Yoga Chicago
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Episodes
Tribute to David Newman, aka Durga Das
April 23, 2024 20:37David Newman, aka Durga Das, passed quickly on April 18, leaving the world with his songs, writings, and teachings. He was surrounded in comfort and care with his beloved Mira, daughter Tulsi, and family. David had a beautiful and conscious transition. He has left many of us sad and heartbroken. David was a great Yogi, […] The post Tribute to David Newman, aka Durga Das appeared first on Yoga Chicago.
The Yoga of Delight, Wonder, and Astonishment: A Translation of the Vijnana-Bhairava
April 23, 2024 20:22The Vijnana-bhairava, an ancient teaching of India written between 750–1014 CE, is fascinating, captivating and, at the same time, practical. It is one of the bliss-saturated texts of tantric Shaivism and is a profound esoteric text for the direct knowledge of Siva (divinity). Its essential teaching is centered on the omnipresence and all pervasiveness of […] The post The Yoga of Delight, Wonder, and Astonishment: A Translation of the Vijnana-Bhairava appeared first on Yoga Chicago.
Hannah Hedrick Returned to Chicago for Yoga, T’ai Chi Chih, and Peer Bodywork
April 09, 2024 22:50Yoga teacher, t’ai chi chih teacher, and polarity therapist Hannah Hedrick was back in Chicago for a few days in mid-March. She had taught at several places in Chicago and for decades was a national advocate for complementary practices, especially for self-help groups. When she retired from her job as director of the Division of […] The post Hannah Hedrick Returned to Chicago for Yoga, T’ai Chi Chih, and Peer Bodywork appeared first on Yoga Chicago.
Freedom
March 28, 2024 13:52“Freedom lies in being bold.”—Robert Frost Ok, but deep down in my heart I know freedom’s more than bold or just another word. Perhaps there’s some guru out there to give a fresh perspective on letting freedom ring. Found one! “We have to enter into life fully to become free.”—Ram Dass Got it. But how […] The post Freedom appeared first on Yoga Chicago.
Yoga Chicago Shares Its History at The Peace School
March 28, 2024 01:21When I received an invitation from Jennifer Kim, an instructor and leader at The Peace School, to be the guest speaker at their monthly Call to Peace on March 2, I was honored. One of her suggestions was to share memories of the years of publishing Yoga Chicago magazine. The Peace School, which is the […] The post Yoga Chicago Shares Its History at The Peace School appeared first on Yoga Chicago.
Om on the Range Celebrates Their 22nd Anniversary
March 28, 2024 00:55Om on the Range celebrated its 22nd anniversary in its usual way by sponsoring a benefit. This year, the beneficiary was The Night Ministry, whose mission is to provide health, housing, and human connection to Chicagoans in need. In a yoga class held on February 17 and through other contributions, Om on the Range raised […] The post Om on the Range Celebrates Their 22nd Anniversary appeared first on Yoga Chicago.
Honoring Swami Vivekananda on his 161st Birthday
January 24, 2024 16:32The annual conference celebrating the birthday of Swami Vivekananda was held on January 13, a cold, snowy Saturday, at the Hindu Temple of Greater Chicago (HTGC) in Lemont, Illinois. It was the 161th birthday of the renowned Indian Hindu monk, philosopher, and teacher who is credited with bringing yoga to the West in September 1983 […] The post Honoring Swami Vivekananda on his 161st Birthday appeared first on Yoga Chicago.
An Awesome Trip for the New Year That Doesn’t Cost a Cent
January 04, 2024 18:41Accept + Welcome + Embrace = AWE I heard this expression recently while zooming into WisdomHeart.com. It clicked. An accepting welcoming embrace is a mighty nice experience. But like so many good things in life, it takes time and patience to learn this fine art of giving and receiving. Time and patience. I haven’t had […] The post An Awesome Trip for the New Year That Doesn’t Cost a Cent appeared first on Yoga Chicago.
