Podcasts about classical yoga

Ever considering teaching in a different city or even a different country? In this episode, you'll meet yoga teacher and studio owner, Andrew Singer. Andrew is the founder of Flying Tree Yoga in Medellin, Colombia and while he was born and raised in the UK, in 2014, he decided to dedicate himself to teaching yoga in Latin America.    He is an E-RYT 500 yoga teacher, leads teacher training programs, which you'll hear about in this episode, and also teaches Thai bodywork, mindfulness meditation and is well versed in Classical Yoga, Tantra and Buddhist philosophy and of course, the Spanish language.    Andrew not only shares his unique story of travel, yoga and entrepreneurship, we also discuss how to build a community, how to introduce yoga to people who aren't familiar with the practice and what to consider when sharing cues in a way that requires you to translate from your native language to another one.    You can find more about Andrew here:   www.flyingtreeyoga.com   One more thing:    In the beginning, I share with you my e book on teaching as well as the monthly membership, The Yoga Teacher Confidence Club.    Here is the link to the e book   https://barebonesyoga.lpages.co/the-bare-bones-yoga-guide-to-incredible-yoga-teaching/   Here is the link to the Club     https://barebonesyoga.thinkific.com/courses/the-yoga-teacher-confidence-club  

Christopher Key Chapple is Doshi Professor of Indic and comparative theology at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles and the founding director of the Master of Arts in Yoga Studies at the same school. He's a specialist in the religions of India and the author of more than twenty books, most recently Living Landscapes: Meditations on the Elements in Hindu, Buddhist, and Jain Yogas and The Samkhya System: Accounting for the Real. He serves as an advisor to multiple organizations including the Forum on Religion and Ecology, the Ahimsa Center, the Dharma Academy of North America, the South Asian Studies Association, and the International School for Jain Studies. Our conversation centered around the five yamas and five niyamas of Classical Yoga. These are essential guidelines for living a profoundly ethical and deeply spiritual life.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Wisdom of Classical Yoga with Christopher Key Chapple Christopher Key Chapple is Doshi Professor of Indic and Comparative Theology and Founding Director of the Master of Arts in Yoga Studies at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, California. Chris serves on the advisory boards for the South Asian Studies Association, the Forum on Religion … Continue reading "The Wisdom of Classical Yoga with Christopher Key Chapple"

Title: EP17 - Yoga and its Eastern Roots by Jimmy Lau Episode Transcripts are here: https://medium.com/@jimmych.lau/isquared-podcast-transcript-episode-17-b7854868add1?source=friends_link&sk=ad4193c1512011251ddf009da2115163 Description: Dive into the profound world of Yoga with Jimmy Lau in Episode 17 of his enlightening podcast series, "Yoga and its Eastern Roots." In this episode, Jimmy Lau, an experienced Yoga instructor and insightful podcaster, takes listeners on an immersive journey through the ancient origins and philosophical underpinnings of Yoga. Discover the historical connections between Yoga and the rich traditions of Eastern philosophy, including Buddhism and Daoism, and how these age-old teachings continue to shape modern Yoga practice. Unpack the wisdom of the Yoga Sutras, the Heart Sutra, and the Tao Te Ching as Jimmy elucidates the shared themes of mindfulness, impermanence, and the pursuit of harmony. Learn about the Eight Limbs of Yoga, a foundational aspect of classical Yoga practice, and explore how each limb serves as a step on the transformative path to self-realization and spiritual liberation. Jimmy also addresses the contemporary evolution of Yoga, highlighting the integration of AI technology in enhancing the practice and the balance between honoring Yoga's roots and embracing innovation. Reflect on the personal impact of Yoga as Jimmy shares insights from his own journey, emphasizing the life-changing power of this ancient discipline in today's fast-paced world. Whether you're a seasoned practitioner or new to the world of Yoga, "Yoga and its Eastern Roots" offers a wealth of knowledge and inspiration. Join Jimmy Lau for a thought-provoking exploration of Yoga's history, philosophy, and its role in modern life. Don't forget to follow @jimmylauyoga on Instagram for more Yoga insights and inspiration. Tune in to EP17 on Spotify, YouTube, or your favorite podcast platform, and may your days be filled with happiness and wonders as you dance in the symphony of impermanence. Keywords: Yoga, Eastern Philosophy, Buddhism, Daoism, Yoga Sutras, Heart Sutra, Tao Te Ching, Mindfulness, Impermanence, Harmony, AI Technology, Yoga Practice, Spiritual Liberation, Jimmy Lau, Yoga Instructor, Yoga Podcast, Classical Yoga, Modern Yoga, Self-Realization, Yoga Journey, Yoga Evolution, Yoga Insights, Yoga Inspiration, Yoga and Meditation, Yoga Lifestyle, Yoga Community, Yoga Wisdom.

Beryl Bender has been teaching yoga and meditation since 1971, and has been training yoga teachers through her school, The Hard & The Soft Yoga Institute, for nearly 50 years. She's also the best-selling author of several books on yoga, including Power Yoga; Beyond Bower Yoga; and Yoga for Warriors: Basic Training for Strength, Resilience, and Peace of Mind, which was written especially for active duty military service members and veterans. In her teaching, Beryl addresses the full range of Classical Yoga and its implications for consciousness, spiritual development, and holistic human growth. She also co-founded the Give Back Yoga Foundation has been a leader in addressing the relationship between yoga practice and activism and service. https://www.power-yoga.com/ Find out more about Beryl Bender Retreats https://www.power-yoga.com/retreats/  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week it's Rush Dorsett who's keeping Alexa company. Rush is a voice coach, performing artist, and founder of the Embodied Voice Academy. She has earned accolades in voice science, psychology, and sound healing. Rush is passionate about weaving together spiritual tools with vocal awakening practices to access a singer's highest potential. She is here to discuss the benefits of sound healing for singers and busy teachers like us. KEY TAKEAWAYS YogaVoice® is a unique 21st century synthesis of the eight-limbs of Classical Yoga technology and Systematic Vocal Technique (SVT). The application of these principles to the lives and work of both professional and amateur singers can facilitate self-awareness and artistic empowerment. Rush has found that when teaching she often finds some kind of energetic imbalance in the students' sound. When this happens she tries not to focus on the classic techniques as that would just be paving over the cracks. This is when she turns to her alignment techniques to get to the root cause of the imbalance.  The mission of Embodied Voice is to serve conscious creatives who are seeking to connect with their true voice, go deeper in their vocal practice, find ease in singing, embody powerful presence, and have the tools they need to create their own sustainable vocal practice. The seven major chakras Rush teaches are: 1) Root - stability, grounding; 2) Sacral - creativity, emotions; 3) Solar Plexus - personal power; 4) Heart - love, compassion; 5) Throat - communication; 6) Third Eye - intuition; 7) Crown - spiritual connection. Each corresponds to different aspects of well-being. BEST MOMENTS  ‘Being a part of a community really built my confidence'  ‘I was seeing the results of this energetic and physical body alignment helping and supporting the anatomical alignment for healthy vocal technique'  ‘When we are connected to our root chakra, our physical body aligns'  ‘Authenticity often requires deconditioning ourselves'  EPISODE RESOURCES  Guest Website: https://rushdorsett.com Social Media: Instagram: @rushdorsett Rush's FREEBIE - Discover your Vocal-Chakra Alignment Relevant Links & Mentions:  The Yoga Voice Method from Mark Moliterno: https://theyogavoice.com/ (Book) The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron  (Book) There's No Place Like Ohm by Donna Carey and Marjorie de Muynck (Podcast) Quantum Minds TV by Dr Theresa Bullard-Whyke: https://theresabullard.com/qmtv-episodes/ Contact Rush directly: rush@rushdorsett.com  BAST Book A Call ABOUT THE GUEST  Rush Dorsett is a Voice Coach and Performing Artist who supports creatives in awakening their authentic voice, embodying their power, and freeing their self-expression in singing, speaking, and performing. She is Founder of EmbodiedVoice ® ️, an online school for guiding students into deeper embodiment, energetic alignment, and vocal mastery so that they can express themselves confidently and experience the joy of freedom in their voices.  She received her Masters degree in Voice Science and Performance from New England Conservatory, her B.A. in Psychology and Music from Washington University in St. Louis, sound healing certifications from the Divine Resonance Centre, and she is also a certified YogaVoice®️ facilitator. Rush is passionate about weaving together spiritual tools with vocal awakening practices to access one's highest potential. She is a Certified Teacher, Healer and Ritual Master with the Modern Mystery School, and often shares classes, workshops and energy healings with her community. Her mission is to use these tools to bring more light, love, peace and joy in the world.  ABOUT THE PODCAST BAST Training is here to help singers gain the knowledge, skills and understanding required to be a great singing teacher. We can help you whether you are getting started or just have some knowledge gaps to fill through our courses and educational events. basttraining.com Updates from BAST Training Presenters Bios

Christopher Wallis – Near Enemies of The Truth (www.hareesh.org | @hareeshwallis | YouTube ) Speaking in near absolute truths | Digesting v rather than letting emotions go | Don't take it personally | I am my own guru | When the mental filters fall away | Communion with reality | Being with what is | Is yoga stilling the fluctuations of the mind? | Finding your dharma? | Following the golden thread in your life New Book Available for Pre-order: Near Enemies of the Truth https://hareesh.org/nearenemies  Support Us Subscribe, like, comment and share with your friends Buy us a coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/infoRf Become a Patron:  https://keenonyoga.com/membership/  Connect With Keen On Yoga Instagram Keen on Yoga: https://www.instagram.com/keen_on_yoga/ Instagram Adam Keen: https://www.instagram.com/adam_keen_ashtanga/ Website: https://keenonyoga.com/ ____________________________________________________________________ Christopher Wallis, also known as Hareesh, is a Sanskritist and scholar-practitioner of Classical Tantra with thirty years of experience. He was initiated by a traditional Indian guru at the age of sixteen and received education at yoga āshrams in India and the West.  Subsequently, he engaged in fourteen years of formal education in Sanskrit, South Asian Studies, and classical Indian religions. Hareesh teaches classical Tantric philosophy and Tantric practices, meditation, Sanskrit, and mantra-science to an engaged online community of practitioners. He is the Founder of Tantra Illuminated Online, an online learning portal where all his courses and teachings are available. He also offers workshops, retreats and classes in person in Portugal and around the world. He combines his practice of more than 25 years with a rigorous inquiry into the original Sanskrit sources to accurately translate and bring this ancient nondual wisdom to modern practitioners. The practices aim to facilitate both spiritual awakening and enhanced well-being for people in all walks of life. His community of students frequently praise his deep love for the tradition and the clarity of thought and expression.  His teachers, mentors, and gurus, in chronological order, include: Gurumayī Chidvilāsānandā (root-guru), Paul Muller-Ortega (Śaiva Tantra and Classical Yoga); Alexis Sanderson (Śaiva and Śākta Tantra and Sanskrit); Marshall Rosenberg (Nonviolent Communication); Somadeva Vasudeva (Śaiva Tantra), Adyashanti (Meditation), and others who wish to remain anonymous.  His degrees include a B.A. in Religion and Classics from the University of Rochester, an M.A. in South Asian Studies from U.C. Berkeley, an M.Phil. in Classical Indian Religions from Oxford, and a Ph.D. in Sanskrit from U.C. Berkeley.  Hareesh is the author of Tantra Illuminated: The Philosophy, History, and Practice of a Timeless Tradition, the first comprehensive and accessible introduction to Classical Tantra in English (also available in Spanish, Portuguese and Romanian), and of The Recognition Sutras, a translation and commentary on a 1000-year-old masterpiece on experiential recognition of oneself as a direct expression of universal divine Consciousness.  His new book Near Enemies of the Truth comes out on November 14 and is available for pre-orders now.  EDUCATION  Ph.D. in South Asian Studies (Sanskrit), University of California-Berkeley, 2014 M.Phil. with Distinction in Classical Indian Religions, University of Oxford (UK) M.A. with Honors in South Asian Studies (Sanskrit), University of California-Berkeley, 2003 B.A. magna cum laude in Religion and Classics, University of Rochester, 2001  In this talk: Near Enemies of the Truth  Christopher Wallis YouTube Channel  Christopher Wallis Blog  Tantra Illuminated Online   

Christopher “Hareesh” Wallis – Non-dual Classical Tantra or The Teacher Drinks Bourbon? (www.hareesh.org | @hareeshwallis | YouTube ) First yoga for householders | True Holistic Experience | Digesting the remnants to incomplete experiences from the past | Scholar & practitioner | Eastern spirituality upbringing Siddha yoga | Powerful experience during meditation | Exploring psychedelics | Classical Tantra teachings | Seeking in various ways | Nondual tantra provided the context for everything in one | Discipline is required for meaning | Paul Muller-Ortega | Adyashanti | Unpacking transmissions | Tibetan Buddhism v Classical Tantra v modern yoga | Revivalism of the Yoga Sutras | Reincarnation and the soul | Connecting to the subtle body during asana | Feeling the pain | Digesting our experiences to resolve them His new book Near Enemies of the Truth comes out on November 14 and is available for pre-orders now. Christopher Wallis, also known as Hareesh, is a Sanskritist and scholar-practitioner of Classical Tantra with thirty years of experience. He was initiated by a traditional Indian guru at the age of sixteen, and received education at yoga āshrams in India and the West.  Hareesh teaches classical Tantric philosophy and Tantric practices, meditation, Sanskrit, and mantra-science to an engaged online community of practitioners. He is the Founder of Tantra Illuminated Online, an online learning portal where all his courses and teachings are available. He also offers workshops, retreats and classes in person in Portugal and around the world. He combines his practice of more than 25 years with a rigorous inquiry into the original Sanskrit sources to accurately translate and bring this ancient nondual wisdom to modern practitioners. The practices aim to facilitate both spiritual awakening and enhanced well-being for people in all walks of life. His community of students frequently praise his deep love for the tradition and the clarity of thought and expression. His teachers, mentors, and gurus, in chronological order, include: Gurumayī Chidvilāsānandā (root-guru), Paul Muller-Ortega (Śaiva Tantra and Classical Yoga); Alexis Sanderson (Śaiva and Śākta Tantra and Sanskrit); Marshall Rosenberg (Nonviolent Communication); Somadeva Vasudeva (Śaiva Tantra), Adyashanti (Meditation), and others who wish to remain anonymous.  His degrees include a B.A. in Religion and Classics from the University of Rochester, an M.A. in South Asian Studies from U.C. Berkeley, an M.Phil. in Classical Indian Religions from Oxford, and a Ph.D. in Sanskrit from U.C. Berkeley. Hareesh is the author of Tantra Illuminated: The Philosophy, History, and Practice of a Timeless Tradition, the first comprehensive and accessible introduction to Classical Tantra in English (also available in Spanish, Portuguese and Romanian), and of The Recognition Sutras, a translation and commentary on a 1000-year-old masterpiece on experiential recognition of oneself as a direct expression of universal divine Consciousness. Tantra Illuminated: https://www.amazon.com/Tantra-Illuminated-Philosophy-Practice-Tradition/dp/0989761304/  ‘Yoga Body: The Origins of Modern Posture Practice by Mark Singleton https://www.amazon.com/Yoga-Body-Origins-Posture-Practice/dp/0195395344  ‘The Yoga Sutra of Patanjali: A Biography' by David Gordon White: https://www.amazon.com/Yoga-Sutra-Patanjali-Biography-2014-05-25/dp/B01FGMV5S2/  Hamsamitthu: "Pātañjalayoga is Nonsense" by Somdev Vasudeva: https://www.jstor.org/stable/23884110 The Recognition Sūtras; https://www.amazon.com/Recognition-Sutras-Illuminating-000-Year-Old-Masterpiece/dp/098976138X/  The Vātūlanātha-Sūtras: https://hareesh.org/blog/2023/7/30/the-sutras-of-the-intoxicated-lord-vatula-natha  Christopher Wallis YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@christopherwallis751  Christopher Wallis Blog: https://hareesh.org/blogpage  Tantra Illuminated Online: https://www.tantrailluminated.org/  

