Podcasts about Sanskrit

Westerners are booking flights to India—not for sightseeing, but to chant Sanskrit mantras in rice fields, live in ashrams, and rise before dawn for kirtan. What's really going on here? In this eye-opening episode, Raghunath speaks with anthropology PhD student Keli Lalita to explore a growing phenomenon: Westerners adopting spiritual practices rooted in ancient India. A yoga class in Brooklyn often leads to a pilgrimage in Vrindavan—and a deeper search for meaning beyond material life. Together, they unpack the global remix of yoga culture, the anthropology of spiritual longing, and why Bhakti Yoga is drawing seekers from all walks of life. Key Topics Include: •⁠  ⁠Why yoga retreats can feel more authentic than everyday life •⁠  ⁠How modern yoga became a cross-cultural conversation •⁠  ⁠The Hare Krishna movement and its Western embrace •⁠  ⁠Family, food, and spiritual structure through the lens of anthropology •⁠  ⁠What people are really seeking when they go to India

Host Michael Taft talks with author David Godman about the sage Ramana Maharshi and his nondual view of the world, whether he considered taking sannyasa (renunciation) to be necessary to achieve awakening, the power of the physical presence of the guru, Sri Ramana's seemingly miraculous learning of Sanskrit, an introduction to Lakshmana Swami—a very advanced student of Ramana, with whom David Godman sat in the 1970s and 80s, Tamil poetry of awakening, and—in a surprising reveal—David Godman endorses a new jnani who lives in Tiruvannamalai.David Godman has been living in India since 1976, studying and practising the teachings of Ramana Maharshi. During that period he has met and written extensively about many direct disciples of Sri Ramana, including Lakshmana Swamy, Muruganar, Papaji and Annamalai Swami. David has also been involved in several projects that have translated Ramana Maharshi's Tamil teachings and made them available in English for the first time. His anthology of dialogues with Sri Ramana, Be As You Are, is, outside India, the most widely-read book on Sri Ramana's teachings.https://www.davidgodman.org/You can support the creation of future episodes of this podcast by contributing through Patreon.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Text me your thoughts/questionsHello Magical Human & welcome back to Madison Mindset the Podcast

Finding inner peace is a process that leads to a practice; there are important rituals that guide us in self-discovery. Derived from the Sanskrit word for “circle”, the Mandala is a spiritual and ritual symbol in Hinduism and Buddhism, representing the universe. It is a sacred art form that connects us to our inner selves and the world around us. Their profound wisdom and tranquil messages, serve as a powerful medium to contemplate and find peace within. Mandalas are typically circles with repeating symmetrical shapes, and are considered a sacred symbol. In Sanskrit, mandala translates to “sacred center” or “circle.” Mandalas symbolize harmony and unity, and represent that everything is connected. Pema Chodron, the incredible American-born Tibetan Buddist and ordained nun who is soulful and wise shared, “Each person's life is like a mandala – a vast, limitless circle. We stand in the center of our own circle, and everything we see, hear, and think forms the mandala of our life.” I love that imagery. One organization has discovered that bringing in the concept of inner peace through an evidenced-based curriculum using the Mandala as a cornerstone enables youth to build and strengthen their capacity to manage stress and conflict in new ways, giving them lifelong skills that serve to build a more compassionate society. Building that society begins with our youth. Tools for Peace is a mental wellness program for youth that provides curricula to grow compassionate minds.    Their Mission is to inspire kindness and compassion in everyday life. Their mindfulness-based social-emotional learning programs support mental health, academic and professional success, and community health and wellbeing. Studies show that the Tools for Peace curriculum improves focus, conflict resolution skills, and confidence, and reduces stress in participants.  For more information, please check their website for more information: www.toolsforpeace.org  

Patanjali, an ancient Indian sage, is credited with authoring foundational texts in Sanskrit grammar (Mahābhāṣya), yoga philosophy (Yoga Sutras), and possibly medicine (Patanjalatantra). Revered as a mystic and philosopher, his works laid the groundwork for classical yoga and linguistics, profoundly influencing Indian philosophical traditions. Though scholarly debates persist about his identity, Patanjali remains a significant figure in Hinduism, particularly in yoga and linguistic studies.

First 30 minutes of this episode also includes Rajesh's talk on the power of Sanskrit.

Rajesh nicely explains the nuances of Sanskrit language.

Matthew Brown, another UFO whistleblower repeating the same tireless mythos, posted something very cryptic online, suggesting the following: the “White House has long possessed a unique AI capable of accurately predicting a range of future events,” Sam Altman and https://x.com/shellenberger “is responsible for murdering the first sentient ‘artificial' intelligence created in the PUBLIC realm,” and “if you are serious about saving Humanity from itself (and the Others).” In a July 8, 1947, US government memorandum (https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/ufoaliendatabase/images/3/3f/674B2E93-2973-4A91-A5A9-01A571E6A941.jpeg/revision/latest/scale-to-width-down/1000?cb=20190219000319) we read the following statements about UFOs: “part of the disks carry crews, others are under remote control,” “they do NOT come from any ‘planet' as we use the word, but from an etheric planet which interpenetrates with our own and is not perceptible to us,” “the region from which they come is NOT the ‘astral plane,' but corresponds to the Lokas or Talas.”  Whether this document is honest or deceptive, or both, we do know that the US federal government actively engaged in UFO disinformation and misinformation via recommendations from the https://documents.theblackvault.com/documents/ufos/robertsonpanelreport.pdf in 1953. We also know that the Wall Street Journal just now in 2025 confirmed an old UFO theory, that the Pentagon utilized disinformation to fuel “https://archive.md/9cGKu” and to protect secret military technology like the F-117 stealth fighter. As for the LOKAS, this is a Hindu concept relating to a universe, plane, or other realm of existence, perhaps even a mental state. To make matters even stranger, Brown also posted what appears to be a https://x.com/SunOfAbramelin/status/1930791280260550830/photo/3, something reported at three of the most famous UFO incidents too: Roswell, Rendlesham, Kecksburg. And the recent https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/other/scientists-reveal-truth-behind-ufo-spotted-in-major-city-with-cryptic-message/ar-AA1FFMKJincident as well, which researchers using AI have translated as: “The origin of birth through union and energy in the cycle of transformation, meeting point of unity, expansion, and consciousness — individual consciousness.” The symbols in the Brown post appear similar to Angelic Script, something John Dee, the mystic astrologer of Queen Elizabeth I, deciphered from communications he and alchemist-clairvoyant Edward Kelley had with supposed angels. In the 16th-century, the men https://www.rcp.ac.uk/news-and-media/news-and-opinion/the-mystical-objects-of-john-dee/, including black mirror (computer screens) and crystal scrying balls called shew-stones (palantíri) within which appeared blurry letters that today we call Enochian Script. Underneath the symbols in the post is a translation that reads LOAGAETH, a term referring to Enochian language / Celestial Alphabet. Brown also goes by a curious name on X: “Sun of Abramelin.” This name refers to a 15th-century manuscript called “https://sacred-texts.com/grim/abr/index.htm.” The text has had a huge influence on modern ceremonial magic, and has been cited as a primary influence on Aleister Crowley, someone involved with Jack Parson of the Jet Propulsions Laboratory. As https://www.wired.com/story/jpl-jack-parsons/ writes: “When Parsons worked on his rocketry experiments in the desert he would recite a pagan poem to Pan.”  The sigil itself does not seem to be much pictorial magic symbol, but instead a large circular table. In fact - and maybe it's only because of its circular nature - there is something about it that mirrors the https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Schematic-layout-of-the-Large-Hadron-Collider-LHC-83-The-four-main-experiments-are_fig7_254469235 and even the first official https://1.bp.blogspot.com/_uNvpodhMFcA/R9-zqZDWauI/AAAAAAAAATc/1-rj2TNE98I/w1200-h630-p-k-no-nu/first-atomic-bomb-drawing.jpg. We don't reach these conclusion haphazardly either.One company called ANTHROPIC (human affairs), which researches AI safety, said they got a glimpse inside the black box of this technology back in 2024. https://www.wired.com/story/anthropic-black-box-ai-research-neurons-features/ of the neural net of its LLM, Claude, and pinpointed which combinations of its crude artificial neurons evoke specific concepts, or “features.” Notice the monikers here: tangle, evoke, lurks. This itself invokes images of tentacles, ritual evocations, and something from the abyss. It is therefore no surprise then that https://futurism.com/neural-network-cthulhu-nightcafe or why https://archive.md/7PuFO - a https://futurism.com/the-byte/experts-dark-joke-ai-horrifying-monster-mask. https://officechai.com/ai/anthropics-ai-models-began-speaking-sanskrit-when-talking-to-each-other-company-says/, not computer language - also, discussing Indian philosophy - which as of 2024 https://medium.com/illumination/mysterious-connection-between-sanskrit-artificial-intelligence-1b85f8b003c3 for language processing and communication as opposed to Java, Python, Lisp, Prolog, and C++. Sanskrit is therefore https://www.originofscience.com/science/sanskrits-role-in-advancing-ai-a-comprehensive-study/ Origin of Science stated that: “The research highlights Sanskrit's potential in connecting ancient knowledge with modern AI applications.”Sanskrit is one of the oldest known human languages, and likely predates any written form going back further than even Sumerian; it is the LANGUAGE OF THE GODS. A 2009 book maintains the same from https://www.ucpress.edu/books/the-language-of-the-gods-in-the-world-of-men/paper: “The language of the Gods in the World of Men: Sanskrit, Culture, and Power in Premodern India.” In other words, Sanskrit is a true Celestial Alphabet. The Rigveda, composed in Vedic Sanskrit, contains hymns about the universe's creation and dissolution, which directly aligns with CERN's purpose.  Also on the grounds of CERN is the imfafous statue of Shiva Nataraja.This subatomic world is likewise the realm of science fiction and science reality, as the https://www.nbcnews.com/mach/science/scientists-are-searching-mirror-universe-it-could-be-sitting-right-ncna1023206, just as the https://www.energy.gov/articles/searching-upside-down and searchers for the real “upside down.” This Shiva statue the same one that so-called researchers performed a https://www.sciencealert.com/scientists-just-performed-a-fake-human-sacrifice-at-cern-for-some-reason.Physicist Archana Sharma (arcana), the first Indian scientist to join CERN was also just recently recognized for her work, to which commented: “our commitment to the philosophy of Vasudhev Kutumbakam—[a Sanskrit phrase that means] ‘https://www.symmetrymagazine.org/article/indias-gem-at-cern-archana-sharma?language_content_entity=und.'”The https://1.bp.blogspot.com/_uNvpodhMFcA/R9-zqZDWauI/AAAAAAAAATc/1-rj2TNE98I/w1200-h630-p-k-no-nu/first-atomic-bomb-drawing.jpg mirrors in a way the Brown sigil and LHC design, and it describes the implosion process into the center core of plutonium. This was the basis of the Trinity bomb that was finally officially tested in July 16, 1945. J. Robert Oppenheimer famously said: “https://www.wired.com/story/manhattan-project-robert-oppenheimer/, the destroyer of worlds.” The trinity comes also from the Hindu concept of https://www.britannica.com/topic/trimurti-Hinduism. In 1946, the US conducted a series of major nuclear bomb tests and called it OPERATION https://www.nationalww2museum.org/war/articles/operation-crossroads-atomic-bomb-aftermath, a term meaning “between the worlds,” guarded by Hecate. This Greek goddess represents transition and she corresponds with none other than the Hindu Kali, who is the divine essence of Shiva.  *The is the FREE archive, which includes advertisements. If you want an ad-free experience, you can subscribe below underneath the show description. - https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tst-radio--5328407 https://thesecretteachings.info/donate-subscribe/ https://x.com/TST___Radio  https://www.facebook.com/thesecretteachings https://www.youtube.com/@TSTRadioOfficial http://tstradio.info/ https://cash.app/$rdgable: $rdgable  EMAIL: rdgable@yahoo.com / TSTRadio@protonmail.comBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-secret-teachings--5328407/support.

