|
Friday, December 05, 2008 by Kelly Golden
|
|
A Yogic Response to Violence in India
|
|
The roots of yoga in all forms are traced back to the Indian subcontinent. All of us who walk on this path have a connection to the land of its birth in the same way we have connection to the soil which grows our food and the trees from which we built our homes. It may not be a “soul” connection, but as the world shows us over and over again, it is impossible to separate the origins of the practice from the practice itself, though we can make the choice to walk our path differently. So when bloodshed and terror strike the motherland of this practice, how do we yogis in the West respond? |
|
Thursday, December 04, 2008 by Kelly Golden
|
|
Buddha Boy?
|
|
A young man in Nepal, whom many claim to be the reincarnation of the Lord Buddha, emerged from a yearlong meditation in the jungles of Nepal to give blessings and then returned to the forest where he has been in meditation for three years. This year marks the third of this six-year practice that the boy has vowed to undertake. With each passing day, more local Buddhist followers are convinced of the divine nature of this young man. |
|
Monday, November 24, 2008 by Kelly Golden
|
|
Practicing Yoga in a Financial Crisis
|
|
The current financial crisis is making headlines everyday. Even in the yoga world, both practitioners and teachers are feeling its impact. So how is yoga faring in this time of financial decline? In some spaces, studios have seen a growth in classes as students look for ways of managing the mounting stress, but in other locations, trimming the budget has led to a decline in yoga students at studios and gyms having deemed the expense excessive. As students and teachers, how do we decide if yoga is worth the cost? |
|
Tuesday, November 18, 2008 by Kelly Golden
|
|
Will Muslims be Banned from Yoga?
|
|
Yet again, there is controversy over the practice of Yoga. This time it is in Malaysia, where a professor of Islamic studies has called for a ban on the practice of yoga. In Islam, this ban is known as a Fatwa, and the professor, Zakaria Stapa, opposes its practices because of its origins in Hinduism and the possibility it may cause some Muslims to deviate from the teachings of Islam. |
|
Monday, November 10, 2008 by Kelly Golden
|
|
Does Hot Yoga Warm Your Heart?
|
Interestingly, recent scientific studies have shown that physical warmth supports a more open, warm emotional response to the world. The study showed that participants who were presented with physical experiences of warmth (i.e. warm coffee and heating pads) showed a greater affinity towards generosity and openness to others than those who experienced physical sensations of cold (iced coffee and ice packs).
If this study proves true, then the practice of “hot yoga” may have found some unexpected support. Moving your body within a space of physical warmth (the typical “Hot” yoga class heats the room to around 90° F), is not only conducive to opening tight hamstrings, but may also be supportive the opening of your heart. When we feel “warm and fuzzy” on the outside, the study shows, it affects us on an emotional level as well. This inner warmth then manifests as tenderness towards others in our thoughts and actions. |
|
Wednesday, October 22, 2008 by Kelly Golden
|
|
Spiritual Leaders for Obama
|
|
General Colin Powell, former Bush Administration cabinet member announced his support for Presidential Candidate, Barak Obama on Sunday October 19th. This announcement is thought to have a noticeable impact on the presidential campaign for those who are “on the fence.” But for those whose political connection is interwoven with their spiritual path, there is another group of supporters that is worth noting. Spiritual Leaders Vote for Obama is a group of today’s leading yogis and meditators who are backing the Democratic presidential nominee. |
|
Friday, October 10, 2008 by Kelly Golden
|
|
Students Turn to Meditation
|
|
For stress, focus, health and spirit, you name it and meditation addresses it. Now the collegiate population all over the country is turning to the practice of meditation to aid in dealing with the ever-mounting pressures of higher education coupled with life in today’s world. And it seems to be working. |
|
|
Wednesday, October 08, 2008 by Kelly Golden
|
|
Gandhi Honored on his 139th Birthday
|
|
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi otherwise known as the Mahatma (or Great Soul) was one of the most influential yogis of the twentieth century. His acts of civil disobedience and strong belief in Ahimsa (nonviolence) created a legacy of peace and inspiration throughout the world. Today, sixty years after his death his message of employing peace to instigate great change continues to resonate strongly in the world. On the 2nd of October, the 139th anniversary of Gandhi’s birth was celebrated, and in India it included even the youngest peacemakers. In Siliguri, India young admirers of the Mahatma gathered together to pay homage in the most flattering way, imitation. |
|
|
