Keep Steady and Calm in Challenging Times to Make a Difference

We all need help in difficult times. Our guest Phil Goldberg discusses the importance of spiritual practice for equanimity and balance. Prayer, meditation, mindfulness, and other practices are necessities for challenging times that bring calm and composure to mind and body.

#kriya yoga #equanimity #meditation #sacred space #inner sanctuary #mindfulness

Philip Goldberg

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 to India, conducts online courses and workshops, and contributes regularly to several publications. He is the author of several books including American Veda: How Indian Spirituality Changed the West, The Life of Yogananda: The Story Of The Yogi Who Became The First Modern Guru and the book being discussed in this program, Spiritual Practice for Crazy Times: Powerful Tools to Cultivate Calm, Clarity and Courage.

WEBSITE: PhilipGoldberg.com Podcast: Spirit Matters with Philip Goldberg Newsletter: Practical Spirituality with Philip Goldberg

THE YOGA HOUR TEAM COMMENTS: Whenever or wherever times are hard, we all need a way to find our balance and equanimity. Phil Goldberg is reassuring and helpful as he shares the many practices that will calm our minds and hearts. Our spiritual practice is essential to help ourselves but also helps us to be accessible to others. It’s also beneficial to find sanctuary-- joy and loveliness--in many ways: take a walk in your neighborhood, visit a local park or beach, garden, play with a child or a pet, visit a church or library, listen to music or comedy, sit in prayer and meditation. In whatever way, find a way to remember and experience your inner sanctuary. And remember that in the breath, just one breath—we can find peace within.

DR. TRUJILLO’S COMMENTS: I felt this conversation with Phil Goldberg was jam packed with useful perspectives and advice.  We discussed that there are really two reasons for maintaining (or intensifying) spiritual practice in challenging times: first, to provide a sanctuary when we need it most, and second to determine what is ours to do and take action from a more grounded place.  Our discussion of finding and utilizing sacred spaces as part of maintaining our equanimity was helpful, as was the perspective that we need to make room for joy in our lives despite the gravity of the outer world.

Beyond Body and Mind: The Wisdom of Ramana Maharshi

Who am I?  The great yoga master Ramana Maharshi recommended self-inquiry as the path to Self-Realization, the realization of the Self of All.  Teacher and author Dr. David Frawley discusses his new book Yoga Beyond Body and Mind, which focuses on the teachings of this great sage.
#kriyayoga #RamanaMaharshi #SelfInquiry #WhoAmI? #SelfStudy #YogaSutras #AdvaitaVedanta

Dr. David Frawley, (Pandit Vamadeva Shastri) is a Vedacharya and one of the leading exponents of Vedic knowledge in an interdisciplinary approach worldwide. Dr. Frawley is the director of The American Institute of Vedic Studies which offers on-line access to his many online courses, articles, programs, retreats and webinars along with his wife, Yogini Shambhavi. His work is highly esteemed by numerous students and followers as well as by many organizations worldwide – he was awarded India’s prestigious Padma Bhushan award in 2015 for his distinguished service to the nation by the President of India! Dr. Frawley has written over 50 books on Yoga, Ayurveda, Mantra and Vedic Astrology which have been published in 20 languages over the past 40 years, including his new book which we are discussing today, Yoga Beyond Body and Mind which is available on Amazon.
WEBSITE: VedaNet.com Social Media: Dr. David Frawley

THE YOGA HOUR TEAM COMMENTS: Dr. Frawley shares how Bhagavan Ramana Maharshi's teachings on Self-realization are accessible and relevant in this modern day. The focus of the conversation was on Self-inquiry and Ramana's teaching of letting go of what we think we are as this body, mind and thoughts. Dr. Frawley said "Whatever you can see or perceive, you are not that. Whatever you see, remember or perceive with the mind is not the Self." He says that the key to understanding our true self  is to let go of those perceptions.  In his closing statements he said when you identify with the core of your being, the True Self, you will know that you are immortal and eternal. "Honor your True Self. It begins with just the first step." I would recommend this podcast to anyone who is interested in Yogic and Vedanta teachings, those beginning on the path and to those who are studying at a deeper level.