In this episode I interviewed Dr. Marc Halpern. Dr. Marc Halpern is the founder of the California College of Ayurveda and a classically trained Sivananda Yoga Teacher. He has been studying and practicing Ayurveda for more than 30 years. An expert in the field, he has written five textbooks as well as the popular book: Healing Your Life; Lessons on the Path of Ayurveda. Recently, he just published a textbook entitled Classical Yoga Therapy, the Integration of Yoga and Ayurveda, and we spoke about that and more on the podcast.Support the showConnect with Inner Peace Yoga Therapy Email us: info@innerpeaceyogatherapy.com Website Instagram Facebook

Nelumbo nucifera, or the sacred lotus, is a plant that grows in flood plains, rivers, and deltas. Their seeds can remain dormant for years and when floods come along, blossom into a colony of plants and flowers. Some of the oldest seeds can be found in China, where they're known to represent longevity. No surprise, given their level of nitrition and connection to the waters that irrigated crops by then. They also grow in far away lands, all the way to India and out to Australia. The flower is sacred in Hinduism and Buddhism, and further back in ancient Egypt. Padmasana is a Sanskrit term meaning lotus, or Padma, and Asana, or posture. The Pashupati seal from the Indus Valley civilization shows a diety in what's widely considered the first documented yoga pose, from around 2,500 BCE. 2,700 years later (give or take a century), the Hindu author and mystic Patanjali wrote a work referred to as the Yoga Sutras. Here he outlined the original asanas, or sitting yoga poses. The Rig Veda, from around 1,500 BCE, is the oldest currently known Vedic text. It is also the first to use the word “yoga”. It describes songs, rituals, and mantras the Brahmans of the day used - as well as the Padma. Further Vedic texts explore how the lotus grew out of Lord Vishnu with Brahma in the center. He created the Universe out of lotus petals. Lakshmi went on to grow out of a lotus from Vishnu as well. It was only natural that humans would attempt to align their own meditation practices with the beautiful meditatios of the lotus. By the 300s, art and coins showed people in the lotus position. It was described in texts that survive from the 8th century. Over the centuries contradictions in texts were clarified in a period known as Classical Yoga, then Tantra and and Hatha Yoga were developed and codified in the Post-Classical Yoga age, and as empires grew and India became a part of the British empire, Yoga began to travel to the west in the late 1800s. By 1893, Swami Vivekananda gave lectures at the Parliament of Religions in Chicago.  More practicioners meant more systems of yoga. Yogendra brought asanas to the United States in 1919, as more Indians migrated to the United States. Babaji's kriya yoga arrived in Boston in 1920. Then, as we've discussed in previous episodes, the United States tightened immigration in the 1920s and people had to go to India to get more training. Theos Bernard's Hatha Yoga: The Report of a Personal Experience brought some of that knowledge home when he came back in 1947. Indra Devi opened a yoga studio in Hollywood and wrote books for housewives. She brought a whole system, or branch home. Walt and Magana Baptiste opened a studio in San Francisco. Swamis began to come to the US and more schools were opened. Richard Hittleman began to teach yoga in New York and began to teach on television in 1961. He was one of the first to seperate the religious aspect from the health benefits. By 1965, the immigration quotas were removed and a wave of teachers came to the US to teach yoga. The Beatles went to India in 1966 and 1968, and for many Transcendental Meditation took root, which has now grown to over a thousand training centers and over 40,000 teachers. Swamis opened meditation centers, institutes, started magazines, and even magazines. Yoga became so big that Rupert Holmes even poked fun of it in his song “Escape (The Piña Colada Song)” in 1979. Yoga had become part of the counter-culture, and the generation that followed represented a backlash of sorts. A common theme of the rise of personal computers is that the early pioneers were a part of that counter-culture. Mitch Kapor graduated high school in 1967, just in time to be one of the best examples of that. Kapor built his own calculator in as a kid before going to camp to get his first exposure to programming on a Bendix. His high school got one of the 1620 IBM minicomputers and he got the bug. He went off to Yale at 16 and learned to program in APL and then found Computer Lib by Ted Nelson and learned BASIC. Then he discovered the Apple II.  Kapor did some programming for $5 per hour as a consultant, started the first east coast Apple User Group, and did some work around town. There are generations of people who did and do this kind of consulting, although now the rates are far higher. He met a grad student through the user group named Eric Rosenfeld who was working on his dissertation and needed some help programming, so Kapor wrote a little tool that took the idea of statistical analysis from the Time Shared Reactive Online Library, or TROLL, and ported it to the microcomputer, which he called Tiny Troll.  Then he enrolled in the MBA program at MIT. He got a chance to see VisiCalc and meet Bob Frankston and Dan Bricklin, who introduced him to the team at Personal Software. Personal Software was founded by Dan Fylstra and Peter Jennings when they published Microchips for the KIM-1 computer. That led to ports for the 1977 Trinity of the Commodore PET, Apple II, and TRS-80 and by then they had taken Bricklin and Franston's VisiCalc to market. VisiCalc was the killer app for those early PCs and helped make the Apple II successful. Personal Software brought Kapor on, as well as Bill Coleman of BEA Systems and Electronic Arts cofounder Rich Mellon. Today, software developers get around 70 percent royalties to publish software on app stores but at the time, fees were closer to 8 percent, a model pulled from book royalties. Much of the rest went to production of the box and disks, the sales and marketing, and support. Kapor was to write a product that could work with VisiCalc. By then Rosenfeld was off to the world of corporate finance so Kapor moved to Silicon Valley, learned how to run a startup, moved back east in 1979, and released VisiPlot and VisiTrend in 1981. He made over half a million dollars in the first six months in royalties.  By then, he bought out Rosenfeld's shares in what he was doing, hired Jonathan Sachs, who had been at MIT earlier, where he wrote the STOIC programming language, and then went to work at Data General. Sachs worked on spreadsheet ideas at Data General with a manager there, John Henderson, but after they left Data General, and the partnership fell apart, he worked with Kapor instead. They knew that for software to be fast, it needed to be written in a lower level language, so they picked the Intel 8088 assembly language given that C wasn't fast enough yet. The IBM PC came in 1981 and everything changed. Mitch Kapor and Jonathan Sachs started Lotus in 1982. Sachs got to work on what would become Lotus 1-2-3. Kapor turned out to be a great marketer and product manager. He listened to what customers said in focus groups. He pushed to make things simpler and use less jargon. They released a new spreadsheet tool in 1983 and it worked flawlessly on the IBM PC and while Microsoft had Multiplan and VisCalc was the incumbent spreadsheet program, Lotus quickly took market share from then and SuperCalc. Conceptually it looked similar to VisiCalc. They used the letter A for the first column, B for the second, etc. That has now become a standard in spreadsheets. They used the number 1 for the first row, the number 2 for the second. That too is now a standard. They added a split screen, also now a standard. They added macros, with branching if-then logic. They added different video modes, which could give color and bitmapping. They added an underlined letter so users could pull up a menu and quickly select the item they wanted once they had those orders memorized, now a standard in most menuing systems. They added the ability to add bar charts, pie charts, and line charts. One could even spread their sheet across multiple monitors like in a magazine. They refined how fields are calculated and took advantage of the larger amounts of memory to make Lotus far faster than anything else on the market. They went to Comdex towards the end of the year and introduced Lotus 1-2-3 to the world. The software could be used as a spreadsheet, but the 2 and 3 referred to graphics and database management. They did $900,000 in orders there before they went home. They couldn't even keep up with the duplication of disks. Comdex was still invitation only. It became so popular that it was used to test for IBM compatibility by clone makers and where VisiCalc became the app that helped propel the Apple II to success, Lotus 1-2-3 became the app that helped propel the IBM PC to success. Lotus was rewarded with $53 million in sales for 1983 and $156 million in 1984. Mitch Kapor found himself. They quickly scaled from less than 20 to 750 employees. They brought in Freada Klein who got her PhD to be the Head of Employee Relations and charged her with making them the most progressive employer around. After her success at Lotus, she left to start her own company and later married. Sachs left the company in 1985 and moved on to focus solely on graphics software. He still responds to requests on the phpBB forum at dl-c.com. They ran TV commercials. They released a suite of Mac apps they called Lotus Jazz. More television commercials. Jazz didn't go anywhere and only sold 20,000 copies. Meanwhile, Microsoft released Excel for the Mac, which sold ten times as many. Some blamed the lack os sales on the stringent copy protection. Others blamed the lack of memory to do cool stuff. Others blamed the high price. It was the first major setback for the young company.  After a meteoric rise, Kapor left the company in 1986, at about the height of their success. He  replaced himself with Jim Manzi. Manzi pushed the company into network applications. These would become the center of the market but were just catching on and didn't prove to be a profitable venture just yet. A defensive posture rather than expanding into an adjacent market would have made sense, at least if anyone knew how aggressive Microsoft was about to get it would have.  Manzi was far more concerned about the millions of illegal copies of the software in the market than innovation though. As we turned the page to the 1990s, Lotus had moved to a product built in C and introduced the ability to use graphical components in the software but not wouldn't be ported to the new Windows operating system until 1991 for Windows 3. By then there were plenty of competitors, including Quattro Pro and while Microsoft Excel began on the Mac, it had been a showcase of cool new features a windowing operating system could provide an application since released for Windows in 1987. Especially what they called 3d charts and tabbed spreadsheets. There was no catching up to Microsoft by then and sales steadily declined. By then, Lotus released Lotus Agenda, an information manager that could be used for time management, project management, and as a database. Kapor was a great product manager so it stands to reason he would build a great product to manage products. Agenda never found commercial success though, so was later open sourced under a GPL license. Bill Gross wrote Magellan there before he left to found GoTo.com, which was renamed to Overture and pioneered the idea of paid search advertising, which was acquired by Yahoo!. Magellan cataloged the internal drive and so became a search engine for that. It sold half a million copies and should have been profitable but was cancelled in 1990. They also released a word processor called Manuscript in 1986, which never gained traction and that was cancelled in 1989, just when a suite of office automation apps needed to be more cohesive.  Ray Ozzie had been hired at Software Arts to work on VisiCalc and then helped Lotus get Symphony out the door. Symphony shipped in 1984 and expanded from a spreadsheet to add on text with the DOC word processor, and charts with the GRAPH graphics program, FORM for a table management solution, and COM for communications. Ozzie dutifully shipped what he was hired to work on but had a deal that he could build a company when they were done that would design software that Lotus would then sell. A match made in heaven as Ozzie worked on PLATO and borrowed the ideas of PLATO Notes, a collaboration tool developed at the University of Illinois Champagne-Urbana  to build what he called Lotus Notes.  PLATO was more more than productivity. It was a community that spanned decades and Control Data Corporation had failed to take it to the mass corporate market. Ozzie took the best parts for a company and built it in isolation from the rest of Lotus. They finally released it as Lotus Notes in 1989. It was a huge success and Lotus bought Iris in 1994. Yet they never found commercial success with other socket-based client server programs and IBM acquired Lotus in 1995. That product is now known as Domino, the name of the Notes 4 server, released in 1996. Ozzie went on to build a company called Groove Networks, which was acquired by Microsoft, who appointed him one of their Chief Technology Officers. When Bill Gates left Microsoft, Ozzie took the position of Chief Software Architect he vacated. He and Dave Cutler went on to work on a project called Red Dog, which evolved into what we now know as Microsoft Azure.  Few would have guessed that Ozzie and Kapor's handshake agreement on Notes could have become a real product. Not only could people not understand the concept of collaboration and productivity on a network in the late 1980s but the type of deal hadn't been done. But Kapor by then realized that larger companies had a hard time shipping net-new software properly. Sometimes those projects are best done in isolation. And all the better if the parties involved are financially motivated with shares like Kapor wanted in Personal Software in the 1970s before he wrote Lotus 1-2-3. VisiCalc had sold about a million copies but that would cease production the same year Excel was released. Lotus hung on longer than most who competed with Microsoft on any beachhead they blitzkrieged. Microsoft released Exchange Server in 1996 and Notes had a few good years before Exchange moved in to become the standard in that market. Excel began on the Mac but took the market from Lotus eventually, after Charles Simonyi stepped in to help make the product great.  Along the way, the Lotus ecosystem created other companies, just as they were born in the Visi ecosystem. Symantec became what we now call a “portfolio” company in 1985 when they introduced NoteIt, a natural language processing tool used to annotate docs in Lotus 1-2-3. But Bill Gates mentioned Lotus by name multiple times as a competitor in his Internet Tidal Wave memo in 1995. He mentioned specific features, like how they could do secure internet browsing and that they had a web publisher tool - Microsoft's own FrontPage was released in 1995 as well. He mentioned an internet directory project with Novell and AT&T. Active Directory was released a few years later in 1999, after Jim Allchin had come in to help shepherd LAN Manager. Notes itself survived into the modern era, but by 2004 Blackberry released their Exchange connector before they released the Lotus Domino connector. That's never a good sign. Some of the history of Lotus is covered in Scott Rosenberg's 2008 book, Dreaming in Code. Others are documented here and there in other places. Still others are lost to time. Kapor went on to invest in UUNET, which became a huge early internet service provider. He invested in Real Networks, who launched the first streaming media service on the Internet. He invested in the creators of Second Life. He never seemed vindictive with Microsoft but after AOL acquired Netscape and Microsoft won the first browser war, he became the founding chair of the Mozilla Foundation and so helped bring Firefox to market. By 2006, Firefox took 10 percent of the market and went on to be a dominant force in browsers. Kapor has also sat on boards and acted as an angel investor for startups ever since leaving the company he founded. He also flew to Wyoming in 1990 after he read a post on The WELL from John Perry Barlow. Barlow was one of the great thinkers of the early Internet. They worked with Sun Microsystems and GNU Debugging Cypherpunk John Gilmore to found the Electronic Frontier Foundation, or EFF. The EFF has since been the nonprofit who leads the fight for “digital privacy, free speech, and innovation.” So not everything is about business.    

