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Laurel Trujillo 10/23/25 Laurel Trujillo 10/23/25

Awaken to The Path of Healing, Happiness, and Inner Peace

Do you yearn to deepen your connection to your true Self? Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswati shares profound wisdom and tools that help us to rediscover the peace, joy, and clarity already within us.
#kriyayoga #oneness #meditaiton #netineti #womeninspirituality

Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswati is the author of the book we are discussing today, Come Home to Yourself: Simple Answers to Life’s Essential Questions. Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswati is a renowned spiritual leader, motivational speaker, author, and social activist based in Rishikesh, India. She is a graduate of Stanford University and holds a PhD in psychology. Sadhvi serves as the international director of Parmarth Niketan, one of India’s largest spiritual institutes, as well as on the United Nations Multi-faith advisory Council and several other international bodies. She has received numerous national and international awards for her leadership and humanitarian service, including the United States President’s Lifetime Achievement Award for her lifelong commitment to volunteer services.
WEBSITE: Sadhviji.org IG: Sadviji

THE YOGA HOUR TEAM COMMENTS: So many pearls of spiritual wisdom in this conversation with Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswati about the ways to come home to yourself. Sadhviji explains the Himalayan way--as opposed to the American-- is to know that we are not the body: we are whole, eternal, infinite beings. When we connect to the eternal you and me, the result is we are kinder and gentler to the planet and others. Sadhviji says to come back into Oneness connection, “tie experience with the you that is experiencing the felt-sense-- anchored, vibrant and alive.” Tie in quick moments of remembrance during the day and remembrance of thanks. I appreciated the many ways that Sadhviji expressed coming back to myself through many practices to be used in everyday living. This is a special conversation that I’m sure our listeners will benefit from.

DR. TRUJILLO’S COMMENTS: The focus for my conversation with Sadhvi Bhagawati Sarasvati was our true Self, the unchanging reality at the center of our being, which is the focus of her new book, Come Home to Yourself. We are not the mistaken identification that we can have with our changing body and mind, which in the yoga tradition is called avidya. We also discussed the challenges and rewards she has found as an American woman leading a spiritual community in India. I particularly enjoyed Sadhvi ji’s explanation of the “neti, neti” meditation technique, and her advice to tie remembrance of our connection to Supreme Consciousness to activities we perform throughout our day. I appreciated having Sadhvi ji as a guest on the show

Laurel Trujillo 10/16/25 Laurel Trujillo 10/16/25

Write the Script for Your Future

Learn how every choice you make can plant seeds of peace, purpose, and joy—for yourself and the world. Philip Goldberg, author of Karmic Relief: Harnessing the Laws of Cause and Effect for a Joyful, Meaningful Life, shares how our karma is not our fate, it’s our freedom.
#kriyayoga #karma #BeNice #yamas #meditation #nonattachment

Philip Goldberg is the author or co-author of numerous books; a public speaker and workshop leader; a spiritual counselor, meditation teacher and ordained Interfaith Minister. A resident of Great Barrington, MA, in the heart of the Berkshires, he hosts the Spirit Matters podcast, leads American Veda Tours, conducts online courses and workshops, and writes regularly for several publications and on his Substack, “Practical Spirituality with Philip Goldberg.”

WEBSITE: PhilipGoldberg.com

THE YOGA HOUR TEAM COMMENTS: I am very interested in the concept of karma, and having Phil Goldberg on the podcast to discuss his new book on karma was going to clarify questions I had. While the concept of karma holds great power for us, we benefit from knowing what it is and what it is not. Phil has plenty of wise information and thoughts about karma, how we can plant the good seeds through practices of kriya yoga and especially through a deep meditation practice. In the end, he says, be nice. Do good. Do the right thing. Real life gets complicated so make better choices for your future good.

DR. TRUJILLO’S COMMENTS: I so appreciated my conversation with Phil Goldberg about his new book Karmic Relief. In his book and in this conversation Phil clears up several misconceptions about karma. While often invoked with regards to negative events happening, karma also extends to positive events. Karma is not an excuse to be indifferent to the suffering of others because “it’s their karma”. The intention we have as we perform an action really makes a difference. And having a meditation practice is indispensible, as it helps to purify the mental field, leaving the mind quieter, more content, more conscious, and leaving us more likely to plant good karmic seeds.