Everyone is Intuitive, Especially in Dreams
January 04, 2024 18:37If you are someone who regularly remembers your dreams, then there is a good chance you have had the eye-opening experience of precognitive dreaming. My own fascination with dreaming began when I was a teenager. I was an avid dreamer and relished the process of waking up each day and ruminating over the rich landscapes […] The post Everyone is Intuitive, Especially in Dreams appeared first on Yoga Chicago.
Six Mindfulness & Breathwork Practices for Holiday Shopping While Black
December 07, 2023 22:24Holiday shopping can be stressful for all of us: the crowds, traffic, parking, limited inventory, and making sure you get all of the things on your list. However, for Black people and many people of color, the stress can reach exponential levels because of how we are treated. I personally have had store employees call […] The post Six Mindfulness & Breathwork Practices for Holiday Shopping While Black appeared first on Yoga Chicago.
Self-Care Practices: Intentional Morning and Evening Routines
December 07, 2023 21:18This excerpt was taken with permission from Black People Breathe; A Mindfulness Guide to Racial Healing, the new book by mindfulness and breathwork expert Zee Clarke. Although written for Black people, the self-care practices are recommended for everyone. In her book, Zee offers 33 powerful tools that Black people can use to help deal with challenges they […] The post Self-Care Practices: Intentional Morning and Evening Routines appeared first on Yoga Chicago.
Book Reviews
November 30, 2023 01:23Yoga for the Rest of Us By Bart Leszczynski Yoga Chicago readers may remember stories by and about Bartosz Leszczynski, who started a yoga class while imprisoned at Illinois River Correctional Center. In his cell, and later out in the yard, he practiced some stretches recommended by a doctor to help alleviate back pain. Later, […] The post Book Reviews appeared first on Yoga Chicago.
Tis the Season for an Attitude of Gratitude
November 23, 2023 01:15Gratitude has been expressed through the ages within many spiritual and religious traditions. Here are some examples: Judaism: Torah (Deuteronomy 26:11, 27:7, 28:47) “The key to experiencing real joy in life is through gratitude and the cultivation of a good heart.” Christianity: Bible (Thessalonians 5:16-17) “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances.” Hinduism: Dhanya […] The post Tis the Season for an Attitude of Gratitude appeared first on Yoga Chicago.
Small Hands, Big Benefits
November 23, 2023 01:08Published 2023 Teaching yoga to children has been the most rewarding thing I’ve ever done. One aspect of it that’s so inspiring and nourishing to my soul is watching children light up with a new understanding of themselves and their world. It happens all the time. It’s a natural part of child development, and I […] The post Small Hands, Big Benefits appeared first on Yoga Chicago.
Choose Goodness and Joy Over Fear
October 06, 2023 21:32 - 8.52 MBMost of our problems in the world can be traced back to fear. Sylvia tells us that when we decide to let go of fear and live in harmony, we attract the power we need to control our life. “Know that you have all you need to thrive,” she says. Rather than feeding fear, we […] The post Choose Goodness and Joy Over Fear appeared first on Yoga Chicago.
Marsha Wenig, Founder of YogaKids International, Transitions
September 21, 2023 16:15Marsha Wenig, creator and founder of YogaKids International, transitioned on August 8, 2023, at the age of 69. She had been diagnosed in 2011 with early-onset Alzheimer’s Disease. Marsha was a true pioneer and trailblazer in the field of yoga for children; her YogaKids videos starting from 1996 introduced yoga and empowered living to children […] The post Marsha Wenig, Founder of YogaKids International, Transitions appeared first on Yoga Chicago.
Ninth International Day of Yoga Celebrated in the Chicago Area
July 20, 2023 22:59During the week of June 18, Chicago-area yogis celebrated the ninth International Day of Yoga, officially designated by the United Nations as June 21. The theme for this year was “Yoga for Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” or “Yoga for the Welfare of All as One World—One Family.” On Sunday, June 18, at 10:00 a.m., on Chicago’s Navy […] The post Ninth International Day of Yoga Celebrated in the Chicago Area appeared first on Yoga Chicago.