DR. TRUJILLO’S COMMENTS: The teachings of Ramana Maharshi focus on Self-realization and the question: Who am I?  As Dr. Frawley and I discussed, we must look more deeply than our current situation or roles, and ask “Who is the seer that sees, the hearer that hears, who is the witness to our thoughts?” We don’t need to leave our lives in the world, but do need to have steady spiritual practice and be like a wood fire that burns for a long time rather than a straw fire that quickly burns out.  I am sure that our conversation will make Bhagavan Ramana Maharshi’s teachings more available to our listeners.

Discover True Wealth and Transform Your Relationship with Money

How can we expand our definition of wealth into something we embody? Elizabeth Husserl, author of The Power of Enough: Finding Joy in Your Relationship with Money, helps us to reframe the scarcity mindset, and allow money to become a trusted mentor that pushes us to expand our horizon
#kriyayoga  #wealth  #embodiedwealth  #powerofenough  #abundance  #contentment  #nonstealing

Elizabeth Husserl

Elizabeth Husserl is a registered investment advisor representative, financial advisor, and cofounder of Peak360 Wealth Management, a boutique wealth planning firm. She holds a BS in economics from Tulane University and an MA in East-West psychology from the California Institute of Integral Studies, where she has also taught as an adjunct professor. Her experience spans nonprofit work throughout the Americas, and she is a highly sought-after speaker, having led workshops at major tech companies, including Airbnb, Unity, and Google. She lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her husband and daughter. 

WEBSITE: : elizabethhusserl.com
SOCIAL MEDIA: elizabeth husserl

THE YOGA HOUR TEAM COMMENTS: If you have struggled with your relationship to money and how you define wealth and abundance, this conversation will give you concrete steps to start to reshape your thinking.  One of the first things Elizabeth Husserl said, in the interview, was "how do we embody wealth and not just accumulate it?" and later in the conversation, "you have the agency to design what your relationship to money looks like."  It's time to cultivate and shape what joy and wealth means to us!

DR. TRUJILLO’S COMMENTS: Our conversation began with examining the question: "How can we have so much yet feel so poor?"  Elizabeth Husserl offered an in-depth look at how we can expand our definition of wealth beyond the strictly financial to include many other aspects of wellbeing, and how this definition of wealth can be embodied and imbued with meaning.   I love the change in focus from how much we have to how much we can develop and grow.  She shared some interesting and valuable exercises and practices that listeners can use to begin to transform their ideas about wealth and abundance.

Balance Your Prana for Health and Vitality

Prana is the life force which flows through our bodies and gives us resiliency and vitality. Join author and esteemed teacher Dr. David Frawley to learn more about prana and how to balance the energy flows in our body resulting in health and the awakening of our consciousness.
#kriyayoga #meditation #pranayama #mantra #pranavayus #prana

Dr. David Frawley

Dr. David Frawley, (Pandit Vamadeva Shastri) is a Vedacharya and one of the leading exponents of Vedic knowledge in an interdisciplinary approach worldwide. The American Institute of Vedic Studies serves as a vehicle for his work, offering on-line access to go along with his many published writings. His work is highly esteemed by numerous students and followers as well as by many organizations around the world – he was awarded India’s prestigious Padma Bhushan award in 2015 for his distinguished service to the nation by the President of India! Dr. Frawley has written over 40 books on Yoga, Ayurveda, Mantra and Vedic Astrology published in 20 languages over the past 40 years.

WEBSITE: VedaNet.com FB:drdavidfrawley IG: Dr. David Frawley

THE YOGA HOUR TEAM COMMENTS:I really appreciated the conversation about Prana with Dr. David Frawley and Dr. Trujillo. All of creation, including our life, body and mind is a creation of Prana or life force that is everything, everywhere. This podcast clarified questions about prana for me and will bring clarity to my practice. Meditation, mantra, pranayama, and walks in nature, are ways we establish balance, energy and vitality in mind and body while expanding our conscious awareness. A rich conversation you will likely listen to again!

DR. TRUJILLO’S COMMENTS: I love the view of prana as the original creative power, and that the universe is full of prana including ourselves and everything in the world from minerals to mountains to space.  I enjoyed our discussion of the five Prana Vayus: prana, apana, udana, samana, and vyana vayus, their functions in the body, and how they can be balanced with alternate nostril breathing and other pranayamas.  This will be a fruitful and interesting episode for our listeners.

