Oneness, Interconnection and the Healing Wisdom of the Hive

What spiritual lessons can bees teach us about being aware, present and seeing the One in all? Today we are going to be discussing what spiritual lessons that bees can teach us about being aware, present and seeing the One in all.

#kriyayoga   #oneness   #meditation  #receptivity  #beekeeping  #interconnectedness #honeybees #skillinaction

Michelle Cassandra Johnson

Michelle Cassandra Johnson is the co-author of the book that we discussed titled: The Wisdom of the Hive: What Honeybees Can Teach Us about Collective Wellbeing as well as many books on yoga philosophy and social justice. Michelle is an activist, social justice warrior, author, anti-racism consultant and trainer, intuitive healer, yoga teacher and practitioner. She has led dismantling racism work in many settings for over two decades and has two decades of practice as a clinical social worker. Michelle’s work centers on healing from individual and collective trauma, coming back into wholeness and aligning the mind, body, spirit, and heart.

WEBSITE: MichelleCJohnson.com FB: @Michelle C. Johnson InstaGram: @skillinaction

THE YOGA HOUR TEAM COMMENTS: I am so grateful for this conversation with Dr. Trujillo and her guest, Michelle Cassandra Johnson, the co-author of The Wisdom of the Hive: What Honeybees Can Teach Us about Collective Wellbeing. As I move in the world, I can remember to take time to slow down and be amazed by something bigger than me. I can show up differently in life and consider how bees can teach us about communal interdependence and attunement to nature. I can connect with what's amazing and enlivening. I can hum with the bees and imagine their dance. We all can hum and dance with the bees! Through the practice of yoga, we can be in attunement with the One in all. Paying attention to the teaching of the bees helps us on our path of awakening and healing.  

DR. TRUJILLO’S COMMENTS: I so enjoyed discussing the many ways that studying honeybees has overlapped with Michelle Cassandra Johnson’s teaching on yoga.  Looking at the honeybees as an example of both Karma Yoga, selfless service, and Bhakti yoga, the yoga of devotion, was inspiring. I enjoyed our discussion of the “more than human” world, and the seamlessness with which honeybees integrate with the outer environment.  Their focus on the collective, and action as a superorganism, are beautiful examples of the Oneness that is at the heart of yoga.

Cook Simply, Eat Well, Enjoy more

Gena Hamshaw, author of the cookbook A Grain, A Green, A Bean, dietician and nutritionist, offers a formula that we can all use to put together delicious, simple vegan meals that are nutritionally balanced, and energy sustaining even if you are not vegan or vegetarian. We can all eat better and enjoy more.
#kriyayoga #vegan #plantbased #harmlessness #ahimsa #consciouseating #genahamshaw #theyogahour

Gena Hamshaw

Gena is a registered dietitian nutritionist, recipe developer, and the author of Food52 Vegan, Power Plates, and The Vegan Week. She shares vegan recipes on her blog, The Full Helping. Gena is also offers nutrition counseling services. Gena lives in New York City, where she can frequently be found scouting out the best vegan pomodoro pastas and tomato pies in town. In this episode we are discussing her latest book, A Grain, A Green, A Bean, which is focused on this nourishing and economical trio as a formula to bring us simple and delicious recipes for anyone can enjoy.

WEBSITE: TheFullHelping.com SOCIAL MEDIA: @thefullhelping

THE YOGA HOUR TEAM COMMENTS: This is a dynamic conversation with Gena Hamshaw. It is lively, interactive and filled with great information on vegan and plant-based diets. Gena’s formula “Grain, Bean, Green” provides an easy to follow blueprint to use when you stand in front of your refrigerator and ask yourself, “What’s for dinner tonight?”. She uses accessible foods in her recipes and keeps them simple. I particularly like that she bases her dietary information on up to date scientific studies. This is a podcast I will listen to again.

DR. TRUJILLO’S COMMENTS: I really enjoyed our conversation as we discussed the health, ecological, and spiritual reasons to eat more meatless meals, as well as some of the barriers some people find to eating a more plant-based diet..  Her formula of including a grain, a green vegetable, and a bean to make easy, delicious meals is really helpful.  Our discussion of how we get can enough protein in a vegetarian diet, the benefits of fiber, and even the controversy about seed oils and the evolving nature of scientific research on nutrition was a rich one, and will be valuable to listeners.  

