Awaken To Your Divine Life

The spiritual teachings of yoga tell us that our ultimate goal in life, our dharma, is to awaken fully to our divine nature and to express it. Yogacharya O’Brian shares how these ancient teachings give us tools to live in a way that brings joy to our heart, peace to others and to the world.
#kriyayoga #yoga #dharma #lifepurpose #ahimsa #svadharma

Yogacharya Ellen Grace O'Brian is an acclaimed teacher, award-winning author, and minister who has served seekers of spiritual enlightenment from all walks of life for over thirty years. She has published several books and audio programs about meditation, mindfulness and spiritual living, offering a refreshing and authentic voice that makes timeless wisdom accessible to the modern mind. As a teacher in the tradition of Kriya Yoga, Yogacharya O’Brian serves people from all faith backgrounds who are seeking what is known as Self- or God-realization or awakening. She is the founder and spiritual director of the Center for Spiritual Enlightenment, a meditation center in San Jose, California as well as the founder of this podcast.
Website: Center for Spiritual Enlightenment EllenGraceOBrian.com

FB and Instagram: @EllenGraceOBrian YouTube: Yogacharya Ellen Grace O’Brian (@EllenGraceOBrian)

THE YOGA HOUR TEAM COMMENTS: It was such a pleasure to hear Yogacharya O'Brian speak about dharma on today's podcast. We hear the term more and more in today's world but few know what it truly means.  The conversation had so many insights that not only defined dharma but also how we can find our life purpose, such as reflecting on:  what are your natural tendencies, duties, talents and inclinations that sum up your unique soul yearnings?  Many of us think that we have to get our material needs met first before we are free to complete our life's purpose but Yogacharya emphasized that our purpose is within us already and that if we live in harmony with divine will all of our needs will be met. The timing of this topic couldn't have been better for me as I strive to align my profession with my purpose. 

DR. TRUJILLO’S COMMENTS: I appreciated Yogacharya O’Brian’s comment that one of the meanings of the Sanskrit word dharma is "what holds together”, reflecting that when we live in accordance with dharma, we are expressing the fundamental order of life.  Our discussion covered the relationship of dharma with many principles of yoga: harmlessness, truthfulness, self-discipline, self-study, and self-surrender.  She expressed that living in accordance with both dharma and our individual path (our svadharma, the work that is our own to do in the world) is a way of giving back to life something that we have been given from life

Contemplative Practices to Build Love, Resilience and the Courage to Act

What role does contemplative practice play in meeting a world in crisis? Oren Jay Sofer outlines practical ways that we can cultivate mindfulness, resolve, wonder, and empathy to build resilience, love, and strength that can transform our world.

Oren Jay Sofer teaches Buddhist meditation, mindfulness, and communication internationally. He holds a degree in comparative religion from Columbia University and is a Certified Trainer of Nonviolent Communication and a Somatic Experiencing Practitioner for the healing of trauma. He is the author of several books, including the book we discuss: Your Heart Was Made For This: Contemplative Practices For Meeting A World in Crisis with Courage, Integrity and Love. His teaching has reached people around the world through his online communication courses and guided meditations.

Website: orenjaysofer.com , FB and Instagram @orenjaysofer
#yoga #contemplation #oneness #meditation #joy #wonder

THE YOGA HOUR TEAM COMMENTS: Oren Jay Sofer says that because of the pandemic he felt that something shifted for humanity in 2020 and that "interconnectedness became a reality" which I can relate to.  He hopes his book, Your Heart Was Made For This will help us bring forth the beauty in our hearts.  He encouraged readers to use the book like a "choose your own adventure guide," reading chapters that resonate with them, asking readers, "what do I need right now? What is the medicine I need for my heart."  Also, his comments about meditation were memorable, asking us, "how do you take care of your mind?" when we do so many other things in the day, like brushing our teeth, to take care of the body.  His book provides a useful guide to contemplation, tuning into our hearts, and making positive change both internally and externally to make this world a better place.

