Please rate and review The Yoga Hour on your favorite podcast player. It really helps us to be discovered by more listeners and we appreciate the feedback.

Laurel Trujillo 12/5/24 Laurel Trujillo 12/5/24

Practical Steps to Transform Stress into Strength

Stress has become a normal part of our lives. Join us for this conversation with Dr. Elissa Epel, author of the Stress Prescription: Seven Days to More Joy and Ease, as she shares practical ways to navigate adversity to live a happier and healthier life. We can’t avoid stress but we can embrace it and transform it.

Elissa Epel, PhD is an international expert on stress, well-being, and optimal aging and a best-selling author of The Telomere Effect, and now The Stress Prescription. She is a Professor in the Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, at The University of California, San Francisco, where she is Vice Chair of Psychology and directs the UCSF Aging Metabolism Emotions Center. She studies how psychosocial and behavioral factors, such as meditation and positive stress, can slow aging and focuses on climate wellness.

WEBSITE: ElissaEpel.com Social Media: Elissa Epel
#KriyaYoga #stress #stressresponse #meditiaton #selfreflection #relaxation

THE YOGA HOUR TEAM COMMENTS: Elissa Epel brings together decades of research on stress for us to live happier and healthier lives in her book, The Stress Prescription. Listeners will appreciate learning about the different types of stress, the four different mind states, and some practical tools to lessen chronic stress. Her research even shows how effective meditation is reducing stress, as we know from our own practice through Kriya Yoga. I am confident this conversation will get listeners thinking more about how stress impacts their lives and the simple steps they can take to turn stress into strength.

DR. TRUJILLO’S COMMENTS: I really appreciated the way that Dr. Epel integrates science along with helpful techniques to allow us to better deal with stress and live a happier and healthier life. Her view that stress can be positive in that it prepares our mind and body for what we need to do is helpful. I appreciated that she suggested questions to ask ourselves as a way of reducing stress when we have too many balls in the air. I found Dr. Epel’s depictions of the four states of mind in response to stress can be useful: Red Mind (acute stress), Yellow Mind (baseline cognitive mode), Green Mind (rest), and Blue Mind (deep rest). She points out that in our chronically stressful world, we often don’t get beyond Red Mind and Yellow Mind. This conversation can help us to change that.

Laurel Trujillo 11/21/24 Laurel Trujillo 11/21/24

Connect to Divine Energy for Healthy Relationships and Successful Living

How can we attune ourselves to the subtle Divine energy that brings spiritual awakening, improves relationships and brings what we need for successful living? Shivani Lucki, internationally known Kriya Yoga meditation teacher and author of Healing with Life Force, shares Paramahansa Yogananda’s teachings for vitality, healing and Self-realization.

Shivani Lucki dedicated her life to the teachings of Paramahansa Yogananda in 1969 when she met Swami Kriyananda, the founder of the Ananda community. Her passion has always been the self-healing techniques of Yogananda, taking on as her unique mission to find and share these mostly out-of-print or never published teachings. She helped to establish two Ananda communities-one in California and one in Assisi, Italy as well as the Yogananda Academy of Europe. She is also the founder of Life Therapy School for Self-Healing. Since 1985 she and her husband have lived at the Ananda Assisi Community in Italy. Shivani is the author of a trilogy of books entitled, Healing with Life Force: Teachings and Techniques of Paramahansa Yogananda
WEBSITE: HealingLifeForces.com
#kriyayoga #spiritualmagnetism #prosperity #healingrelationships #clarityofpurpose

THE YOGA HOUR TEAM COMMENTS: In Shivani Lucki’s third book in this trilogy focusing on magnetism she quoted her teacher, Swami Kriyananda, who said "Divine love...is in fact the most powerful—indeed, in the last analysis the only force in the universe.” Roy Eugene Davis said something similar "There is an enlivening power that is nurturing the universe and we can learn to cooperate with it.” When Shivani described spiritual magnetism she referenced Yogananda who said that our spiritual evolution is dependent on 25% of our own effort, 25% of support from our spiritual teacher and 50% is dependent on God’s love. She said that when our thoughts and energy are all focused on our spiritual evolution we create a magnetism that draws God to us. She compared it to the gravity of the sun. When something gets to a certain point near the sun, its gravity pulls it in. There is no choice. It is that way with our one-pointed attention to our spiritual awakening. Our own effort with help from the guru gets us close enough for God's grace to take over. In tumultuous times it is important to be reminded what our purpose in life is and how we are supported when we turn our attention to God. For me this conversation with Shivani Lucki was a supportive reminder.