In this wide-ranging conversation with Daniel Simpson we explore questions around how to make use of texts such as The Yoga-Sutra which come from a world-denying, renunciate worldview extolling dis-embodiment and celibacy in a contemporary yoga practice setting which prioritizes embodiment and tends toward body and sex positivity. What elements should be adapted, which should be fully integrated, and what should be rejected as inappropriate for our purposes? Along the way we discuss the ground-breaking work of scholars such as Georg Feurstein, and more recent scholarship from people like Mark Singleton and James Mallinson. We touch upon the neo-liberal focus on the self that has become such a driving force in both contemporary yoga and mindfulness and use sutra 1.33 regarding the "four immeasurables" (aka 'four brahma-viharas) to distinguish the more isolationist project of Classical Yoga and the pro-social project of Buddhist Yoga. In turning toward a more general discussion on dharma, political concerns arise with examples from Brexit and illiberal so-called "progressive" authoritarianism that lead to ever increasing discord and polarization are touched upon. We end with Daniel's "origin story" filled with at least two of the classic "sex, drugs, and rock and roll." LINKS: Our previous discussion on Daniel's podcast: Ancient Futures My conversation with Scott Johnson on Scott's podcast: Still Points Daniel's conversation with Scott Johnson on Scott's podcast: Still Points Daniel's Ancient Futures Website My review of The Truth of Yoga at Goodreads The Yoga Tradition by Georg Feurerstein Roots of Yoga by James Mallinson and Mark Singleton The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali by Swami Satchidananda The Yoga-Sutra of Patanjali by Chip Hartranft Swans

While you marinate in juicy poses targeting the hips, we will explore a the duality of resistance and acceptance. You will have an opportunity to discover how these qualities manifest themselves in your tissues, in your poses and indeed in your entire experience of self. We will not dogmatically attempt to annihilate resistance, rather, I will teach you how to view this struggle with compassion and show you a way to be with your suffering as taught in Classical Yoga philosophy. This is a very powerful practice and it feels great too.Props needed: Bolster, blanket and a sandbag or two if you have them. (if not it's totally fine!Start Your Pain Care JourneyThis 7 day email course is for anyone interested in learning about pain care in Yoga. In one week you will have 4 accessible practices to use for yourself or for students and clients. You will also learn why these practices are so effective. This email course is free!Enroll now and start today June 5-12, Crete, GreeceThis is a really special retreat experience for the healthy hedonist. Someone who loves movement and mindfulness but also wine, culture, food! Crete is an amazing place to restore and nurture yourself with deeply fulfilling experiences. This retreat is curated to help you enjoy the most of both Yoga and Gastronomy.Space is already very limited. Learn More: https://yoga.mandyryle.com/yoga-and-gastronomy-retreat-in-crete/Free 7 Day Email CourseIntroduction to Pain Care YogaPain Care Yoga combines traditional Yoga practices such as movement, mindfulness and regulation practices with scientific evidence. This course will provide you with 4 go to practices to use in your own pain care plan or for your students. Learn how these techniques can Reduce your pain Increase your function Restore your vitality Cost: FREE Enroll Now to start today!

Jeremy Wolf is an esteemed yoga teacher based out of Colorado. With more than 25 years of experience practicing yoga, he's here to help us understand how we can expand the practice into our daily lives. You can check out his virtual yoga nidra courses and more over at jeremywolfyoga.com Show Topics - How does yoga unfold? - Is yoga a religion or science? - Yoga off the mat - How the 8 limbs expand our practice - The potentials within stillness - The destabilizing nature of overstimulation - Breathe to ease mental agitation - Cultivating a neutral viewpoint - Converting pain into understanding - Recontextualizing freedom Jeremy's Bio "Jeremy's interest in mind and body began with martial arts, and later meditation became his doorway into yoga. He received his initial yoga certification in India in Classical Yoga and has completed his 500hr certification through Rod Stryker's school of ParaYoga. He is an E-RYT 500, YACEP, reiki master, meditation and yoga nidra instructor, with certifications and formal training in the Bihar, Himalayan, iRest and Amrit methods, and a music producer/label DJ for France's Ultimae Records. His weekly classes and trainings seek to embody the richness and holistic practice of yoga's deeply spiritual origin."

Tiffany is an International Teacher, Ayurvedic Practitioner (Doctor), and a Lover of Life, Tiffany shares the gifts of Meditation, Yoga & Ayurveda globally. Tiffany grew up in the quiet and solitude of the Canadian countryside but life quickly directed her to journey to India and Thailand in her early 20s, where she lived for many years and was given the opportunity to study and submerge herself in ongoing teachings and extensive retreats with her teachers, immersing herself deeply into Advaita Vedanta, Tantra, Hatha Yoga & Ayurveda. Tiffany is most known for bringing her clarity of sight and commitment towards revealing truth into each of her seamless offerings. The inspired teachings that pour through her are a direct expression of her visibly open heart, coupled with a depth of presence. Today, She is the founder of Vichara Yoga, a very unique offering of Classical Yoga that combines the fullness of the Tantric Hatha Yoga Path along with deep Inquiry & Meditative presence. She has also founded Rasa Ayurveda, a School, Clinical Practice & Apothecary sharing the authentic, healing wisdom of Ayurveda. In this episode we dive into: Intro Angelica: Aligning spiritual business to the cycles of the moon has been absolutely essential for thriving both spiritually and materially. When we are out of alignment with nature, we are prone to burnout. This means getting chronically ill, feeling exhausted, lack of creativity and joy from our work. Not only can aligning with the cycles of the moon heal us, it can make us THRIVE. We were meant to take time to pause and rest in between saving the world by stepping into our dharma. Stay tuned in the coming days as we dive into each dosha moon cycle and how you can start living in alignment! Join the Divine Feminine Business here! How Tiffany started growing her business with yoga and Ayurveda Why retreating is important for our soul and very impactful in our life How are dharma and ayurvedic principles uniquely expressed through her apothecary business How she applied the wisdom of Ayurveda in the modern context How the herbs help her formulate the apothecary line in Rasa Ayurveda Challenges in bringing sustainability to her business Receive 10% off your full order of Rasa Ayurveda- a full Ayurvedic apothecary line- use ANGELICANERI at checkout here. Here is the yoni egg, yoni elixir and ayurvedic cacao I am absolutely loving! Tiffany's Yoga classes here Follow her in IG @tiffany.nicholson.smith @rasa_ayurveda Follow Angelica @angelica_feminine_healer Apply for the Divine Feminine Business Academy

On this episode we are joined by Christopher Jain Miller, the co-founder and Vice President of Academic Affairs of Arihanta Academy, a Jain Dharma college. He completed his Ph.D. in the study of Religion at the University of California, Davis and is the academic advisor for the global Jain Vegan Initiative. Chris and Hope dig deep into the parallel philosophies of Jain dharma and vegan living. They explore the concept of Ahimsa, Sanskrit for non-violence, and how young Jains are seeing veganism as a way to practice their principle of non-harming in a modern context.  They also discuss Arihanta Academy, a new online Jain college, and Hope's class in starting Sept 24 called Ahimsa, Animal Advocacy and Veganism.Resources:Arihanta AcademyHope's Class- Ahimsa, Animal Advocacy, and Veganism Chris' Classes- Jain Philosophy in Daily Life, Yoga Sūtra: The Classical Yoga of PatañjaliInstagram- @thejainveganinitiative 

Dr Ramesh Pattni OBE is a theologian and psychologist, he holds three master's degrees in psychology, psychology of religion, and study of religion. He has also obtained a doctorate from the University of Oxford, Faculty of Theology and Religion, based on his research into Patanjali's text on Classical Yoga – the Yogasūtra and Western Positive Psychology. He has deep interest in presenting the psychological concepts, tools and techniques of the ancient traditions in today's world for mental well-being. He works as a counsellor and psychotherapist assisting people to regain mental wellbeing and resilience. He has extensively lectured and conducted workshops and retreats on diverse subjects over the past two decades. He was recently awarded an OBE for services to interfaith and the Hindu community in the UK, by Her Majesty the Queen in the New Year's Honours list.

Dr Ramesh Pattni OBE is a theologian and psychologist, he holds three master's degrees in psychology, psychology of religion, and study of religion. He has also obtained a doctorate from the University of Oxford, Faculty of Theology and Religion, based on his research into Patanjali's text on Classical Yoga – the Yogasūtra and Western Positive Psychology. He has deep interest in presenting the psychological concepts, tools and techniques of the ancient traditions in today's world for mental well-being. He works as a counsellor and psychotherapist assisting people to regain mental wellbeing and resilience. He has extensively lectured and conducted workshops and retreats on diverse subjects over the past two decades. He was recently awarded an OBE for services to interfaith and the Hindu community in the UK, by Her Majesty the Queen in the New Year's Honours list.

In this episode I am speaking with Dr. Karen O'Brien-Kop. Karen is Lecturer in Asian Religions and Ethics at the University of Roehampton. She was formerly Senior Teaching Fellow in the Department of Religions and Philosophies at SOAS University of London. Her doctoral research at SOAS was on the intertextuality of Pātañjala yoga and Buddhist yoga in the classical era. She was a co-founder of the Sanskrit Reading Room and is a committee member of the SOAS Centre of Yoga Studies.You can hear Karen's excellent 4 hour audio course The Philosophy of the Yoga Sutra at wisestudies.comIn this conversation we discuss the relationship between Classical Yoga and Buddhism

Listen to the full episode by supporting us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/yogatherapyhourAmy chats with Mala Cunningham Ph.D., C-IAYT, who is a counselling Psychologist and Assistant Professor at University of Virginia at Arlington. Mala is a leading speaker, educator, and trainer in the field of Lifestyle Medicine, Health Psychology, Neuroscience, and Medical Yoga.  Her passion is creating a bridge between medicine, Psychology, Neuroscience, Yoga, and Mindfulness. Amy and Mala talk about Yoga and its relationship with Neuroscience, Mental health, and the benefits that yoga, breathing and meditation create for the brain and body.They discuss the following:Amy and Mala's course “Mental Health, Brain Science & Yoga, a joint venture with Yogaville coming up on July 28th to Aug 3rd 2021Mala talks about she and Amy's background in Classical Yoga as well as being a western Professor at a universityHow Mala has been able to bridge the concepts of Yoga and science (psychology, medicine etc.) in her career/teachingsThe importance of translating ancient concepts into modern terms people can understandYoga enlightenment, the History of Yoga and originsHow & why Mala decided to focus on bringing Yoga into cardiac programsThe benefits of yoga on the nervous system and brainVagal tone, Vagal syncope and the Vagus NerveJune's podcast is sponsored by:  Optimal State Yoga Therapy Schoolhttps://theoptimalstate.com/ Foundations we supporthttp://www.kym.orghttps://givebackyoga.org/We have all benefitted from the ancient wisdom of India and her people, so it feels really great to be able to serve in this way. The Optimal State family has pledged on-going support of $500 per month, to go directly to KYM Mitra (www.kym.org). We will collect the monies and gift them each month. Please consider a recurring monthly payment to the fund. Even a small gift or intention makes a difference! If we make more than $500 in any given month, it will roll into the following month's payment. The hope is that we can contribute for many years to come. If you even lose the link to donate, it is at the top of the homepage at www.amywheeler.com also. I will be reporting on the website the progress; how much money is coming in at any given time and where we are in the process of getting this project off the ground.Here is the link for you to get started with your donation. We are so happy that you have decided to join us. We thank you for the bottom of our hearts!Link to click in the description: http://Paypal.me/KymMitraDonation For more information on “Mental Health, Brain Science & Yoga course coming up on July 28th to Aug 3rd 2021 please visit https://www.yogaville.org/ Meet Mala https://www.cardiacyoga.com/Check out Amy's website http://www.amywheeler.com

Could Yoga indeed be referred to as the ‘Mother of all Biohacking'?! In this 45 minutes heart talk with Manish Pole, one of India's leading voice on Yoga, modern day mystic and yogi, founder of Total Yoga and 21st Century Yoga, we discuss the art and science of Yoga covering subjects like The 8 limbs of Classical Yoga, Asana, Pranayama, Chakras, Yoga Nidra and Meditation. Buckle up as we decode the mystery of optimizing our lives through the lens of Yoga, which has stood the test of time for over 5000 years!

"The Origins of Yoga" is written and narrated by Swami Hamsa Jnanananda Saraswati. In the third episode of this series, we explore the rise of the philosophy known as Samkhya, between a period of 1st and 6th century CE in India. Samkhya analysed the cosmos into seperate components, and described a process of evolution that brought the world into being. At its centre was the idea of Purusha - an absolute reality that was a part of every single human being. Samkhya states that at the very beginning of reality purusha had become entangled with prakriti, and the disassociation of purusha from prakriti is the liberation that a yogi seeks. Samkhya influenced Hinduism, yoga, and all the other schools of philosophies that emerged later in India. Swami Hamsa Jnanananda Saraswati's website is https://www.tantricaashramtrust.org/ She is a genuine mystic yogini. Trained with a Himalayan tradition, in the mountains and forests of Lithuania, she is the humble custodian of a sacred feminine tradition that teaches women how to bring around illumination, regeneration and youth. With the detachment of a genuine acetic, she is able not only to bestow ancient knowledge but can also help guide others with the insight that comes from this unique vantage point. "Every moment with her is an opportunity for enlightenment." Martin Faulks.