DR. TRUJILLO’S COMMENTS: I really enjoyed both Oren Sofer’s book, Your Heart Was Made for This,  and our conversation about the important role of contemplation in taking action in a world in crisis.  I appreciate his view that contemplation and action are inextricably linked, and that both are needed as we arise to meet the challenges of the world.  He discussed that meditation is one form of contemplation, as running is one form of exercise, and he offered support for meditation as well as other forms of contemplation in his book.  I liked Oren’s comments that meditation is a way to take care of our mind by training it, maintaining it, and exploring it.  I wholeheartedly agree with his view that the future is not yet written, and I find this very hopeful and helpful. 

Discover Your Inner Resilience and Strength

How do we face life’s inevitable dance of falling down and getting up? Join Mark Nepo as he extends an invitation for listeners to view adversity from a new perspective - facing the challenges of life by choosing to embrace every experience as an opportunity for positive change.

#yoga "fallingdownandgettingup #grief #Oneness #beingstuck #awakenedflow

Website: MarkNepo.com For more information on upcoming in-person programs with Mark as well as information about his books.

FB and Instagram: @marknepo

Mark Nepo is a master teacher who has been convening circles and guiding retreats for fifty years all over the world. Beloved as a poet, teacher, and storyteller, he has been called “one of the finest spiritual guides of our time,” “a consummate storyteller,” and “an eloquent spiritual teacher.” Mark has written over 25 books including the #1 New York Times best seller The Book of Awakening, that have been translated into over 20 languages. He was also chosen as one of the Oprah Winfrey Network’s Supersoul 100, a group of inspired leaders using their gifts and voices to elevate humanity.

When asked about his experience on The Yoga Hour, Mark says “They are great!”

Here is a short poem that Mark asked us to share with The Yoga Hour audience.

Inside Gravity

 There is an ancient carving from

India of an elephant balancing its

weight with one foot on a lotus. And

there are some who bark right away,

“That’s ridiculous. The world is too

much. And a lotus would be crushed.”

But I’m convinced this was offered

as an image of what it is to be here.

Once looking inside gravity, the

eye immediately goes to the point

where the foot touches the lotus.

That improbable point holds the

practice of being human: how to

balance the weight of the world

on all that is dear.

Mark Nepo

THE YOGA HOUR TEAM COMMENTS:The interview with Mark Nepo discussing life’s inevitable dance with falling down and getting up was both comforting and encouraging. He reminds us that no matter what difficulty we face, it won’t last. Everything changes. There is always a choice point. If we do the inner-work, it allows growth to come in.  “We are always more than what was done to us.” I was personally struck by his insight that after grief, things don’t go back to the old “normal”. Life won’t be the same, the world will have a different hue. Like adding a drop of iodine to water you can still see through clearly, however it is tinted. Another thing he emphasized was the need to be completely who we are, then we can keep the web of connection to others and the world strong and alive. Mark ended with the thought to trust your heart. Let the heart be your teacher. It is the conduit between us and the world.
Don’t miss this podcast.

DR. TRUJILLO’S COMMENTS:  I always find our conversations and Mark Nepo’s books to be very rich and full, touching on the Oneness of which we are all a part of.  I appreciated the dedication of his book, “To those who are stuck", as all of us have been stuck at one time or another.  He describes being stuck as a developmental passage in the process of transformation that is important and necessary.  It’s part of his approach in this book, an invitation to face the challenges of life by embracing every experience as an opportunity for positive change.  I love the idea that our job is really to get up one more time than we fall, or as a Japanese proverb states, “Fall down seven times, get up eight”.  Even though we discussed some challenging topics like fear and grief, I find his message to be very hopeful.  As Mark says “Everything that can break will, until what is left is unbreakable.” 