The present book contains a facsimile edition of a unique modern Kashmiri translation of five chapters from Cervantes's famous Don Quijote. In this book the Kashmiri translation and the corresponding parts of Jarvis's English version are presented on facing pages. The Kashmiri text is reproduced as a facsimile of the autograph prepared by Pandit Jagaddhar Zadoo, one of the two Kashmiri translators. The Kashmiri text in the present volume was written on modern paper in easily legible Devanagari characters by using only a few more additional diacritic symbols. This publication contains an introduction written by Surindar Nath Pandita, a grandson of Pandit Nityanand Shastri. The book can be regarded as a conjoined twin of the partial Sanskrit translation of Don Quijote published as volume III of the Pune Indological Series in 2019. 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

The present book contains a facsimile edition of a unique modern Kashmiri translation of five chapters from Cervantes's famous Don Quijote. In this book the Kashmiri translation and the corresponding parts of Jarvis's English version are presented on facing pages. The Kashmiri text is reproduced as a facsimile of the autograph prepared by Pandit Jagaddhar Zadoo, one of the two Kashmiri translators. The Kashmiri text in the present volume was written on modern paper in easily legible Devanagari characters by using only a few more additional diacritic symbols. This publication contains an introduction written by Surindar Nath Pandita, a grandson of Pandit Nityanand Shastri. The book can be regarded as a conjoined twin of the partial Sanskrit translation of Don Quijote published as volume III of the Pune Indological Series in 2019. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/literary-studies

The present book contains a facsimile edition of a unique modern Kashmiri translation of five chapters from Cervantes's famous Don Quijote. In this book the Kashmiri translation and the corresponding parts of Jarvis's English version are presented on facing pages. The Kashmiri text is reproduced as a facsimile of the autograph prepared by Pandit Jagaddhar Zadoo, one of the two Kashmiri translators. The Kashmiri text in the present volume was written on modern paper in easily legible Devanagari characters by using only a few more additional diacritic symbols. This publication contains an introduction written by Surindar Nath Pandita, a grandson of Pandit Nityanand Shastri. The book can be regarded as a conjoined twin of the partial Sanskrit translation of Don Quijote published as volume III of the Pune Indological Series in 2019. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/indian-religions

Embracing the Power of Surrender in the Bhagavad GitaWelcome to "Wisdom for the Ages." In the climactic final teachings of the Bhagavad Gita, Shri Krishna reveals the ultimate path to freedom, a concept encapsulated in a single, powerful Sanskrit word: Sharanagati. This is more than just a philosophical idea; it is a systematic path for transforming our consciousness, a direct response to the profound despair and confusion that gripped Arjuna on the battlefield. It is the secret to moving from anxiety-ridden effort to a life of grace, purpose, and love.What You'll Discover in This Episode:In this episode, we explore Sharanagati, the art and science of complete surrender as taught by Shri Krishna. We'll unpack why this teaching is considered "the most confidential of all" and how it resolves the timeless struggle between human effort and divine will. You will be guided through the six distinct stages of Sharanagati, a practical framework for anyone seeking to apply these profound truths in modern life. We will discuss:Accepting what is pleasing to the divine will (Anukulyasya Sankalpa).Rejecting what is displeasing (Pratikulyasya Varjana).Cultivating unshakeable faith that the divine will protect you (Raksisyatiti Visvasa).Formally accepting God as your protector (Goptrtve Varana).The act of complete self-offering (Atma-niksepa).Embracing total dependence and humility (Karpanya).Why Listen Now?Do you ever feel that your spiritual practices lead to more striving than peace? The path of Sharanagati dismantles this paradigm. It reveals how the power of surrender liberates us from the anxiety of outcomes. We'll explore the deep psychology behind this teaching, connecting it to the modern concept of "secure attachment". When we truly understand that we are the recipients of unconditional divine love, our actions cease to be fueled by fear and instead become joyful expressions of gratitude. This is the promise of Sharanagati—a shift from seeking love to realizing you are already beloved, transforming every part of your life.krsnadaasa (Servant of Krishna)

Text me your thoughts/questionsHello Magical Human & welcome back to Madison Mindset the Podcast

In the sacred journey of yoga, the figure of the guru—the teacher, the revealer—is not merely someone who instructs us in techniques. The guru is the light that removes darkness, the presence that dispels confusion, and the voice that calls us back to the Self. The Sanskrit word guru itself is formed from gu, meaning darkness, and ru, meaning remover. The guru is not the source of light—but the one who points us toward it, until we recognize it within.   Grace, or kṛpā, is not a transaction. It's not earned. It flows freely, when the heart becomes soft enough to receive it. The final verse of the Guru Stotram offers this reflection:   dhyānamūlaṁ guror mūrtiḥ pūjāmūlaṁ guror padam  mantramūlaṁ guror vākyam mokṣamūlaṁ guror kṛpā   The root of meditation is the Guru's form. The root of worship is the Guru's feet. The root of mantra is the Guru's words. And the root of mokṣa, liberation itself—is the Guru's grace.   This grace isn't limited to moments of instruction or dramatic realization. It flows in silence. It is in the way the teacher holds space. It is in the presence that awakens something long forgotten. It is in the unspoken transmission of śakti—spiritual energy—that begins to shift the very axis of the student's life.   This is the dance of grace and effort. The student bows, asks, serves—and the guru, moved by love, offers the truth that sets us free.   So what is our work as students, as seekers on this path? It is to recognize grace, to receive it with reverence, and to never forget that the true guru is not limited to any form. The ultimate guru-tattva lives in the heart of all beings—as śraddhā (faith), as viveka (discernment), as that subtle inner pull toward the light.   In honoring the guru, we honor the light of wisdom itself—formless, eternal, and infinitely compassionate.   Tasmai śrī gurave namaḥ — Salutations to that glorious Guru.   Practice LIVE with me exclusively on Omstars! Start your journey today with a 7-day free trial at omstars.com.   Limited time Offer: Sign up for an Omstars+ membership and Get my FREE course: Ashtanga Mechanics. Sign up Here!   Stay connected with us on social @omstarsofficial and @kinoyoga Practice with me in person for workshops, classes, retreats, trainings and Mysore seasons. Find out more about where I'm teaching at kinoyoga.com and sign up for our Mysore season in Miami at www.miamilifecenter.com

First, we present a rendition of Swami Vivekananda's profound and stirring song in Sanskrit to Shiva, the Great God along with an English translation by Swami Prabhavananda. I am especially fond of this song! We then make a few comments about why the days of the week are so significant and how to do a daily chanting practice based on the deity that is exalted on each day. Then, after a brief commentary on the Shiva Stotram and its origins and meaning, I make a case for music as a spiritual practice!Here is a playlist of all the kirtanas, bhajanas and musical performances in our community over the years!Support the showLectures happen live every Monday at 7pm PST and Friday 10am PST and again Friday at 6pm PST.Use this link and I will see you there:https://www.zoom.us/j/7028380815For more videos, guided meditations and instruction and for access to our lecture library, visit me at:https://www.patreon.com/yogawithnishTo get in on the discussion and access various spiritual materials, join our Discord here: https://discord.gg/U8zKP8yMrM

Have you ever had a deep conversation about a topic as personal as your beliefs about God, only to be told you didn't understand what you were talking about fully, and that all you knew about God was blowing smoke? Vedic scholar, poet and Sanskrit master Jeffrey Armstrong returns to the podcast for a spirited conversation with Paul about Higher Powers, practices versus beliefs and nondualism this week on Spirit Gym.Discover more about Jeffrey at his website and The Bhagavad Gita Comes Alive, YouTube, Vedic Vidya on Citti Media and on social media via Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest and Twitter. Jeffrey also offers AyurVedic Astrology consultations that include full life readings!For Spirit Gym listeners: Save 10 percent on the array of classes Jeffrey offers on his website. Tap the SHOP tab at the top of the page to find them. Use the promo code CHEK-VIP when you check out to receive your discount.Timestamps5:07 The word God is derived from the German word, gudan.12:48 Some 45,000 Christian denominations are practiced throughout the world.15:12 What the Bhagavad Gita offers that monotheistic religions don't.25:48 What the word God means to Jeffrey.33:16 A myth-understanding.45:26 The rules of supreme beings.1:06:31 Rebirthing life after life is like living in a perpetual university.1:10:05 Beliefs or practices?1:22:38 Non-duality.1:34:21 Differences in terminology.1:49:52 Experiencing chunks of Krishna.1:54:47 Navigating a difficult conversation with love and respect for both people.2:02:46 The Virata Purusha.2:06:01 Being a best friend is a practice too.ResourcesDreaming the Countless Worlds by Jeffrey ArmstrongFind more resources for this episode on our website.Music Credit: Meet Your Heroes (444Hz) by Brave as BearsAll Rights Reserved MusicFit Records 2024Thanks to our awesome sponsors:PaleovalleyBIOptimizers US and BIOptimizers UK PAUL10Organifi CHEK20Wild PasturesCHEK Institute/Scientific Core Conditioning We may earn commissions from qualifying purchases using affiliate links.