Join Raj Balkaran as he discusses yoga philosophy with Ian Whicher. We begin with a discussion on how he began his journey towards yoga philosophy before probing his assertion that the Yoga-Sūtras do not advocate abandonment of the world, but rather support a stance that enables one to live more fully in the world without being enslaved by worldly identification. The Integrity of the Yoga Darsana: A Reconsideration of Classical Yoga (SUNY Press, 1998) centers on the thought of Patanjali, the great exponent of the authoritative and Classical Yoga school of Hinduism and the reputed author of the Yoga-Sutras. In this textual, historical, and interpretive study, Whicher offers a plausible and innovative reading of the "intention" of the Yoga-Sutras, namely that Yoga does not advocate the abandonment or condemnation of the world, but rather supports a stance that enables one to live more fully in the world without being enslaved by worldly identification. Challenging and correcting misperceptions about Yoga drawn by traditional and modern interpretations of the Yoga-Sutras, the author argues for a fresh vision of the spiritual potential present in this seminal text, thereby contributing to our understanding of the meaning and practical relevance of Yoga and its reception today. Raj Balkaran is a scholar, educator, consultant, life coach. For information see rajbalkaran.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

Join Raj Balkaran as he discusses yoga philosophy with Ian Whicher. We begin with a discussion on how he began his journey towards yoga philosophy before probing his assertion that the Yoga-Sūtras do not advocate abandonment of the world, but rather support a stance that enables one to live more fully in the world without being enslaved by worldly identification. The Integrity of the Yoga Darsana: A Reconsideration of Classical Yoga (SUNY Press, 1998) centers on the thought of Patanjali, the great exponent of the authoritative and Classical Yoga school of Hinduism and the reputed author of the Yoga-Sutras. In this textual, historical, and interpretive study, Whicher offers a plausible and innovative reading of the "intention" of the Yoga-Sutras, namely that Yoga does not advocate the abandonment or condemnation of the world, but rather supports a stance that enables one to live more fully in the world without being enslaved by worldly identification. Challenging and correcting misperceptions about Yoga drawn by traditional and modern interpretations of the Yoga-Sutras, the author argues for a fresh vision of the spiritual potential present in this seminal text, thereby contributing to our understanding of the meaning and practical relevance of Yoga and its reception today. Raj Balkaran is a scholar, educator, consultant, life coach. For information see rajbalkaran.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/south-asian-studies

Join Raj Balkaran as he discusses yoga philosophy with Ian Whicher. We begin with a discussion on how he began his journey towards yoga philosophy before probing his assertion that the Yoga-Sūtras do not advocate abandonment of the world, but rather support a stance that enables one to live more fully in the world without being enslaved by worldly identification. The Integrity of the Yoga Darsana: A Reconsideration of Classical Yoga (SUNY Press, 1998) centers on the thought of Patanjali, the great exponent of the authoritative and Classical Yoga school of Hinduism and the reputed author of the Yoga-Sutras. In this textual, historical, and interpretive study, Whicher offers a plausible and innovative reading of the "intention" of the Yoga-Sutras, namely that Yoga does not advocate the abandonment or condemnation of the world, but rather supports a stance that enables one to live more fully in the world without being enslaved by worldly identification. Challenging and correcting misperceptions about Yoga drawn by traditional and modern interpretations of the Yoga-Sutras, the author argues for a fresh vision of the spiritual potential present in this seminal text, thereby contributing to our understanding of the meaning and practical relevance of Yoga and its reception today. Raj Balkaran is a scholar, educator, consultant, life coach. For information see rajbalkaran.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/religion

Join Raj Balkaran as he discusses yoga philosophy with Ian Whicher. We begin with a discussion on how he began his journey towards yoga philosophy before probing his assertion that the Yoga-Sūtras do not advocate abandonment of the world, but rather support a stance that enables one to live more fully in the world without being enslaved by worldly identification. The Integrity of the Yoga Darsana: A Reconsideration of Classical Yoga (SUNY Press, 1998) centers on the thought of Patanjali, the great exponent of the authoritative and Classical Yoga school of Hinduism and the reputed author of the Yoga-Sutras. In this textual, historical, and interpretive study, Whicher offers a plausible and innovative reading of the "intention" of the Yoga-Sutras, namely that Yoga does not advocate the abandonment or condemnation of the world, but rather supports a stance that enables one to live more fully in the world without being enslaved by worldly identification. Challenging and correcting misperceptions about Yoga drawn by traditional and modern interpretations of the Yoga-Sutras, the author argues for a fresh vision of the spiritual potential present in this seminal text, thereby contributing to our understanding of the meaning and practical relevance of Yoga and its reception today. Raj Balkaran is a scholar, educator, consultant, life coach. For information see rajbalkaran.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/indian-religions

Join Raj Balkaran as he discusses yoga philosophy with Ian Whicher. We begin with a discussion on how he began his journey towards yoga philosophy before probing his assertion that the Yoga-Sūtras do not advocate abandonment of the world, but rather support a stance that enables one to live more fully in the world without being enslaved by worldly identification. The Integrity of the Yoga Darsana: A Reconsideration of Classical Yoga (SUNY Press, 1998) centers on the thought of Patanjali, the great exponent of the authoritative and Classical Yoga school of Hinduism and the reputed author of the Yoga-Sutras. In this textual, historical, and interpretive study, Whicher offers a plausible and innovative reading of the "intention" of the Yoga-Sutras, namely that Yoga does not advocate the abandonment or condemnation of the world, but rather supports a stance that enables one to live more fully in the world without being enslaved by worldly identification. Challenging and correcting misperceptions about Yoga drawn by traditional and modern interpretations of the Yoga-Sutras, the author argues for a fresh vision of the spiritual potential present in this seminal text, thereby contributing to our understanding of the meaning and practical relevance of Yoga and its reception today. Raj Balkaran is a scholar, educator, consultant, life coach. For information see rajbalkaran.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/intellectual-history

In today's episode we talk with Dr. Suzanne Newcombe and Dr. Karen O'Brien-Kop about their recent collaboration co-editing The Routledge Handbook of Yoga and Meditation Studies (2021), and the labor of love that went into creating this interdisciplinary collaboration. We also discuss the history of yoga studies, the difference between academic "field" and "discipline," how academic work can overlap with the daily spiritual practice of the scholar, and what makes Modern Yoga Studies a unique field.Speaker BiosSuzanne Newcombe is a senior lecturer in Religious Studies at the Open University, UK, and honorary director of Inform, based in Theology and Religious Studies at King's College, London. She has published on topics relating to the popularisation of yoga and ayurveda including the monograph Yoga in Britain: Stretching Spirituality and Educating Yogis (2019). She researched the transformation of yoga and ayurveda in modern India as part of the ERC-funded AYURYOG project from 2015-2020.  Karen O'Brien-Kop is a lecturer in Asian Religions and Ethics at the University of Roehampton, UK, and was formerly a senior teaching fellow at SOAS University of London. She received her PhD from SOAS, titled Seed and Cloud of Liberation in Buddhist and Pātañjala Yoga: An Intertextual Study and continues to research classical Sanskrit texts on yoga and meditation. She has published articles in Religions of South Asia and the Journal of Indian Philosophy and is currently working on a monograph on classical yoga and Buddhism.  LinksListeners can receive 20% off the book with the promo code: FLR40 (Should apply to both hardcover and e-book versions).https://www.routledge.com/Routledge-Handbook-of-Yoga-and-Meditation-Studies/Newcombe-OBrien-Kop/p/book/9781138484863Routledge Handbook of Yoga and Meditation Studies (2021)https://open.academia.edu/SuzanneNewcombe https://roehampton-online.academia.edu/KarenOBrienKopYS 109 | Classical Yoga and Buddhism 

In this episode, we speak with Dr. Karen O'Brien-Kop (University of Roehampton) about her intertextual research on Pātañjala and Buddhist Yoga, rethinking the category of “Classical Yoga,” the yoga of Yogācāra Buddhism, Buddhist definitions of yoga, botanical metaphors for liberation, the mysterious Dharmamegha Samādhi ("the raincloud of Dharma”), her forthcoming co-edited volume, The Routledge Handbook of Yoga and Meditation Studies (2020), her upcoming online course YS 109, more. Speaker BioKaren O'Brien-Kop is Lecturer in Asian Religions and Ethics in the Department of Philosophy, Theology and Religious Studies at the University of Roehampton, London, UK. She received her PhD from SOAS University of London, is a specialist in the historical study of meditation and yoga within Asian religious traditions, and analyses early Hindu and Buddhist meditation manuals in Sanskrit.She has taught on the MA Traditions of Yoga and Meditation at SOAS University of London, and at the University of Roehampton she has designed a new BA module 'Yoga, Meditation and Health'. Since 2018, she has served on the committee for the SOAS Centre of Yoga Studies, an academic research and teaching centre focused on public engagement. In the American Academy of Religion, Karen is a committee member for the Yoga in Theory and Practice Unit and co-chair of the Indian and Chinese Religions Compared Unit. She has published peer-reviewed articles in Religions of South Asia and Journal of Indian Philosophy and is co-editor of The Routledge Handbook of Yoga and Meditation Studies (2020), an interdisciplinary volume of 34 chapters from global contributors. Karen is currently working on a book project on rethinking classical yoga in relation to Buddhism.LinksYS 109 | Classical Yoga and Buddhism "Classical Discourses of Liberation: Shared Botanical Metaphors in Sarvāstivāda Buddhism and the Yoga of Patañjali" (2017)"Dharmamegha in Yoga and Yogācāra: The Revision of a Superlative Metaphor" (2020)https://roehampton-online.academia.edu/KarenOBrienKop

Purusha and Prakriti are two broad concepts in yoga philosophy. The terms are used slightly differently in a Classical Yoga point of view than in the Tantric Philosophy point of view. Neither is right or wrong. Phoebe and Keric compare the two different views to two different maps. Either map can get you to where you want to go. But each map looks a little different.

For episode 108 of the Metta Hour Podcast, Sharon sits down with her Director of Operations, Lily Cushman.Lily is a teacher, musician, and author, and for nearly a decade, was the Owner and Director of the Brooklyn Yoga School, a lineage-based school run entirely by donation. Her work is a synthesis of the practices of Classical Yoga, Bhakti Yoga and Insight Meditation and her first book “A Little Bit of Mantras: An Introduction to Sacred Sounds” was released in March 2019 from Sterling Publishing.This episode begins with a conversation with Sharon and Lily, and id followed by a live recording from the launch of Lily’s book at Deepak Homebase in New York, NY in the Spring of 2019. This live recording features call and response chanting led by Lily and special guest Krishna Das, as well as an in-depth interview of Lily by The Moth’s longtime artistic director, Catherine Burns. To learn more about Lily’s teaching and music, you can visit her website at lilycushman.com.

In this episode of the Love & Weeds Podcast Claudia and Brandy finish up the 2 part series on Modern Yoga by covering 4 common styles of Classical Yoga.  These include Hatha Yoga, Raja Yoga, Karma Yoga and Bhakti Yoga.  Since most of us in the west are only taught the physical practice of yoga, or asana, this is an opportunity to expand our knowledge on the spiritual or metaphysical paths or disciplines of yoga.  How are these classical styles of yoga even relatable to our modern lives? Can we incorporate elements of these disciplines into our life and are we doing so already with out knowing?  As usual, Claudia and Brandy help us relate to these sometimes difficult-to-understand concepts by weaving in their own personal examples and experiences.  Could you be missing out on a style of yoga more suitable to your personal goals?  Listen & find out!  

Bhava Jaya is the owner and lead instructor of Yoga Wellness By Kasey.  He has been practicing meditation and Yoga since 2013 and received his 200 hour teacher training certification from Dharma Yoga and a 200 hour Classical Yoga and Meditation Teaching Certification through Kashi Atlanta.   Bhava Jaya worked in both big and small organizations for over 14 years in diverse leadership roles ranging from corporate training, call center start ups, and contact center management.  He understands first hand how workplace stress can impact leadership and employees ability to work effectively.  In consequence, he developed Yoga Wellness by Kasey to directly support and speak to working professionals who are too busy to leave their desks to relieve stress and anxiety.   Yoga Wellness By Kasey provides techniques for business professionals to use both at home and at the office from the comfort of their desk for reducing workplace anxiety, while increasing productivity.   Bhava Jaya has worked directly with companies such as LegalZoom, SAP, and the High Museum.  Moreover, Kasey has taught publicly at apartment communities, martial arts and yoga studios as well as yoga retreats since 2015.   www.yogawellnessbykasey.com       Peeling Back the Layers of Your Life® Podcast Creator, Host, and Producer:  Loronda C. Giddens www.lorondacgiddens.com  

This two part interview features amazing insight into the life and work of musician and yoga teacher, Mark Moliterno. In this episode Mark continues elaborating on this sense of self and sound. Why is singing not a acalming activity for so many people? We often focus on teaching inhalation, but are we intentional about the how and why of teaching exhalation? The voice is an energetic instrument and Mark relates the voice to the different chakras, or energetic wheels that spin to build and disburse energy from the body. Mark concludes with how he integrates the yoga poses into his work as a singing teacher and how we can begin to consider yoga as a technology in which to approach our singing.  Mark Moliterno (MM, E-RYT500, C-IAYT, YACEP, POLY®, FOUNDER OF YOGAVOICE®) is an award-winning professional singer, voice teacher, yoga teacher, IAYT-certified Yoga Therapist, workshop leader, and author. He is a thought-leader in the area of 21st Century vocal pedagogy and a master teacher of both singing and classical yoga. His extensive performing career has taken him to many countries in a variety of leading operatic roles and as a concert soloist and recitalist. Additionally, he has completed more than 1200 hrs of formal study in yoga teaching and yoga therapeutics. A sought-after clinician, he presents YogaVoice® workshops at professional conferences and gatherings internationally. Mark is recognized for his one-on-one therapeutic mentoring and as a specialist in helping people understand and uncover their free, authentic voices. Mark Moliterno holds the BM and MM degrees in Voice and Opera from the Oberlin Conservatory of Music where his mentor was the famous vocal pedagogue, Richard Miller. Mark was introduced to yoga in 1985 when he met and studied with Larry Payne, PhD in Los Angeles at Samata Yoga. Over the years he has studied and practiced Viniyoga, Classical Yoga, and Ashtanga Yoga and subsequently became an E-RYT500 and Comprehensive Yoga Therapist through the YogaLife Institute of Pennsylvania. In 2016, Mark received the credential, "IAYT-certified yoga therapist", from the International Association of Yoga Therapists and in 2017 he was credentialed as a Prime of Life Yoga® (POLY) instructor. His yoga mentors are Larry Payne, PhD and Robert Butera, PhD. Mark's yoga teaching style is unique and balanced, with detailed attention to the coordinated, responsive awareness of breathing, physical alignment, and mental focus. www.theyogavoice.com | @theyogavoice Choir Baton Host: Beth Philemon @bethphilemon | www.bethphilemon.com Visit Choir Baton Online: @choirbaton | www.choirbaton.com Choir Baton Theme Song by Scott Holmes