Laurel Trujillo 10/9/25 Laurel Trujillo 10/9/25

Embrace the Gifts of Growing Older

Mark Nepo, poet and spiritual teacher, invites us to embrace the mystery of aging. Drawing on the world’s wisdom traditions, he illuminates the gifts of growing older, turning anxiety about aging into the light of living fully.

#kriyayoga #aging #creativity #loss #wholeness

Mark Nepo is a poet and philosopher who has taught in the fields of poetry and spirituality for over 40 years. A New York Times #1 bestselling author, he has published 27 books including the book we are discussing today, The Fifth Season: Creativity in the Second Half of Life. Mark has been interviewed several times by Oprah Winfrey as a part of her Supersoul Sunday as well as by Robin Roberts for Good Morning America. His work has been translated into over 20 languages. Go to Mark’s website to learn more about his books, upcoming retreat and webinar related to this topic.

WEBSITE: MarkNepo.com SOCIAL MEDIA: @Mark Nepo

THE YOGA HOUR TEAM COMMENTS: As always, Mark Nepo's wisdom and reflection on aging will strike a cord with anyone who listens to this conversation. He tells about how a young sound engineer was working with him as he was recording the audio version of this book, The Fifth Season. He asked her how she was hearing these reflections and teachings on aging and did that bore her. She said no, because even at her age she realizes that we are all aging and the lessons are pertinent to her as well. There are so many highlights that I could list but one of the lessons he shared is about loss. As we know, throughout our life we experience many losses, great and small. As we get older, those losses include loss of physical and mental abilities as well as losses of dear friends and family. He equates that to the flaking away of the layers that cover our light. He says our work is to discern which losses are heartbreaking and which losses are freeing. We can open our hearts and learn from all the losses. He says we are shaped by our experience, making our life a work of art. I highly recommend listening to this program, no matter what age you are.

DR. TRUJILLO’S COMMENTS: I so enjoy my conversations with Mark Nepo as they are always uplifting and wise. Drawing on his new book, The Fifth Season: Creativity in the Second Half of Life, we discussed how aging comes with some losses, but also with the opportunity for growth, transformation, and increased authenticity. We can look at our life as a work of art, embrace the Mysterious Whole of Life and feel the joy that the sensation of Oneness brings us. Aging can then become a time of increased fullness.

Laurel Trujillo 9/25/25 Laurel Trujillo 9/25/25

Find Fulfillment through Realizing Emptiness

In each moment we are faced with a choice about how to think, react, and live our lives. Billy Wynne, author of The Empty Path: Finding fulfillment Through the Radical Art of Lessening, provides a guide to helping each of us find ultimate fulfillment through the art of lessening and the embrace of emptiness.
#KriyaYoga #Emptiness #equinimity #contentment #nonattachment #fulfillment

Billy Wynne is the author of The Empty Path: Finding Fulfillment through the Radical Art of Lessening. A student of Buddhism and mindfulness for 30 years, he received meditation teaching certification under Jack Kornfield and Tara Brach and lay Zen Buddhist ordination from the Zen Center of Denver, where he now teaches classes and serves on the board.
WEBSITE: BillyWynne.com SOCIAL MEDIA: FB: Billy Wynne IG: BillyWynneLife

THE YOGA HOUR TEAM COMMENTS: I have spent most of my life searching, questioning my existence, and looking for answers as many of us have. In the conversation with Billy Wynne it was interesting to see the ways in which Kriya Yoga and Buddhist philosophies intersect. Impermanence, contentment, non-attachment were all touched upon. My favorite quotes from from Billy: "it is a radical step to say 'I am already as good as I am.' or a similar one, 'all along I was right at home.' This podcast is a great way to go deeper. Happy listening.

DR. TRUJILLO’S COMMENTS: What an enjoyable conversation I had with Billy Wynne about his book The Empty Path: Finding Fulfillment Through the Radical Art of Lessening. I particularly appreciated Billy’s description of emptiness as including impermanence, the lack of an ego self, and the interdependent co-arising of everything in the world. We discussed principles such as Oneness, equanimity, contentment, and non-attachment through the lenses of both yoga philosophy and Zen Buddhism. It was engaging to see the common threads between the two traditions.

