Raj's Yoga Blog

If you are looking for International Yoga Day events taking place in Metro Vancouver on June 21, 2015, here are some resources. I tried searching yoga day events around Vancouver and it took some time finding them. Thought to share it here for others. Please comment on this page if you know more events are taking place in Metro Vanocuver. Vancouver: Plaza of Nations 750 Pacific Blvd Vancouver, BC V6Z 2R8 Time: 09:00AM - 4:00PM Web: http://www.unidycanada.com/vancouver_bc Burnaby: Hindu Temple Burnaby 3885 Albert street, Burnaby, Bc Time: 6:00PM - 8:00PM Web: http://hindutempleburnabybc.com YogAbility by Kiran Yoga Class near Burnaby Hospital Cell: 604-754-2996 Time: 07:30AM - 08:AM Web: https://www.facebook.com/yogabilities Surrey: Guildford Recreation Centre 15105 - 105 Avenue Surrey, BC V3R 7G8 Phone: 604-502-6360 Time: 10:00AM - 7:00PM Web: http://www.surrey.ca/culture-recreation/17187.aspx?startDate=Jun-14-2015 Hindu Mandir Surrey  ...

The following is a letter that Sri Apa Pant wrote to his daughter on November 14, 1968: Those who should know, speak of mediation as "mindfulness", Krishnamurthy calls it "choiceless awareness".    Of meditation it is also said that it is "no-meditation". When you reach the normal, natural state of consciousness within yourself, you are in meditation. It is further said that when you are functioning in the day-to-day world with your senses in contact with sense-objects like seeing, hearing, tasting, smelling etc. your consciousness should be all the time within you.    When I was talking to a high lama from Tibet, the most reverend Khentse Rinpoche in Gangtok, he once said that to meditate is to rest your mind between two thoughts. When a thought has vanished and another thought is yet to arise, in that interval you can realize the supreme consciousness, or Samadhi. The longer  the period of silence between one thought and another, the more you can b...

Find out if you breathe correctly: Sit on a chair/stool, preferably cross-legged on floor. If you have to do this standing up, that’s fine too. Close your eyes and keep them closed throughout the process. But close your eyes after reading rest of the instructions. Gently place your hands – one over the other – over your abdomen. Now take a few deep breaths. Gently inhale and exhale. Keep your mouth closed. Find your breath – your breathing should be deep but gentle and through the nose. Now observe your inhalation – does your abdomen go in or come out? If you can’t feel it, press your abdomen a little harder with your hands. If with every inhalation, your abdomen is going inwards (falling in) you are breathing incorrectly. The correct way to breathe is: with every inhalation, your abdomen should come out (rise) and with every exhalation, it should go in (fall). How to correct your breathing: Don’t be disheartened if you just found out you breathe incorrectly. With c...

The universal mantra which can be used by everybody is the mantra Om, comprised of the sounds 'A', 'U' and 'M'. It is the cosmic vibration of both the manifest and unmanifest realities. 'A' represents the conscious world and creation, 'U' represents the intermediate realms and subconscious, and 'M' represents the unmanifest and unconscious . The three sounds together represent the existence of the supreme consciousness and manifestation. Everything in creation has its own particular vibrational frequency and mantra, but the combination of the whole universal and vibrational frequencies pulsates to the rhythm of Om. There is no greater mantra to repeat. Hari Om Tat Sat! Taken from Hatha Yoga Pradipika

India, was well trained in spritual philosophy and science ages before the Romans, or Alexander the Great ever dreamed of world empire, and when nought but savages roamed over the vast prairies and through deep forests of what is now proud America. This science was familiar to the great Teachers of India long before Egypt came to be regarded as the word's repository of occult knowledge. In fact Egypt took her first lessons in such knowledge from the great Mahatmas of India. Dear old India! The world owes her a debt of gratitude it is slow to repay. All the round world has sat at her feet and learned the ancient wisdom. But not all the world knows the sould of India. The West does not yet understand her. Many look upon India as the land of mystery or of poverty and ignorance. The look only at the drifting tide of human life breaking upon her unhappy shores in vast lacs of incarnations. They know not the real India. They know not her great Teachers; for they are her sould. From them...

A mantra is a combination of syllables, sounds or phrases, realized by ancient sages, which have been widely known in India for thousands of years. They are evocative sounds and through their power of vibration have subtle, yet powerful and penetrating effects on the mind and body. --Swami Satyananda Saraswati

The ingredients of health and long life are prayer, Japa (Mantra repetition), Kirtan, meditation serenity, cosmic love, temperance, regulated life fresh open air, regular exercise, regulated breathing exercises or Pranayama, sun-bath and good wholesome food. Do unconditional and unreserved self-surrender to the Lord. He will take care of you. Be at ease. You will be free from fear and worries. You will enjoy health and happiness. Practice the presence of God. Behold Him in all faces, in all beings, in all forms. See Him everywhere. You will enjoy real peace, health and happiness. Meditate ceaselessly on the desireless, ever blissful Atman (the Self), Chant OM, Sing OM, Do Japa of OM. You will be blessed with health and happiness. Source: Sivananda YOGALIFE Magazine, Summer 2007.