Ayurveda Secrets For Healthy Aging

How can Ayurveda help us to slow down the aging process? Ayurvedic scholar, clinician, and educator Dr. Jayarajan Kodikannath (Dr. J) shares Ayurvedic approaches to prevent premature aging, sustain health, and ensure longevity.
#kriyayoga, #ayurveda, #longevity, #meditation, #agni

Vaidya Jayarajan Kodikannath is an Ayurvedic scholar, clinician and educator with over 25 years of experience in India and the U.S. Since 2010 he has served Kerala Ayurveda USA as Director for all academic programs and wellness services, as well as Lead Faculty and Chief Ayurvedic Consultant. He earned his degree in Ayurvedic Medicine from Mahatma Gandhi University, Kerala. In India, he served as Chief Medical Officer at Kerala Ayurveda’s award-winning AyurvedaGram Heritage Wellness Center in Bangalore and headed Kerala Ayurveda Limited’s Ayurveda Expert team in new research project development on Efficacy, Safety and Standardization of Ayurvedic Wellness solutions. He is a member of the Expert Curriculum Committee for Masters in Ayurveda at Bastyr University, Seattle and also serves on the Board of Directors for the National Ayurvedic Medical Association (NAMA). Kerala Ayurveda USA is located in Milpitas, CA.

WEBSITE: KeralaAyurveda.us 
FaceBook: Kerala Ayurveda Academy and Wellness Center Instagram: @keralaayuusa
YouTube: @Ayurvedaacademy

THE YOGA HOUR TEAM COMMENTS: This was an excellent program on the basics of Ayurveda and how the science of Ayurveda is all about longevity. Dr. J has an excellent way of explaining the principles of Ayurveda in a simple way that makes complete sense. For example, I have always understood that Ayurveda recommends eating cooked, warm foods because it makes it easier to digest and that cold or iced drinks cool down our agni, our digestive fires, but how does this affect our longevity? He explained that the average human body temperature is 98.6.  If we put a lot of cold food or drink in our body it has to expend a lot of energy to come back up to it's normal temperature. If we do this on a regular basis, our energy balance gets depleted and disease can occur. He said "Every imbalance weakens us, thus exposing us to more imbalance".  He says that Ayurveda is the science of balance and attunement with nature and the natural processes. I highly recommend this program for all of us who want to live a healthy life so that we can accomplish our purpose in life. 

DR. TRUJILLO’S COMMENTS: I really enjoyed my conversation with Dr. J. As he pointed out, the whole purpose behind Ayurveda is to have a long, healthy life “which is the means of achieving righteousness, prosperity and happiness/wellbeing” as was written in the Ashtanga Hridayam 1400 years ago. He has a way of making Ayurveda very accessible, which I truly appreciate.  We talked about the holistic nature of Ayurveda where mental health and spiritual health are as important as physical health.  In addition to having a regular timing for meals and sleep, he discussed the importance of meditation for stress relief and mental health.  I enjoyed his comparison of meditation to having the teacher come into a classroom of unruly students, bringing everything into order.  As he said, meditation is just bringing the teacher (guru) into our heart so that our whole mind/body/spirit system becomes aligned.

Ever New Joy: Meditate For Calm and Clarity

Beginning or returning to a regular meditation practice is one of the most powerful things you can do to transform your life. Host Dr. Laurel Trujillo shares the benefits of meditation as well as the nuts and bolts of how to establish or re-establish a regular meditation practice.

DR. TRUJILLO’S COMMENTS: People are often drawn to beginning a meditation practice, at the New Year and at other times throughout the year.  The Yoga Hour team wanted to provide supportive information and inspiration to help listeners begin to meditate. In this episode, I describe what meditation is, the physical, mental, and spiritual benefits of meditation, and give detailed information about the four stages of meditation: Foster, Focus, Flow, and Finish described in more detail in Yogacharya O’Brian’s book The Jewel of Abundance. There are also lots of tips for establishing a home meditation practice.

Dr. Laurel Trujillo is the host and producer of The Yoga Hour. She is a meditation teacher in the Kriya Yoga tradition. She was ordained to teach by her guru and founder of this podcast, Yogacharya Ellen Grace O’Brian in 2014.
Dr. Trujillo is a retired Internal Medicine physician and is a certified Hatha yoga instructor and student of Yoga Therapy and Ayurveda.