Laurel Trujillo 9/18/25 Laurel Trujillo 9/18/25

Restore Health and Vitality Through Yoga Therapy

Hope and healing are within reach. Fiona Agombar and psychotherapist Nadyne McKie are yoga therapists who share compassionate wisdom and gentle practices to support those with Long COVID, chronic fatigue, and other debilitating conditions on their path to recovery.
#kriyayoga #yogatherapy #LongCOVID #ChronicFatigue #Stress

THE YOGA HOUR TEAM COMMENTS: Fiona and Nadyne are both so passionate about supporting those with long COVID and Chronic Fatigue and it really comes through in their work using yoga therapy as a tool for healing. Both of them have had personal experience with this and it has changed their lives. They say that yoga therapy is a true mind body approach—looking at the whole person, not just at the symptoms. The fact that Dr. Trujillo is a western trained medical physician and has had training in yoga therapy made the conversation really interesting. Both Fiona and Nadyne feel that there are mitigating factors that may make each person who is affected by these symptoms more susceptible in the first place and that often when those factors are addressed, the healing process can proceed. They also say yoga therapy is not a quick fix and one size does not fit all, but it works. Patience is key. They say recovery is possible, trust the process.

DR. TRUJILLO’S COMMENTS: This conversation will be useful to all those who have health concerns, beyond those who have long COVID or Chronic Fatigue, as the healing principles that we discussed are more widely applicable. Fiona and Nadyne's perspective was useful, that the stress response is our nervous system asking just one question: “Am I safe?” I found our discussion of the link between chronic stress and health issues such as long COVID to be very interesting. We discussed yoga therapy’s approach to healing as restoring the free flow of prana, or vital energy, which is tied to our breath. Yoga philosophy offers helpful perspectives on healing, particularly on the importance of practicing nonviolence, or kindness, especially compassion towards ourselves. Fiona and Nadyne's view that recovery is always possible, and encouragement not to give up will be helpful for listeners.

Fiona Agombar is a yoga therapist specializing in chronic fatigue, burnout, stress and Long COVID. She has been a speaker at national and international wellness symposiums and is the author of several books. She is the co-author with our other guest, Nadyne McKie, of the book we are discussing today: Breathe, Rest, Recover: Yoga Therapy for Healing Long Covid and Fatigue. Fiona’s website is FionaAgombar.co.uk

Nadyne McKie: is the lead Recovery Focused Psychotherapist at The Long Covid Clinic, the only consultant-led clinic dedicated to treating Long COVID in the United Kingdom.She is also a Yoga therapist specializing in therapy for Long COVID and chronic health conditions.
Nadyne’s website is NadyneMcKie.co.uk

Laurel Trujillo 9/9/25 Laurel Trujillo 9/9/25

Kriya Yoga Now: Tools for Conscious Living

How can we meet today’s challenges with clarity and peace? Senior Kriya Yoga teacher Acharya Sundari Jensen discusses timeless practices for conscious living through the teachings and practices of Kriya Yoga. Discover how ancient wisdom meets modern life.

Acharya Sundari Jensen is the Senior Kriya Acharya and Executive Director at Center for Spiritual Enlightenment Headquarters in San Jose, CA, where she has studied with her teacher, Yogacharya Ellen Grace O’Brian, since 1992. In addition to leading retreats, classes, and satsangs at CSE, she leads programs and retreats on yoga philosophy and meditation at universities and conferences nationally and internationally. A certified Hatha Yoga teacher, Vedic Counselor, and IAYT-certified Yoga Therapist, she integrates the science of prana into her teachings, supporting individuals in attuning to their innate vitality and divine essence. Acharya Sundari has also created the on-demand course Introduction to Samkhya Philosophy, providing accessible wisdom on the foundational principles of Yoga.

WEBSTSITE: CSEcenter.org , EllenGraceOBrian.com SOCIAL MEDIA: Center for Spiritual Enlightenment, EllenGraceOBrian

DR. TRUJILLO’S COMMENTS: It’s always a pleasure to have Acharya Sundari on The Yoga Hour so that we can learn from her deep knowledge and insights about Kriya Yoga practice. Our conversation focused mainly on meditation: the many benefits of a meditation practice and the importance of having a steady practice. She offered lots of great information about the process of meditation itself. We discussed the four steps of meditation: Foster, Focus, Flow, and Finish, which will be of interest to those new to meditation as well as a reminder for those who already meditate. We also discussed the importance of dispassionate non-attachment: how we can show up, be fully engaged, and do our best, while offering the outcome of our actions to the Divine.