This two part interview features amazing insight into the life and work of musician and yoga teacher, Mark Moliterno. In this episode Mark provides his personal journey to music and to yoga. Mark outlines tenets of yoga and how its correlation to our singing.  Mark Moliterno (MM, E-RYT500, C-IAYT, YACEP, POLY®, FOUNDER OF YOGAVOICE®) is an award-winning professional singer, voice teacher, yoga teacher, IAYT-certified Yoga Therapist, workshop leader, and author. He is a thought-leader in the area of 21st Century vocal pedagogy and a master teacher of both singing and classical yoga. His extensive performing career has taken him to many countries in a variety of leading operatic roles and as a concert soloist and recitalist. Additionally, he has completed more than 1200 hrs of formal study in yoga teaching and yoga therapeutics. A sought-after clinician, he presents YogaVoice® workshops at professional conferences and gatherings internationally. Mark is recognized for his one-on-one therapeutic mentoring and as a specialist in helping people understand and uncover their free, authentic voices. Mark Moliterno holds the BM and MM degrees in Voice and Opera from the Oberlin Conservatory of Music where his mentor was the famous vocal pedagogue, Richard Miller. Mark was introduced to yoga in 1985 when he met and studied with Larry Payne, PhD in Los Angeles at Samata Yoga. Over the years he has studied and practiced Viniyoga, Classical Yoga, and Ashtanga Yoga and subsequently became an E-RYT500 and Comprehensive Yoga Therapist through the YogaLife Institute of Pennsylvania. In 2016, Mark received the credential, "IAYT-certified yoga therapist", from the International Association of Yoga Therapists and in 2017 he was credentialed as a Prime of Life Yoga® (POLY) instructor. His yoga mentors are Larry Payne, PhD and Robert Butera, PhD. Mark's yoga teaching style is unique and balanced, with detailed attention to the coordinated, responsive awareness of breathing, physical alignment, and mental focus. www.theyogavoice.com  | @theyogavoice Choir Baton Host: Beth Philemon @bethphilemon | www.bethphilemon.com Visit Choir Baton Online: @choirbaton | www.choirbaton.com Choir Baton Theme Song by Scott Holmes

Lily Cushman returns to Synchronicity to talk about her new book "A Little Bit of Mantras: An Introduction to Sacred Sounds" Lily Cushman is a teacher, musician, and author. Her teachings are a synthesis of the body practices of Classical Yoga, the heart practices of Bhakti Yoga and the mind practices of Insight Meditation. For nearly a decade she was the Owner/Director of the Brooklyn Yoga School, a lineage based school run entirely by donation, voted "Best of New York" by NY Magazine. Lily offers workshops and retreats around the country, and currently serves as Director of Operations to world-renowned meditation teacher, Sharon Salzberg. Her first book, “A Little Bit of Mantras” was released in March 2019 from Sterling Publishing. www.lilycushman.com

Rolf Gates, author of Meditations from the Mat, has walked the walk of the 12-step method of recovery while traveling down the Buddhist eightfold way and practicing the Eight Limbs of Classical Yoga. His integrated approach has been the key to his understanding of sobriety for over 25 years. In his series of 365 essays, Daily Reflections, Gates explores […] The post Addiction, Yoga, and Getting Well with Rolf Gates appeared first on Divine Insight.

{Bootleg} Broadcast LIVE from Shine Yoga in Cincinnati! I got up on my Ayurveda and Yoga soapbox. This is a long lecture so brew a pot of tea or save this one for a long car ride. In this episode I talk about: ~How Ayurveda is different than Yoga ~Ayurveda & Yoga cannot be practiced in isolation ~Yoga: A fire practice for death and nonreactivity ~Classical Yoga vs Tantrik Yoga ~How we can use the science of yoga and be conscious of what we're doing with it ~What's this got to do with swastikas ~Why Tantrik Ayurveda is the missing component in contemporary yoga movement in the West ~How we can understand Life Force, Prana, Chi ~Our subconscious soup of aging and why it's totally FALSE! ~Yes, PMS, Menopause, Mental Aging are psychosocial constructs from the West ~Life as pulsating sexuality ~How to rebuild your essential vitality and youth ~We become what we eat ~The westernization of healing vs healing more broadly ~The diet plague ~The relationship between toxins and fat ~Nourishing vs Extracting food and the Smoothie dilemma ~A story of elements ~AND so much more! This is a jammed pack full session   Learn more: Shakti Ayurveda School Lineage of Love Community   HELP US SPREAD OUR POD WINGS   This show is a passion project that I produce for the love of sharing. If you enjoy this show and want a free and easy way to help it grow, the most effective way you can help is to:   Subscribe to the show by clicking “subscribe” in iTunes Write us a review in iTunes Share this show with one friend right now!   It's seems simple, but you'd be AMAZED to know how much it helps my little love project reach more people. iTunes' algorithm uses ratings and reviews to know who to show our show to in their app.   Here's the link to leave us reviews in iTunes.   From my heart to your screen, Katie

Whit Hornsberger (Vancouver, Canada) is a student and teacher of the wisdom traditions of Classical Yoga and Theravada Buddhism.A former athlete, Whit found the path as a result of a career ending knee injury and the subsequent emotional and mental suffering inherent in losing one's (supposed) self-identity and self-worth. His daily practice and teaching methods stem from the traditional practices of Vinyasa Krama (Krishnamacharya) and Buddhist meditation (Mahasi Sayadaw). A passionate advocate of traditional teachings, Whit expounds the ancient wisdom of these lineages in a relevant manner, making them readily accessible to students at every stage of the path. A passionate lover of surf, travel and nature, Whit teaches internationally offering classes, workshops, retreats and trainings.Whithornsberger.comToday's Episode is sponsored by DoMatcha (DoMatcha.com). Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

074: The 8 Limbs [Part 2] with Jennie Lee   On last week's episode Shannon gave us an overview of The 8 Limbs and on today's episode, Shannon takes a deeper look with guest Jennie Lee author of True Yoga: Practicing with the Yoga Sutras for Happiness & Spiritual Fulfillment. Jennie Lee is a yoga therapist, teacher, speaker and writer who specializes in Classical Yoga, Meditation and Mindful Wellness.  Shannon met Jennie through a post on The Connected Yoga Teacher Facebook Group. Group members highly recommended Jennie's book as a fresh look at the 8 limbs and one they use to inform their teaching and personal practice.   It is Jennie's belief that the 8-fold path is fundamental for yoga teachers to understand and wrote the book with the intention of building a bridge between the classical texts of yoga and what we're seeing in the yoga practice today. She wanted to make the eight limbs accessible to yoga teachers and students using layman terms with practical applications to everyday life.     Jennie opens up about her life challenges and how The 8 Limbs have helped her navigate the hardest times, how she applies it to her work as a yoga therapist, and her new book Breathing Love: Meditation in Action.   7:35 Jennie Lee's yoga journey   10:15 What is Spiritual Psychology?   11:40 Shannon asks Jennie what inspired her to write a book that explores the yoga sutras in depth   15:05 Jennie Lee takes a look at Saucha (found within the Niyamas) and how the principle can be applied to in our everyday lives   18:30 The last 4 sutras: Pranayama, Pratyahara, Dharana, Dhyana, Samadhi- their similarities and differences   20:55 Is it possible for humans to experience Samadhi and Jennie Lee's caution around trying to reach this state   24:00 The emphasis put on Asana by 20th Century Western culture   26:10 How can a yoga teacher bring the 8 Limbs into their classes   28:35 The meaning Isvara pranidhana has brought to Jennie's life, especially when going through difficult times and the benefit of surrendering to the power that is greater than you (for Jennie it is Love)   32:05 The challenge Jennie Lee has found in practising Pratyahara and how “unplugging” is key   34:40 Tapas- considering doing less instead of more   38:00 Dhyana (meditation) and how Jennie has made this an everyday practice and that “not enough time” isn't a good excuse   42:10 How the 8 Limbs inform Jennie's yoga therapy practice   43:45 How to connect with Jennie   44:30 Jennie's new book: Breathing Love: Meditation in Action   46:45 Shannon's final thoughts and invitation to join her for Yoga for Pelvic Health Teacher Training September 22nd and 23rd, 2018 Links   Jennie's Website: Jennie Lee Yoga Therapy   Jennie Lee's Books:   True Yoga: Practicing with the Yoga Sutras for Happiness & Spiritual Fulfillment (2016)   Breathing Love: Meditation in Action (2018)   There is one copy of each book available to win. To enter, click here and leave a comment at the bottom of the show notes about what The 8 Limbs mean to you.   The Connected Teacher Facebook Group   Follow The Connected Teacher on Youtube   Book a Consultation Call with Shannon   Yoga for Pelvic Health Teacher Training September 22nd and 23rd, 2018   To Contact our virtual assistant Samantha Scott for website design help and more:   Tech Crazy Va: Website Design, System Efficiencies & Virtual Assistant Services   Gratitude to our Sponsor Schedulicity

Jonathan Dickstein is a PhD student in Religious Studies at the University of CaliforniaSanta Barbara. He researches South Asian religions, Animals and Religion, and Comparative Ethics. He earned a MA in Religious Studies from the University of Colorado-Boulder and a BA in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics from the University of Pennsylvania. Jonathan is currently working on two projects. The first is a comprehensive study of the figure of Īśvara in the Pātañjalayogaśāstra, and the second looks at violence and the moral standing of nonhuman animals in Indian Philosophy. Jonathan is an Intermediate level Iyengar Yoga instructor who offers classes and workshops on philosophy and ethics in addition to āsana and prāṇāyāma.  

