Purify Your Mind lecture on Patanjali Yog Sutras by Swamiji, Sadhviji's divine message on Yog, Gut Health by Dr. Leo Galland
JKYog International Festival of Yoga attendees worldwide are being treated to wave upon wave of bliss and uplifting knowledge through talks by world renowned masters and expert led yoga sessions.
Join the ongoing festival LIVE at live.jkyog.org
Day 2 Highlights
The second day began with relaxing and energizing Yoga and Pranayama sessions from Prem Yoga Wellness Center by Master Instructor Devi ji, and instructor Piyush Verma. JKYog Cooking Volunteer Kasturi Deshmukh shared a refreshing, healthy recipe for parsley, pineapple, and celery juice.
Renowned Vipassana instructor Trudy Goodman conducted a blissful meditation session.
This was followed by Prem Yoga sessions to strengthen the body starting with gentle breathing and easing into more vigorous asanas. Children also benefitted from a specialized yoga session by instructor Piyush Verma tailored to building their confidence, joy, and creativity. Dr. Anand Rohatgi, delivered a useful session on cardiac health for the South Asian community.
The grand highlights of the day included a deeply touching speech about Yoga on and Off the Mat by world renowned master Sadhvi Bhagavati Saraswati ji of Parmarth Niketan and an incisive lecture by JKYog founder Swami Mukundananda based on the famous Patanjali Yog Sutras about the art of purifying the mind through the loving remembrance of God’s name.
Sadhvi Bhagavati Saraswati’s Message – Myth of Separation Causes World Problems
In her deeply moving talk Sadhviji stated that when we do not realize our inherent oneness or Yog with all of creation in God, we tend to view ourselves as separate from our environment, other people, and the planet. This leads to violence, greed, untruth, and other negative emotions both within us and towards others resulting in individual mental distress and global crises such as climate change, water shortage, food shortage, and poverty. Stressing the importance of vegetarianism and conservation of environmental resources she stated that when we live in Yog with all of creation, our every act becomes mindful of others and the planet because we recognize the sameness – that which unites us all - the divinity in all of creation. Others’ suffering causes us pain and we want to serve them as opposed to hoarding resources for ourselves selfishly. She explained that the first few rungs of Ashtang Yoga alone – Yam (attitude towards our environment), Niyam (attitude towards ourselves) – when practiced off the mat can lead to a controlled, optimistic mind and naturally a better world stemming from constant awareness of the divinity in ourselves, in others and in creation.
Watch glimpses here
Swami Mukundananda – Reprogramming the Subconscious Mind Through Chanting
In a much-awaited special talk and interactive QnA session focused on Patanjali Yog Sutras, world renowned Vedic scholar, senior disciple of Jagadguru Shri Kripaluji Maharaj, Swami Mukundananda highlighted the goal of Maharshi Patanjali in the Patanjali Yog Sutras – that of controlling and purifying the mind. – and the way to achieve it through chanting the name of God as highlighted by Maharshi Patanjali himself in Sutra 28. Swamiji laid the foundation of the talk stating how knowledge good and bad, memories of past events and sleep states can affect the mind causing various mental states. When perturbations of the mind get repeated over time, they cause tendencies or sanskaras that program our subconscious mind, making it difficult to get out of automatic negative thought patterns despite our best efforts. It is only through the grace of God obtained by surrendering unto Him that we finally become free of the vice like grip of negative thoughts. The way to surrender to God is to remember Him constantly, exclusively, and selflessly. The easiest way to accomplish that is constant chanting of God’s name in the mind with every breath – Ra-dhey(inhale) Shyam (exhale), Sita(inhale) Ram (exhale).
Watch glimpses here
Leo Galland, MD – How Gut Microbes Can Hurt or Heal Us
World renowned pioneer of integrative medicine Dr Leo Galland delivered an extremely interesting talk on the ecosystem of gut (intestine) microbes comprised of various entities such as bacteria, viruses, worms etc. that can hurt or heal us depending on the environment they are subjected to.
Every individual’s microbiome is their unique signature affected by their environment, culture, and other factors. Sometimes the organisms that make up the microbiome can become toxic, leading to the breakdown of the gastrointestinal barrier – literally a leaky gut that causes many diseases. The gut has its own nerves that are directly connected to the brain. Therefore, the health of our gut also affects our mental health. When our gut microbiome is healthy, we avoid running the risk of inflammation, gastrointestinal diseases, depression, anxiety, and cancer. Through diet, yoga, meditation we can restore healthful gut microbes, eliminate harmful ones, resulting in improved immunity and mental health. Research has shown that the presence of certain gut microbes resulted in more empathetic and positive individuals.
The day ended with a beautiful discussion on the art of Karm Yog for stress management in every day life.
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