THE YOGA HOUR TEAM COMMENTS: This podcast is perfect for anyone wanting to begin or restart a meditation practice. Dr. Laurel Trujillo explains the physical and spiritual benefits of meditation then shares the four stages of meditation: Foster, Focus, Flow, and Finish. An added bonus for those that are able to listen in a conducive environment, the podcast ends with a short 15 minute meditation taking the listener through the four stages of meditation.

Reconnect to the Power of Silence

We all have a near-constant interior dialogue but we can discover the quiet place of peace and joy that lies beyond. Join author Sarah Anderson as she shares how we can fan the flame of silence so that we can be transformed and inspired by its power.

#silence, #yoga, #kriyayoga, #meditation

Sarah Anderson is author of the book The Lost Art of Silence: Reconnecting to the Power and Beauty of Quiet. Sarah is a writer, painter, and the founder of the Travel Bookshop in London, which was featured in the film, Notting Hill. She lives in London and enjoys finding pockets of quiet amid the noise of the bustling city.  You can find out more about her bookshop, her writing and see her art at her website

Website: UmbrellaBooks.com

THE YOGA HOUR TEAM COMMENTS: I enjoyed this conversation with Sarah Anderson. I appreciate how she shares her experience of silence and how beneficial times of silence is for our life. She says that silence is not the abscense of words or sound, but it is a presence, a presence that is healing. She has several recommendations for how we spend time in silence including meditation. After Ms. Anderson left, Dr. Trujillo and Rev. Ann Hayes had a helpful conversation about how to create a day of silence, based on the booklet, A Day of Silence, written by Yogacharya Ellen Grace O’Brian.

DR. TRUJILLO’S COMMENTS I really appreciated Sarah Anderson’s in-depth reflections in the book and in our conversation about the importance of silence and how becoming more aware of silence in our lives can be a helpful practice.  We discussed how silence can be more than the absence of noise, but rather a tangible presence that can help us connect to the larger Oneness of all that is.  She mentioned how we can find silence not only in nature, but also in looking at certain pieces of art or listening to music. When we pay attention we hear those silences within the musical piece.  Meditation is also an important practice to get in touch and stay in touch with our own inner silence.  

Top Episodes of 2023

We had so many wonderful guests discussing great topics this year.
Here are some that our team have highlighted for you.

January 26th with Mark Nepo MEET THE STORMS OF LIFE WITH STRENGTH AND RESILIENCE
How can times of adversity be a time of personal transformation? Mark Nepo, esteemed poet and spiritual teacher, shares how we can traverse life's unavoidable storms by using the timeless teachings of the heart to deepen our roots and solidify our connection with Spirit.

February 9th with Brad Warner THE ULTIMATE UNITY OF ALL BEINGS The realization that everything in the universe forms a single, integrated whole can be difficult to grasp. Author and Zen priest Brad Warner shares, in a light-hearted way, how a true understanding of Reality, the ultimate unity of all things instills in us a sense of responsibility for the welfare of all life.

March 9th with Yogacharya Ellen Grace O’Brian TRANSFORM YOUR LIFE WITH KRIYA YOGA
What is it like to live as a Kriya Yogi? Yogacharya O’Brian draws inspiration from the Bhagavad Gita to explore this question about how to live a spiritually conscious fulfilled life in today’s world.

March 16th with Rick Hanson FOSTER LOVE AND BUILD CONNECTION TO MAKE GREAT RELATIONSHIPS 
How can we foster healthy and fulfilling relationships of all kinds? Author and psychologist Rick Hanson offers simple but powerful ways to improve relationships with our family, friends and with challenging people so that we can cultivate kindness and communicate more skillfully.

April 6th with Pamela Ayo Yetunde COMPASSION, COMMUNITY AND KINSHIP: FOSTERING SPIRITUAL INTERCONNECTION How can we, as individuals, contribute to the repair of the world and ourselves in this polarized time? Dr. Pamela Ayo Yetunde, author of Casting Indra’s Net, asks the questions “What happened to us? Why do so many choose brutality over mutuality? In this program she shares how we can do the necessary inner work to live as spiritual kin, caring for each other amidst global crisis and suffering.

