Are your Yoga practices a little dry? Are you not satisfied with your progress, even with all the effort you’ve put in? Try cultivating a listening heart. It will energize your practices and bring them into daily life in a way they may have never been before. A listening heart can turbocharge progress in all facets of Yoga.

Gratitude is an inborn quality of the human heart. It is the natural reaction when given a gift that brings us benefit. "Thank you" naturally rises from the heart to the lips when we are moved by someone's act of kindness towards us, their thoughtfulness, or their generosity. In this simple, yet profound interaction, we experience a beautiful depth of human relationship. We feel connected to the giver in an intimate and special way.

Sanatana Dharma, later called Hinduism because its adherents were primarily from the Indus River Valley, recognizes that each age and each country will bring forth fresh ways of expressing spiritual truths: different paths of realization, different modes of worship, different rituals, different names and forms – different ways of relating to - the One Source and Essence, what we call God.

Explore Reverend Jaganath Carrera’s fresh translation of the Guru Gita—available as a free PDF or on CD for study, meditation, and inspiration.

Like many mantras knowing its meaning is not necessary to obtain its main benefits, which come from the quality of its vibrations. Repeating it with a focused mind can bring healing to the body and mind as well as prosperity. It has the power to eliminate unhealthy, entrenched, conscious, and subconscious habits also. At its deepest level this mantra is an affirmation of the wish to overcome all suffering and to realize the state of cosmic consciousness that is our true nat

Yoga is a science of living that has improved the lives of countless thousands for centuries –its benefits are almost magical. One reason that Yoga has such transformative power is that its theories and practices address every facet of who we are: physical, mental, and spiritual.

To spend time with fellow seekers is an essential foundation for growth in yoga. The quote ends with the word “Jivamukti”. Jivamukti means someone who has attained Liberation while still living. It is someone who has attained the experience of unshakeable peace and joy, a state free from all suffering. Listen to these simple powerful words, first in Sanskrit, then in English.

This sample session should take you about 20 minutes from start to finish. If you would like to learn more, there are many good books and CDs you can use, but the best way to make sure your meditation practice gets off to a good start and grows is to find a good teacher.

What is the most intriguing of all behaviors – human or animal? For a moment, put aside the migration of birds, the songs of whales, or the intelligence of dolphins. Instead, look at these words: “I’ll love you forever.” These words are spoken in all lands and times, regardless of philosophical beliefs. Think of it. Rising above the drone of the daily grind, our cares and challenges, any item on our to-do list, and transcending even death, these simple words launch us into et

We may have goals of meditating every day, eating healthier, or setting aside a little more time for Karma Yoga. To make the best progress, we need a way to monitor how we’ve done with our goals. We also need to reset our inner navigation system to affirm our objectives. One great way to achieve these objectives is the use of the chant listed below.

Most of us know the importance of good decision making. Decisions can lead to happy or unhappy consequences. In a game show, if you choose what’s behind curtain one instead of curtain two, you might lose or gain a small fortune. Much of our life experience feels like that, feels like a gamble. We make countless choices everyday, but we are seldom sure if what we choose will bring the results we seek.

A vegetarian diet – no meat, poultry, fish, or eggs – is the most conducive to growth and success in any branch of Yoga. This is the diet recommended for and by yogis for millennia. A vegetarian diet is best for physical health and clarity of mind.

Prayer is a big subject with many subtleties. Below are some thoughts regarding the different ways to pray. There is also a chapter on prayer in Awaken: Inside Yoga Meditation.

This glossary contains definitions for some common terms used in and around the Yoga. Terms that are prominent in the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali are noted by section and sutra number.

Raja Yoga means the Royal Yoga. Traditionally referred to as Patanjali Yoga Darshana (the Yoga philosophy of Patanjali), it earns its regal title since it is a complete, holistic approach that contains the essence of all the other branches of Yoga.

How should a yogi act when faced with challenges, injustice, greed, and the many other darker sides of life – those aspects of life that cause us pain and suffering? Is there a way to respond to what we experience as negative events that will help bring harmony to us and to the situation itself?

Seven Zone Hatha Yoga is a method for accessing the deepest levels of prana (vital energy, or Qi). These zones are considered among the subtlest and most powerful levels of energetic functioning. They are also areas where the flow of prana can easily become blocked or restricted. The asanas and breathing practices of Hatha Yoga, when properly done, frees blocked energy, brings balance in the body and mind, and has a profound effect on our physical, mental, and spiritual well

The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali is the classic text of Yoga theory and practice. It is a manual for transcending all artificial notions of self and the universe we live in. This study guide can be used with any translation of the Sutras that you prefer. Although it is non-sequential, it follows a logical flow of thought and ensures that students incorporate practice into their study as soon as possible.

Most people who practice Hatha Yoga or meditation know how peaceful, refreshed, and inspired these practices make you feel. What can be very difficult is finding a way to carry these experiences into our daily life. The ancient yogis, leaving no stone unturned in their quest for lives that were easeful, peaceful, and useful, thoroughly explored this question by asking: Is there some way that we can take care of all our daily duties without disturbing our peace, and even enhan

We'll briefly look at a few reasons why yogis have recommended a vegetarian (no meat, fish, eggs, alcohol) diet for over 5000 years as the best for improving and maintaining good health and a clear, focused mind.