MEDITATION: IT’S NOT ALL HIPPIES AND PATCHOULI – Why It Matters To Both Your Health AND Bottom Line Links: 7 Types of Meditation (there are many more) https://visualmeditation.co/7-types-of-meditation/ 23 Types of Meditation (there are many more) http://liveanddare.com/types-of-meditation/ Summary of Meditation Types and Practices http://mentalhealthdaily.com/2015/03/24/types-of-meditation-extensive-list-of-techniques/ Summary of Meditation Effects on Brain: https://psychcentral.com/news/2014/05/19/how-different-types-of-meditation-affect-the-brain/70052.html More on the practice and science of meditation http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2016/09/how-to-meditate/ Resources: Happiness: A Guide to Developing Life's Most Important Skill. Matthieu Ricard. Little, Brown, 2006. Mental Training Enhances Attentional Stability: Neural and Behavioral Evidence. Antoine Lutz et al. in Journal of Neuroscience. Vol. 29, No. 42, pages 13,418–13,427; October 21, 2009. Mind Wandering and Attention during Focused Meditation: A Fine-Grained Temporal Analysis of Fluctuating Cognitive States. Wendy Hasenkamp et al. in NeuroImage, Vol. 59, No. 1, pages 750–760; January 2, 2012. FROM OUR ARCHIVES The Physiology of Meditation. Robert Keith Wallace and Herbert Benson; February 1972. SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN ONLINE Watch talks by Davidson and Ricard at http://ScientificAmerican.com/nov2014/meditation Intro: Broad categories or types of meditation Specific practices Science of meditation How to choose and why Example Creative meditation techniques enable us to consciously cultivate and strengthen specific qualities of mind. Patience, appreciation, sympathetic joy, gratitude, love, compassion, fearlessness, humility, tenderness, and other qualities associated with aspects of nature, Divinity, or the natural world are among the attributes that are most commonly cultivated. Creative meditations invite us to actively nurture these strengths of character by thinking, speaking, and acting "as though" these qualities are more fully alive within us. Types of Meditation: 3 Primary Methods To decide what type of meditation you like best, I recommend doing some experimentation. You may want to try one particular type for 10 days, and if you don’t really like it, try another type. The only way to find the type that you enjoy the most is by testing the waters with some different techniques and observing how you respond. The most popular types of meditation include: Vipassana (Mindfulness) and TM (Transcendental), but there are infinitely more meditations than these two. Nearly all types of meditations fit into a category of: concentration, open monitoring, or effortless awareness. 1. Focused Attention (Concentration) Example: Vipassana All types of meditation that involve enhancing concentration can be classified as “focused attention” technique. These practices involve focusing attention on one specific thing for the entire time with the goal of cultivating laser-like focus. Any concentration meditation will involve consistent mental effort to build up the ability to focus without succumbing to distraction. Certain practices may involve focusing on an external object (e.g. a pen), while others will involve focusing on the breath. In any regard, the goal is to direct 100% focus on one thing for the entire session. When the mind wanders, the focus is calmly brought back to the object. Over time, the mind wanders less and the ability to focus your attention improves for longer durations. 2. Mindfulness (Open Monitoring) Example: Mindfulness With this type of meditation, you aren’t focusing your attention on one specific object. In this case, you are letting your attention flow freely without judgment or attachment. In other words, you are simply observing all perceptions, thoughts, memories, and senses that you experience during your practice. Developing the quality of “open monitoring” is synonymous with mindfulness – you are “mindful” of your experience. Being mindful of your perception allows you to observe your experience almost from a third-person perspective rather than first-person attachment. You notice all sensations that you’re feeling, but merely observe them rather than judge them or react positively or negatively. In Vipassana, qualities of concentration along with mindfulness are generally developed together. 3. Effortless Transcending Example: Transcendental Meditation (TM) This type of meditation is classified as “effortless” because it requires no mental effort or concentration. Some have called this subtype of meditation “pure being” or “transcendental” because it involves emptiness, introversion, and calmness. The goal with this specific type is to essentially help the meditator recognize their pure essence (e.g. “Pure Self”) or the true nature of the self by eliminating all thought. The mind becomes a blank slate with consistent practice. Some have compared effortless transcending to giving the brain a massage or bath. The transcendental process helps the individual silence their mind and become aware of deep (arguably “purer”) states of consciousness. A person who has been practicing this specific type may experience a state of emptiness or nothingness and find that it feels great. They Each do different things! And science is now discovering that they have different effects on the brain. …in one fMRI study, appropriately titled “Putting Feelings into Words” participants viewed pictures of people with emotional facial expressions. Predictably, each participant’s amygdala activated to the emotions in the picture. But when they were asked to name the emotion, the ventrolateral prefrontal cortex activated and reduced the emotional amygdala reactivity. In other words, consciously recognizing the emotions reduced their impact. How Different Types of Meditation Affect the Brain By Rick Nauert PhD~ 2 min read   Be it mindfulness, zen, acem, meditation drumming, chakra, Buddhist, or transcendental meditation, there are countless ways to meditate. Researchers are now parsing how the brain works during different kinds of meditation. “No one knows how the brain works when you meditate. That is why I’d like to study it,” says Jian Xu, M.D., a physician at St. Olavs Hospital and a researcher at the Department of Circulation and Medical Imaging at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU). Along with colleagues at the University of Oslo and the University of Sydney, Xu’s research was recently published in the journal Frontiers in Human Neuroscience. Different meditation techniques can actually be divided into two main groups. One type is concentrative meditation, where the meditating person focuses attention on his or her breathing or on specific thoughts, and in doing so, suppresses other thoughts. The other type may be called nondirective meditation, where the person who is meditating effortlessly focuses on his or her breathing or on a meditation sound, but beyond that the mind is allowed to wander as it pleases. Some modern meditation methods are of this nondirective kind. Fourteen people who had extensive experience with the Norwegian technique of Acem meditation were tested in an magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machine. In addition to simple resting, they undertook two different mental meditation activities, nondirective meditation and a more concentrative meditation task. The research team wanted to test people who were used to meditation because it meant fewer misunderstandings about what the subjects should actually be doing while they lay in the MRI machine. Nondirective meditation led to higher activity than during rest in the part of the brain dedicated to processing self-related thoughts and feelings. When test subjects performed concentrative meditation, the activity in this part of the brain was almost the same as when they were just resting. “I was surprised that the activity of the brain was greatest when the person’s thoughts wandered freely on their own, rather than when the brain worked to be more strongly focused,” said Xu. “When the subjects stopped doing a specific task and were not really doing anything special, there was an increase in activity in the area of the brain where we process thoughts and feelings. It is described as a kind of resting network. And it was this area that was most active during nondirective meditation,” he said. “The study indicates that nondirective meditation allows for more room to process memories and emotions than during concentrated meditation,” said Svend Davanger, M.D., Ph.D., a neuroscientist at the University of Oslo, and co-author of the study. “This area of the brain has its highest activity when we rest. It represents a kind of basic operating system, a resting network that takes over when external tasks do not require our attention. It is remarkable that a mental task like nondirective meditation results in even higher activity in this network than regular rest,” said Davanger. Acem meditation is a technique that falls under the category of nondirective meditation. Davanger believes that good research depends on having a team that can combine personal experience with meditation with a critical attitude towards results. “Meditation is an activity that is practiced by millions of people. It is important that we find out how this really works,” said Davanger. Source: Norwegian University of Science and Technology   Which meditation should you practice? It totally depends on why you want to meditate in the first place. If your goal is to become more relaxed, you have plenty of great options. If your goal is to become more focused, you’d want to use a concentrative type of meditation. Various other types like Vajrayana actually increase arousal rather than decrease it, so be careful with the type you choose. Whether you believe in the spiritual aspect of each (e.g. kundalini) is a personal thing and highly subjective. Assuming you want to meditate, pick a practice that appeals to you and give it a shot. However, keep in mind that the science behind meditation is relatively new in terms of long-term neural and physiological changes. We do know that different types of meditation produce specific neural and physiological adaptations. Therefore choosing one type may literally transform your brain in an entirely different way than another. Many people assume that the benefits of every type of meditation can be lumped into a collective pile, but clearly they cannot. Assuming you practice meditation for a long-term, be sure to choose a practice that you enjoy and that helps you achieve your particular goal. Personal thoughts on meditation… Science clearly supports the idea that certain types of meditation can be beneficial for mental performance and physical health. That said, there are some dangers to be aware of such as: extensive meditation leading to social isolation, meditation worsening depression or anxiety, too much inward focus (not balanced with the external), and falsely thinking that all the answers are found by looking inwards. Humans didn’t evolve to meditate, they evolved to seek out external things in their environment. While meditation has its place to help with spiritual endeavors, relaxation, and mental performance, too much meditation may lead to adverse experiences – especially for a novice. Also avoid trapping yourself in any new age “cult” thinking that meditation and the idea of enlightenment will solve all your problems; newsflash: it won’t. If you’re just getting started, I recommend using the app called “Headspace” which is a form of Mindfulness meditation. The science supports mindfulness for reducing anxiety, depression, and other measures. The nice thing about this app is there is no religious, subjective, “spiritual” hocus pocus, mumbo jumbo, witchcraft, non-scientific voodoo. It simply guides you through the meditation process at a slow, safe pace. SPECIFIC TYPES OF MEDITATION – AN OVERVIEW OF 23 MEDITATION TECHNIQUES By Giovanni 276 Commentsmeditation, mindfulness Ok, so you know that meditation has dozens of benefits, and everybody is doing it. You look for information online or on a bookstore, and see that there are a LOT of different ways of doing meditation, dozens of meditation techniques, and some conflicting information. You wonder which way is best for you. This article will help you navigate the sea of different practices of seated meditation, briefly explaining each of them, and pointing to further resources. There are literally hundreds – if not thousands – of types of meditation, so here I will explore only the most popular ones. You can also check my walking meditation guide, for more dynamic meditation techniques. Or, if you already have some experience with meditation, you might enjoy reading about the meditation experiments I was doing while writing this post.   At the bottom of this page you will find a button to download a FREE PDF copy of this post, for easy reference. The advice regarding the posture of meditation is very similar among the different styles of seated practice, so I will go in to more detail about it only once, when talking about the first technique (Zen meditation). I have strived to include a “Is it for me?” section, with general observations about each practice. Keep in mind these are tentative; they are there to give some direction, and potentially any person could feel attracted to any of these modalities. This article does NOT tell you which is “the best” type of meditation – because there is no such thing, and I’m not here to create controversy. Also, I have here focused more on meditative practices; I may write another article on other similar practices, that are more about relaxation or contemplation. If you are a beginner, you may also enjoy the post on meditation tips and meditation for beginners – how to build the habit. The “best” meditation is the meditation that works for you, at this stage in you life.3 GENERAL TYPES Scientists usually classify meditation based on the way they focus attention, into two categories: Focused Attention and Open Monitoring. I’d like to propose a third: Effortless Presence.  Focused attention meditation Focusing the attention on a single object during the whole meditation session. This object may be the breath, a mantra, visualization, part of the body, external object, etc. As the practitioner advances, his ability to keep the flow of attention in the chosen object gets stronger, and distractions become less common and short-lived. Both the depth and steadiness of his attention are developed. Examples of these are: Samatha (Buddhist meditation), some forms of Zazen, Loving Kindness Meditation, Chakra Meditation, Kundalini Meditation, Sound Meditation, Mantra Meditation, Pranayama, some forms of Qigong, and many others.  Open monitoring meditation2 Instead of focusing the attention on any one object, we keep it open, monitoring all aspects of our experience, without judgment or attachment. All perceptions, be them internal (thoughts, feelings, memory, etc.) or external (sound, smell, etc.), are recognized and seen for what they are. It is the process of non-reactive monitoring of the content of experience from moment to moment, without going into them. Examples are: Mindfulness meditation, Vipassana, as well as some types of Taoist Meditation. Effortless Presence It’s the state where the attention is not focused on anything in particular, but reposes on itself – quiet, empty, steady, and introverted. We can also call it “Choiceless Awareness” or “Pure Being”. Most of the meditation quotes you find speak of this state. This is actually the true purpose behind all kinds of meditation, and not a meditation type in itself. All traditional techniques of meditation recognize that the object of focus, and even the process of monitoring, is just a means to train the mind, so that effortless inner silence and deeper states of consciousness can be discovered. Eventually both the object of focus and the process itself is left behind, and there is only left the true self of the practitioner, as “pure presence”. In some techniques, this is the only focus, from the beginning. Examples are: the Self-Enquiry (“I am” meditation) of Ramana Maharishi; Dzogchen; Mahamudra; some forms of Taoist Meditation; and some advanced forms of Raja Yoga. In my point of view, this type of meditation always requires previous training to be effective, even though this is  sometimes not expressly said (only implied). 1) BUDDHIST MEDITATION Zen Meditation (Zazen) Origin & Meaning Zazen (坐禅) means “seated Zen”, or “seated meditation”, in Japanese. It has its roots in the Chinese Zen Buddhism (Ch’an) tradition, tracing back to Indian monk Bodhidharma (6th century CE). In the West, its most popular forms comes from Dogen Zenji (1200~1253), the founder of Soto Zen movement in Japan. Similar modalities are practiced in the Rinzai school of Zen, in Japan and Korea. Focusing on breath — focus all your attention on the movement of the breath going in and out through the nose. This may be aided by counting the breath in your mind. Each time you inhale you count one number, starting with 10, and then moving backward to 9, 8, 7, etc. When you arrive in 1, you resume from 10 again. If you get distracted and lose your count, gently bring back the attention to 10 and resume from there. Shikantaza (“just sitting”) — in this form the practitioner does not use any specific object of meditation; rather, practitioners remain as much as possible in the present moment, aware of and observing what passes through their minds and around them, without dwelling on anything in particular. It’s a type of Effortless Presence meditation Learn more: Zen Mountain Monastery Open Way (PDF) Visit a Zen Buddhist center near to you. Most of them teach zazen for free. Is it for me? Zazen is a very sober meditation style, and you can easily find a lot of strong communities practicing it, as well as plenty of information on the internet. There is a lot of emphasis in keeping the right posture, as an aid for concentration. It is usually practiced in Zen Buddhist centers (Sangha), with strong community support. In many of them you will find it coupled with other elements of Buddhist practice: prostrations, a bit of ritualism, chanting, and group readings of the Buddha teachings. Some people will like this, others won’t. Personally, I practiced zazen in a Buddhist group for 3 years, and I found that those elements and a bit of formality can also help create a structure for the practice, and in themselves they are also meditative. Vipassana Meditation Origin & Meaning “Vipassana” is a Pali “insight” or “clear seeing”. It is a traditional Buddhist practice, dating back to 6th century BC. Vipassana-meditation, as taught in the last few decades, comes from the Theravada Buddhist tradition, and was popularized by  S. N. Goenka and the Vipassana movement. Due to the popularity of Vipassanā-meditation, the “mindfulness of breathing” has gained further popularity in the West as “mindfulness”. How to do it [There is some conflicting information on how to practice Vipassana. In general, however, most teachers emphasize  starting with mindfulness of breath in the first stages, to stabilize the mind and achieve “access concentration.” This is more like focused attention meditation. Then the practice moves on to developing “clear insight” on the bodily sensations and mental phenomena, observing them moment by moment and not clinging to any. Here goes an introduction, aimed for beginners. To know more I’d suggest following up the links provided or learning from a teacher (perhaps in a Vipassana retreat).] Ideally, one is to sit on a cushion on the floor, cross-legged, with your spine erect; alternatively, a chair may be used, but the back should not be supported. The first aspect is to develop concentration, through samatha practice. This is typically done through breathing awareness. Focus all your attention, from moment to moment, on the movement of your breath. Notice the subtle sensations of the movement of the abdomen rising and falling. Alternatively, one can focus on the sensation of the air passing through the nostrils and touching the upper lips skin – though this requires a bit more practice, and is more advanced. As you focus on the breath, you will notice that other perceptions and sensations continue to appear: sounds, feelings in the body, emotions, etc. Simply notice these phenomena as they emerge in the field of awareness, and then return to the sensation of breathing. The attention is kept in the object of concentration (the breathing), while these other thoughts or sensations are there simply as “background noise”. The object that is the focus of the practice (for instance, the movement of the abdomen) is called the “primary object”. And a “secondary object” is anything else that arises in your field of perception – either through your five senses (sound, smell, itchiness in the body, etc.) or through the mind (thought, memory, feeling, etc.). If a secondary object hooks your attention and pulls it away, or if it causes desire or aversion to appear, you should focus on the secondary object for a moment or two, labeling it with a mental note, like “thinking”,  “memory”, “hearing”, “desiring”. This practice is often called “noting”. A mental note identifies an object in general but not in detail. When you’re aware of a sound, for example, label it “hearing” instead of “motorcycle,” “voices” or “barking dog.” If an unpleasant sensation arises, note “pain” or “feeling” instead of “knee pain” or “my back pain.” Then return your attention to the primary meditation object. When aware of a fragrance, say the mental note “smelling” for a moment or two. You don’t have to identify the scent. When one has thus gained “access concentration”, the attention is then turned to the object of practice, which is normally thought or bodily sensations. One observes the objects of awareness without attachment, letting thoughts and sensations arise and pass away of their own accord. Mental labeling (explained above) is often use as a way to prevent you from being carried away by thoughts, and keep you in more objectively noticing them. As a result one develops the clear seeing that the observed phenomena is pervaded by the three “marks of existence”: impermanence (annica), insatisfactoriness (dukkha) and emptiness of self (annata). As a result, equanimity, peace and inner freedom is developed in relation to these inputs. Learn more: Types of Vipassana (read the answer from Anh-Minh Do) Vipassana Dhura (very in-depth article) Vipassana for beginners (Goenka style) Mindfulness in Plain English (free eBook) Visit a Vipassana center near you Is it for me? Vipassana is an excellent meditation to help you ground yourself in your body, and understand how the processes of your mind work. It is a very popular style of meditation. You can find plenty of teachers, websites, and books about it, as well as 3~10 days retreats (donation based). The teaching of it is always free. There are no formalities or rituals attached to the practice. If you are completely new to meditation, Vipassana or Mindfulness are probably good ways for you to start. Mindfulness Meditation   Origin & Meaning Mindfulness Meditation is an adaptation from traditional Buddhist meditation practices, especially Vipassana, but also having strong influence from other lineages (such as the Vietnamese Zen Buddhism from Thich Nhat Hanh). “Mindfulness” is the common western translation for the Buddhist term sati. Anapanasati, “mindfulness of breathing”, is part of the Buddhist practice of Vipassana or insight meditation, and other Buddhist meditational practices, such as zazen (source: Wikipedia). One of the main influencers for Mindfulness in the West is John Kabat-Zinn. His Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction program (MBSR) – which he developed in 1979 at the University of Massachusetts Medical School – has been used in several hospitals and health clinic on the past decades. How to do it Mindfulness meditation is the practice of intentionally focusing on the present moment, accepting and no3n-judgmentally paying attention to the sensations, thoughts, and emotions that arise. For the “formal practice” time, sit on a cushion on the floor, or on a chair, with straight and unsupported back. Pay close attention to the movement of your breath. When you breath in, be aware that you are breathing in, and how it feels. When you breath out, be aware you are breathing out. Do like this for the length of your meditation practice, constantly redirecting the attention to the breath. Or you can move on to be paying attention to the sensations, thoughts and feelings that arise. The effort is to not intentionally add anything to our present moment experience, but to be aware of what is going on, without losing ourselves in anything that arises. Your mind will get distracted into going along with sounds, sensations, and thoughts. Whenever that happens, gently recognize that you have been distracted, and bring the attention back to the breathing, or to the objective noticing of that thought or sensation. There is a big different between being inside the thought/sensation, and simply being aware of it’s presence. Learn to enjoy your practice. Once you are done, appreciate how different the body and mind feel. There is also the practice of mindfulness during our daily activities: while eating, walking, and talking. For “daily life” meditation, the practice is to pay attention to what is going on in the present moment, to be aware of what is happening – and not living in “automatic mode”. If you are speaking, that means paying attention to the words you speak, how you speak them, and to listen with presence and attention. If you are walking, that means being more aware of your body movements, your feet touching the ground, the sounds you are hearing, etc. Your effort in seated practice supports your daily life practice, and vice-versa. They are both equally important.  Learn more: Psychology Today (more details on how to practice) Palouse Mindfulness (MBSR free online course) Mindfulness exercises Mindful Schools Is it for me? For the general public, this is perhaps the most advisable way to get started with meditation. It is the type of meditation that is most taught at schools and hospitals, as far as I am aware. The “mindfulness movement” as practiced nowadays in society at large, is not Buddhism, but an adaptation of Buddhist practices due to their benefits in good physical and mental health and general wellbeing. For most people, Mindfulness Meditation may be the only type of meditation they will like, especially if their focus is only the physical and mental benefits of meditation, as it is usually taught dissociated from several of the eastern concepts and philosophies that traditionally accompanied the practice. And for that it is great – it will bring many good things to your life. If your focus is a deeper transformation and spiritual development, however, then mindfulness meditation may be just an initial step for you. From here you can then move into Vipassana, Zazen, or other types of meditation. Loving Kindness Meditation (Metta Meditation) Origin & Meaning Metta is a Pali word that means kindness, benevolence, and good will. This practice comes from the Buddhist traditions, especially the Theravada and Tibetan lineages. “Compassion meditation” is a contemporary scientific field that demonstrates the efficacy of mettaand related meditative practices. Demonstrated benefits include: boosting one’s ability to empathize with others; development of positive emotions through compassion, including a more loving attitude towards oneself; increased self-acceptance; greater feeling of competence about one’s life; and increased feeling of purpose in life (read more in our other post). How to do it One sits down in a meditation position, with closed eyes, and generates in his mind and heart feelings of kindness and benevolence. Start by developing loving-kindness towards yourself, then progressively towards others and all beings. Usually this progression is advised: oneself a good friend a “neutral” person a difficult person all four of the above equally and then gradually the entire universe The feeling to be developed is that of wishing happiness and well-being for all. This practice may be aided by reciting specific words or sentences that evoke the “boundless warm-hearted feeling”, visualizing the suffering of others and sending love; or by imagining the state of another being, and wishing him happiness and peace. The more you practice this meditation, the more joy you will experience. That is the secret of Mathieu Richard’s happiness. “For one who attends properly to the liberation of the heart by benevolence, unarisen ill will does not arise and arisen ill will is abandoned.” – The Buddha9 In this article, Emma Seppälä, Ph.D explores the 18 scientifically proven benefits of Loving-Kindness meditation. Learn more: Wikipedia on Metta Meditation Metta Institute (Buddha’s word on metta) Huffington Post article on the benefits of metta Is it for me? Are you sometimes too hard on yourself or on others? Or feel like you need to improve your relationships? Loving-kindness meditation will help you. It is beneficial both for selfless and self-centered people, and it will help increase your general level of happiness. You cannot feel loving-kindness and depression (or any other negative feeling) at the same time. It is also often recommended, by Buddhist teachers, as an antidote to insomnia, nightmares, or anger issues. 