I was recently invited to dinner at a friend's place, and coincidentally there was another Isha meditator present, and we started getting quite excited talking about Sadhguru and our experiences with Isha (I suppose it's a bit like meeting someone at a party who happens to like your favourite band, and in some way a connection is made).
So we were talking about preparing for this advanced meditation course offered by Isha which required us to be on a raw food positive pranic vegan diet while also doing our yoga practices twice a day and how the process was quite uplifting.
At this point, someone else at the table asked me why I didn't eat like that all the time. Just to put it in context, I was also enjoying this lovingly cooked meal in front of me, indulging in a bit of seafood and not really thinking about what I was eating, so the question had me stumped. It took a while for the awkward moment to pass, but I said that I was human after all, and susceptible to temptation which I hope cleared the air for a bit. The question however stuck with me so I decided to write this post.
Just to clarify, my wife and I are primarily vegetarian. At home, we even avoid using onion and garlic (considered to be tamasic or naturally inertia inducing, according to Yoga). In fact, of the two meals a day that I consume, one is almost entirely raw vegan (fruits, nuts, dried fruits and a small quantity of muesli with a milk substitute - almond/rice/oat/soy milk). My daily yoga regimen usually goes up to around 4 hours or longer. I suppose in the eyes of most people, this lifestyle might be seen as a little wacky, to put it mildly.
However, when the situation demands, I think it is important to be a little flexible and adapt accordingly. For example, I wouldn't want to be insensitive to my hosts and their food in this instance by announcing that I only eat raw vegan food. Also, I loved that prawn curry (don't judge me!)! So a little bit of playing the balancing act goes a long way in keeping relationships cordial, and I feel that's more important than being rigid about one's diet for every single meal.
Ecologically and otherwise, yes, I do encourage being vegan, but rather than being militant about it (I certainly think it would do the world and all its inhabitants a lot of good to reduce meat production/consumption a few notches), I think it's more important that we all get along with each other and respect each others dietary preferences.
However, for the purpose of one's health and wellbeing, I think the regular practise of Yoga is by far the most effective method in terms of enhancing one's immunity and body awareness. And a vegan diet (even if you can't go all raw) is definitely a supportive catalyst for that enhancement. I wouldn't force that onto anyone, but I would encourage everyone to try it out for a little while and see for themselves how their body and mind feels.
Over time, with a bit of discipline, one can easily see that the system evolves to a point where it can handle itself well irrespective of what is being fed into it. But to get there, it takes some preparation, awareness and conscious choice.
Welcome to 2016! (And it's February already... yikes!) The last year ended on a fantastic note for me as I had an opportunity to volunteer at the Isha Hatha Yoga Teacher Training 2015 where over a hundred and fifteen teachers graduated (including FOUR more for Australia!). There's an awesome playlist of all the videos made during the training that you can watch here.
In order to help you establish the practices you have learned, we will be offering regular practice sessions for students to stay in touch with what they have learnt. We hope you make use of this opportunity to refine your practice and deepen your experience of Hatha Yoga!
Please read in this edition:
Upcoming workshops in Parramatta
(NEW!) Regular practice sessions
Sadhguru in Singapore
Isha Australia presents workshops in Collingwood, VIC
Workshops in Parramatta
Angamardana - Sat & Sun 6 & 7 Feb - 8.30 - 11.30 am
Angamardana is a physically challenging practise that provides a complete workout to the body and enables one to gain mastery over the limbs and the body as a whole. The practise provides excellent aerobic exercise and increases strength and flexibility. It is also considered to be a preparation for martial arts, and if you are looking to push yourself with something that is quite intense and active, this would be it !
Click here for more information and to register|Invite your friends on Facebook
Surya Kriya - Sat & Sun 27 & 28 Feb - 8.30 - 11.30 am
The practise of Surya Kriya is considered to be the original form from which the more popular Surya Namaskar (or Sun Salutation) is derived. This is a sequence of steps involving postures and breath and practised in cycles, and provides a great way to stabilise the body and mind. In addition to strengthening the back muscles and invigorating the body, it also improves mental focus, and balances hormonal levels.
Click here for more information and to register|Invite your friends on Facebook
Regular Practice Sessions in Parramatta
From February 2016 onwards, Yoga Sadhana will offer regular practice sessions for those who have previously learnt any of the following Isha Hatha Yoga practises; Angamardana, Surya Kriya and/or Yogasanas.
Angamardana – Mondays 6.30 to 8 pm
Surya Kriya – Thursdays 7 to 8.30 pm
Yogasanas – Fridays 6.30 to 8pm
(Click here for Google Calendar)
As many students in the past have requested for regular practise sessions, this will provide you with an opportunity to keep in touch with your practise, and practise under the guidance of a teacher. Feedback will be provided to refine your practise which will also deepen your experience.
Please use the form provided at this link to register
"Once you have access to the source of creation within you, your health and well-being will be naturally taken care of." -Sadhguru
A rare opportunity to be in the presence of Sadhguru for a life-transforming weekend, this April in Singapore! Learn Shambhavi Mahamudra Kriya, a powerful yogic practice that brings your entire system into alignment, establishing a chemistry of blissfulness within you.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE DETAILS.
Hatha Yoga Programs are returning to Melbourne in February 2016!
Surya Kriya - 19th to 21st February
More information here
Angamardana - 20th & 21st February
More information here
Also a heads up! Inner Engineering (Shambhavi Mahamudra Program) will be taking place in Melbourne and Sydneyon 30th April and 1st May 2016.
More information here
NOTE: These events are hosted by Isha Australia
If I had a dollar for every time I heard a student tell me this... :)
What usually happens is that the meditation or practise has given you some clarity and a burst of energy.
By stopping it, you have come down to an earlier state
And typically this leads to feelings of discomfort, anxiety and fear. so it's not stopping the meditation that is the problem. it is that you have not been able to stay at that higher state without the support of the practise.
And once fear has entered your mind, you will always find a reason to avoid what you know is good for you
you need to look at it differently
when you did the meditation, it took you to a higher place. there is nothing else that you can do that will take you to the same place (in a healthy way). so why don't you stick to the one thing that you know will take you there ?
Feeding fear will only make you ask questions like 'is it safe?' , ‘why can't i just be happy without any practises?’ , ‘is there something wrong with the practise that makes me dependent on it?’
Also, it is only because what is happening within you is not clear to you when you do your practise, that you are asking these questions. It is not necessary for you to understand intellectually what is happening to you when you meditate.
Just let it happen. If it is helping you and making you feel better and not affecting your health, why do you need to question it ? Expand your perception (by sticking to the practise) so what is unclear slowly becomes clear, by intuition and not through the intellect
Photos from a recent hatha weekend (SuryaKriya + UpaYoga) in Brisbane. Check out the full album here https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.605149816283272.1073741838.428159030649019&type=1
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