Anger, resentment, desolation—they followed me like stowaways, surfacing during my darkest moments. My health suffered as a result, and I knew that unless I tried something drastic, I’d never recover. So I quit my job and began searching for solutions to my self-inflicted problems. I turned to creative writing in the hopes that one day I could share my story. I never imagined I’d actually have an inspiring story to share.

Now that I’ve unloaded all this garbage out there, I’ll take a pause in the story. We have come to the juncture between the “before” and “after” of the makeover. For me, the turnaround point came through a program aptly named “Inner Engineering.” It was challenging, but fun. It enabled me to look at life anew, with a clarity I’d never known before. By the end, I was bursting with so much energy that I couldn’t recognize myself. It was so powerful, so positive, that I needed to explore further; it couldn’t be ignored.

Interested in discovering more? You can get a discount on Inner Engineering Online, 7 online classes for self-empowerment, and learn a free meditation.

On the 21st, the Summer Solstice, I volunteered at a free yoga event in NY’s Times Square for for yoga enthusiasts “to find tranquility and transcendence in the midst of the urban energy of the world’s most commercial and frenetic place.”

I met lots of wonderful other volunteers, including Laura Butler, ISHTA yoga teacher, pictured below. We had a laugh about the names sounding similar; then I discovered that they also practice kriyas. Even though I’ve been telling people about Isha for over two years, I still find it tough to describe what it is; and I still get thrilled at the opportunity.

The t-shirt that I made got a good response and people seemed interested in the flyers we distributed for Inner Engineering Online after the session. They were particularly surprised to hear it was online. New York has tons of free yoga events during the summer; we already attended Wanderlust, and look forward to many more opportunities to spread the word about IEO and Sadhguru’s program in October!

Wonderful coincidence–I bumped into a friend I’ve known since high school, Bajir Cannon & his wife Maki. He said he saw me on the screen but didn’t think it was me since he thought I was in India. Without realizing, I happened to have taken their photo (I was taking random pics of participants in line)! Bizarre…

I made it to the big screen in the Big Apple! Can you spot me?

Absorbed in conversation about yoga!

Like my handmade shirt…?

Attempted meditation

Blackberry-asana?

Happy Thanksgiving! Since today naturally lends itself to reflection, I figured it was a good chance to get back to blogging. I have been all-consumed by planning for the “My Conversations with the Mystic” event with acclaimed director Shekhar Kapur & Sadhguru–and I’m grateful it’s over!

The event didn’t go quite as hoped (we weren’t able to stream video along with audio), but I certainly learned a lot and of course am so glad to have had the opportunity to see Sadhguru along with Kapur. How did I ever get so lucky?

I only wish I weren’t so hard on myself for the mistakes I made that night. After seeing this post on Beth’s Blog, I think I need to learn from the ladies at MomsRising.org about  Joyful Funerals & constructive reflection after a campaign…

I think I have my work cut out for me this Thanksgiving!

UPDATE: The video recording is now available here:

[youtube Tp0Xjsr70z4]

(we could only stream audio live due to technical difficulties!)

Scientists are especially intrigued by the similarities between hallucinogenic experiences and the life-changing revelations reported throughout history by religious mystics and those who meditate.

The subjects’ reports mirrored so closely the accounts of religious mystical experiences, Dr. Griffiths said, that it seems likely the human brain is wired to undergo these “unitive” experiences, perhaps because of some evolutionary advantage.

Rick Doblin, the executive director of Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies says:

“Thanks to changes over the last 40 years in the social acceptance of the hospice movement and yoga and meditation, our culture is much more receptive now, and we’re showing that these drugs can provide benefits that current treatments can’t.”

Another sad example of the over-medication mentality in the US. Rather than follow the natural logic of his statement–that yoga and meditation have proven benefits for well-being–Doblin promotes psychedelics. If current treatments aren’t properly addressing the mental problems, that means people should turn to other kinds of drugs instead of yoga or mediation?

We should be more interested in researching how non-pharmaceutical methods work. Oh right, but where’s the money in that…?

The book, “Raquel: Beyond the Cleavage,” has made the New York Times Best-seller List.  Has she actually transcended the beauty business thanks to age and yoga?

“The thing about aging is that its got all these wonderful answers attached to it,” Welch said, adding that age alone should never define a person.

I’m holding together just fine, I’m not doing it with no effort, I’m doing my yoga everyday — an hour-and-a-half of that — but really guys, what is the point of starting to lie about your age?”

She expounds upon the difficultly of being known only as a sex symbol. “I felt that people really didn’t give a damn about me, they only cared about her…”  It’s ironic how she describes her persona with “an impossibly skinny little waist” as “formidable”–what’s empowering about emaciation?

Now that she’s aged, has she surmounted her insecurities?

Welch said the point of the book was to remind women that their fears and anxieties “were not special to them.” If her own travails, worries and insecurities, which were magnified by being in the public eye, were surmountable, so are theirs.

Many Christian and Jewish yogis are incorporating prayer and religious teachings into the practice. ‘It allows us to blur the line between the physical and the spiritual,’ one leader says.

"Please god, help me to balance in this pose..."