DR. TRUJILLO’S COMMENTS: I particularly appreciated the view that Shivani Lucki shared of the magnetic power of Divine Love as the force behind magnetism. I enjoyed our discussion of the components of magnetism that bring prosperity and success such as clarity of purpose and conviction that we are capable of achieving our goal. As we discussed, meditation and going into our inner calm can help us access our intuition and discernment and guide us on our way. Our conversation about how God comes to us through our relationships with others was illuminating. Listeners will enjoy this discussion of success in our efforts and in our relationships.

Laurel Trujillo 11/12/24 Laurel Trujillo 11/12/24

The Bridge Between Time and Eternity

The soul bridges time and eternity. Yogacharya O’Brian discusses how, even in our busy lives, the practices of meditation, prayer, devotion, and contemplation, gather our attention and open space for the soul to stretch out.

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 forty 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 spiritual director of the Center for Spiritual Enlightenment, a meditation center in San Jose, California as well as the founder of this podcast

WEBSITE: EllenGraceOBrian.com CSECenter.org Social Media and YouTube: Ellen Grace O’Brian
#kriyayoga #meditation #rightuseofvitalforce #soulwisdom #transformation

THE YOGA HOUR TEAM COMMENTS: This episode with Yogacharya O’Brian is what I needed for this moment in time. Give yourself the opportunity to absorb the teaching and the spiritual resources available to us to relax and calm our body, mind and emotions. With the steady guidance and reassurance of Yogacharya O’Brian, we are reminded to turn away from distractions to connect with the deepest soul within.

DR. TRUJILLO’S COMMENTS: I found this episode to be particularly helpful at this time of rapid change. I was moved by Yogacharya’s quote of the African proverb that says: “Times are urgent, let us slow down.” We discussed that slowing down enables us to listen to our own inner guidance, and reminds us of who we really are. Ela Gandhi’s reply to Yogacharya’s question about how to make it through difficult times is a good one for us to contemplate. Ms. Gandhi said that we make it through difficult times by remembering that we have spiritual resources. Yogacharya shared, in this program, that slowing down enables us to access those resources. This program is supportive, inspiring and uplifting for these difficult times.

Laurel Trujillo 11/7/24 Laurel Trujillo 11/7/24

The Inspiring Life of a Modern Christian Mystic, Father Thomas Keating

Father Thomas Keating is one of great Christian mystics and contemplative giants of our time. Spiritual teacher, Cynthia Bourgeault, a long time student and colleague of Fr. Keating, offers insight into this master’s journey from cloistered monk to world-renowned spiritual leader.

Cynthia Bourgeault is a Episcopal priest, and theologian. She divides her time between solitude at her seaside hermitage in Maine and traveling globally to promote the rediscovery of the Christian contemplative path. She is a core faculty emerita of the Center for Action and Contemplation and founding director of an international network of Wisdom Schools. She was a long-time student and colleague of Fr. Thomas Keating. Cynthia’s articles and essays have appeared in many journals and publications, and she is the author of numerous books, including the book we are discussing today, Thomas Keating: The Making of a Modern Christian Mystic.

WEBSITE: CynthiaBourgeault.org WisdomWaypoints.org Facebook: Cynthia Bourgeault
#kriyayoga #centeringprayer #thomaskeating #unityconsciousness #Oneness #interspiritual #interfaith

The documentary on the life of Father Keating that is mentioned in this program is The Rising Tide of Silence. It is available on several streaming platforms.

THE YOGA HOUR TEAM COMMENTS: Cynthia Bourgeault’s relationship, deep study with Fr. Keating and her own deep practice gives us a greater understanding of his work, especially in the latter half of his life. She equates Fr. Keating to one of maybe 5 Christian mystics in history who have attained a highest level of understanding of Reality. She shared that for many Christian practitioners his teachings have been received as a “lifeline”. For those of us on the yogic path of spiritual awakening, the teachings of Fr. Keating resonate deeply. He came to these realizations just as the ancient rishis and rishikas came to them, by spending time in profound silence. I really appreciated Cynthia’s closing statement “Whatever stage you are in the journey, bless that stage and know that it opens into something else.” I would highly recommend this program.

DR. TRUJILLO’S COMMENTS: In this conversation we learned about Father Keating who was was key to re-establishing the process of Centering Prayer, a form of meditation, in the Christian tradition. I appreciated his description of meditation as “taking a brief vacation from yourself”. As Cynthia Bourgeault pointed out, his teachings over the last 30 years of his life focused on unity consciousness and having a direct relationship with the Infinite. He realized that all spiritual traditions have a way to “speak the language of silence” and connect in their depths. It was a pleasure to learn more about Father Keating in our discussion, and to find so many areas where his teachings touch on the teachings of Kriya Yoga.

