Greetings Reader - I trust my readers in other parts of the world will forgive me for directing our collective attention to the purposeful chaos being generated by our nation’s chief executive here in my adopted hometown of Washington, D.C. And, given its global consequences, I trust all of my readers will share my interest in looking at the chaos through the lens of yoga wisdom in order to understand and constructively respond to it. The inward-turning practices of yoga can provide shelter...
4 days ago • 2 min read
Hi Reader, I’m reaching out with a quick note about my upcoming small group mentorship program for yoga teachers. Speaking from personal experience, I know that mentorship offers a special opportunity for personal growth and professional development. It’s a great way to gain knowledge, develop skills, and build confidence. Mentorship is also a proven way to experience greater satisfaction in any field of work. if you're a yoga teacher, my upcoming small group mentorship program is designed to...
7 days ago • 2 min read
Greetings Reader - In a recent media interview, the Vice President of the United States, J.D. Vance, used what he called "a very Christian concept" to justify the expulsion of immigrants and the retraction of foreign aid: ". . . you love your family and then you love your neighbor, and then you love your community, and then you love your fellow citizens, and then, after that, you prioritize the rest of the world." As if an injection of sectarian religion into U.S. policy-making isn't bad...
11 days ago • 3 min read
Greetings Reader - Our free monthly series, Community Conversations, continues next week. This month, we're going to assess the local, national, and international impact of Donald Trump's first three weeks in office and collectively ask ourselves, "What is my role in this situation? What is the best way for me to respond to what's happening right now?" The purpose of this conversation is to hear from one another about how the situation looks from wherever we are (our town, the USA, Mexico,...
14 days ago • 1 min read
Hi Reader, I typed the phrase "fundamentals of yoga philosophy" into the Google search bar. An AI Overview popped up. The first sentence was, "Yoga philosophy is based on the idea that the mind, body, and spirit are one and inseparable." This isn't just wrong; it's the exact opposite of yoga philosophy's first and most fundamental teaching: the categorical distinction between the spiritual self and the material mind and body. Google's confused simulacrum of intelligence also didn't have much...
15 days ago • 1 min read
Greetings Reader - The wisdom texts of bhakti-yoga tell the story of a saintly young boy who was the son of an evil king. The king’s only interest was the acquisition of power. He hoped that his son would be of like mind and, to that end, he instructed his son’s tutors to teach the boy about politics. But the king's saintly son rejected the whole idea of politics, going so far as trying to persuade his megalomaniacal father to renounce its basic tenet: “My dear father, please give up your...
18 days ago • 2 min read
Hi Reader, Yoga philosophy is a complete system of knowledge that guides us along a path to the experience of our truest selves. But yoga philosophy isn't just a science of self-realization; it's also a science of self-understanding, of self-actualization and spiritual empowerment. And it's not just an inner journey: yoga philosophy is also a systematic study of causes and effects in the natural world, the psycho-physical dispositions of everyone in the world, and a roadmap to creating a...
25 days ago • 2 min read
Greetings Reader - What does noble masculinity look like? It’s a question a lot of men have been asking for the past few years. American men are having an identity crisis. The meaning of masculinity has changed from what it meant just 20 years ago, and a lot of guys are having a hard time adjusting. It's a serious problem: studies show that many men don’t have enough close friends, they don’t have long-term goals, and they struggle to relate to women, sometimes to the point of veering into...
about 1 month ago • 3 min read
Greetings Reader - “Not ‘move the foot; move your foot.’ Not ‘move the hand; move your hand.’.” Given the centrality of personalism in bhakti-yoga philosophy, it should have been obvious that personalizing my cueing would be the better way to teach an asana sequence. And yet, there I was, a novice yoga teacher, impersonally cueing poses as if my student’s bodies were pieces of furniture. It may sound like a little thing, but little things can make a big difference. For example, saying “move...
about 1 month ago • 3 min read
Greetings Reader - Just a quick reminder the registration for my January Wisdom Workshop closes tonight: The Three Pillars of Yoga Live via Zoom on Sunday, January 12, 2025 @ 12:00 pm Eastern Time Tuition: $37 CLICK HERE TO ENROLL This class will be recorded and available for replay This course is registered with Yoga Alliance and offers 1.5 hours of CE credit. I hope to see you there, Wishing you all good fortune, Hari-k
about 1 month ago • 1 min read