How to reconcile this with a recent article in the Huffington Post? Max Strom, founder of Sacred Movement Center for Yoga and Healing in LA writes:

Because of this reawakening, yoga is sweeping across the globe at a dazzling speed, as millions are turning to yoga not only to exercise, but also as an alternative to the experience of a spiritual gathering they cannot find in a church, synagogue, mosque or Web site. Perhaps the reason for this lies in the chief difference between religion and Western-style yoga, and that is that Yoga is usually offered in a nondogmatic format, which makes it inclusive to many more people.

So he’s implying that “Eastern-style yoga” is dogmatic or religious, whereas it’s not anywhere else?!

Actually among the 2000-and-odd sutras Patanjali wrote, only one sutra, which contains only five words, is dedicated for the physical postures. But today, in the Western part of the world, when you utter the word “yoga,” people think it is just that. It is a miniscule of yoga.

Another excerpt from Sadhguru’s Sacred Awakening Series teleseminar (click to listen by streaming or downloading). And from a press release about “Common Misconceptions of Yoga and Meditation Revealed

Misconception #1: Yoga is a religion

A recent survey shows 53% of people believe Yoga is a kind of religion. It is not. There are no fixed set of beliefs or figure to be worshipped. Yoga is the art and science of physical, mental and spiritual development. The system of techniques learned can be used for a number of goals, including managing stress, increases flexibility and becoming more self aware.

Misconception #2: You need to be flexible to practice yoga

While being agile is helpful when practicing yoga, it is not a necessity. People of any age, shape or size can do yoga…

Misconception #3: Yoga is not really exercise

Many people believe yoga is more like stretching, instead of exercising…In addition to muscle tone, strength and flexibility, yoga can also help reduce stress, tension and high blood pressure. It can also assist with weight loss.

Sadhguru and the Isha Foundation emphasize that yoga is meant for everyone. It’s a time where your body, mind, spirit and existence are in perfect harmony. “When you fine-tune yourself to such a point where everything functions so beautifully within you, naturally the best of your abilities will just flow out of you,” says Sadhguru. “When you’re happy, your energies always function better.”

Please join us at the center, via live webcast at http://yaksha.info/ or on the Aastha channel (Sky 807 in the UK) for this night-long festival which goes from 6pm to 6am, 12-13 Feb.

Discourses, live Q&A and meditations by Sadhguru, and performances by:

Pt Hariprasad Chaurasia
MIDIval PunditZ & Karsh Kale
Sivamani
Sounds of Isha
and more…

Mahashivarathri is celebrated at Isha Yoga Center every year. The special nature of the day and the night of Mahashivarathri presents us with a unique opportunity to make use of the forces of nature for our well-being.

Also in the yogic lore this night celebrates the Grace of Shiva, who is considered the Adi Guru (the very first Guru) from whom the yogic tradition originates.

The planetary positions on this night are such that there is a powerful natural upsurge of energy in the human system. If one can stay awake and aware, in a vertical position throughout the night, it brings about physiological and inner transformational benefits which results in one’s well-being.

Given the potentials of this occasion, Mahashivarathri is celebrated with great pomp and vigor at Isha Yoga. People from all over India and the rest of the world participate in the unique nightlong gathering and Sathsang with Sadhguru.

http://www.ishafoundation.org/news/happenings/Shambavi.pdf

Abstract: An effort was made to analyze the cerebral electrical activity of nine experienced Isha Yoga practitioners by means of EEG recordings. The EEG data was recorded before and after Shambhavi Maha Mudra practice in Isha Yoga, which is considered to be an antidote to stress. A complete spectral and statistical analysis was done on the data collected to analyze the changes in delta, theta, alpha and beta rhythms. The analysis of the mean relative band power of the data collected after the practice showed a high increase in the delta band power [p<0.05 for F4 & F8] accompanied by an increase in theta band power. There was also a marked decrease in beta band power [p<0.05 for O2, C3 & T3] almost throughout the entire hemisphere and a slight decrease in alpha band power in fronto-parietal and midline brain regions. Furthermore, an increase in coherence between the left and right hemisphere was observed accompanied by a high increase in slow-wave progression [(Delta+Theta)/Alpha] in most of the brain regions. The results clearly show a higher level of mental and lower level of physical consciousness experienced in Shambhavi Maha Mudra Practice in Isha Yoga.

Heart Rate Dynamics during Shambhavi Mahamudra- A Practice of Isha Yoga

http://www.bepress.com/jcim/vol5/iss1/22/

This study was designed to quantify and compare the instantaneous changes of heart rate variability (HRV) during Shambhavi Mahamudra, a practice of Isha yoga. It includes major stages viz. Sukha pranayam, ‘AUM’ chanting, rapid breathing, and relaxed sitting. The standard lead II electrocardiogram (ECG) signals were acquired from eight healthy, yoga practitioners while performing various stages of Shambhavi Mahamudra. The short-term HRV were extracted from ECG, and analyzed using time, frequency-domain and Poincaré plot methods. The results showed a combination of increased sympathetic tone and withdrawal of vagal tone during Sukha pranayam, an increased sympathetic tone during `AUM’ chanting, and withdrawal of vagal tone during rapid breathing. The HRV descriptors were not significantly different during relaxed sitting.

Submitted: February 25, 2008 · Accepted: May 19, 2008 · Published: September 9, 2008