In this issue

Lots of articles and tips to keep busy during the lockdown. Shri Krishna explains the impact of desires in a Gita Shloka; read Hansaji’s interpretation. In another article, she speaks of rebirth as explained in a Gita Shloka.

Read Devdutt Pattanaik’s article on Karma situations in Ramayana and Mahabharata; he calls them collateral damage!

Sutras and Shlokas complement each other beautifully while explaining the same concepts. Find out how!

Read about Basti, the Yogic equivalent of enema.

The Sutras speak of many techniques to focus on, for meditation. Learn and practise two of them this month.

What Is Health?

We all want to be healthy. But our understanding of health is very limited. When we learn yoga we can extend its meaning. Understanding life and living in harmony with life can provide us with very good health.

4 mins

Are Desires the Root Cause of All Evils?

The wise, the sages, the realized and the spiritually evolved souls, all live their lives. When asked about desires or ambitions, they don't have any. Having desires or planning things, is something that they never indulge themselves in because they know that the universe is being run by some other force and that they don't have control over it. Thus situations are never in our hands but how we live with those situations, is something that we can take efforts for. This is where Purushartha comes in.

3 mins

Deliberations with Devdutt

Beyond Justice and Forgiveness

3 mins

Realizations In The Times Of Corona Virus

In this Rat-race, called life, with fast food and restaurants along with gyms and fancy malls pouring over with snaking queues, the man had it, or at least he thought he had it all. The human race had almost started feeling invincible, drunken with power. Till this pesky tiny virus, suddenly appeared and shook up the entire world and had it trembling with panic and halted it in its tracks. It virtually brought everything to a standstill, with the economy on the point of collapse.

3 mins

Influences of the Past

Trying to see myself in a neutral way as far as possible, I have to admit that human relationships have been a very difficult part of my life. Through most of my years, I got quickly disappointed when people did not behave or even think the way I thought was good behaviour or right thought. I then withdrew and did not want to have anything to do with them. Thus I was lonely most of the time. Long after starting with Yoga I began to realize that I could not expect that everyone valued the things that I valued nor resent anyone for behaving in the way he liked and thought right or – even if not right – inevitable. I think this eventual change in me was due to my efforts at ego-reduction. Seen in terms of the Five Kleshas, I realized that Dvesha was strong in me since I rejected so many things that other people had no problems with at all. By “ego”, great subjectivity, i.e. lack of neutrality is meant here. So at a snail’s pace, I began to understand what Dr Jayadeva meant when he said that the world is neutral – although it seems so colourful and full of contrasts. So, again at a snail’s pace, I have become more accepting of other people’s ways. But I am still far from what Doctor said about learning to enjoy the varieties in human personalities. I prefer those who value what I value and abstain from what I abstain. Does that mean that I value them less for their own sake than for getting myself mirrored or affirmed by them?

4 mins

From the Archives of Yoga and Total Health Can You Learn From Him

Published in ‘Yoga and Total Health’ September 2001

3 mins

The Spiritual Lighthouse of The Yoga Institute

Thoughts of Shri Yogendraji

1 min

The Thinker

A small poem attributed to Shankracharya talks about an old person - how in his old age there is a loss of hair, bending of the body, shrinking of the cheeks, eyes become weak, and so on.

1 min

Titbits from Karma Yoga ‘Do What You Have To Do'

Ikigai, it’s the new buzzword word I suppose these days (Maybe not quite, it would be the coronavirus by the time we go to print). Once I was told, “Kisi Bhi Shabd Ke Aage ‘Aa’ Laga Do, Fir Hum Indians Usey accept Kar Lete Hai”. (Anything ending with ‘aa’ becomes famous in India). Yog becomes Yoga, Ayurved becomes Ayurveda.

3 mins

Recipes for Happiness - Yogic Lifestyle Diet

Book Review - Juhi Arora

1 min

Read all stories from Yoga and Total Health

Yoga and Total Health Magazine Description:

Yoga and Total Health Magazine is a monthly journal on the Yogic way of life, first published in 1933 by Swami Kuvalayananda, the founder of The Yoga Institute in Santacruz, Mumbai, India. The magazine is currently edited and published by Smt. Hansaji Yogendra, the President of The Yoga Institute.

Yoga and Total Health Magazine is known for its in-depth coverage of yoga philosophy, practice, and its benefits for physical, mental, and spiritual health. The magazine also features articles on various aspects of the Yogic lifestyle, such as sattvic diet, pranayama, meditation, and yoga for specific health conditions.

The magazine is a valuable resource for anyone interested in yoga, whether they are beginners, experienced practitioners, or yoga teachers. It is also a good resource for anyone interested in learning more about the Yogic way of life.