On today's solo episode of The Wholesome Fertility Podcast, I dive deep into the ancient practice of Pranayama, also known as yogic breathwork, and its profound impact on fertility. Breathwork may sound simple, or even unrelated to fertility, but the connection between your breath, nervous system, and reproductive health is incredibly powerful. In this episode, I explain how specific breathing techniques can shift your body from a state of stress into one of rest and regeneration, promoting hormone balance, improved digestion, and pelvic blood flow all critical components of a healthy fertility journey. You'll learn practical ways to integrate ancient breathing practices like Nadi Shodhana (alternate nostril breathing), Kapalabhati (breath of fire), Bhastrika (bellows breath), Bhramari (humming bee breath), and Ujjayi breathing into your daily routine. If you're feeling overwhelmed, stuck, or simply curious about new tools to support your body naturally, this episode is for you. Key Takeaways:  Breathwork regulates the nervous system, supporting hormonal balance and reproductive function. Ancient yogic practices like Pranayama offer free, accessible tools for stress reduction and enhanced vitality. Techniques like alternate nostril breathing and humming bee breath can be easily integrated into your daily life. Breath can help release emotional tension and stimulate vagal tone, a key player in fertility health. Conscious breathing increases oxygenation, supports digestion, and boosts clarity. For more information about Michelle, visit www.michelleoravitz.com To learn more about ancient wisdom and fertility, you can get Michelle's book at: https://www.michelleoravitz.com/thewayoffertility The Wholesome Fertility facebook group is where you can find free resources and support: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2149554308396504/ Instagram: @thewholesomelotusfertility Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thewholesomelotus/   Disclaimer: The information shared on this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Please consult with your healthcare provider before making any changes to your health or fertility care. --- Transcript: # TWF: 339 (solo episode) **Michelle:** [00:00:00] Episode number 339 of the Wholesome Fertility Podcast. Welcome back to the Wholesome Fertility Podcast. I'm your host, Michelle Orbitz, and today we're diving into a deeply healing and powerful practice that has stood the test of time. It's called Pranayama or yogic Breath Work. You might be surprised to hear just how much breath work could influence your mind and your nervous system, and then in turn influence your reproductive health. **Michelle:** 'cause we know that the nervous system plays such an important role on reproductive health. So if you wanna find out more about powerful breathing exercises that you can do so easily and they're free, that can influence your nervous system and how you feel. Overall, this episode is for you. **Michelle:** Welcome to the Wholesome Fertility Podcast. I'm Michelle, a [00:01:00] fertility acupuncturist here to provide you with resources on how to create a wholesome approach to your fertility journey. **Michelle:** So, so today I'm going to cover a very interesting topic, which is Pranayama. so this is an ancient Indian or yogi or yo guine practice that has been done for thousands of years. **Michelle:** Pranayama or yogic breath work **Michelle:** is extremely powerful And can really impact the mind and the nervous system. So if you wanna find out more on how to hack your nervous system, and if you've watched some of my earlier videos, I talk a lot about how your nervous system really can influence your fertility health because it gets you into a more rest and digest state. **Michelle:** And it can also influence your inflammation and your digestion and even create more balance in your hormones. So if you are trying to conceive and you wanna [00:02:00] find out how you can really hack your body and mind through pranayama this amazing ancient tradition, this amazing ancient practice, then stay tuned. **Michelle:** So you might be asking yourself, what exactly is pranayama? **Michelle:** So in Sanskrit prana means life force vitality. So it's very similar to what chi in Chinese medicine means, and it's the life force vitality that goes through our body. a yma means control or expansion. **Michelle:** So Pranayama in essence, is the art of controlling your breath to influence the life force vitality in your body. **Michelle:** So it's not just about breathing more deeply though. That's part of it. **Michelle:** It is about becoming aware of how your breathing can influence your hormone balance and your nervous system, **Michelle:** as well as reducing stress. And these are all really important and impactful things when you're trying to conceive. **Michelle:** So, although this [00:03:00] is coming from ancient India, this is something that can control all bodies and all different cultures. and it's one of the many gifts that we get from the ancient Vedas, Which is really linked to Ayurveda and yoga. The yogic tradition is the aspect of the physical, and it's more of the physical therapy aspect of it, but this is all part of really the science of life and how they're perceiving that you're able to, and how they're giving you tools to really access this amazing, intelligent life force that resides in your body. **Michelle:** So just to kind of give you a little bit of an overview. So Prana is very similar to Q, which is Life Force Vitality, and this is basically the life force that we have that is intelligent and that keeps our body warm and that keeps our body functioning. So this is something that really is intelligent because that aspect of our bodies is [00:04:00] what tells ourselves what to do, and it also helps the self-healing mechanism of the body. **Michelle:** And when we're in fight or flight, and I always come back to the nervous system than our body is more worried about survival. And regeneration is not as much of a priority because survival is more important. But what happens when we're in survival is that everything moves towards that survival, and it's not worried about digestion. **Michelle:** It's not worried about inflammation. All the things that are running in the background. And it can also impact your sleep because when you're trying to survive, you can't rest, you can't sleep, you can't afford to, you wanna survive, you wanna be alive. So that's ultimately how the nervous system operates. **Michelle:** But when we're getting that free flow of energy and that we're able to really be enriched with the QI and the life force of Prana, and we're able to get also in a more rest and digest mode, things will flow more easily and they're not gonna be as constricted as it does, as things [00:05:00] do happen with stress. **Michelle:** And ultimately as an acupuncturist, one of the biggest things that I do is I work a lot on pelvic energy flow and blood flow. So when there's more flow in your body, there's more blood flow, there's less constriction. And as we know, many times when people have high blood pressure, you know, your blood vessels are actually. **Michelle:** Muscle and those muscles tighten and it causes more constriction and more pressure. And we know that stress can even impact blood pressure. So that tightening is what happens when we're stressed, and ultimately that tightening is going to block. Impact, as I mentioned with the liberty, which is really its role, is to get that energy to flow. **Michelle:** So one of the ways that we can hack really our minds and our bodies is through pranayama. And today I'm gonna talk about a couple of different. Techniques of breathing that you can do that will [00:06:00] immediately have an impact on how you feel and how the energy and the prana in your body is able to flow, which ultimately will be beneficial not just for your body and your reproduction, but also your mind. **Michelle:** And I'm sure you know that if you are on the fertility journey, it can be very stressful. And when you're stressed, there's been studies that show that when you're stressed, you can't really make a clear minded decision. And as we know, when you're on the fertility journey, you need that decision making aspect of your mind because you are going through a lot of different choices and options that are being thrown at you. **Michelle:** So the first breath that I am going to be sharing with you is called Nadi Shaana, and that is alternate nostril breath. I like to call it the yin and yang pranayama, although that's not really the name, because it balances the yin and the yang in our brain. So both hemispheres of the brain start to function and come [00:07:00] together. **Michelle:** And this is one of the most immediate calming exercises that you can do. And what it does is it basically you alternate sides and you will block one nostril and breathe in, and you can breathe into like the count of four or the count of eight, whatever feels right. But if you slow it also, you'll start to feel a little more peace so you can actually breathe into the count of eight. **Michelle:** Then close both nostrils. So breathe in one nostril, close the right, and breathe in from the left. Breathe in to eight, and then hold both nostrils closed to the count of eight, and then exhale from the right to the count of eight. And then breathe back in from the same one, the right to the count of eight, close both nostrils, and then breathe out from the left and then breathe back in for the count of eight out, eight in hold it.[00:08:00]  **Michelle:** So basically just remember one specific count and you're gonna keep doing that and then alternate your nose. Now you're gonna notice that one nostril is going to be a little more clear than the other. And that is actually very normal. Our bodies tend to go more yin and yang throughout the day, so one side will feel one way and the other side will not feel that same way, and you'll find that that will alternate throughout the day. **Michelle:** And that's kind of an interesting thing, but our bodies do alternate and we're constantly getting to this place of homeostasis so that our body can find balance. But through that, we do have those two sides, those dualities, which is why doing something like this can be so powerful. **Michelle:** So by balancing, because our nose is directly opened, you know, the olfactory nerve, which is also the sense is directly linked or connected to the brain. So by alternating those two sides, of [00:09:00] breathing, you are creating that balance from the left and right hemispheres of the brain, and that also can create more clear thinking if you are feeling anxious and it's hard for you to really make a decision. **Michelle:** This is a great exercise to do, and what this also does is activate the parasympathetic nervous system, which is the more rest and digest nervous system. So if you're feeling extra stressed and you wanna slow down your mind, this is amazing. It also improves oxygenation and it also creates more mindfulness. **Michelle:** 'cause as you're doing it, you're being very conscious of how you're breathing and how you're feeling because it is a practice that you have to pay attention while you're doing it. **Michelle:** So you could do this in the beginning of your day and then you can do this at the end of the day. And it could be literally two minutes, two minutes in the morning and two minutes at night. And I think that it is really nice to actually do it in the beginning and end of the day. 'cause you're literally doing it at yin and yang times of your 24 hour cycle. **Michelle:** So it can help you when you [00:10:00] first start to wake up, and then you can help you end the day really nicely and support your nervous system as you go to sleep. So another one that is one of my favorites is called Kati, and that is skull shining breath. Or you may have heard this, called breath of fire. And so ultimately what it is, is working through your diaphragm and after you do it for a while, you literally feel like you are breathing fire. **Michelle:** 'cause you can feel a lot of fire in your diaphragm area. So the area that I'm talking about is really the soft area of your belly that's right underneath your ribs. So you start to feel this, it's kind of like right above, it's between the bottom of your ribs and your belly button, right in that solar plexus in that area. **Michelle:** So you can put your hands there Before I actually go into the description of how to do it, I wanna talk about what it does. Breath of fire is incredible for [00:11:00] digestion and it is one of the more stimulating breaths, and I remember one of my teachers mentioning That there was like a saying that as many breaths as you breathe, that we only have a certain amount of breaths for our life. **Michelle:** And that is why it's important to breathe slow. And the slower we breathe, the longer we can live. And I asked about this one because it's actually a very rapid type of breath, and they said, well, it's considered one breath because it's, you're not fully exhaling. **Michelle:** You're kind of like pumping throughout the whole time that you're doing it. So it's actually considered one breath. It's not considered, many different breaths. **Michelle:** so another thing, the reason why it's called Breath of Fire is because in Ayurvedic medicine, a lot of times they refer to something called Agni, which is our digestif fire. And that justifier, I guess you can say correlates to really our ability to break down foods And really the acid that we have in our stomach that can cook the [00:12:00] food and ultimately the breath of fire. And Agni is very, very important. And sometimes people will have diminished Agni from drinking too much cold or not really eating correctly. And so we don't want that. We wanna actually kindle that fire because when you kindle that fire, it will protect your body, increase your immune system, and also break down foods so that the rest of the digestive system, is able to really assimilate the nutrition from the food. **Michelle:** Another thing that it can do is clear, stagnant energy. And then when stagnant energy gets cleared, then you're getting more flow in the body and Prana is able to really move. So. This is one of the most powerful breaths to really get things moving. And the only thing that I would say with this, and really everything that I'm saying is not medical advice. **Michelle:** And I would also say be cautious. If you are about to do a retrieval, I would not do this breath because they are afraid [00:13:00] of ovarian torsion and this is something that you don't wanna mess with. So, and it is a very powerful and moving type of breath. **Michelle:** But I'd like to compare it to when the Native Americans used fire for brushes, you know, for, to get rid of like old weeds before they created new or planted new seeds. And this is one of those things, you're getting things outta the way, you're burning out the stagnation with this breath in order to get more flow and more new energy coming into the body. **Michelle:** so here's how you do it. So in between the bottom of your ribs and your belly button, so put your hand there and you could put both hands, one on top of the other. And what you do is you forcefully exhale, and you will find that when you do that, you're naturally going to bounce back almost like a rubber band where it just inhales. **Michelle:** By nature. And then you don't worry about the inhale 'cause it's gonna happen automatically and you just keep exhaling and you just [00:14:00] pump with the exhale. So you go and you'll feel that bounce when you have your hand there. And over time you'll find that it can get longer and longer as you practice. **Michelle:** In the beginning, you might get tired sooner and sometimes you might even find that it makes you cough. It is so purifying, it will actually make you cough up old mucus in your lungs. So it is pretty wild how it works. **Michelle:** So the next type of breath is called baa, and that is also called the bellows breath. And this is a little bit more active and I'll describe it so that you understand how to do it. **Michelle:** But first let me explain what it does. **Michelle:** So Bas Rica, very similar to the breath of fire, is also a breath that is very active and it can stoke the internal fire in our bodies. **Michelle:** It also involves very, forceful inhales and exhales. But in this case, you're gonna be [00:15:00] using the arms. **Michelle:** It is considered to activate the Kundalini energy in the body. This is the energy that runs up and down our spine and feeds really all of our organs and body **Michelle:** and supports our body's energetic flow. and it also is considered to have a balancing effect on the doshas. If you've watched my Ayurvedic video, I talk about the different doshas, which are really elements in your body, and this is considered to be a good breath that balances all of that. **Michelle:** It can also boost oxygenation and mental clarity. And how you do it is you raise your arms up and you have your hands out. So your hands are completely open and your arms are just raised up, and you inhale as you do that, And as you exhale, you close your hands and you bring your elbows to the side, so you bring your hands down so you inhale with your hands up. [00:16:00] stretch hands, and then you exhale forcefully as you bring it down, as if you're bringing something down or pulling something towards you from the top to the bottom. **Michelle:** So your elbows basically end up by your side and completely folded with your hands next to your shoulders in a fist. So inhale, bring your hands up. Wide open, exhale really forcefully as your hands go down into a fist next to your shoulders. **Michelle:** So this is kind of related to the breath of fire. There's definitely a lot of heat that will be coming out from it, It is a very good practice to really get that energy moving. If you feel like it's stuck. This is great. If you feel a lot of stress and you feel a lot going on. If you wanna come home and you feel like you've had a very stressful day, this is a great way to break that up. **Michelle:** So lastly, I'm going to cover something called Ari, or. Humming bee breath. **Michelle:** [00:17:00] So actually this breath and the way you're supposed to do it is one thing that we know for sure is a technique that stimulates the vagus nerve. And as we know, the vagus nerve is extremely important when it comes to reproductive health That's because it has so many different functions, and one of them, which is really key, is promoting really good digestive health, lowering inflammation, improving sleep, and on and on. **Michelle:** And it basically helps the body get into a parasympathetic mode. And one of the ways that is known to stimulate your vagus nerve is by humming. So this breath And another thing is that when you do hum on an exhale, you are actually by nature because you're using your voice, you slow down your breath. **Michelle:** So this is a great way to slow down your breath as you are exhaling. **Michelle:** So this can also reduce any emotional tension And it could also reduce heart rate and blood pressure. **Michelle:** so what you do for [00:18:00] this breath is inhale, fully hold it at the top, and then exhale with a humming sound. So. **Michelle:** And then you just breathe all the way out. So as you'll notice when you're humming, you actually slow down your breath, so it naturally slows down your breath, which has an immediate impact on any kind of state of anxiety. It will really calm your mind. So this is an amazing thing to do, and you can really do this while you're driving. **Michelle:** Just keep your eyes open for obvious reasons, But you could do this even while you're driving. If you're driving to a doctor's office and you're feeling really nervous, you can do that. a lot of times, om in my car, and this is just kind of one of the things that I do, and I find that it really, it, it feels like I'm singing a song, but I'm just oing. **Michelle:** So it feels really calming on my nervous system. It feels like an internal massage, having that vibration. So that can help a lot. And again, you could do this also at the end of the day if you had a lot of. Things [00:19:00] going on if it was a very intense day, and you can get yourself ready and your nervous system ready for more rest. **Michelle:** And actually that was not my last one. I have one more. and this is something that you can do at all times, and it's called UJA breathing. So if you practice yoga, you may have heard of UJA breathing because it's something that a lot of yogis will teach you to do during your yoga practice, and that is something that you can take with you really throughout the day. And what it is, is causing a little bit of constriction in your throat as you're breathing So that your breath could be a little louder. So it's kind of like this constriction where you're able to feel the breath going through your throat. so it's like making a little bit of a, a humming or a sound while your mouth is closed and you could practice. I'm sure you've done this naturally, even when you were little, And it's a very calming and very grounding breath. **Michelle:** It is thought to increase the lung capacity, and it's [00:20:00] also thought to balance out the heat in the body, and it's also thought to balance out the temperature in the body. So it's kind of like a yin and yang balance. **Michelle:** And it can also, since it's so grounding, promote a meditative state. So it's something that you can do, and this is one of the reasons why a lot of yogis use this during yoga, because ultimately yoga was a, was a practice that prepared yogis to meditate. It got the body into a state where it was able to meditate more deeply. **Michelle:** So just to reiterate, none of this is medical advice. It's not something that should ever take the place of what doctors tell you It should not be something that ever takes the place of medical. **Michelle:** Protocols that you've been given, and also to be aware or talk to your doctor if you are going through IVF, to talk to them about different breathing exercises and perhaps to pause on any of them during the IVF process. [00:21:00] If you have any questions or ideas for future episodes, I would love to hear from you. **Michelle:** I'm very active on Instagram and my handle is at the wholesome lotus fertility. I don't always respond right away, but I always eventually get to all of them. So thank you so much for tuning in today, and I hope you have a beautiful day. [00:22:00]     

Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com. Episode 3616: Kate Hesse shares how establishing a morning sadhana, a personalized spiritual practice, can bring calm, clarity, and intention to your day. Whether it's just a few minutes of breathwork or a more elaborate routine, she explains how to build a practice that meets you where you are and evolves with your life. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://nourishnestbreathe.com/sadhana/ Quotes to ponder: "Sadhana is Sanskrit for a daily spiritual practice." "Pick activities which fit into the time you have available without feeling rushed." "This practice is a living process." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com. Episode 3616: Kate Hesse shares how establishing a morning sadhana, a personalized spiritual practice, can bring calm, clarity, and intention to your day. Whether it's just a few minutes of breathwork or a more elaborate routine, she explains how to build a practice that meets you where you are and evolves with your life. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://nourishnestbreathe.com/sadhana/ Quotes to ponder: "Sadhana is Sanskrit for a daily spiritual practice." "Pick activities which fit into the time you have available without feeling rushed." "This practice is a living process." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com. Episode 3616: Kate Hesse shares how establishing a morning sadhana, a personalized spiritual practice, can bring calm, clarity, and intention to your day. Whether it's just a few minutes of breathwork or a more elaborate routine, she explains how to build a practice that meets you where you are and evolves with your life. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://nourishnestbreathe.com/sadhana/ Quotes to ponder: "Sadhana is Sanskrit for a daily spiritual practice." "Pick activities which fit into the time you have available without feeling rushed." "This practice is a living process." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mantras are far more than simple relaxation words—they are powerful sound vibrations and universal psychic forces accessible to anyone willing to study and practice them. Derived from Sanskrit roots meaning "mind" (man) and "liberation/protection" (tra), mantras serve to liberate energy, expand awareness, heal, and enlighten the mind while accessing our limitless creative potential.Beyond Words: The Science of SoundUnlike ordinary words, mantras consist of letters and syllables combined through complex esoteric mathematical systems passed down through millennia. These combinations create specific sound vibrations that induce elevated states of consciousness. Mantras work similarly to music, affecting our thoughts, emotions, and entire state of being through energetic vibrations that penetrate deep into our psyche.The mantra system operates through two complementary aspects: name (mantra) and form (yantra). The sound itself liberates energy trapped in limiting mental patterns, while the corresponding visual symbol or image concentrates awareness and awakens psychic power. This dual approach helps practitioners break free from conditioning and expand their understanding of reality.Psychological ApplicationsFrom a psychological perspective, mantras function as sophisticated mind tools that break destructive thinking patterns. They work like gentle mental massages, spreading sound vibrations throughout the mind and enabling access to profound, joyful aspects of ourselves usually hidden beneath constant mental chatter. This process releases energy from neurotic patterns, redirecting it toward healing, creativity, and a higher level of consciousness.Mantras operate by balancing the three fundamental forces of nature (gunas): tamas (darkness/inertia), rajas (restless desire), and sattwa (luminous clarity). Being primarily sattwic in nature, mantras stimulate awareness of mental processes while expanding positive energy, balance, and inner joy. They can calm anxiety, energize depression, heal trauma, and influence entire personality patterns.Spiritual Practice and DevelopmentWithin the yoga system, mantra yoga serves as an intermediary stage between physical preparation (Hatha yoga) and advanced consciousness practices (Laya and Raja yoga). Different personality types—active (karma), devotional (bhakti), intellectual (jnana), or mystical (raja)—approach mantras according to their temperament, using them either as religious tools or purely psychological instruments.Two primary meditation techniques exist: japa (repetitive chanting) and ajapa japa (mantras synchronized with the breath). The most powerful mantras include AUM (the fundamental cosmic sound) and HAMSA (the natural breath mantra). Through consistent practice, these sounds eventually repeat spontaneously, creating continuous inner vibration that stimulates bliss, self-knowledge, and spiritual awakening.Universal WisdomWhile India's ancient sages developed mantra science to an extraordinary sophistication over thousands of years, mantras themselves are universal forces that exist in all cultures and psyches. They represent proto-thoughts and primal energies vibrating in our unconscious depths, which have been discovered by mystics during deep meditation and made accessible through the Sanskrit language.Mantras should be understood as pure sound vibrations rather than religious tools, though they can serve both scientific and spiritual purposes. They function as building blocks of consciousness itself, capable of transforming practitioners at personal levels (releasing trapped mental energy) and transcendent levels (awakening knowledge of the highest Self).This ancient science offers profound pathways for healing, psychological growth, and spiritual evolution, providing practical tools for anyone seeking to...