Build a Life of Meaning and Purpose Through Radical Self-Care

How can we cultivate resilience, compassion, and a sense of purpose in a fractured world? Mindfulness teacher and activist Shelley Tygielski shares how radical self-care guides us in big and small ways, creating ripple effects leading to a profound impact of compassion for ourselves and our community.
#kriyayoga #meditation #takingaction #freewill #showup #selfcare

Shelly Tygielski

Shelly Tygielski, the author of the book Sit Down to Rise Up and founder of the global grassroots mutual aid organization Pandemic of Love. Her work as a self-care activist, community organizer, and mindfulness teacher has been featured by over 100 media outlets, including CNN Heroes, CBS This Morning, the New York Times, and the Washington Post. A trauma-informed mindfulness teacher and a former Garrison Institute Fellow, she has been called one of the “12 Powerful Women of the Mindfulness Movement” by Mindful.org and teaches self-care and resilience at organizations and to audiences around the world.

THE YOGA HOUR TEAM COMMENTS: ​This program with Shelly Tygielski was profound and important. At this time in our history many of us are frustrated, angry and worried. We are wondering if there is anything that we can do. As Shelly said, we may be asking the question "How can I, this one person, make any difference with what I do?" With her experience of bringing more than 15,000 people, over 5 years, to the beach to meditate with her on Sundays and her work creating the organization Pandemic of Love, connecting thousands of people together one to one for mutual support she shows how following our inner guidance, the Guru within, can do incredible things for people. Both of these programs started with just a simple idea. She says just volunteering to take out the garbage for an elderly neighbor each week can make a significant difference to that person and the people around them. It’s not insignificant.  I really appreciated the Buddhist quote that she shared "Tend to the area of the garden that you can reach." I am reminded of the quote attributed to Mother Teresa "We can do no great things, only small things with great love." I highly recommend this program.

DR. TRUJILLO’S COMMENTS: I loved the two questions that Shelly asks herself before deciding to take action: “what can I do in this moment?”, and “how can I come from a place of love?”  As she points out, often we gain the most strength and wisdom from the valleys of our lives rather than the peaks, which then give us the strength to climb up again.  I found Shelly’s message empowering; that we all are broken but yet are all whole, and can each have a positive impact on the world.  Even small acts of kindness can have a big impact, and we should all tend the part of the garden that we can reach.

Change Your Mind, Change Your Life

How do thoughts and emotions impact our physical health as well as our mental and emotional well-being? Our guest Reema Datta, author of The Yogi’s Way: Transform Your Mind, Health, and Reality, offers ancient yogic techniques that empower us to break free from the challenges of modern society so we can experience lasting inner peace and good health in all ways.
#kriyayoga #yoga #unity #witnessconsciousness #kleshas #meditation

WEBSITE: ReemaYoga.com FB:Reema.Datta.9 IG: ReemaYoga

Reema Datta

Reema Datta is the author of The Yogi’s Way: Transform Your Mind, Health, and Reality. She first learned yoga and Ayurveda from her mother and grandmothers as well as her grandfather, who wrote several books on Vedic philosophy. After receiving her master’s from the London School of Economics, Reema Datta worked for the United Nations before leaving to study ancient yogic wisdom and practice. Since 2002, she has taught yoga and Ayurveda workshops, retreats, and trainings in twenty countries across five continents.

THE YOGA HOUR TEAM COMMENTS: This was a wonderful conversation between two people who really understand the teachings of yoga philosophy and want to benefit the self and  humankind through one individual action at a time.  Reema Datta shared valuable practices from her book, The Yogi's Way.  She spoke about how important it is to observe ourselves and others in non-judgement and that in each moment "we have a choice in what to say and what to do," and that "a stepping stone to love is understanding."  All this and more comes out in this podcast.  This is your "how to" guide to live the principles of Yoga and improve your life.

DR. TRUJILLO’S COMMENTS: We spoke about the underlying unity of yoga philosophy, and how it is essential in meeting the challenges of today’s world.   I really appreciated our conversation about how we can witness powerful emotions such as anger, grief, sorrow, and fear, accepting them without being overtaken by them.  I appreciated Reema Datta’s perspective that the openness of witness consciousness isn’t cold, but rather is an expression of love.  Our discussion of yoga’s ethical principles of nonviolence, non-stealing, and contentment, along with the journaling practice she presents in her book will be helpful for our listeners.  