Laurel Trujillo 8/28/25 Laurel Trujillo 8/28/25

Boost Your Mood Through Food

How does our diet affect our mental health? Join nutritional psychiatrist and professional chef Uma Naidoo, MD, to discuss how we can optimize our mental health and cognitive performance through changing the food we eat.
#kriyayoga #microbiome #gutbrain #calmingfoods #brainfood #moodfood #artificialsweeteners

Dr. Uma Naidoo founded and directs the first hospital-based Nutritional Psychiatry Service in the United States. She is the Director of Nutritional and Lifestyle Psychiatry at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) & Director of Nutritional Psychiatry at MGH Academy while serving on the faculty at Harvard Medical School. She was considered Harvard’s Mood Food Expert and has been featured in the Wall Street Journal. Dr. Naidoo is also the national bestselling author of This Is Your Brain on Food. Her latest book is Calm Your Mind with Food.

WEBSITE: UmaNaidooMD.com

THE YOGA HOUR TEAM COMMENTS: It was such a pleasure to be able to listen as this conversation was being recorded with Dr. Uma, who is really blazing a trail on treating emotional problems with food instead of medications. So many great tips and recommendations backed by scientific evidence and research. I would urge anyone who thinks that eating artificial sweeteners is healthy to listen to this podcast along with all of the other information you will gain from this episode. My favorite quote: "whole food isn't one that comes with a nutrition label."

Laurel Trujillo 8/23/25 Laurel Trujillo 8/23/25

Listen to my heart: Songs Of Devotion

Enter the doorway of the heart and rest in love of the Divine through sacred chanting with musician and spiritual teacher Swami Nirvanananda. Join the chanting and experience the yoga of devotion, known as Bhakti yoga, to draw closer to God and into a time of sacred stillness.
WEBSITE: Nirvanananda.org ShantiPuriFriends.org

#kriya yoga #kirtan #bhakti yoga #meditation #devotion # contemplation #sacred chanting #mantra

Giorgio Kriegsch was born to devout parents, a Catholic mother and a Lutheran father in Trieste, Italy. In 1975 his life was changed after reading Paramahana Yogananda’s book, Autobiography of a Yogi. He was initiated into Kriya Yoga by Swami Hariharananda—a direct disciple of Yogananda’s guru, Swami Sri Yukteswar. During one of his early trips to India, Giorgio discovered the inspiring work of Father Marian Zelazek, who was helping the children of lepers in Puri, a city in eastern India. He asked Fr. Zelazek how he could help and was asked to seek sponsors to support this work. Giorgio began performing Kirtan (sacred chanting concerts) to raise funds. In 1992, in the holy city of Jagannath Puri in India, Giorgio took the final monastic vows of a sannyas and became Swami Nirvanananda Saraswati, meaning “the bliss of freedom from suffering.” He continues to travel the world, inspiring audiences with devotional music and raising funds to help others.

THE YOGA HOUR TEAM COMMENTS: Swami Nirvanananda brings a serene, spiritually imbued quality to his sacred chanting and playing, that I can't help but experience a depth of love and gratitude for this felt presence of love and joy-- for God. And that is why we chant sacred songs-- to open our hearts and minds in faith and awareness of that presence within. The conversation with Dr. Trujillo and Swami ji clarified the practice of Bhakti yoga, the yoga of devotion, one of the four classical paths of yoga. Swami ji tells us that "chanting increases the power of the mantra... and increases energy" that uplifts the spirit, opens the heart and mind to bring us peace. I was deeply moved by this program and it will be a source of strength and inspiration to listeners.

DR. TRUJILLO’S COMMENTS: Swami Nirvanananda chanted several of my favorite chants including the Gayatri Mantra, Door of my Heart, and So Hum mantra. During the episode I experienced being drawn within to feel my connection with my own heart, and drawn into stillness. Chanting is a powerful practice of Bhakti Yoga, the yoga of devotion. I shared some verses of the Bhagavad Gita about Bhakti Yoga during the episode, and enjoyed how Swami ji’s chanting gives listeners a first hand experience of the benefits of listening to sacred music.