Welcome to Brief Encounters—where history's strangest moments collide with the unexplained. A golden craft, shaped like a chariot, but airborne.It moves not by wheels or wings—but by something called “mercury propulsion.”It can soar from city to city, vanish into clouds, even fire beams of energy. No, this isn't a futuristic sci-fi novel. These are descriptions from ancient Sanskrit texts, some written thousands of years ago. And they describe flying machines—with detail, mechanics, and battle capabilities that sound eerily modern. They're called Vimanas.And in ancient India, they weren't myth—they were real.Brief Encounters is a tightly produced, narrative podcast that dives headfirst into the world of UFO sightings, the paranormal, cryptids, myths, and unexplained legends. From ancient sky wars to modern close encounters, each episode takes listeners on a journey through some of the most mysterious and compelling cases in human history. Whether it's a well-documented military sighting or an eerie village legend whispered across generations, Brief Encounters delivers each story with atmosphere, depth, and cinematic storytelling. Episodes are short and binge-worthy — perfect for curious minds on the go. In just 5 to 10 minutes, listeners are pulled into carefully researched accounts that blend historical context, eyewitness testimony, and chilling details. The series moves between eras and continents, uncovering not only the famous cases you've heard of, but also the forgotten incidents that deserve a closer look. Each story is treated with respect, skepticism, and wonder — offering both seasoned enthusiasts and casual listeners something fresh to consider. Whether it's a 15th-century sky battle over Europe, a cryptid sighting in a remote forest, or a modern-day abduction report from rural America, Brief Encounters is your guide through the shadows of our world — and the stories that refuse to be explained.UFO Chronicles Podcast can be found on all podcast players and on the website: https://ufochroniclespodcast.comBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/ufo-chronicles-podcast--3395068/support.

Periodically on TRUST ME I KNOW WHAT I'm DOING , we share a SPOTLIGHT conversation and feature brief chats with an individual from the community about a special topic or a unique endeavor. Now while we truly should strive for mental wellness all the time, May is mental health awareness month, and there's no more obvious place to focus our energy than on something we too often take for granted… our breathing. So I'm going to take a yogic approach, drawing from the teachings of both my parents who are yoga instructors and remembering some of the daily habits of my grandparents. Breathing is essentially the most outward demonstration of our “prana”, the Sanskrit word that refers to our innate universal life force, and through “ayama” the Sanskrit word which  means to  regulate or control or lengthen, we can therefore use the practice of "pranayama" to not just consciously understand our breathing, but also optimize and even increase that life force and harmonize our mind, body, and spirit. Now whether it's deeply practicing this living science of pranayama or simply pausing briefly to become more conscious of our breathing, the benefits can be quite extensive for so many physical and mental concerns.  So it was especially terrific to have a conversation about…well… breathing with Dr. Amit Anand, who is a pulmonary, critical care, and sleep medicine specialist AND a master yoga teacher -  truly a breathing superhero. With an academic medicine background, training in both Mumbai at KEM and in Boston at Harvard, Amit has been a rigorous practitioner, clinical teacher, and researcher.  Fortunately for many patients and students alike, he has taken his experience and integrated this evidence based medical approach with an expertise in yoga training, meditation, breathwork, and pranayama. Amit is the founder of Pranayamarx,  leading live and online yoga workshops and pranayama courses. He is also the co-founder of Breathonance,  a science-based breathwork experience that integrates the yogic teachings of Pranayama with resonant musical rhythms. I actually caught a live demo this year and I was struck by a few things: the importance of creating space for this, how little time was actually required vs the perception of what was required, and the beautiful convergence of music, meditation, and breathing.  Now, I know that all of you know this, but the content and conversation here should not be taken as medical advice, and is for informational purposes only, and because each person is so unique, please consult your own healthcare professional team for any medical questions. And so as Amit and I caught up to chat, we started with the very basic question that was in front of both of us particularly as doctors, in why we all tend to be so painfully unaware of our own breathing?And you can visit breathonance.com to learn more about Amit's vision and the musical expertise of co-founder Clint Valladares

Welcome to Brief Encounters—where history's strangest moments collide with the unexplained. A golden craft, shaped like a chariot, but airborne.It moves not by wheels or wings—but by something called “mercury propulsion.”It can soar from city to city, vanish into clouds, even fire beams of energy. No, this isn't a futuristic sci-fi novel. These are descriptions from ancient Sanskrit texts, some written thousands of years ago. And they describe flying machines—with detail, mechanics, and battle capabilities that sound eerily modern. They're called Vimanas.And in ancient India, they weren't myth—they were real.Brief Encounters is a tightly produced, narrative podcast that dives headfirst into the world of UFO sightings, the paranormal, cryptids, myths, and unexplained legends. From ancient sky wars to modern close encounters, each episode takes listeners on a journey through some of the most mysterious and compelling cases in human history. Whether it's a well-documented military sighting or an eerie village legend whispered across generations, Brief Encounters delivers each story with atmosphere, depth, and cinematic storytelling. Episodes are short and binge-worthy — perfect for curious minds on the go. In just 5 to 10 minutes, listeners are pulled into carefully researched accounts that blend historical context, eyewitness testimony, and chilling details. The series moves between eras and continents, uncovering not only the famous cases you've heard of, but also the forgotten incidents that deserve a closer look. Each story is treated with respect, skepticism, and wonder — offering both seasoned enthusiasts and casual listeners something fresh to consider. Whether it's a 15th-century sky battle over Europe, a cryptid sighting in a remote forest, or a modern-day abduction report from rural America, Brief Encounters is your guide through the shadows of our world — and the stories that refuse to be explained.UFO Chronicles Podcast can be found on all podcast players and on the website: https://ufochroniclespodcast.comBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/ufo-chronicles-podcast--3395068/support.

This week, I had the absolute pleasure of sitting down with a true Renaissance man of our time — Steven Puri, Founder and CEO of The Sukha Company (and yes, sukha means “happiness from self-fulfillment” in Sanskrit — how perfect is that?).Steven's life journey is anything but ordinary: from newscaster to tech wizard at IBM, to the Academy Award–winning visual effects world of Independence Day, to producing blockbuster films like Star Trek and Transformers, and now... helping millions of people lead more focused, fulfilling, and conscious work lives. Talk about a life lived on purpose!Here's what you will discover in this new podcast episode:1. Redefining Productivity Through Consciousness2. Benefits of Conscious calendaring3. Breaking Free from To-Do List Overwhelm4. Tools to Enhance Focus and Flow5. The Power of Community and Contagious Energy6. Creating Mindful Workspaces and Hybrid FlowSteven lives and breathes what it means to be a conscious creator — and in this episode, he generously shares his wisdom on how we can all do the same.Tune in now, and let's co-create a life where work feels like a joy, not a job.