2) HINDU MEDITATION (Vedic & Yogic) Mantra Meditation (OM Meditation)   A mantra is a syllable or word, usually without any particular meaning, that is repeated for the purpose of focusing your mind. It is not an affirmation used to convince yourself of something. Some meditation teachers insist that both the choice of word, and its correct pronunciation, is very important, due to the “vibration” associated to the sound and meaning, and that for this reason an initiation into it is essential. Others say that the mantra itself is only a tool to focus the mind, and the chosen word is completely irrelevant. Mantras are used in Hindu traditions, Buddhist traditions (especially Tibetan and “Pure Land” Buddhism), as well as in Jainism, Sikhism and Daoism (Taoism). Some people call mantra meditation “om meditation”, but that is just one of the mantras that can be used. A more devotion oriented practice of mantras is called japa, and consists of repeating sacred sounds (name of God) with love. How to do it As most type of meditations, it is usually practiced sitting with spine erect, and eyes closed. The practitioner then repeats the mantra in his mind, silently, over and over again during the whole session. Sometimes this practice is coupled with being aware of the breathing or coordinating with it. In other exercises, the mantra is actually whispered very lightly and softly, as an aid to concentration. As you repeat the mantra, it creates a mental vibration that allows the mind to experience deeper levels of awareness. As you meditate, the mantra becomes increasingly abstract and indistinct, until you’re finally led into the field of pure consciousness from which the vibration arose.Repetition of the mantra helps you disconnect from the thoughts filling your mind so that perhaps you may slip into the gap between thoughts. The mantra is a tool to support your meditation practice. Mantras can be viewed as ancient power words with subtle intentions that help us connect to spirit, the source of everything in the universe. (Deepak Chopra) Here are some of the most well-known mantras from the Hindu & Buddhist traditions: om so-ham om namah shivaya om mani padme hum rama yam ham You may practice for a certain period of time, or for a set number of “repetitions” – traditionally 108 or 1008. In the latter case, beads are typically used for keeping count. As the practice deepens, you may find that the mantra continues “by itself” like the humming of the mind. Or the mantra may even disappear, and you are left in a state of deep inner peace.  Learn more: Wikipedia article on Mantra Seven Ways to Meditate with OM Mantra Yoga and Primal Sound (book) Mantras: Words of Power (book) Is it for me? People usually find that it is easier to focus with a mantra than with the breathing. Because a mantra is a word, and thoughts are usually perceived as words, it can be easier to keep the focus on a mantra rather than on the breathing. It is useful especially when the mind is racing with many thoughts, since it mantra meditation demands constant attention. Meditating with a mantra can also make it simpler to  integrate your meditative state into your daily life. In whatever activity you find yourself into, it can be as simple as repeating the mantra in your mind.  Transcendental Meditation (TM)   Origin & Meaning Transcendental Meditation is a specific form of Mantra Meditation introduced by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi in 1955 in India and the West. In the late 1960s and early 1970s, the Maharishi achieved fame as the guru to the Beatles, The Beach Boys and other celebrities. It is a widely practiced form of meditation, with over 5 million practitioners worldwide, and there is a lot of scientific research, many sponsored by the organization, demonstrating the benefits of the practice. There are over 600 scientific papers, many of them peer-reviewed, and I have used part of their research when composing my benefits of meditation page. However, there are also critics of the Maharishi and his organization, and some accusation of cultish behavior and doubtful research practices.[Image from NurseTalkSite.com] How to do it Transcendental meditation is not taught freely. The only way of learning it is to pay to learn from one of their licensed instructors. The support given seems to be good, though. In general, however, it is known that TM involves the use of a mantra and is practiced for 15–20 minutes twice per day while sitting with one’s eyes closed. The mantra is not unique, and is given to the practitioner based on his gender and age. They are also not “meaningless sounds” – rather, they are Tantric names of Hindu deities. This probably is irrelevant for most people. This is the official site of the movement: TM site. There is another similar technique, called Natural Stress Relief, which was created in 2003 by a former TM Teacher, and is much cheaper to learn (47 USD instead of 960 USD), and has stripped out some mystical elements of the practice of TM, such as the initiation (puja) and yogic flying (part of TM-Siddhi). You can learn more about NSR in comparison to TM here and here. Is it for me? Personally I don’t feel comfortable advising anyone to try Transcendental Meditation anymore, especially if you are looking to go deep into meditation. To know more, check out this answer I wrote in Quora. If you wish to try something similar, for a fraction of the cost or for free, have a look at NSR (above), or Mantra Meditation.  Yoga Meditations Origin & Meaning There is not one type of meditation which is “Yogic Meditation”, so here it is meant the several meditation types taught in the yoga tradition. Yoga means “union”. Tradition goes as far as 1700 B.C, and has as its highest goal spiritual purification and Self-Knowledge. Classical Yoga divides the practice into rules of conduct (yamas and niyamas), physical postures (asanas), breathing exercises (pranayama), and contemplative practices of meditation (pratyahara, dharana, dhyana, samadhi). The Yoga tradition is the oldest meditation tradition on earth, and also the one with the widest variety of practices. How to do it Here are some types of meditation practiced in Yoga. The most common and universal Yoga meditation one is the “third eye meditation”. Other popular ones involve concentrating on a chakra, repeating a mantra, visualization of light, or gazing meditations.  Third Eye Meditation — focusing the attention on the “spot between the eyebrows” (called by some “the third eye” or “ajna chakra”). The attention is constantly redirected to this point, as a means to silence the mind. By time the “silent gaps” between thoughts get wider and deeper. Sometimes this is accompanied by physically “looking”, with eyes closed, towards that spot. Chakra Meditation — the practitioner focuses on one of the seven chakras of the body (“centers of energy”), typically doing some visualizations and chanting a specific mantra for each chakra (lam, vam, ram, yam, ham, om). Most commonly it is done on the heart chackra, third eye, and crown chackra. Gazing Meditation (Trataka) — fixing the gaze on an external object, typically a candle, image or a symbol (yantras). It is done with eyes open, and then with eyes closed, to train both the concentration and visualization powers of the mind. After closing the eyes, you should still keep the image of the object in your “mind’s eye”. This meditation is so important and powerful, that I wrote this post on the subject. Kundalini Meditation — this is a very complex system of practice. The goal is the awakening of the “kundalini energy” which lies dormant on the base of the spine, the development of several psychic centers in the body, and, finally, enlightenment. There are several dangers associated with this practice, and it should not be attempted without the guidance of a qualified yogi. Kriya Yoga — is a set of energization, breathing, and meditation exercises taught by Paramahamsa Yogananda. This is more suited for those who have a devotional temperament, and are seeking the spiritual aspects of meditation. To learn it, you can apply to receive the Self-Realization lessons, free of charge. Sound Meditation (Nada Yoga) — focusing on sound. Starts with meditation on “external sounds”, such as calming ambient music (like Native American flute music), whereby the student focuses all his attention on just hearing, as a help to quieten and collect the mind. By time the practice evolves to hearing the “internal sounds” of the body and mind. The ultimate goal is to hear the “Ultimate Sound” (para nada), which is a sound without vibration, and that manifests as “OM”. Tantra — unlike the popular view in the West, most Tantra practices have nothing to do with ritualized sex (this was practiced by a minority of lineages. Tantra is a very rich tradition, with dozens of different contemplative practices. The text Vijnanabhairava Tantra, for instance, lists 108 “meditations”, most of them more advanced (already requiring a certain degree of stillness and mind control). Here are some examples from that text: Merge the mind and the senses in the interior space in the spiritual heart. When one object is perceived, all other objects become empty. Concentrate on that emptiness. Concentrate on the space which occurs between two thoughts. Fix attention on the inside of the skull. Close eyes. Meditate on the occasion of any great delight. Meditate on the feeling of pain. Dwell on the reality which exists between pain and pleasure. Meditate on the void in one’s body extending in all directions simultaneously. Concentrate on a bottomless well or as standing in a very high place. Listen to the Anahata [heart chakra] sound. Listen to the sound of a musical instrument as it dies away. Contemplate on the universe or one’s own body as being filled with bliss. Concentrate intensely on the idea that the universe is completely void. Contemplate that the same consciousness exists in all bodies. Pranayama — breathing regulation. It is not exactly meditation, but an excellent practice to calm the mind and prepare it for meditation. There are several different types of Pranayama, but the simplest and most commonly taught one is the 4-4-4-4. This means breathing in counting up to 4, holding for 4 seconds, breathing out for 4 seconds, and holding empty for 4 seconds. Breathe through your nose, and let the abdomen (and not the chest) be the one that moves. Go through a few cycles like this. This regulation of breathing balances the moods and pacifies the body, and can be done anywhere. Yoga is a very rich tradition, with different lineages, so there are many other techniques. But the ones above are the most well-known; the others are more specific or complex. For a start, this video is an excellent resource on how to do Yoga style meditation, and it combines breathing, body awareness, mantra, and chakra meditation. Learn more: Meditations from the Tantras (book) Chakras: Seven Chakras, Mind Body Green, Wikipedia article, Chakra Meditation Trataka (LiveAndDare post) Meditation and Mantras (book) Raja Yoga (book) Kriya Yoga (Self-Realization Fellowship) Nada Yoga: Spirit Sound, The Practice of Nada Yoga (book), Wikipedia,  Bindu Magazine (compreenshive article) The Science of Pranayama (book) Tantra: The Path of Ecstasy (book) List of meditation objects in Yoga (George Feuerstein) Is it for me? With all these types of meditation in Yoga, you are likely to find one that you like. If you are a musician, perhaps nada yoga is something that will attract you. If you are a devotional person, kriya yoga is a good option. Kundalini and Chakra meditation should only be attempted with a teacher. Probably the simplest one to try is the “third eye meditation”, which is simple and yields results fairly quickly. For the other types you would probably need more instruction, either of a teacher or a good book (see references above). Besides, Pranayama is definitely something anyone can benefit from.  Self-Enquiry and “I Am” Meditation   Origin & Meaning Self-Enquiry is the English translation for the Sanskrit term atma vichara. It means to “investigate” our true nature, to find the answer to the “Who am I?” question, which culminates with the intimate knowledge of our true Self, our true being. We see references to this meditation in very old Indian texts; however, it was greatly popularized and expanded upon by the 20th-century Indian sage Ramana Maharshi (1879~1950). The modern non-duality movement (or neo-advaita), which is greatly inspired in his teachings – as well as those of Nisargadatta Maharaj (1897~1981) and Papaji – strongly uses this technique and variations. Many contemporary teachers to employ this technique, the most famous ones being Mooji  (whom I’ve personally been with and recommend), Adyashanti, and Eckhart Tolle. How to do it This practice is very simple, but also very subtle. When explaining it, however, it may sound very abstract. Your sense of “I” (or “ego”) is the center of your universe. It is there, in some form or another, behind all your thoughts, emotions, memories, and perceptions. Yet we are not clear about what this “I” is – about who we truly are, in essence – and confuse it with our body, our mind, our roles, our labels. It’s the biggest mystery in our lives. With Self-Enquiry, the question “Who I am?” is asked within yourself. You must reject any verbal answers that may come, and use this question simply as a tool to fix your attention in the subjective feeling of “I” or “I am”. Become one with it, go deep into it. This will then reveal your true “I”, your real self as pure consciousness, beyond all limitation. It is not an intellectual pursuit, but a question to bring the attention to the core element of your perception and experience: the “I”. This is not your personality, but a pure, subjective, feeling of existing – without any images or concepts attached to it.Whenever thoughts/feelings arise, you ask yourself, “To whom does this arise?” or “Who is aware of _____ (anger, fear, pain, or whatever)?” The answer will be “It’s me!”. From then you ask “Who am I?”, to bring the attention back to the subjective feeling of self, of presence. It is pure existence, objectless and choice-less awareness. Another way of explaining this practice is to just focus the mind on your feeling of being, the non-verbal “I am” that shines inside of you. Keep it pure, without association with anything you perceive. On all other types of meditation, the “I” (yourself) is focusing on some object, internal or external, physical or mental. In self-enquiry, the “I” is focusing on itself, the subject. It is the attention turned towards its source.There is no special position to practice, although the general suggestions about posture and environment are helpful for beginners. Learn more: Guided “I am” Meditations with Mooji: Teachings of Ramana Maharishi: Happiness of Being, David Godman’s blog, Sri Ramanasram official site Nisargadatta Maharaj: Enlightened-Spirituality Quotes apps (iOS) Be As You Are (book or Ramana’s teachings) I Am That (book of Nisargadatta Maharaj, a modern spiritual classic) Is it for me? This meditation is very powerful in bringing inner freedom and peace; yet, if you don’t have previous experience with meditation, you may find it very hard to follow through. As an initial aid to give you a feeling for it, I would advise following some guided meditations from Mooji, in YouTube. 3) CHINESE MEDITATION Taoist Meditations Origin & Meaning Daoism is a Chinese philosophy and religion, dating back to Lao Tzu (or Laozi). It emphasizes living in harmony with Nature, or Tao, and it’s main text is the Tao Te Ching, dating back to 6th century B.C. Later on some lineages of Taoism were also influenced by Buddhist meditation practices brought from India, especially on the 8th century C.E.. The chief characteristic of this type of meditation is the generation, transformation, and circulation of inner energy. The purpose is to quieten the body and mind, unify body and spirit, find inner peace, and harmonize with the Tao. Some styles of Taoist Meditation are specifically focused on improving health and giving longevity. Image from InternalArtsInternational.com   How to do it There are several different types of Taoist meditation, and they are sometimes classified in three: “insight”, “concentrative”, and “visualization”. Here is a brief overview: Emptiness meditation — to sit quietly and empty oneself of all mental images (thoughts, feelings, and so on), to “forget about everything”, in order to experience inner quiet and emptiness. In this state, vital force and “spirit” is collected and replenished. This is similar to the Confucius discipline of “heart-mind fasting”, and it is regarded as “the natural way”. One simply allows all thoughts and sensations arise and fall by themselves, without engaging with or “following” any of them. If this is found to be too hard and “uninteresting”, the student is instructed with other types of meditation, such as visualization and Qigong Breathing meditation (Zhuanqi) — to focus on the breath, or “unite mind and qi”. The instruction is “focus your vital breath until it is supremely soft”. Sometimes this is done by simply quietly observing the breath (similar to Mindfulness Meditation in Buddhism); in other traditions it is by following certain patterns of exhalation and inhalation, so that one becomes directly aware of the “dynamisms of Heaven and Earth” through ascending and descending breath (a type of Qigong, similar to Pranayama in Yoga). Neiguan (“inner observation; inner vision”) — visualizing inside one’s body and mind, including the organs, “inner deities”, qi (vital force) movements, and thought processes. It’s a process of acquainting oneself with the wisdom of nature in your body. There are particular instructions for following this practice, and a good book or a teacher is required. These meditations are done seated cross-legged on the floor, with spine erect. The eyes are kept half-closed and fixed on the point of the nose.Master Liu Sichuan emphasises that, although not easy, ideally one should practice by “joining the breath and the mind together”; for those that find this too hard, he would recommend focusing on the lower abdomen (dantian). Learn more: 1stHolistic.com (detailed practical information) Wikipedia article (Overview of historical development of different Taoist meditation practices) Is it for me? People that are more connected with the body and nature may like to try Taoist meditation, and enjoy learning a bit about the philosophy behind it. Or if you are into martial arts or Tai Chi, this might be of your interest. However, Taoist centers and teachers are not as easy to find as Buddhist and Yoga ones, so it might be a challenge to follow through. Qigong (Chi kung) Origin & Meaning Qigong (also spelled chi kung, or chi gung) is a Chinese word that means “life energy cultivation”, and is a body-mind exercise for health, meditation, and martial arts training. It typically involves slow body movement, inner focus, and regulated breathing. Traditionally it was practiced and taught in secrecy in the Chinese Buddhist, Taoist and Confucianist traditions. In the 20th century, Qigong movement has incorporated and popularized Daoist meditation, and “mainly employs concentrative exercises but also favors the circulation of energy in an inner-alchemical mode” (Kohn 2008a:120). For a deep study on Qigong history, theory, and philosophy, I recommend The Root of Chinese Qigong. Daoist practices may also employ Qigong, but since Qigong is also applied in other Chinese philosophies, I decided to treat it as a separate subject. How to do it There are thousands of different Qigong exercises cataloged, involving over 80 different types of breathing. Some are specific to martial arts (to energize and strengthen the body); others are for health (to nourish body functions or cure diseases); and others for meditation and spiritual cultivation. Qigong can be practiced in a static position (seated or standing), or through a dynamic set of movements – which is what you typically see in YouTube videos and on DVDs. The exercises that are done as a meditation, however, are normally done sitting down, and without movement. To understand more about Qigong and learn how to do it, I’d recommend getting a book or DVD set from Dr. Yang Jwing Ming, such as this one. But here goes an introductory overview of the practice of seated Qigong meditation: Sit in a comfortable position. Make sure your body is balanced and centered. Relax your whole body – muscles, nerves, and internal organs Regulate your breathing, making it deep, long, and soft. Calm your mind Place all your attention in the “lower dantien”, which is the center of gravity of the body, two inches below the navel. This will help accumulate and root the qi (vital energy). Where your mind and intention is, there will be your qi. So, by focusing on the dantien, you are gathering energy in this natural reservoir. Feel the qi circulating freely through your body. Other famous Qigong exercises are: Small Circulation (also called “microcosmic circulation”) Embryonic Breathing Eight Pieces of Brocade (see this book excerpt  & Wikipedia article) Muscle Tendon Changing (or “Yi Jin Jing”, taught by Bodhidharma) The first two are seated meditation, while the latter two are dynamic Qigong, integrating body stretches. Learn more: Wikipedia article Yang Jwing Ming DVDs (YouTube) The Qigong Institute Qigong Forum Is it for me? Qigong meditation may be more attractive to people that like to integrate a more active body and energy work into the practice. If seated meditation is unbearable for you, and you prefer something a bit more active, try some of the more dynamic forms of Qigong. Again, there are several styles of Qigong out there, and you may need to try with different teachers or DVDs to find the one that suits you.Some people have a taste of dynamic Qigong through the practice of Tai Chi. 4) CHRISTIAN MEDITATION In Eastern traditions (Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Daoism) meditation is usually practiced with the purpose of transcending the mind and attaining enlightenment. On the other hand, in the Christian tradition the goal of contemplative practices is, one may say, moral purification and deeper understanding of the Bible; or a closer intimacy with God/Christ, for the more mystic stream of the tradition. Here are some forms of Christian contemplative practice: contemplative prayer — which usually involves the silent repetition of sacred words or sentences, with focus and devotion contemplative reading — or simply “contemplation”, which involves thinking deeply about the teachings and events in the Bible. “sitting with God” — a silent meditation, usually preceded by contemplation or reading, in which we focus all our mind, heart and soul on the presence of God To read more about this, check out our post on Contemplative Prayer and Christian Meditation. 5) GUIDED MEDITATIONS   Origin & Meaning Guided Meditation is, in great part, a modern phenomenon. It is an easier way to start, and you will find guided meditations ba sed on several of the above traditions. The practice of meditation requires some dose of determination and will-power. In the past, people that were into meditation were more committed to it, and also had strong ideals fuelling their motivation. Their life was more simple, with less distractions. We live in very different times now. Our life is busier. Will power is a less common personal asset. Distractions are everywhere, and meditation is often sought as a means to develop better health, enhance performance, or improve oneself. For these reasons, guided meditation can indeed be a good way to introduce you to the practice. Once you get the hang of it, and wish to take your practice to the next level, I would urge you to try meditation unassisted by audio. It is up to you to decide when you feel like taking this step. Guided Meditation is like cooking with a recipe. It’s a good way to start, and you can eat the food you make like this. But once you understand the main principles and flavors, you can cook your own dish. It will have a different, unique taste; it will be tailored for you, and more powerful. And then you will not want to use the recipe anymore – unless if you are trying a dish of another cuisine.  [Image from BinauralBeatsMeditation.com] How to do it Guided meditation usually comes in the form of audio (file, podcast, CD), and sometimes audio and video. You will find that any guided meditation will fall in one of below categories (with some overlap, obviously). Traditional Meditations — With these types of audios, the voice of the teacher is simply there to “illustrate” or “guide” the way for your attention, in order to be in a meditative state; there is more silence than voice in it, and often no music. Examples are the ones offered by Thich Nhat Hanh and Tara Brach, which are rooted in authentic Buddhist practices. The purpose is to develop and deepen the practice itself, with all the benefits that come with it. Guided Imagery — Makes use of the imagination and visualization powers of the brain, guiding you to imagine an object, entity, scenery or journey. The purpose is usually healing or relaxation. Relaxation & Body Scans — Helps you achieve a deep relaxation in your whole body. It’s usually accompanied by soothing instrumental music or nature sounds. In Yoga these are called yoga nidra. The purpose is relaxation and calmness. Affirmations — Usually coupled with relaxation and guided imagery, the purpose of these meditations is to imprint a message in your mind. Binaural Beats — Binaural beats were originally discovered in 1839 by physicist Heinrich Wilhelm Dove. He discovered when signals of two different frequencies are presented separately, one to each ear, your brain detects the phase variation between the frequencies and tries to reconcile that difference. This is used to generate alpha waves (10 Hz), which is the brain wave associated with initial levels of meditation. There is scientific research into why and how binaural beats work. While they all have their merits, it is the first type that most naturally evolves into individual unguided practice. Learn more: UCLA Free Guided Meditations Head In The Clouds (big collection of free guided meditations) Free Binaural Beats Yoga Nidra (YouTube) Headspace app (Guided meditations on your phone!) Is it for me? If you feel traditional meditation is a bit too hard, or you are unsure where to start, then guided meditations can be the way for you to begin. Or if you are seeking some very specific experience or benefit – like improving self-esteem, working through a trauma, or just letting go of some tension in your body – you can also find some guided meditation that suits you.