Revitalize Your Health with Ayurveda

How does the ancient healing science of Ayurveda help us to stay healthy, energetic, and balanced?  Kate O’Donnell, author of The Everyday Ayurveda Cookbook explores how we can use Ayurvedic wisdom to stay healthy and vital in every season.
#kriyayoga  #ayurveda  #balance  #doshas  #vata  #pitta  #kapha 

Kate O’Donnell

Kate O’Donnell is a nationally certified Ayurvedic Practitioner and the founder of the Ayurvedic Living Institute which is an online school for Ayurveda education and resources. Kate began to travel in South India at age 20. More than a dozen extended trips to India and twenty years studying the wisdom traditions of the sub-continent support Kate’s practice of Ayurveda. Kate specializes in Ayurvedic education, cooking skills, and cleansing programs, offering on-line programs, occasional in-person workshops on the road, and professional trainings.  Her offerings aim to help others come closer to their true nature.

WEBSITE: HealWithKate.org FB: Ayurveda Boston with Kate O’Donnell Instagram: @kateodonnell.ayurveda

THE YOGA HOUR TEAM COMMENTS: I really enjoyed and learned a lot of practical information from the interview with Kate O’Donnell. I’ve been drawn toward Ayurveda, a sister science to Yoga, for many years and she helped to simplify it for everyday use. I particularly resonated with the idea that Ayurveda is an expression of life’s flow. It helps to identify the signs of imbalance enabling us to make changes which can bring the trajectory of the energy flow into balance. Kate said even small changes in the matrix can create lasting change of that trajectory. In conversation Dr. Trujillo and Kate talked about the 3 key causes of imbalance, the 3 body types with their corresponding elements, and the importance of seasonal changes. It was a dynamic interactive discussion that should not be missed.

DR. TRUJILLO’S COMMENTS: I enjoyed discussing Ayurvedic principles with Kate O’Donnell including the importance of balance; the uniqueness of each individual; and how we are all affected by changes in the outer world necessitating that we change our lifestyle practices with the change of seasons.  We also discussed how we can notice the qualities of our food and our activities, such as heavy or light, and hot or cool, which can help us to choose foods and activities that return us to balance. This conversation is a great resource for our listeners who want to understand more about Ayurveda and incorporate some Ayurvedic wisdom into their lives. 

Find Peace and Resilience in Challenging Times Through the Creative Power of Prana

How do we find peace and resiliance in challenging times? Prana is the aliveness of the universe, from the flow of a river to the movement of planets. Listen in to this conversation with senior Kriya Yoga teacher Acharya Sundari Jensen and explore how to increase your prana to bring inner peace and to boost your vitality, creativity, and resilience.
#kriyayoga  #prana  #meditation  #yogananda  #resilience  #om

Acharya Sundari Jensen

Acharya Sundari Jensen is the Senior Kriya Acharya and Executive Director at Center for Spiritual Enlightenment Headquarters in San Jose, CA. In addition to leading retreats, classes, and satsangs at CSE, she leads programs on yoga philosophy and meditation at universities and conferences. 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. 
WEBSITE: CSEcenter.org SOCIAL MEDIA: Center for Spiritual Enlightenment

THE YOGA HOUR TEAM COMMENTS: This was a very informative conversation on prana with Acharya Jensen.  Knowing all the things that prana is- it is life force, energy and the divine itself everywhere, in and around us- we have a deeper understanding of the “why” and the “how” of spiritual practice taught through Kriya Yoga. What stood out for me was that we can learn how to observe what enhances or what depletes our prana and make that a part of our spiritual practice of self-study. Inward turning, just noticing the stillness that comes from meditation, chanting, mantra, journaling or a walk nature. And I also appreciated the Yoga Philosophy teaching on Om, its connection to prana and its part in calming the mind for connecting to the higher truth of our being and awakening. Balanced prana brings us joy and peace to all that we do.