For centuries, polyglots and the linguistically curious have pointed out the similarities between certain languages of the Eurasian continent. Dante stirred controversy when he first posited that all the Romance languages—Spanish, Portuguese, French, Italian, and Romanian—derived from Latin. But by 1786, the British judge and philologist Sir William “Oriental” Jones was applauded when he famously asserted that Sanskrit, Latin, and Greek had “sprung from some common source.” Some 450 years later, linguists and archaeologists have filled in many of the gaps in our knowledge of this common source, called Proto-Indo-European, and sketched out its family tree, the branches of which extend from Scotland to China. But over the past two decades, the study of paleogenetics has radically advanced our understanding of this language—and the people who spoke it some 5,000 years ago. In her new book, Proto: How One Ancient Language Went Global, science journalist Laura Spinney tells their story, and that of their linguistic—and in some cases, genetic—offspring, which constitute the world's largest language family.Go beyond the episode:Laura Spinney's Proto: How One Ancient Language Went GlobalOne enduring Indo-European mystery? How Celtic got to IrelandRead the two landmark 2015 studies in Nature identifying the Yamnaya's genetic contributions to EuropePreviously on Smarty Pants: how a language dies, how to live like a NeolithicTune in every (other) week to catch interviews with the liveliest voices from literature, the arts, sciences, history, and public affairs; reports on cutting-edge works in progress; long-form narratives; and compelling excerpts from new books. Hosted by Stephanie Bastek and sponsored by the Phi Beta Kappa Society.Subscribe: iTunes/Apple • Amazon • Google • Acast • Pandora • RSS FeedHave suggestions for projects you'd like us to catch up on, or writers you want to hear from? Send us a note: podcast [at] theamericanscholar [dot] org. And rate us on iTunes! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“Consciousness is love, it is who I truly am.” Today I chat with celebrated yoga teacher and author Reema Datta who is on a mission to change that with her recent book The Yogi's Way: Transform Your Mind, Health, and Reality, which offers a twelve-week self-guided course that empowers readers to break free from the destructive tendencies of their minds and experience lasting peace.Reema shares insights from her own sadhana and of course, her book, exploring the profound influence of family on her spiritual journey, the importance of inner peace, and the foundations of yoga practice. She emphasizes the teachings of Advaita Vedanta, the interconnection of service and spirituality, and the need for cultural sensitivity in yoga.Here are some highlights I took away with me; ➖The essence of yoga goes beyond physical practice➖The real teachings focus on mental purification, which requires meditation & contemplation➖Service & spirituality go hand in hand➖Cultural sensitivity is crucial in sharing yoga practices➖It's okay to mispronounce Sanskrit; focus on intention & authenticity ➖All-day yoga emphasizes breath awareness throughout daily life➖Yoga and Ayurveda work together for self-realization and healing➖Community & friends on this path are essentialVisit Reema online and join her 12-week Yogi's Way Course Starting September 21st www.ReemaYoga.comBuy the book HEREConnect with Reema on IG @reemayogaI really enjoyed Reema's book and this beautiful conversation. They highlight the need for a broader, more enriched narrative about the teachings of yoga and how we live them daily. I'd highly recommend both as support for your yoga, wherever you are in your journey. In oneness, Bobbi Thanks for listening!

Tyler Neill discusses the new platform Pāṇḍitya, an online graph visualization tool illustrating connections between works and authors in the Pandit Prosopographical Database of Indic Texts. It also facilitates exploration of the Sanskrit E-Text Inventory (SETI) as an overlay on the Pandit network.  Tyler's blog "Sanskrit and Tech with Tyler" is here.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/literary-studies

Welcome to Rhythm Divine! What if instead of Shri Krishna chanting the Bhagavad Gita to you in Sanskrit, He was rapping it to you in English? Would you resonate more with His message? A team from across North America, guided by Shri Vivek Gupta of Chinmaya Mission Niagara, has worked to make this a reality, translating the top 70 verses (10%) of the Bhagavad Gita into English, in the same meter as the original -- to bring the authentic message of the Divine into a modern rhythm for contemporary audiences. In this episode, we're tuning into the divine message from Chapters 16-18.Listen to previous Sections:Section 1 (Ch. 1-3) - The Clear Don't FearSection 2 (Ch. 4-6) -  Get Pure, Feel SecureSection 3 (Ch. 7-9) - Uncover Your Inner LoverSection 4 (Ch. 10-12) - It's All Me, Don't You See?Section 5 (Ch. 13-15) -  Time to Feel What's RealPoets: Bhagavan Krishna, Shri Vivekji, and Sudarshan AtmavilasRappers: Sudarshan Atmavilas and Ananya ChakravartiSinger: Divya SundaramMridangam and Kanjira: Aryan RameshPiano: Divya SundaramBansuri: Chethan AnantProducers: Chethan Anant and Divya SundaramFor those on the journey of self-development, Chinmaya Mission Niagara provides a community forum to listen, reflect, and contemplate. Follow us on Instagram and Facebook for more updates about upcoming live workshops, courses, and more!

Playing guitar is more fun - and definitely easier - when your mind and body are relaxed and flexible. The Yo-Guitar videos help you with that, and the newest one gets your blood pumping too! In this episode, Marlene describes the latest Yo-Guitar video, Sun Salutations 2. She talks about the 12 asanas (poses), which include Child's Pose, and shares their Sanskrit names too!  Start Your Free 7-day YoGuitar Video Library Trial! Join our Guitar Tips Community! Our next community jam session is 6/18, don't miss out! Marlene's Guitar Courses & Learning Resources YoGuitar Video Library Learn to Play Guitar in a Day!  Coaching Sessions Marlene's Tips For Guitar Playing Success book Thursday Tips blog Thank you to our sponsor! GatorCo.com   Available on... @YouTube @applepodcasts @applemusic @spotify  @spotifypodcasts  #YoGuitar #yoga #yogaforguitarists #SunSalutations #Childspose #asanas #guitar #learnguitar #playguitar #guitartips #guitarpodcast  Credits: Creator, Host, Producer: Marlene Hutchinson This podcast was made possible in part by: Gator Cases I Create Sound - For help getting your best sound go to www.icreatesound.com

Tyler Neill discusses the new platform Pāṇḍitya, an online graph visualization tool illustrating connections between works and authors in the Pandit Prosopographical Database of Indic Texts. It also facilitates exploration of the Sanskrit E-Text Inventory (SETI) as an overlay on the Pandit network.  Tyler's blog "Sanskrit and Tech with Tyler" is here.  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

Tyler Neill discusses the new platform Pāṇḍitya, an online graph visualization tool illustrating connections between works and authors in the Pandit Prosopographical Database of Indic Texts. It also facilitates exploration of the Sanskrit E-Text Inventory (SETI) as an overlay on the Pandit network.  Tyler's blog "Sanskrit and Tech with Tyler" is here.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tyler Neill discusses the new platform Pāṇḍitya, an online graph visualization tool illustrating connections between works and authors in the Pandit Prosopographical Database of Indic Texts. It also facilitates exploration of the Sanskrit E-Text Inventory (SETI) as an overlay on the Pandit network.  Tyler's blog "Sanskrit and Tech with Tyler" is here.  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

Tyler Neill discusses the new platform Pāṇḍitya, an online graph visualization tool illustrating connections between works and authors in the Pandit Prosopographical Database of Indic Texts. It also facilitates exploration of the Sanskrit E-Text Inventory (SETI) as an overlay on the Pandit network.  Tyler's blog "Sanskrit and Tech with Tyler" is here.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/indian-religions

Tom Goldenberg joins The Great Battlefield podcast to talk about teaching Sanskrit in India, working on tech startups, running for Mayor and founding Victory Waves, where they're building an AI Voter CRM.

Welcome to Rhythm Divine! What if instead of Shri Krishna chanting the Bhagavad Gita to you in Sanskrit, He was rapping it to you in English? Would you resonate more with His message? A team from across North America, guided by Shri Vivek Gupta of Chinmaya Mission Niagara, has worked to make this a reality, translating the top 70 verses (10%) of the Bhagavad Gita into English, in the same meter as the original -- to bring the authentic message of the Divine into a modern rhythm for contemporary audiences. In this episode, we're tuning into the divine message from Chapters 13-15.Listen to previous Sections:Section 1 (Ch. 1-3) - The Clear Don't FearSection 2 (Ch. 4-6) -  Get Pure, Feel SecureSection 3 (Ch. 7-9) - Uncover Your Inner LoverSection 4 (Ch. 10-12) - It's All Me, Don't You See?Poets: Bhagavan Krishna, Shri Vivekji, and Sudarshan AtmavilasRappers: Sudarshan Atmavilas and Ananya ChakravartiSinger: Divya SundaramMridangam and Kanjira: Aryan RameshPiano: Divya SundaramBansuri: Chethan AnantProducers: Chethan Anant and Divya SundaramFor those on the journey of self-development, Chinmaya Mission Niagara provides a community forum to listen, reflect, and contemplate. Follow us on Instagram and Facebook for more updates about upcoming live workshops, courses, and more!

