Arise and Awake!

On October 24^th 2009, people in 181 countries came together for the most widespread day of environmental action in the planet’s history. At over 5200 events around the world, people gathered to call for action on the climate crisis. On the same day 30 Yogis gathered together in Vienna to meditate on becoming more aware of the environment, to send healing positive energy to our mother Earth and to understand the crucial link between Yoga and Environmental consciousness. Read more…

Merry Christmas

Dear Friends,

On occasion of this Christmas let us all resolve to celebrate the birth of “Christ” within, Let us all resolve to not let our Inner-Self be enveloped in the darkness of our basic propensities, let us not crucify the Christ within. It is our duty to raise the self by the Self. Neglect of this will make us go deeper and deeper in thickness of ignorance, the so called sin against the Holy Ghost. Let the Saints be our guides on this path, let them inspire us to assimilate our Individual Self with the Eternal Self. Enjoy your present and have a deep remembrance of the radiance of the Light within that’s waiting to shine.

Wish you a Merry Christ-mas again!

Love,
Prasad

Meditative Cleansing

The Yogis have always given importance to methods of purification. One of the very important limbs in the eight limb path has “saucha” which means cleanliness as methods of attaining purity. This cleanliness is both internal and external cleanliness, which leads to “santosha” which means contentment. The process of Yoga involves continuous cleaning of the mind, dropping things, lightening the load. Giving up desires is very difficult but simplification of wants is relatively easier. When through the power of reasoning and reflection a person cleans the mind, the body starts becoming lighter. The “psychosomatic shock” is sensed lightly. The lightness thus derived is grounded into firm wisdom by the practice of meditation. Read more…

Workshop at European Commission, Belgium

“At the beginning of the workshop, Prasad promised us a guided tour through yoga, touching many different aspects of it, which are normally not part of our yoga courses.

But what he managed to do with us was much more than a simple guided tour, it was an intensive experience of many aspects of yoga, touching deep feelings in a secure environment. He managed despite the huge group to provide a feeling of security to everybody and was present for anyone who needed more assistance.

It has been for me, and I am sure, for most of the participants, a fantastic discovery of what yoga can do for us and has given me a much deeper understanding of the completeness of yoga.

Many thanks for this excellent workshop and looking forward to have other opportunities to work with Prasad.”

- Irmgard Heiber
Scientific Officer, European Commission

Asana of the fortnight : Natarajasana

Natarajasana

This posture is dedicated to the Lord of Yoga himself- Lord Shiva. This posture is symbolic of the grace and the pulse of the universe which is the rhythm on which Lord Shiva dances. The name of the asana literary means “The Dancer”.

Step-by-step
Stand on both feet and focus on a point for concentration.
Thrust your body weight on the left foot and bend the right knee so the right foot is at the level of your hip.
Hold the right ankle with your right hand and raise the left arm up.
Become aware of your navel and start bending forward trying to balance the body weight on the left foot.
Keep bending forward, as you bend forward lift the right knee up and simultaneously balance the lift of the right knee with the weight of the forward bend.
Hold this balance for 10 counts, let go off the right foot and stand back again on both the feet.
Collect your breath and do the same asana on the right foot.

Benefits
This asana is very beneficial to develop ability of concentration and physical balance.
It works on the abdominal area, and helps make the thigh and hip joint strong and flexible.