  Yoga Therapy of Michigan integrates the ancient wisdom of Classical Yoga, Hatha Yoga and Ayurveda to facilitate the continuum of self healing from dis-harmony to vitality by serving both the individual and the professional through guidance, practice and education.  This afternoon, the co-founder of Yoga Therapy of Michigan, Suzanna Ran guests on InTouch Interviews to share more and invite everyone to register for the teacher training that begins on September 21st.  Her website is www.yogatherapy-om.com  

Watch Carlotta practicing Yoga Mudrasana - the "Symbol of Yoga". Carlotta shows you different variations - from the most advance ones to very easy ones. A Video for Yoga practitioners and teachers who want to adapt the classical Yoga postures to the needs of their students. Speaker: Sukadev Bretz, founder-director of Yoga Vidya Germany, http://www.yoga-vidya.org/en

Watch Carlotta practicing Yoga Mudrasana - the "Symbol of Yoga". Carlotta shows you different variations - from the most advance ones to very easy ones. A Video for Yoga practitioners and teachers who want to adapt the classical Yoga postures to the needs of their students. Speaker: Sukadev Bretz, founder-director of Yoga Vidya Germany, http://www.yoga-vidya.org/en

Watch Carlotta practicing Yoga Mudrasana - the "Symbol of Yoga". Carlotta shows you different variations - from the most advance ones to very easy ones. A Video for Yoga practitioners and teachers who want to adapt the classical Yoga postures to the needs of their students. Speaker: Sukadev Bretz, founder-director of Yoga Vidya Germany, http://www.yoga-vidya.org/en

John Friend is the founder of Anusara Yoga and a world-renown expert in both hatha yoga and yoga philosophy.   In part two of this two part interview John talks about the principles of Anusara yoga and what distinguishes it from other styles. Listen to Part 1 Sync with iPod • Return to Directory ResourcesAnusara Yoga WebsiteFind an Anusara Teacher John Friend on YouTubeBooks Darren Main’s Yoga and the Path of the Urban Mystic is a completely delightful and insightful introduction to the philosophy of yoga for the modern practitioner. Darren’s personable and compassionate style makes the philosophical visions of Classical Yoga and Vedanta easily accessible and applicable for the quickly growing yoga community in the West. ~John Friend, founder of Anusara Yoga