The Mirror of Ornaments (Alaṅkāradappaṇō) defines and exemplifies 42 figures of speech or “ornaments” in 134 verses. It is the only surviving work of poetics in Prakrit, a literary language closely related to Sanskrit. It is one of the earliest representatives of the larger Indian discourse on poetics, and is especially closely linked to Bhāmaha's Ornament of Literature (Kāvyālaṅkāra). This book includes an introduction, annotated translation, glossary, and diplomatic and critical editions of the single surviving manuscript of the Mirror of Ornaments. 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

The Mirror of Ornaments (Alaṅkāradappaṇō) defines and exemplifies 42 figures of speech or “ornaments” in 134 verses. It is the only surviving work of poetics in Prakrit, a literary language closely related to Sanskrit. It is one of the earliest representatives of the larger Indian discourse on poetics, and is especially closely linked to Bhāmaha's Ornament of Literature (Kāvyālaṅkāra). This book includes an introduction, annotated translation, glossary, and diplomatic and critical editions of the single surviving manuscript of the Mirror of Ornaments. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Mirror of Ornaments (Alaṅkāradappaṇō) defines and exemplifies 42 figures of speech or “ornaments” in 134 verses. It is the only surviving work of poetics in Prakrit, a literary language closely related to Sanskrit. It is one of the earliest representatives of the larger Indian discourse on poetics, and is especially closely linked to Bhāmaha's Ornament of Literature (Kāvyālaṅkāra). This book includes an introduction, annotated translation, glossary, and diplomatic and critical editions of the single surviving manuscript of the Mirror of Ornaments. 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

"The only important thing is peace, and peace is your true nature.”In this enlightening episode, I'm talking to a friend and master yogini, Deep Priya, who has been teaching Patanjali Yog Sutras since 1986. Deep Priya shares her profound journey through yoga, dance, and meditation, exploring the interconnectedness of these practices.The conversation delves into the essence of the witness self, the nature of the mind, and the path to liberation through meditation and self-awareness.Deep Priya explores and emphasizes the importance of being present in the moment, understanding the nature of thoughts, and the journey towards achieving peace through meditation. The discussion delves into the differences between samadhi and kevalya, the significance of Patanjali's wisdom in modern life, and the transformative power of meditation in accessing deeper states of consciousness.Here are some key takeaways:➖Authenticity in dance and yoga comes from deep self-awareness➖Patanjali's teachings serve as a guide for meditators seeking liberation➖The witness self is a crucial aspect of understanding one's true nature➖Meditation is essential for comprehending Patanjali's teachings➖The mind's perception can be both beneficial and detrimental➖Kundalini represents a deeper connection to the universe➖The journey of self-discovery is ongoing and requires patience➖The essence of yoga is to achieve peace, and peace is the ultimate goal of spiritual practiceMake sure to head over to A Curious Yogi Patreon page to listen to Deep Priya's full audio track of Sanskrit singing Patanjali's first Paad.And join me for Living Yoga Sadhana 6-week Immersion beginning May 18th HEREI truly enjoyed and was delighted by this conversation and all the inspiration and wisdom Deep Priya shared. I promise you will, too.In oneness,BobbiThanks for listening!

The Mirror of Ornaments (Alaṅkāradappaṇō) defines and exemplifies 42 figures of speech or “ornaments” in 134 verses. It is the only surviving work of poetics in Prakrit, a literary language closely related to Sanskrit. It is one of the earliest representatives of the larger Indian discourse on poetics, and is especially closely linked to Bhāmaha's Ornament of Literature (Kāvyālaṅkāra). This book includes an introduction, annotated translation, glossary, and diplomatic and critical editions of the single surviving manuscript of the Mirror of Ornaments. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/indian-religions

Radhika Vekaria is a Grammy-nominated artist whose music blends her Indian, East African, and British roots with ancient Sanskrit influences. Known for her transcendent, boundary-defying music, her latest album, Warriors of Light, was nominated for a Grammy in the New Age, Ambient, and Chant category. Having collaborated with icons such as Prince and Deepak Chopra, Radhika bridges tradition and innovation. Rooted in classical Indian music and sound healing, her work invites listeners on a soulful journey of meditation and self-discovery.Timestamps:(02:46) The powerful advice and inspiration behind her album Warriors of Light. (11:22) Overcoming a speech impediment and learning to fight for her voice—literally and metaphorically.(13:26) The gift of silence and how it revealed what truly matters to her.(17:05) The recurring themes and stories she hears through her vocal coaching work.(36:53) Why being heard doesn't require being the loudest and the importance of longevity of your voice.(40:39) Becoming the voice of the Chopra Center's Yoga Teacher Training program and what that meant to her.(44:58) Her reflections on being Grammy-nominated.To learn more about Radhika's work, visit https://www.radhikavekaria.com/IG: https://www.instagram.com/radhikavekaria_/#Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/gb/album/warriors-of-light/1762327106For 10% off Next Level Healer, visit https://www.leeharrisenergy.com/healer and use code HEALER10.

"Zen in Our Time" and "Connecting the Dots" are themes that I have hit upon for 2025, forming the thread running through (one meaning of "sutra") all of my DharmaByte newsletter columns and online UnMind podcasts this year. Contextualizing the teachings and legacy of Zen in modern times — without throwing the baby out with the bathwater — is key to transmitting Zen's legacy. Connecting the dots in the vast matrix of Dharma — while bridging the gap between 500 BC to 2025 CE in terms of the cultures, causes and conditions — is necessary to foster the evolution of Shakyamuni's Great Vow, from the closing verse of the Lotus Sutra's Lifespan Chapter: I am always thinking: by what means can I cause sentient beings to be able to enter the highest path and quickly attain the Dharma? As in so many aspects of our overloaded society, when contemplating the next column or podcast, the question always arises, "Where do I begin?" I turn to my collaborators — Hokai Jeff Harper, publisher of the newsletter, and Shinjin Larry Little, producer of the podcast — for clarity and inspiration. Jeff responded to my call for suggested topics with an intriguing trio: • To everything there is a season• The wax and wane of householder zazen practice• What we are feeling right now IS impermanence manifesting itself Instead of choosing one over the others, it occurred to me that all three are important. And they are interrelated, in a kind of fish-trap narrowing of focus, from the universal span of spacetime as a causal nexus for humankind; then homing in on the social level, considering the modern householder's vacillation in attempting to pursue what began long ago as a monastic lifestyle; and finally zeroing in on the personal: the intimacy of realization within the immediate flow of reality. I will attempt to treat them in succession over the next three installments, in the context of transmission of Zen's Original Mind. TO EVERYTHING THERE IS A SEASONIf you find the 1960s Pete Seeger song popularized by the Byrds running through your brain, you are not alone. If you recollect the poem from Ecclesiastes — which I studied in a unique, small-town high school literature course — you may be hearing echoes of: To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace. Or from Tozan Ryokai: Within causes and conditions, time and season, IT is serene and illuminating And finally, from Dogen Zenji: Firewood becomes ash and it does not become firewood again.Yet do not suppose that the ash is future and the firewood past. You should understand that firewood abides in the phenomenal expression of firewood, which fully includes past and future, and is independent of past and future. Ash abides in the phenomenal expression of ash, which fully includes future and past.
 Just as firewood does not become firewood again after it is ash, you do not return to birth after death... Birth is an expression complete this moment; death is an expression complete this moment. They are like winter and spring; you do not call winter the "beginning" of spring, nor summer the "end" of spring. There are many more such incisive and insightful references to time in the literature of Zen, as well as Western thinking, of course, most notably Master Dogen's fascicle titled "Uji," which translates as something like "Being-time," "Existence-time," or "Living time," as Uchiyama-roshi renders it. This 13th Century writing is said to have anticipated the theory of Relativity, Einsteins' prodigious accomplishment, perhaps the most important scientific breakthrough of the 20th Century. But these few recollections from the rich legacy of Zen's written record will suffice for our purposes of connecting some of the dots in Indra's Net, or the modern components of the "Matrix of the Thus-Come One" as described in the Surangama Sutra. Scanning the Biblical poem, it is striking to see so many various activities and reactions to the obligations and behaviors of daily human life listed in equally dispassionate terms, not implying false equivalencies, but for example to blithely assert that there is "a time to kill" and "a time to heal"; "a time of war" and "a time of peace" — in the same breath — is in itself breathtaking, considering the admonition against killing, or murder, found in the Ten Commandments as well as the first Five Grave Precepts of Buddhism. Jumping to Master Tozan, or Dongshan, the founder of Soto Zen in 9th Century China, we find a hint of some resolution of the "whole catastrophe" in his reference to "IT" being "serene and illuminating," regardless of time and season, causes and conditions. This "it" appears in various Buddhist sayings and teachings, as tathata in Sanskrit — the inexpressible; or inmo in Japanese — the ineffable, the essential. These all point to what I analogize as a "singularity of consciouness" that emerges in zazen, where we pass the event horizon of conventional perception — the mind collapsing inward of its own mass — returning to and revealing our Original Mind, merging subject and object, duality and nonduality, in mokurai — the resolution of all apparent dichotomies. Earlier in Tozan's Precious Mirror Samadhi, or Hokyo Zammai, from which the above quote is taken, he magnifies the central place of this "it" in the experiential realm of Zen realization: Although IT is not constructed, IT is not beyond wordsLike facing a precious mirror, form and reflection behold each otherYou are not IT but in truth IT is you Master Dogen's coinage of "the backward step" captures this 180-degree attitude adjustment in the way we usually approach learning, self-improvement, and general development as human beings on the learning curve of reality. "From the very beginning all beings are buddhas," as Hakuin Zenji, 18th Century Rinzai Zen master, poet and artist states in the first line of his famous poem, "Song of Zazen." For every thing there may be a season, but when it comes to the most important thing in Buddhism, there is fundamentally no change — from beginning to middle to end — of this "poor player," life, strutting and fretting his/her hour upon the stage. In another line from Chinese Zen, the third Ancestor in 6th Century China captures this succinctly: Change appearing to occur in the empty world we call realonly because of our ignorance. So, somehow, once again, we are getting it all wrong, backwards. Our recourse is, of course, to get our butts back to the cushion; trust the original mind; take the backward step; and embrace the revolutionary notion that WE are not IT, but in truth IT is US. I cannot resist the urge to close this segment with one of my favorite quotes from the great Master Pogo: We have met the enemy and he is us. It may be a comfort to realize that "mine enemy grows older" as we age. We just have to outlive our enemies, including our own ignorance. Next month we will take up the second suggestion, the waxing and waning of householder zazen practice. Been there, done that.