April 21st with David McGrath LIVE A SPIRITUALLY CONSCIOUS LIFE: THE WAY OF THE YOGI - PART ONE The first limb of yoga consists of five ethical principles called the Yamas. How do these Yamas offer us a practical way to live a life that is worthy of us? Author and Kriya Yoga teacher, David McGrath shares how these principles and practices guide us to live in the highest way, a yogic life. David is the author of the book being discussed in this program, The Yogi’s Way: Living in Accord With The Yamas and Niyamas.

April 27th with David McGrath LIVE A SPIRITUALLY CONSCIOUS LIFE: THE WAY OF THE YOGI - PART TWO The second limb of yoga consists of five ethical practices called the Niyamas. David McGrath, spiritual teacher and author of the book The Yogi’s Way: Living in Accord with the Yamas and Niyamas, shares how the teachings of Kriya Yoga, specifically the practices of the Niyamas offer us a practical way to live a spiritually conscious life.

May 11 with Kate Johnson FRIENDSHIP AS A RADICAL PRACTICE FOR SOCIAL CHANGE   How can friendship offer healing and transformation for ourselves and for the world? Author and spiritual teacher, Kate Johnson shares simple strategies, grounded in ancient teachings, to help us embody our deepest values and show us the importance of working toward the collective well-being in all our relationships.

May 25th with Ivan Granger SACRED POETRY: INSIGHT AND INSPIRATION Listening to and reading sacred poetry can lift us up, inspire our days and take us to a deeper understanding of the Divine. Ivan Granger is a poet and editor of The Longing In Between: An Anthology of Sacred Poetry from Around the World.  Listen in and be inspired!

June 8th with Andrew Mellen IT’S TIME FOR A CHANGE! Do you feel there is just not enough time in the day? Andrew Mellen, author of Calling BS on Busy, combines cutting-edge neuroscience with common sense to change the way we think and act about time, bringing us into the present moment with clear intention, gratitude and abundance.

July 13 with Dr. Paul Mills SCIENCE AND THE SPIRITUAL LIFE Does science need to be separate from spirituality? Scientist and author Dr. Paul Mills shares stories from some of the world’s foremost scientists about mystical experiences that have transformed them and their work. Science, as a method, can be used to pursue spiritual goals.

August 3 with Sarah Ezrin THE WISDOM OF YOGA IN EVERYDAY PARENTING
How does the wisdom of Yoga inform the unpredictable, sometimes chaotic life of a parent?  Sarah Ezrin, author of The Yoga of Parenting: 10 Yoga-Based Practices to Help You Stay Grounded, Connect with Your Kids, and Be Kind to Yourself offers wise and practical strategies for understanding how the many challenges of parenting can be better managed with Yoga.

September 6th with Sky Nelson-Isaacs OUR QUEST FOR WHOLENESS
How can we remove filters--thoughts, feelings, and other reactions—that keep us weaving the same old patterns? Author Sky Nelson-Isaacs shares how we can open ourselves up to endless possibilities by aligning with life circumstances rather than fighting them.

September 14th with Rizwan Virk AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF A YOGI FOR THE 21ST CENTURY
What lessons can a modern seeker draw from Autobiography of a Yogi? Rizwan Virk discusses how universal principles such as karma, meditation, and yoga can be used to address issues and challenges of the present, such as the diversions of social media and the quick pace of contemporary life.

October 5th with Kabir Helminski RUMI AND THE ESSENCE OF BEING HUMAN
What is the secret that connects the individual soul to spiritual Reality? Author, esteemed spiritual teacher and longtime translator of Rumi, Kabir Helminski, shares how the sacred poetry of Rumi can be viewed through a contemporary lens to illuminate universal truths.

October 12 with Yogacharya O’Brian MEDITATION: IT'S SIMPLE AND NATURAL
How can we have a successful and enjoyable meditation experience? Yogacharya O'Brian shares what a successful practice is as well as easy and practical techniques to prepare our minds, our bodies and consciousness to create the conditions for meditation to occur.