Explore Swami Vivekananda and His Legacy of Love and Unity

In honor of the 125th anniversary of Swami Vivekanda’s visit to the Bay Area, Swami Prasannatmananda of the Vedanta Society Berkeley will discuss Vivekanda’s timeless message of love, unity and divinity of all, and how that message reverberates to this day.
#kriyayoga #yoga #vedanta #VedantaWisdom #SwamiVivekananda #unity

Swami Prasannatmananda

Swami Prasannatmananda is a fully ordained monk of the Ramakrishna Order, India and has served as Swami-in-Charge of Vedanta Society Berkeley, California since 2014. He received his Sannyasa vows in 1995 and came to the US in 2011. Swami Prasannatmananda has been serving numerous centers of the Ramakrishna Order in various capacities, primarily in the field of spiritual practice, religious worship, instruction, educational initiatives, and research projects. He has offered classes and lectures on a variety of philosophical topics at many esteemed institutions including the Graduate Theological Union at UC Berkeley, Stanford University, and the Parliament of World Religions.
Website: Vedanta Society Berkeley

THE YOGA HOUR TEAM COMMENTS: This was an insightful conversation with Swami Prassanatmananda of the Vedanta Society of Berkeley. Swami Vikekananda, in 1893, brought a new concept of religion to the West-- Vedanta.  Swami Prassanatmananda said that with Vedanta, which is related to the philosophy of Yoga, the source of happiness is the journey, and to realize that the Source (God, the Atman) is within each of us. We can experience this love, unity and oneness for ourselves. Love is the unifying force that unites us all. I will take away a deeper appreciation for, and an understanding of the history behind our spiritual practices and to take time to honor Swami Vivekananda for his spiritual mastery with deep gratitude for shaping so many lives here and around the world.

DR. TRUJILLO’S COMMENTS: I appreciated our discussion of Swami Vivekananda as an opportunity to recognize and honor his legacy of unity and love here in America.  It’s amazing to know that 125 years ago during his visit to the San Francisco Bay Area, as many as 500 people had to be turned away from his talks.  We discussed how Vivekananda stressed the importance of the direct experience of God, how he founded the Vedanta Societies in the US, and how this is still a central principle of the teachings of Vedanta. 

Eat Well, Live Well, Think Well

How can we improve our relationship with food so that we can find pleasure and nourishment in what we eat? Nutritionist Sue Van Raes shares practices that can help us understand what fulfills us and satisfies our true hungers. We can learn to trust our hunger and organic intelligence.
#kriyayoga #satiate #metabolicprofile #bloodsugar #innercritic #leptin

Sue Van Raes

Sue Van Raes is a functional nutritionist, food psychology specialist, and wellness expert who is dedicated to helping women who are stressed out about food finally make peace with their plates. She is the founder of Boulder Nutrition where she offers many programs to support nutrition for the body/mind/spirit.  Sue draws on her personal and professional experience providing a body, heart, mind, and soul approach to stop stressing and start living. Sue’s insight on nutrition, food psychology, and yoga has been featured in numerous publications, including People Magazine, The Chopra Center, The Sacred Science, and the Elephant Journal. She is the author of the book we are discussing today, Food and Freedom: Discover Your Personal Recipe to Eat, Think and Live Well.
WEBSITE: BoulderNutrition.com Social Media: Boulder Nutrition

THE YOGA HOUR TEAM COMMENTS: Sue Van Raes brings very important concepts and practices for people who would like to have a better relationship with food and how they eat. As she says, "Food is so much more than is what we find on our plates, it is the feeling of comfort and safety we cultivate in our bodies and our homes. Our food is all that satiates our souls." Sue gave us practical information about how important regulating our blood sugar by eating a balanced diet of protein, healthy fats, vegetables (fibre and micronutrients) and carbohydrates. I appreciated how she said that we are individuals with unique needs. She shares that when we have more understanding of what is happening in our bodies when we eat, we can experience and listen to the body's wisdom. I highly recommend this program to anyone who would like to learn to eat food for nourishment and pleasure and even for those who don't have particular problems with food but would like to learn more about nourishment and how our body gives us the signals for healthy eating.

DR. TRUJILLO’S COMMENTS: I appreciated the opportunity to discuss how we can replace an externalized approach to eating (relying on outside cues) with an increased awareness of our bodies signals about hunger and satiety.  Sue Van Raes provided an updated look at the hormones that control our appetite, leptin and ghrelin.  The internal cues that we can tune into include the “satiety sigh” and the decrease in the intensity of the taste of our food.  I loved her expansive definition of our “food" to include the feeling of comfort and safety we feel, the connections we share with our loved ones, and all that satiates our souls.