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Happy New Year and Namaste!
Dilip Sarkar, Chair, Center for Integrative Medicine and Yoga (CIMY), Taksha Institute
We begin 2015 with an exciting event, the 6th Yoga Therapy Retreat (YTR), orchestrated by our very own, world renowned Yog Acharya, Dr. Dilip Sarkar. The emphasis of this retreat, which will be held at the Old Dominion University Webb Center on February 15th, will be on the role of yoga in maintaining and improving heart health. Cardio-vascular disorders have become one of the most common ailments in the nation. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about half of Americans have at least one of the key risk factors associated with heart disease. The retreat will include a combination of yoga practice for heart health and useful tips on how to adopt a healthy lifestyle today to prevent the occurrence of cardio-vascular disorders in the future. We are also fortunate to have Dr. Suman Vardan, an eminent cardiologist from Northern Virginia, as a guest speaker during this retreat.
Remembering Vijaya Stallings, Ayurveda Advisor, Taksha Institute
The current issue of YogaSetu brings a range of interesting news, interviews (Mr. Keishin Kimura, President of Japan Yoga Niketan), articles (on Ayurveda on the Environment and Dharma, by Acharya Shunya Pratichi Mathur) and other items (such as this compelling piece entitled “Love Sustains Life!” by Prof. Hegde) and tidbits on People of Note, such as Yogi Indra Devi, all of which we hope you enjoy. As always, we are interested in your feedback as letters to the editor, such as this one on Yoga and Back Pain. Please note that all articles from published YogaSetu newsletters are archived and accessible on the YogaSetu website (www.yogasetu.org), in case you have missed an issue.
Finally, we are deeply saddened by the passing of our dear colleague and mentor, Dr. Vijaya Stallings, in September 2014. His many contributions to the Yoga and Ayurveda community remain highly valued, and he will truly be missed. Please visit a special memorial website in celebration and honor of his life, at www.rememberingvijaya.com.
~ Editorial Board