October 19th with LaUra Schmidt RECONNECT WITH OUR PLANET AND EACH OTHER
LaUra Schmidt, co-author of How to Live in a Chaotic Climate: 10 Steps To Reconnect with Ourselves, Our Communities, and Our Planet shares practical steps that allow us to build momentum for healing and action in this time of climate crisis. She shares how we can embrace ‘Good Grief’ and embody the necessary actions to cool the rising temperatures in our politics, in our families, and within ourselves.

November 2 with Michelle Cassandra Johnson FIND JOY AND HEALING THROUGH CONNECTION
How can we heal and find joy in times of isolation, grief, sadness, and fear?  Michelle Cassandra Johnson shares spiritual teachings drawn from the Bhagavad Gita, mindfulness practices and rituals to show how to build community, summon support, connect with nature, and thrive.

November 9th with Yogacharya O’Brian CULTIVATE GRACE, GRATITUDE, AND GENEROSITY: THREE ESSENTIALS FOR A FULFILLED LIFE
What role do gratitude and generosity play in living a fulfilled life? Join Yogacharya O’Brian as she shares insights and practices we can use to find hope, resilience, and higher purpose in times of change or challenge.

Cultivate Grace, Gratitude, and Generosity: Three Essentials for a Fulfilled Life

What role do gratitude and generosity play in living a fulfilled life? Join Yogacharya O’Brian as she shares insights and practices we can use to find hope, resilience, and higher purpose in times of change or challenge. 

Yogacharya Ellen Grace O'Brian is an acclaimed teacher, award-winning author, and minister who has served seekers of spiritual enlightenment from all walks of life for over thirty years. She has published several books, including The Jewel of Abundance: Finding Prosperity Through the Ancient Wisdom of Yoga and audio programs about meditation, mindfulness and spiritual living, offering a refreshing and authentic voice that makes timeless wisdom accessible to the modern mind. As a teacher in the tradition of Kriya Yoga, Yogacharya O’Brian serves people from all faith backgrounds who are seeking what is known as Self- or God-realization, or awakening. She is the spiritual director of the Center for Spiritual Enlightenment, a meditation center in San Jose, California as well as the founder and spiritual director of The Yoga Hour podcast.

WEBSITE: EllenGraceOBrian.com CSEcenter.org

SOCIAL MEDIA: @ellengraceobrian

#kriyayoga #yoga #gratitude #grace #generosity

THE YOGA HOUR TEAM COMMENTS: This conversation was so rich. These are just a few of the many highlights for me. This seems like it is a simple topic that we hear a lot about, but the yogic teachings are very profound. Yogacharya shared that "These teachings of cultivating grace, gratitude and generosity are about helping us to awaken to what we are and aligning to the essence of all of life. The ego always wants something that we think will make us happy. Those things outside of us are all temporary and can only give temporary happiness. The yogic teachings tell us that this is about understanding the wholeness of life and that nothing is needed"  I also appreciated her poem, Lark Singing Through the Night, which came from how Yogacharya realized that she had received so much from her guru, that she could never repay what she had received. I was inspired by the definition of grace that Roy Eugene Davis gave us and which Yogacharya shared: "Grace is unearned, freely supplied support. It arises from within us and is the expressive aspect of Ultimate Reality."  This program is an essential teaching for those who are interested in diving deeper into the teachings of Kriya Yoga.

DR. TRUJILLO’S COMMENTS: At the beginning of our conversation we discussed the restraints, or Yamas, and I enjoyed the question Yogacharya O’Brian asked: What is being restrained? She pointed out that all of yoga is for the purpose of purifying the body and mind so that the innate radiance of the soul can shine through. By practicing the restraints, we are restraining the false self, the ego. The restraint of non-stealing, which is the basis for gratitude and generosity, is truly about understanding our relationship with the infinite.  As Paramahansa Yogananda wrote in the quote that I read at the beginning of the show, “You should be thankful for everything at all times.  Realize that all power to think, and speak, and act comes from God, and that God is with you now, guiding and inspiring you.”  When we are aware of how much grace we are given, and in touch with our innate wholeness, gratitude and generosity flow forth.