the country. This was a talk he gave for DASER, a monthly discussion forum on art and science projects in the national capital region.
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Amazing timelapse footage, shot by the talented photographer/videographer Bill Geoghegan (director of Yogaville marketing), of sunset over Satchidananda Ashram–Yogaville during the October blue moon. Yogaville is located in central Virginia, in the Shenandoah Valley and foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, which can be seen in the background.
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Inspiring Meme of the Week
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