Laurel Trujillo 10/31/24 Laurel Trujillo 10/31/24

Sacred Chants—A Divine Connection

How does sacred music deepen our connection to the Divine? Swami Nirvanananda, musician and spiritual teacher, shares how sacred chants and music can quiet our minds, bringing us to a deeper connection with the Divine.
#kriya yoga #yogananda # kirtan #sacred chants #bhakti #pratyahara

Giorgio Kriegsch was born to devout parents, a Catholic mother and a Lutheran father in Trieste, Italy. In 1975 his life was changed after reading Paramahana Yogananda’s book, Autobiography of a Yogi. He was initiated into Kriya Yoga by Swami Hariharananda—a direct disciple of Yogananda’s guru, Swami Sri Yukteswar. During one of his early trips to India, Giorgio discovered the inspiring work of Father Marian Zelazek, who was helping the children of lepers in Puri, a city in eastern India. He asked Fr. Zelazek how he could help and was asked to seek sponsors to support this work. Giorgio began performing Kirtan (sacred chanting concerts) to raise funds. In 1992, in the holy city of Jagannath Puri in India, Giorgio took the final monastic vows of a sannyas and became Swami Nirvanananda Saraswati, meaning “the bliss of freedom from suffering.” He continues to travel the world, inspiring audiences withdevotional music and raising funds to help others.
WEBSITE: nirvanananda.org FB: Swami Nirvanananda

THE YOGA HOUR TEAM COMMENTS: Listening to this podcast was a supportive experience with the comforting presence of Swami Nirvanananda. In an hour filled with sacred chanting, he shared his heart, love and joy through his beautiful voice, guitar and harmonium playing. Step into this time with Dr.Trujillo and Swami Nirvanananda as they discuss how to deepen our connection to the Divine through sacred chanting. The mind becomes still through the attention to the breath and sound vibration. This was such a joyful time and so helpful in this moment in history.

DR. TRUJILLO’S COMMENTS: Experiencing Swami ji’s music and chanting was a joy. We discussed chanting as part of the practice of Bhakti Yoga, the yoga of devotion. He shared chants in both English and Sanskrit, and I particularly was touched by his chant of the 23rd Psalm. It was so moving that it brought tears to my eyes. Chanting is also a part of Interiorization, or Pratyahara, one of the eight limbs of yoga. I believe listeners will experience both the joy and turning within that chanting brings by listening to this episode.

Laurel Trujillo 10/24/24 Laurel Trujillo 10/24/24

Take Action on Climate Change with Heart and Mind

How do we respond to the urgency of climate change yet act effectively with hope? Join the conversation with our guest, author Susan Bauer-Wu as we discuss the challenges of this moment, to channel our inner awareness and wisdom, and to re-orient our thinking toward hopeful action.
#yoga #climate crisis #wonderment #contemplation #raising consciousness

SUSAN BAUER-WU is an organizational leader, clinical scientist, and mindfulness teacher, who has held leadership and academic roles in nonprofits, universities, and health care. From 2015 to 2023 she served as President of the Mind & Life Institute, an organization co-founded by the Dalai Lama to bring science and contemplative wisdom together to better understand the mind, foster dialogue, and create positive change in the world. Susan is the author of several books including, A Future We Can Love: Effective Approaches to the Climate Crisis That Begin with Us
The short films about climate feedback loops, which were the genesis for the book, are available for free online with subtitles in 32 languages at feedbackloopsclimate.com.

WEBSITE: MindAndLife.org

THE YOGA HOUR TEAM COMMENTS: In this impactful podcast, Susan Bauer-Wu discusses important information related to the climate crisis, as presented in her book, A Future We Can Love: Effective Approaches to the Climate Crisis That Begin With Us. While sobering, there are choices we can make for the future that we can love. Look for the interconnected nature of all things. Take time in nature and wonder. Ground yourself, breathe--be with the grief. And we can create positive feedback loops when we meditate, plant a tree, live more simply, or be in community--- as these actions strengthen us spiritually, they also contribute to the healing of the planet.

DR. TRUJILLO’S COMMENTS: I really enjoyed speaking with Susan Bauer-Wu about her book A Future We Can Love: Effective Approaches to the Climate Crisis that Begin with Us. The four part plan that she presents is so helpful: we begin with knowledge about where we are in the climate crisis; acknowledgement of our capacity; willingness to change; and then take action. At times the climate crisis feels overwhelming, yet you discuss ways that each of us can approach it with both mind and heart. We can learn about what is happening (mind) yet remain hopeful as we make changes in our lives (heart). We discussed the role of expanding our viewpoint, recognizing our connection with the earth and all living things, and the role of connecting with others to make changes.

Laurel Trujillo 9/19/24 Laurel Trujillo 9/19/24

Lasting Peace Begins with Us

How can we contribute to a lasting peace in the world? The ancient yogic scriptures tell us that the power to change the world begins with us. Renowned spiritual teacher and spiritual head of the Himalayan Institute, Pandit Rajmani Tigunait offers practical tools for self-transformation. We can all contribute to lasting peace.