Dispassion. It's a word we'd been hearing for days now, and, at the slightest mention, made some of us cringe. For many, the word presented one of the few gripes about Yogic philosophy, implying a nonchalant attitude that leads to a passionless life and loveless friendships. How could the Yoga way, so intriguing for its sense of compassion, now neglect love and passion on its way to "higher realms"? Dispassion is defined as "the state or quality of being unemotional or emotionally uninvolved." No -- something about it didn't stick. I had, myself, some vague notion of understanding; having gone through a radical teenage phase in which I was prepared to eat only fruit that fell from trees, and disown my lovely family for buying Crest instead of the cruelty-free, eco-alternative. In this instance, dispassion could have been useful, creating space to care less for extreme values and accept one's own and other's shortcomings. At the time, this was my notion of dispassion: a letting go of extremes to maintain balance. It wasn't until this recent Yoga Teacher Training program, I came to see how dispassion could be so much more. |
|
|
Thursday, October 02, 2008 by Kelly Golden
|
|
Yoga Improves Your Sex Life
|
|
It improves everything else, why not this? Fox News has reported nine ways how yoga improves your sex life. Geez. Ok, it’s true. Just like a disciplined practice of yoga improves your life as a whole, yoga has the effect of improving all of the individual components as well. You’ll eat healthier, you will feel happier, you will be stronger and more flexible, you will manage stress more effectively, and yes you will see a noticeable improvement in your intimate relationships. |
|
|
Monday, September 29, 2008 by Kelly Golden
|
|
The Nine nights of the Goddess
|
 The 29th of September 2008 marks the beginning of the Hindu festival of the Goddess. Navaratri is celebrated in the Hindu month of Ashvina (September/October) for nine nights and ends on the tenth day, Vijayadashami the day of victory. It is one of the most celebrated festivals in Hinduism though its variations are as colorful and unique as the Hindu religion itself. |
|
|
Thursday, September 25, 2008 by Kelly Golden
|
|
Yoga for India's Motormen
|
|
How do you deal with the stress of driving a train in Mumbai, India, where rail travel is the “lifeline” of the city? Well, the nationally funded Kaivalyadhama Yoga Institute thinks yoga can help. Through a three-month course in yoga, the Institute will monitor the effects of yoga on the stress levels of 80 motormen. For a rail system that transports over 6.1 million commuters on a daily basis, it would seem that stress management is imperative. These men drive trains, which are often overcrowded with close to 5000 passengers packed into a 1700 passenger space, which definitely puts the two grumpy little one’s in the back seat of my air conditioned station wagon into perspective. |
|
|
Monday, September 15, 2008 by Kelly Golden
|
|
Yoga is Ageless
|
|
Yoga is for all ages. From babies to children from adults to elderly, the practice of yoga appeals to all ages and all shapes and sizes. Though commonly thought of as a fad for the 20-40 set, the practice of yoga covers all ends of the spectrum. |
|
|
Friday, September 05, 2008 by Maya Koenig
|
|
From Seed to Sapling
|
|
I'm not sure it's possible to innumerate, in so many words, the powerful process of a Yoga teacher training. But, if forced to choose three to describe my experience at Mount Madonna's YTT 2008 they would be rigorous, inspirational, and life transformational. The courses were thorough and authentic, covering all aspects of Yoga from Shat Karma to "Yoga and Social Activism". From 5:30 in the morning to 8:30 at night, we practiced Asana, taught Asana, purified our bodies and redirected our minds. Like new-born-babes, we yoga-teachers-to-be had the opportunity to relearn from the Yogic perspective how to move, breathe, and reconsider our preconceptions of reality. |
|
|
Wednesday, September 03, 2008 by Kelly Golden
|
|
The Great Yoga Escape
|
 The popularity of the Yoga retreat has exploded recently, and though retreats are part of the yogic tradition, they have evolved from the original intent of self imposed exile into a much more alluring commodity. Yogis of old were expected upon reaching a certain age, to walk away from family, friends, business and home to retreat into the forest, practice austerities, and find realization. In this era, they were not expected ever to return. Conversely, today not only are we expected to come back, but to come back refreshed, realigned, and ready to hit the ground running. So can it be done? Can we leave our lives to uncover the presence of consciousness beneath our everyday experiences, and retain this knowledge upon our return? If you believe the answer is yes, or if you are looking only to “get away” without the pretense of self-discovery, then there are a plethora of options from which to choose. |
|
|
<< Start < Prev 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Next > End >>
|
| Results 65 - 80 of 120 |