Review of the Annual International Yoga Therapy Conference
July 20, 2023 22:49The International Association of Yoga Therapists (IAYT) held its annual Symposium on Yoga Therapy and Research (SYTAR) this year in Reston, Virginia, June 15–17. Yoga therapy is defined as the professional application of the principles and practices of yoga (including postures, breathwork, meditation techniques, and more) to promote health and well-being within a therapeutic relationship […] The post Review of the Annual International Yoga Therapy Conference appeared first on Yoga Chicago.
For Those Times when Pain Comes a’Knockin’
July 06, 2023 21:01Years ago, I developed and taught a course for College of DuPage in Glen Ellyn, Illinois called Yoga for Chronic Pain. I had studied this subject for years prior and really wanted to help in some way all the many loved ones I knew who had pain issues. I didn’t have any problems with pain myself at […] The post For Those Times when Pain Comes a’Knockin’ appeared first on Yoga Chicago.
Bring Your Light Into The World
June 21, 2023 20:37 - 9.19 MBSylvia Ewing encourages us to “be part of the world, not apart from it … and to bring beauty, light, and joy into the world.” She tells the story of moving into a new neighborhood a year ago where once there were strangers, now there are friends. She created the community she wanted to live in. […] The post Bring Your Light Into The World appeared first on Yoga Chicago.
Teaching Yoga to Children
June 21, 2023 19:04In the summer of 2001, I had the pleasure of teaching yoga to sixth- to eighth-grade Chicago public school students. They were enrolled in the DePaul Preparatory Academy, a summer enrichment program. We met weekday mornings in a classroom at the downtown campus of DePaul University. I would surreptitiously (and very carefully) burn a stick […] The post Teaching Yoga to Children appeared first on Yoga Chicago.
Learning the Serene Art of Sitting in Silence
June 08, 2023 00:06What is meditation? Webster’s Dictionary has two definitions for it: discourseintended to express its author’s reflections or to guide others in contemplation. This makes sense. the act or process of meditating. Oh brother, so now I have to look up “meditating.” Here’s what Webster has to say about “meditating”: to engage in contemplationor reflection. Ok, this fact checks […] The post Learning the Serene Art of Sitting in Silence appeared first on Yoga Chicago.
Let Go of Fear
May 01, 2023 17:54 - 8.13 MBSylvia acknowledges that although there is divisiveness and pain in the world, there is also beauty and joy all around. When we let go of fear and replace it with love, peace, equanimity, and grace, we help heal ourselves and others. Be part of the beauty, says Sylvia.
Beyond the Mat: Why Breathe through the Nose?
April 16, 2023 00:25“The mouth is for talking and eating; the nose is for breathing.”—Proverb Are you breathing through your nose or mouth as you read this? In yoga, the breath is considered to be a bridge between body and mind; when you control the breathing, you control the mind. But when we breathe through the mouth, it […]
Taoist Yoga for Greater Health, Intuition and Longevity
April 11, 2023 21:18Taoist yoga is a type of yoga that combines the ancient Indian yoga traditions with the Chinese theories of yin and yang, movement and stillness. Taoist yoga provides deeper insights for the practitioner into the body’s internal energy dynamics. This form of yoga can be a daily practice for all people, regardless of their fitness […]
10 Surprising Ways Yoga Boosts Brain Health
April 11, 2023 20:54Sun salutations, downward facing dog, child’s pose—yoga can make you feel so good, and decades of research show it enhances flexibility and strength while reducing stress. It makes you want to say Ahhhh. Emerging science is revealing even more benefits of this ancient practice, specifically of the brain-boosting variety. Here are 10 ways yoga enhances brain function: […]
What makes a good yoga instructor? Students weigh in.