WEBSITE: HimalayanInstitute.org Social Media: Himalayan Institute
#kriyayoga #peace #innerpeace #egoism #compassion #kindness

Pandit Rajmani Tigunait is a modern-day master and living link in the unbroken Himalayan Tradition. He is the successor to Sri Swami Rama of the Himalayas, and the spiritual head of the Himalayan Institute located in the heart of the Poconos in Honesdale, Pennsylvania. As the author of 19 books, including the book we are discussing in this program, Why We Fight: Practices for Lasting Peace, Pandit Tigunait offers practical guidance on applying yogic wisdom to modern life. For over 40 years he has touched innumerable lives around the world as a teacher, humanitarian, and visionary spiritual leader.

THE YOGA HOUR TEAM COMMENTS: Pandit Tigunait published this book in the wake of the first US/Iraq war in 1991. He was surprised that when the war quickly ended how those who had been protesting the war forgot about it and went back to their lives and he didn't sell any books. For him this highlighted how our attention span is limited and only our individual inner peace brings compassion, kindness and nonviolence to the world. Compassion and kindness becomes an automatic way of life when we have a consistent practice for inner peace. I was inspired by his closing comments:
Embrace your best friend, your own mind. No matter how long it takes. Tell that best friend "Let’s go to that place of peace. Then let us come back to this beautiful world to serve."
Be kind to everyone and to all the world.

DR. TRUJILLO’S COMMENTS: I appreciated Pandit Tigunait’s teachings expressing the importance of cultivating our inner peace in order to contribute to peace in the world. We discussed the role that egoism plays in disturbing our inner peace, as egoism is one of the five Kleshas, the obstructions to our experience of our own essential Oneness with all that is. Pandit ji spoke of the importance of purification, or refinement, of the ego to provide clarity in how we can move forward in challenging situations. He also stressed the importance of having a regular meditation practice in cultivating our inner peace and our discernment. It was wonderful to have him on the show to discuss this important topic.

Laurel Trujillo 9/12/24 Laurel Trujillo 9/12/24

The Happiness of Yoga

Do you yearn for lasting happiness? Join yoga teachers and authors Mary Taylor and Richard Freeman as they explore the root causes of suffering and how to negotiate a path toward awakening and the integration of your physical body, heart, and mind. The shore of joy and happiness is waiting. Richard and Mary are the authors of the book that is being discussed on this program, Feeling Happy: The Yoga of Body, Heart and Mind

WEBSITE:FreemanTaylorYoga.com FB: Richard Freeman and Mary Taylor IG: FreemanTaylorYoga
#kriyayoga #happiness #ananda #interconnectedness #meditation #mindfulness

Richard Freeman has been a student of yoga since 1968. He spent nine years in Asia studying yoga asana, pranayama, Sufism, Sanskrit language, and Indian philosophy. He has studied asana with B.K.S. Iyengar and K. Pattabhi Jois and has worked with numerous Buddhist teachers to draw insights into the interfacing of Buddhism and yoga as a reflection of life. Richard’s metaphorical, humorous, teaching style appeals to students of many backgrounds and nationalities.

Mary Taylor began studying yoga in 1971 and her studies have grown into a deep interest into how yoga asana, meditation and the interfacing of yoga with Buddhism combine to support us through complex modern times. Her main asana practice is in the internal forms of the ashtanga vinyasa tradition. She is part of the core faculty of the Being with Dying program at Upaya Zen Center and the senior faculty for the UZIT training program, both of which apply contemplative practices to improved and sustainable wellness within medical settings.

THE YOGA HOUR TEAM COMMENTS: Richard Freeman and Mary Taylor remind us of this truth, that we all want to be happy. But how do we find true happiness? In the conversation with Dr. Trujillo, we are presented with significant ways we can touch into happiness, which is what we are. With the breath, we can be in that perfect place of “ah” and find inside of us, our happiness. That present moment awareness experienced in the body, mind and breath will also bring us to the deeper meaning and purpose of our lives: to share our innate goodness with others, giving kindness and generosity. This reminds us of what it is to be happy.

DR. TRUJILLO’S COMMENTS: It was a joy to discuss lasting happiness with Richard Freeman and Mary Taylor. Their book, Feeling Happy: The Yoga of Body, Heart and Mind tells us about the happiness of the soul, and how we can experience more of that happiness in our lives. As we discussed, looking outside of ourselves for happiness results in the experience with which we are all so familiar: alternating waves of happiness and unhappiness. They write: “The underlying premise of this book is that happiness isn’t something you do; it’s something you are.” As Richard and Mary point out, in order to remain connected to this highest happiness, we need to be fully present in the moment. A meditation practice is a wonderful tool to help us to achieve this presence awareness.