Steven Puri, Founder and CEO of The Sukha Company and former Academy Award-winning CGI producer and Hollywood executive, shares his insights from movie production and experiences as a tech entrepreneur. Emphasizing applied learning, Steven offers strategic and tactical insights for designing remote and hybrid work, cultivating focus, and supporting fulfilled cohesive teams to reduce churn. Drawing parallels with the Hollywood model, he discusses project-based collaboration, individualized productivity rhythms, and creating environments that support deep, self-directed learning and growth.     TAKEAWAYS   [01:33] Steven shares how each beneficial life opportunity has come from unexpected “left turns.”   [01:57] Early on, Steven balances interests in journalism and coding, influenced by his engineer parents.   [03:42] At USC, Steven's tech fluency gives him entrée to film during the shift from analog to digital.   [04:30] Working on trailers and music videos, Steven connects with aspiring filmmakers and directors.   [05:26] Independence Day needs digital effects launching Steven's Hollywood experience producing visual effects for major directors and films.   [06:49] Co-founding a company after Academy Award success, the team delivers for investors.   [10:43] Returning to technology to have agency, Steven starts and raises money for two tech companies.   [12:01] Reviewing failed ventures, Steven's top learning is to listen more to others.   [13:30] Recognizing the Hollywood production cycle has always operated in remote, hybrid and in-person phases.   [14:50] How remote/hybrid/in-person phases of filmmaking offer insights for modern work design.   [15:37] The principle about personal productivity is to find a dedicated place where your mind settles.   [18:17] In film projects, separation of visionary and operational leadership roles is critical.   [19:18] ‘Flow' principles—such as feedback loops and daily metrics—enables continuous improvement.   [20:42] End of day progress reviews in film production supports high-intensity teamwork.   [23:32] Creative breakthroughs are enabled when the brain is distracted, not singularly focused.   [27:07] Steven buys a friend's startup's code base to build upon the to-do list using Hollywood learning. [28:07] The Sukha platform is rooted in work design insights to enable deep focus.   [29:55] The app improves focus by limiting overwhelm and breaking major tasks into sub-steps.   [31:07] Sukha's assistant adapts to personal styles—momentum-building or starting with difficult tasks.   [33:38] Understanding your own work rhythms to optimize for deep productivity.   [35:17] Sukha uses curated music and real environmental sounds scientifically tuned for flow states.   [37:30] Timers and breaks prevent burnout and encourage brain recovery post-focus.   [38:49] Feedbacks help users learn from distractions and track progress with real-time productivity scores.   [40:08] Optional co-working “coffee shop” to share energy and foster community accountability.   [41:06] Social facilitation theory supports the idea that seeing others work can increase your output.   [44:41] A user describes how Sukha helps him be being present with his kids or lose the whole day.   [45:46] The goal is not just productivity, but meaningful, self-fulfilling work that leads to happiness.   [46:18] Steven renames the company “Sukha” - a Sanskrit word meaning happiness and self-fulfillment – which is his ultimate goal for people to achieve.   [46:51] IMMEDIATE ACTION TIP: Cultivating self-fulfilled, cohesive teams reduces churn. If people are enabled to do great work, they want to stay.       RESOURCES   Steven Puri on LinkedIn The Sukha Company website Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World by Cal Newport       QUOTES   “That pulse has existed for a hundred years in film. It is very well respected. Here's what you do as a leader of these teams that are remote, hybrid, in person, hybrid, remote.” “Set your environment up properly—that's one principle of getting into flow.” “The principle about productivity, even if you work from your home, have a dedicated place where your mind settles into, ‘oh this is where I focus'.” “You can only be as good as you want to be. We are just tools to help you be great. To do something that you're capable of. You have inside you something great if we can help you get it out. That's why I'm here.” “We want to evoke that coffee shop—that clubhouse of people all trying to write the next great script.” About creativity: “It's always about the other thing.”

Radhika Vekaria is a Grammy-nominated British-Indian artist known for blending ancient Sanskrit mantras with modern soundscapes to create spiritually immersive music. Having overcome a childhood speech impediment through singing, she now uses her voice as a tool for healing and transformation. Her acclaimed album Warriors of Light earned her a 2025 Grammy nomination, and she has collaborated with global artists, including Prince and Deepak Chopra. Rooted in Vedic traditions, Radhika's music bridges cultures, languages, and generations.

The longest poem ever written is a 4,000-year-old Sanskrit epic called the “Mahabharata,” which clocks in at roughly 1.8 million words. But the poem's daunting length didn't stop Toronto's Why Not Theatre from adapting it into a large-scale play of the same name. Miriam Fernandes, the co-creator and star of the show, joins Tom Power to tell us exactly what it took to bring this ancient Sanskrit epic to the stage. If you're looking for more conversations about Canadian theatre, check out Tom's interview with actor and playwright Anusree Roy.

Meet Anya Golovkova who is soon teaching an online 9-week Sanskrit Devī Māhātmya reading course at Yogic Studies – starts May 5! SKT 206 | Reading the Devīmāhātmya: https://www.yogicstudies.com/skt-206 The Indian Wisdom Podcast is hosted by Dr. Raj Balkaran, a Sanskrit scholar, seasoned storyteller and spiritual lineage holder. He teaches at the Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies and at The Indian Wisdom School. He is also the author of "The Stories Behind the Poses: The Indian Mythology that Inspired 50 Yoga Postures” and runs a thriving one-on-one spiritual guidance practice. Personal Website: https://rajbalkaran.com Courses: https://indianwisdomschool.com Podcast: https://indianwisdompodcast.com

Welcome to Rhythm Divine! What if instead of Shri Krishna chanting the Bhagavad Gita to you in Sanskrit, He was rapping it to you in English? Would you resonate more with His message? A team from across North America, guided by Shri Vivek Gupta of Chinmaya Mission Niagara, has worked to make this a reality, translating the top 70 verses (10%) of the Bhagavad Gita into English, in the same meter as the original -- to bring the authentic message of the Divine into a modern rhythm for contemporary audiences. In this episode, we're tuning into the divine message from Chapters 10-12.Listen to previous Sections:Section 1 (Ch. 1-3) - The Clear Don't FearSection 2 (Ch. 4-6) -  Get Pure, Feel SecureSection 3 (Ch. 7-9) - Uncover Your Inner LoverPoets: Bhagavan Krishna, Shri Vivekji, and Sudarshan AtmavilasRappers: Sudarshan Atmavilas and Ananya ChakravartiSinger: Divya SundaramMridangam and Kanjira: Aryan RameshPiano: Divya SundaramBansuri: Chethan AnantProducers: Chethan Anant and Divya SundaramFor those on the journey of self-development, Chinmaya Mission Niagara provides a community forum to listen, reflect, and contemplate. Follow us on Instagram and Facebook for more updates about upcoming live workshops, courses, and more!

We've all heard of the 8 Limbs of Yoga, but do you really know what they are? Today I'm going to explore the eight limbs of yoga, their origins, and their significance in spiritual practice. I'll look at each limb's purpose, giving a detailed examination, as well as the historical context of the Yoga Sutras. Get ready to finally gain a true understanding of: Yama, Niyama, Asana, Pranayama, Pratyahara, Dharana, Dhyana, and Samadhi.  I'll discuss:

In today's episode, Gina discusses the power of mantra and how to use one. Drawing on the work of Eknath Eswaran, the fundamentals of what a mantra is and how they are beneficial are covered. Also, how to select a mantra for yourself is also discussed. Several example mantras are provided that you can try for yourself. Listen in and add a mantra to your anxiety recovery journey today! Book Mentioned in today's episode Words to Live By: Daily Inspiration for Spiritual Living by Eknath Easwaran https://amzn.to/4c4zuPL Please visit our Sponsor Page to find all the links and codes for our awesome sponsors! https://www.theanxietycoachespodcast.com/sponsors/ Thank you for supporting The Anxiety Coaches Podcast. FREE MUST-HAVE RESOURCE FOR Calming Your Anxious Mind 10-Minute Body-Scan Meditation for Anxiety Anxiety Coaches Podcast Group Coaching link ACPGroupCoaching.com To learn more, go to: Website https://www.theanxietycoachespodcast.com Join our Group Coaching Full or Mini Membership Program Learn more about our One-on-One Coaching What is anxiety? Find even more peace and calm with our Supercast premium access membership: For $5 a month, all episodes are ad-free! https://anxietycoaches.supercast.com/ Here's what's included for $5/month: ❤ New Ad-Free episodes every Sunday and Wednesday ❤ Access to the entire Ad-free back-catalog with over 600 episodes ❤ Premium meditations recorded with you in mind ❤ And more fun surprises along the way! All this in your favorite podcast app! Quote: The mantra is powerful because it begins to drive the mind in a new direction – toward wisdom, strength, and abiding joy -Eknath Easwaran Chapters 0:26 Introduction to Mantras 3:56 The Power of Repetition 8:31 Benefits of Mantras 13:02 Choosing Your Mantra 17:06 Using Mantras in Daily Life 18:35 Invitation to Experiment Summary In this episode of the Anxiety Coaches Podcast, I delve into the transformative power of mantra as a tool for healing, inner peace, and overall well-being. Inspired by a recent discussion in our Facebook group about the habits that aid in managing anxiety, I recognized the need to explore the often underappreciated practice of mantra. While meditation is frequently celebrated for its benefits, the concept of mantra deserves special attention for its unique ability to cultivate calm and focus through repetition. Drawing upon the teachings of Eknath Eswaran, a pioneer in the integration of meditation into Western education, I emphasize how mantra—derived from the Sanskrit words for "mind" and "tool"—serves as a method of centering our thoughts and invoking deeper levels of awareness. Eswaran's approach highlights how a mantra can become a living force in our lives, shaping our consciousness and directing us toward peace and love. I share personal reflections on my journey with mantras, including how consistency in practice has profoundly impacted my emotional landscape over the years. #AnxietyRelief #Meditation #Mantra #HealingJourney #InnerPeace #Mindfulness #StressManagement #MentalWellness #SpiritualGrowth #SelfCare #Wellbeing #EknathEswaran #RelaxationTechniques #PersonalDevelopment #EmotionalRegulation #CognitiveHealth #HolisticWellness #Breathwork #YogaNidra #SoundHealing #Affirmations #PositivePsychology #Resilience #TraumaInformed #SomaticPractices #NervousSystemRegulation #Neuroplasticity #Consciousness #Spirituality #EasternPhilosophy #WesternPsychology #ChristianMeditation #BuddhistMeditation #HinduMantras #SufiPractices #Prayer #IntentionSetting #DailyPractice #SelfCompassion #GroundingTechniques #PresentMomentAwareness #MindBodyConnection Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices