Is Yoga for the Rich?

 

I was listening to the Yoga Talk podcast while they were reviewing an article called "Is Yoga for the Rich?"

The hosts discussed the cost of yoga, which can get fairly high in some cases (designer yoga wear, upscale studio costs, retreats, etc.).

They also pointed out that a yoga practice can "cost" valuable time.

Yogis (a person proficient in yoga) know that any time the spend doing yoga pays them back many times over - they have better health; they feel better throughout the day; major and minor physical tasks are easier to do, and so on.

Still, it would be helpful for many if there were less expensive ways to do yoga, and preferably close to home.

That's why non-profit yoga centers are so great. You pay what you can (donations) and there is probably one very close to your home that a google search would turn up.

You can also look for a non-profit ashram that accepts donations like the one I go to. They welcome everyone, spiritual and non-spiritual alike.

Once you've attended enough sessions, you can do it at home on your own (or with youtube videos) which is the easiest and cheapest way of all. Or get together your own little group of yogic friends in the biggest living room you can find and have a blast!

The bottom line is, it doesn't matter what you're wearing or how nice the yoga studio is - what's happening inside you is where the practice really pays off.

Katmandu Photos, One Month After the First Earthquake

You won't see these photos in the press: they were taken by someone we know in Katmandu, one month after the first temblor.

 

Our Ashram has collected tens of thousands of dollars for Nepal relief. Every single dollar goes to our sister Ashram in Katmandu who are feeding 700 people a day (mostly rice and lentils).

We even found a company to transfer the money with no fees.

To donate, please go here: Nepal Relief Donations.

Punjabs Give to Nepal Relief

 

*Update below...

If there's an opportunity in Los Angeles or Orange County to raise money for Nepal, chances are we will go.

The Festival of India Association and the Punjabi Heritage & Cultural Society put on a very entertaining event this weekend with singers, dancers, booths and of course, good food.

People got to have fun and also give to a needy cause.

 

And if you can have fun (as we did) while doing good, that's a win-win.

*UPDATE - You may ask why I put my large self in the front and center of the photo above (several people have teased me about that).

The answer: it was I who handed my phone to a stranger to take the photo, and then I just took a few steps back. Trust me, I know my place is usually in the BACK of photos, unless I'm kneeling.

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If I stood out that day for the same reasons, hopefully it helped us raise more money for Nepal and that I didn't scare people away. This guy seems to do okay:

First Post - Joining an Ashram

Since I joined the Divine Art of Yoga Center and began practicing yoga and meditation on a regular basis, I have experienced a shift in my life that has astounded both me and the people close to me.

Am I more fit and flexible? Yes. Have I lost weight? Sure. Am I calmer in general? Much. Am I far less prone to get grouchy? My wife says yes. Has my blood pressure gone down? My doctor says yes.

Am I happier and more at peace than I've ever been?

Yes. A thousand times, yes.

I thought my experiences with my Ashram would be of interest to those seeking these types of benefits and more, who are considering yoga and meditation with a spiritual undercurrent.

If this is you, I recommend looking for an Ashram near you, or any yoga studio or non-profit yoga center, which ask for donations instead of charging fees for classes. Check it out to make sure you feel comfortable, then dive in. The best of them are a home away from home.