March 01, 2023 05:01“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” –Maya Angelou While mulling over ideas for my 200-hour yoga teacher training paper, I took a class from an instructor who long ago inspired me to continue with yoga after […]
Om on the Range Celebrates 21 Years with a Fundraiser
March 01, 2023 04:38Om on the Range’s 21st anniversary yoga fundraiser resulted in $1,200 to support Friends of the Children—Chicago. This local charity intentionally identifies children facing the greatest obstacles and pairs them with paid, professional mentors—Friends—for 12.5 years. No Matter What. A big shout-out to Friends of the Children for serving Chicago’s youth and to Om on […]
Myths about Sankalpa
February 16, 2023 18:20Sankalpa is the Indian traditional resolve to evolve. Recently, it has become a part of mainstream Yoga culture often connected with Yoga Nidra practices. Often taken lightly as an intention, paraphrased as an affirmation, changed frequently as a fleeting desire, Sankalpa is a sacred vow towards personal and societal betterment. It is the promise to […]
Breathe In Your Peace
February 01, 2023 23:36 - 5.98 MBSylvia offers wise and comforting words for dealing with crises, trauma, and pain. She created this podcast during the heart of winter and around the time of another police shooting of a Black person in the U.S. In her guided meditation involving our breath, Sylvia invites us to be part of the light and to […]
A Celebration to Honor the 160th Birth Anniversary of Swami Vivekananda
January 20, 2023 00:10A celebration to honor the 160th birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda was held Saturday, January 14, at the Hindu Temple of Greater Chicago (HTGC) in Lemont, Illinois. Swami Vivekananda was the swami who introduced yoga to the West on September 11, 1893 in Chicago when he spoke at the Parliament of Religions held in conjunction with the Chicago World’s […]
Listen
January 20, 2023 00:05Fresh beginnings are exciting, so often filled with hope and the prospect of beautiful dreams coming true. As we move forward into the new dawning of Aquarius (aka 2023) there’s sure to be some shaky ground coming up with different life lessons to be learned. Or old lessons repeated, yet to be learned. Heartache–pain–hope—wonder, all […]
Love
December 21, 2022 19:25 - 3.57 MBA birthday calls forth a sudden grateful love and the miracle of becoming family. Sylvia says love can fill our hearts when we least expect it, and it rewards us when we give it. Sylvia sends a soothing metta (a wish for true happiness) to you and your loved ones to use before you fall asleep.
Pranayama—Taking Charge of the Fundamental Life Force
December 08, 2022 21:04Pranayama is a yogic practice of balancing the prana in the Ida and the Pingala nadis (energy channels). When I say pranayama, people tend to translate it into English as a breathing technique or a breathing exercise, which it is not. “Prana” means “the vital energy”; “yama” means to gain control over it. So, it […]
Blues Busters
November 20, 2022 02:04 - 11.8 MBSylvia shares tips and techniques to help you regain your calm and to balance mind, body and spirit. Yes, even yogis with decades of practice find themselves in a funk from time to time. Many people report feeling anxious, having racing hearts, or suddenly having eczema and mystery rashes, or hours or days of feeling […]
Mindfulness Meditation Treats Anxiety
November 16, 2022 01:22A psychiatry study reviewed in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) published November 1, 2022, revealed that mindfulness meditation worked as well as a standard drug for treating anxiety in the first-ever head-to-head comparison. According to the study, results of the randomized clinical trial showed a 30% decline in anxiety as measured on […]
Chicago Celebrates Ayurveda Day
November 16, 2022 01:20When Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India declared June 21 to be the International Day of Yoga, he also established October 23 as Ayurveda Day. This year the theme was “Ayurveda Everyday, Ayurveda Everywhere.” Ayurveda was defined as follows: “Ayurveda, the original healthcare tradition of humanity, is not just a medical system, but a manifestation […]
Igniting Your Inner Light During the Darkest Nights of November
November 16, 2022 01:16It’s that challenging time of the year again when the days become short and dark. The sweet memories of balmy summer nights fade away as the colorful leaves dry up and disappear from the trees. In the past, I used to dread this dark and damp transition time of the year. Thanks to the help […]
Immortal Sisters; Secrets of Taoist Women by Thomas Cleary
November 16, 2022 01:12“In Taoism the importance of the feminine element in human life is strongly emphasized, and mythically and historically it counts very many women among its greatest figures.” —Thomas Cleary In this review we will explore several female adepts of early Taoism along with some of their practices in which balance, renewal and wholeness can be […]
Addressing Anxiety, Regaining Calm
October 19, 2022 05:29 - 8.6 MBEveryone has moments when anxiety may come to the front of our consciousness. Sylvia shares a meditation that she uses to help herself regain perspective and peace of mind.