Find The Extraordinary in the Everyday

We can choose to walk the path of the mystic. The mundane will show up as miraculous, the boring becomes fascinating and our shortcomings become our greatest gifts. Join our guest Mirabai Starr as she shares that embracing mysticism in our lives is a way of being alive in the world.
​#kriyayoga #mysticism #ordinarymysticism #brotherlawrence #meditation

Mirabai Starr is an award-winning author, internationally acclaimed speaker, and interspiritual teacher. In 2020, she was honored on Watkins’ list of the 100 Most Spiritually Influential Living People. Drawing from 20 years of teaching Philosophy and World Religions and a lifetime of practice, Mirabai shares her wisdom worldwide on contemplative living, writing as a spiritual practice, and the transformational power of grief and loss. She has authored over a dozen books including renowned translations of sacred literature. In this program her book Ordinary Mysticism: Your Life As Sacred Ground was discussed. Mirabai lives with her extended family in the mountains of Northern New Mexico.

WEBSITE: MirabaiStarr.com SOCIAL MEDIA: @Mirabai Starr

THE YOGA HOUR TEAM COMMENTS: The idea of being a mystic has always sounded so exotic to me and it’s only a select few such as Theresa of Avila or Julian of Norwich who are privileged to have this designation. Mirabai Starr says “You do not need to trek to a remote shrine in the Himalayas, enroll in expensive seminars, or convert to a new religion to connect with spirit.  Your life is holy ground. And you are a mystic. I know you are because all it means to be a mystic is to have a direct experience of the sacred.” She also says ““Mysticism is a way of seeing—beyond the turmoil, the rights and wrongs, the good guys and villains—to the radiant heart of things.  The mystical gaze reveals the miracle in the summer thunderstorm and the bowl of ramen…A mystic gazes through the eyes of love, and love reveals itself as the only true thing.” Listening to Mirabai has opened my eyes and my heart to the possibility that as we become open to the present moment, we can all be a mystic, seeing the presence of God in all that we do, see and experience—the good and the difficult.

DR. TRUJILLO’S COMMENTS: I so enjoyed the conversation with Mirabai Starr about experiencing the sacred in our life and as our life, everyday.  I appreciated our discussion about setting an intention, and developing our loving awareness as important steps in seeing our lives as holy ground.  I loved the story she told about Brother Lawrence, and how he coped with his depression by remembering a leafless tree in winter, knowing that the tree would again burst into blossom and eventually bear fruit. I find this image to be helpful in remaining hopeful even in challenging times.  

Live Your Yoga Moment To Moment

Say "yes" to yoga as a vehicle for personal, social, and collective liberation with Susanna Barkataki, author of Ignite Your Yoga. Join us as she shares how to go beyond the physical practices of Yoga to discover how to bring all aspects of Yoga into your daily life.
#kriyayoga #liveyouryoga #spiritualchangemaker #lifestages #Ahimsa#Truthfulness

Susanna Barkataki

Susanna Barkataki, is a Certified Yoga Therapist, teacher, inclusivity promoter, and yoga culture advocate. As an Indian yoga practitioner in the Shankaracharya tradition, her passion is to help others bridge the gap between yoga as an exercise and yoga as a lifestyle.  She is founder of Ignite Yoga and Wellness Institute and runs 200/500 Yoga Teacher Training programs. Susanna has an honors degree in Philosophy from UC Berkeley and a Masters in Education from Cambridge College. She is also a certified diversity, accessibility, inclusivity, and equity educator.

WEBSITE: SusannaBarkataki.com SOCIAL MEDIA: Susanna Barkataki

THE YOGA HOUR TEAM COMMENTS: I really enjoyed this conversation between Dr. Trujillo and Susanna Barkataki.  Susanna is a natural teacher, making the ancient knowledge of Yoga accessible to a new modern day audience.  I appreciated the way she brought relatable examples to the four stages of life, especially the one about parenting during the "householder" stage, which I could relate to. While the podcast is only a glimpse into the book content, I hope those who are interested will explore it fully to get some great techniques of how to live Yoga

DR. TRUJILLO’S COMMENTS: I enjoyed my conversation with Susanna Barkataki discussing how to bring our yoga practice fully into our lives. We discussed how practicing the ethical principles of yoga, including harmlessness (or love), truthfulness, and devotion can be the ground that supports our ability to be spiritual changemakers, whether those changes are large or small.  The review of the four life stages of studentship, householder, forest dweller, and renunciate was illuminating, including the questions for reflection that we mentioned for each stage. Thank you, Susanna.

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.