For as long as I've known, I've struggled with addictive tendencies ranging from co-dependency, alcoholism, and drug addiction. Even deep into my yoga practice, my alcoholism intertwined with my sadhana; the post-yoga wine session with friends was always a necessity, as were the libations that were encouraged during the yoga retreats I've attended in my past. Alcohol was always a vehicle for connection. Yet while I always felt that these connections were built on inauthentic foundations, I did nothing to change it.

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Yoga as it is known in the West exists in a much larger ecosystem in the East known as Dharma. The central attempt of Dharma is to bring present moment awareness (Chit or Chaitanya) into all aspects of life. Four primary forms of Yoga have been developed for this purpose. They are Bhakti (devotion), Jnana (knowledge), Raja (meditation) and Karma (action). These Yogic systems are summarized in a principle text of the Dharma tradition, the Bhagavad Gita. In this reflection, we will delve into the teachings of Karma Yoga, surrender, gratitude and Prasad.

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In case you did not know, I am a first generation South Asian American. That's right. My name is not a spiritually gifted one, as I have often been accused of, and I am not considered Caucasian, an argument that I endured and lost with a Census Enumerator in 2010.

Being disowned by both my mother and father's relatives for being a mixed race family, I had a very hard time with my identity growing up. Other kids would call me "Hadji", referencing the Jonny Quest character and the only other Indian that they knew of.

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When I was a little girl, I attended Catholic Mass every Sunday. “In the Name of the Father, The Son, and the Holy Spirit, ” we chanted. We made the sign of the cross with our right hand, kneeled and put our hands together in prayer, and sang songs. It was very nice and these memories assure me that I have been doing yoga my whole life. 

Today, my meditations looks similar and my practice is called Kundalini Yoga. Sitting cross-legged in easy pose, I join my hands in prayer mudra, take cleansing breaths in and out through my nose and repeat, “Ong Namo Guru Dev Namo,”

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Dynamic imagery is a crucial piece in practicing mind-body connection, not only during yoga but in any physical practice where we are in communication with ourselves. This plays out more dramatically in yoga where the practitioner is essentially silent for an hour or even 90 minutes. If just 20 of those minutes were filled with negativity, how would that impact the overall body experience? Using positive dynamic imagery can also be applied while running, backcountry skiing, during a deep tissue massage, or even while doing the dishes.

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Imagine that we are every character in the story and each of the gods and goddesses represent aspects of our own psyche that we wish to evaluate, elevate, evoke, excavate and understand both for ourselves and in relation to our world and other beings. There is vast beauty and modern relevance in these writings which are as enriching and relevant as any philosophy I have seen. I have been invited to become a better mother, wife, friend and collaborator in deep study of these myths.

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The mind-body connection is a pathway. Just like any path, there is a potential for travel both ways. We use our mind to communicate information to the body all the time. We want to move our arm so our brain, motivated by a thought, sends signals through our nervous system that simulates and coordinates the muscular movement necessary to mobilize our joints. Likewise, we can flip that switch and access the mind through the body. One of those ways is through the primary function of our respiratory system: breathing.  

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The term Mindfulness has become more prevalent in modern day conversation and life but what does it really mean? Although there are many variations and interpretations of the word, in my experience the key component of mindfulness is awareness and pure presence; to make a conscious transition from autopilot, distraction and multitasking to a purposeful focus; an exploration of the present moment free of judgement, free of reaction and full of curiosity.

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Upon finding out that I am a yoga teacher, I am often told by friends and friends of friends, “I love yoga, but I’m not any good at it. I can’t do the postures well.” 

Over time, course-correcting this comment has become somewhat of a passion of mine because the statement itself indicates a misunderstanding of what yoga is really all about. Yoga, at its core, is an innate opportunity for connection available to all of us—regardless of shape, size, strength, skill level, or natural “stretchiness.”

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Do you have a clear direction of where you want to go in your life? Are you on the road that will lead you there, or do you feel like you’re driving without a map?

As a yoga teacher, I dedicate a few moments before beginning a practice by guiding my students to set an intention. An intention is defined as “a determination to act a certain way.” Setting an intention allows each individual to focus their awareness on something meaningful and personal to them.

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The balance of yin and yang is common knowledge. Ancient origins residing in Chinese philosophy, it presents the idea that the opposites in our lives are co-dependent on the other’s success. An easy example is that if you were to stay awake for 24 hours a day every day, you would eventually expire. On the opposite end, you would equally expire if you slept for 24 hours a day every day. They are inseparable from one another. Without being awake, sleep would not exist. Without sleep, being awake would not exist.

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Yoga in Sanskrit means Union, a union of coming together of all sides of ourselves. The dark and the light. Yoga takes many forms, beyond what we stereotypically may think of - a classroom with a teacher and lots of “fit” people in tight clothes.  Yoga, at its roots, is designed to remind us of our connection to nature and all of life.  It is this connection, or unity consciousness, that yoga leads us towards and as a result, gives us the experience of health, peace and joy we all seek.

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