EDITOR’S WELCOME NOTE
Abha Gupta, YSN Editor
Greetings and Namaste from the Editorial Board of Yoga Setu! We are delighted to introduce the latest edition of the YogaSetu Newsletter (YSN), filled with enriching articles and videos.
For example, to help cull through confusing nutrition research and guidance, we call your attention to a recent study summarized in Elemental.com describing a “Food Compass” that scores over 8,000 food items from 1 to 100 by the latest in scientific findings on their nutritional value. The researchers’ recommendation is to eat foods that score 70 or higher, and avoid those with a score of 30 or lower.
We also touch on the perspective that freedom from suffering is possible in this life! It is about the transcendence of suffering, and not about the end of suffering. Listen to the profound, one-hour long discussion, followed by a guided practice of mindful meditation with the renowned Swami Sarvapriyananda.
Also, see the enlightening interview with Culadasa (John Yates, PhD and former professor of neuroscience), in which he discusses the path to inner transformation through the practice of mindful meditation.
In our new Book Corner we share a brief review of recommended reading on mindfulness — The Miracle of Mindfulness: An Introduction to the Practice of Meditation, by Thich Nhat Hanh. You can also find a reference to this practical, hands-on book in my Editor’s Corner piece on mindfulness, entitled Having the Time of Your Life!
Finally, Taksha Institute is excited to announce the creation of the Patanjali Award for Outstanding Yoga Service. Please see details in this issue.
As our regular readers are well aware, every edition of the newsletter features an insightful yoga-related quote from the ancient Indian scriptures, and, as always, our Calendar provides information about upcoming yoga events, both local and global. Prominent among these are the annual upcoming Online Yoga Therapy Retreat on April 10, 2022 and the International Day of Yoga on Tuesday, June 21, 2022.
~ Abha Gupta, YSN Editor-in-Chief
For your safety and that of the community, to be able to continue to “meet” for our weekly yoga therapy sessions, two yoga sessions will be offered online every Sunday, one in the morning (EST) and the other in the evening (EST). The Chair Yoga session is for 30 minutes, for those with restricted movements, whereas the Restorative Yoga session will focus on traditional yoga, and will be conducted between 4:30 pm – 6:00 pm.
See https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCo7k9Di3t831Af6xgmk32lQ/featured?disable_polymer=1 for copies of our past sessions.
A brief description of each session and the information required to join the sessions via Zoom are provided on our website here: https://yogasetu.org/onlineyogatherapysessions
~ GUIDED MEDITATION FOR ABIDING CALMNESS
IN TURBULENT TIMES ~
by Dr. Ajmal Sobhan
Meditation is the first step in learning to focus on being the best you can be, not only for your own good but also that of the people around you, especially during these trying times. The following link leads to a sample of guided meditation for calming. Please listen, as Dr. Ajmal Sobhan guides you in his serene voice to your inner space of stillness and tranquility.