Highlights of the 2022 Symposium on Yoga Therapy and Research
September 25, 2022 05:30The International Association of Yoga Therapists (IAYT) held its annual Symposium on Yoga Therapy and Research (SYTAR) in the Chicago area for the first time, June 9–11. The conference, at the Marriott Lincolnshire Resort, offered both in-person and virtual attendance. As always, it brought together yogis, yoga therapists, researchers, medical workers, and others in community […]
The Lazy Man’s Guide to Enlightenment by Thaddeus Golas
September 24, 2022 04:05This book has been a delight and essential reading for the spiritual community for many decades. It’s one of those books you want to carry around, open randomly and read for its wisdom, guidance and inspiration. First published in 1971, its message is simple yet reaches deep within the human psyche offering ‘a way’ to […]
When the Stars Align; Reflections on Astrology, Life, Death and Other Mysteries
August 24, 2022 19:29Author, astrologer, and photographer Ray Grasse has written another fascinating book, this one a collection of essays about many aspects of astrology, the Beatles, the Aquarian Age, the Hubble Spacecraft “Deep Field” photo, Citizen Kane, chakras, the soul, God, reincarnation, metaphysics, mysticism, and other subjects of interest to those curious about the deeper meaning of […]
One Breath Away; Each Moment, an Opportunity
August 22, 2022 20:06Breath is life. With the onset of COVID-19 came the increased need for self-care physically, mentally, and spiritually. Building our own immune system, balancing our mind, our body and our spirit, and increasing our wellbeing is only one breath away. Using the power of our breath to support our actions can help lead us toward […]
911 from your Soul; Are you being called?
August 22, 2022 19:54Life is a spiritual journey. Every breath, every relationship, every joy and sorrow are calling you to remember who you really are, and to be and experience all that you came here for. Our discomforts, challenges, and even crises are invitations to free ourselves, expand our wings and rise into our highest expression—for ourselves, for […]
The Consulate General of India, Chicago, Celebrates International Day of Yoga
July 11, 2022 03:01On Saturday morning, June 18, the Consulate General of India, Chicago, held an event in Chicago’s Grant Park in downtown Chicago to commemorate the 8th International Day of Yoga (IDY). The summer solstice, June 21, was designated in 2015 as the IDY by Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi. The theme this year was Yoga […]
Home of Harmony Vedanta Center Opens in Old Irving Park Neighborhood of Chicago
July 11, 2022 02:58Welcome to Home of Harmony, 3801 N. Keeler, Chicago, a new spiritual center opened by the Vivekananda Vedanta Society of Chicago. The purpose for the center is to bring together religions and people from various traditions to discuss commonalities for deeper understanding and to spread the message of peace, harmony, and progress for all of […]
Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar Stands for Peace in Chicago
July 11, 2022 02:55On Sunday, June 26, Chicago was blessed by a visit by Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, a humanitarian spiritual leader, global ambassador of peace, and founder of the Art of Living Foundation. The event was part of his world tour, “I Stand for Peace,” held at the University of Illinois Forum, 1213 S. Halsted in […]
Zen Bow, Zen Arrow; The Life and Teachings of Awa Kenzo, the Archery Master from Zen in the Art of Archery, by John Stevens.
July 11, 2022 02:08The teachings in this little book have been a valuable inspiration to me in life and shakuhachi (Japanese bamboo flute) practice. I hope others will see its value regardless of one’s spiritual path or goals in life. A quote from one of the training manuals at the Kimura Dojo gives us the essence of Kenzo’s […]
Happiness, Hope and Justice
July 10, 2022 22:23 - 7.73 MBIn this podcast Sylvia acknowledges the pain and cruelty that seems evident in the world but reminds us that goodness is never far. In the wake of the Highland Park mass shooting Sylvia encourages us to make the world better by bringing order and peace to our hearts and homes.