Inner Yoga
If you’ve been to our programs, then I don’t need to describe much. You may be part of the big network of people who come to our events who “get it”. But I hear again and again that you have a hard time telling others about this work. There is often a lot of confusion. People hear about “meditation retreats” and they think of Vipassana, long silent sitting sessions, or something very serious. They hear “meditation teacher” and they think that what I do is teach people to be super peaceful sitting with their thumb and forefinger together. So let me share a few sentences to describe what we’re doing.
Our classes, retreats, and training sessions focus on “inner yoga“. Just as physical yoga practice strengthens, aligns and heals the physical body, the inner yoga practices of meditation and self inquiry heal and transform the inner experience. Sometimes I call it The Yoga of Happiness.
Meditation is not just about “stilling the mind”. This is a myth. The mind does become quieter, but so much more happens. People who engage in our programs undergo deep and lasting transformation. They become more free, happy, and able to share their greatness with the world.
These incredible results are not because our programs are so good- the results are because the people who come are very ready. There is a spiritual intelligence that is in a potential form in every person. Like tree leaves wrapped tightly in a bud. Our enlightened, fearless, powerful loving essence is in us, but usually in a contracted form. In our trainings, we provide an atmosphere that helps the bud of people’s deep power to open and flourish. It is both very ordinary and practical, and deeply mystical. The sanskrit word for this process is sadhana.
There is a contagious quality to this process. Our soho sanctuary where I do private sessions is a place where this opening happens all the time, and the air is thick with the energy of transformation. Our group sessions are like this too- no matter where they happen. When you are in a room of people who are opening their deep power, there is a momentum, a very powerful energy field that “gets into you” and helps things to open for you.
No Bullshit
In some ways, this process can be really tough. (I’m hoping some of the people who are in the process can share a bit of their experience in the comments). The sadhana process is not about “feeling better”. It is not about “reducing stress”. When you offer yourself to this inner unfoldment, there is a deep purification, and often, everything changes. Negative habits, toxic relationships, entrenched depressions, dark family patterns, addictions, all of these tend to get burned away. And then the positive stuff comes-creative expression, living from your Truth, fearlessness…Embodying these qualities is not always easy either. It takes a lot of love and support.
To support this process of opening, I teach practices, offer teachings, and cultivate community. The teachings come from the age-old tradition of sadhana laid out by the great masters of every tradition. The practices empower people to be active participants in their own process of healing and awakening. The community provides love, encouragement and fun. Don’t worry, it’s not a “joining” situation. There is no “in” or “out” with our community. Just good people who are walking their very individual path in the same general direction.
Everyone wants happiness. But sadly, very few people are deeply happy. Most people either search endlessly outside for happiness- or they have given up on happiness all together. Until we sort out our inner landscape, we will be stuck in this hopeless cycle. If and when we choose to make this deep happiness our biggest priority, we can become the happiest people in the world -radically happy. Happy in the good moments, happy in the hard moments.
Click Here for Information on our February Retreat. Come and spend a weekend with us.
So beautifully said, Harshada…before coming to your way of teaching, I had a long standing meditaion and yoga practice that I centered around “feeling better”, without really questioning much. It worked to create some calm, but little really transformed until I learned (am learning) how to be “radically honest”. That’s still a huge part of my process, which I belive gives birth to the radical happiness you speak of. Sadhana is this wonderfully gentle unfolding. I am learning to understand more of it as it happens, and even the painful or difficult points become more of an observation than an immersion in self-criticism or despair. For the first time, I am making a vow—not just a promise—to make the kind of intentioned choices that allow the space in my life that I deeply need. I have always struggled with giving my self permission to be important enough to put my “self” first. Now I see that in doing so I am much more present for my own life, and much more present for the others I sought to please. I’m far from where I’d like to be and patience, acceptance, forgiveness, joy and endurance are qualities you help me to bring to my practice. Thank you…
Wonderful!!!
Choosing to make deep happiness a priority is an intensely liberating experience, but treading the path can also feel very lonely. Connecting with others through Living Meditation has brought me a group of deep friendships, supporting me through whatever may arise on my path. Being able to share our experience of sadhana together has cultivated courage, patience and love, helping to light the way.
yes- we are looking for new ways to create community – at least online and here in NYC
I have worked with Harshada for two years and am forever changed by my relationship with him and the community he has built. And, I do my work with him from New Orleans with occasional personal visits to New York. He has helped me park my ego and connect with spirit in a deep meaningful way. Parking the ego is hard work but Harshada taught me how to do it little by little. And I am by no means totally there – some of my fellow yogis will attest to this one : ) H helped me remember what’s needed to remain constantly awe struck with life. Really that’s the secret – no matter how mundane my life may seem, if I am connect to spirit then I will always be able to see the sexiness of life.
yes!!
After a couple of months of continuous happy that started last August and continued through early fall, I woke up one morning in a terrible mood for no discernible reason. I went straight to yogaglo.com and chose my usual yoga routine and by the end of it, to my surprise, I was still in an awful funk. So I thought, okay, it’s time to start meditating again. That’s how I stumbled on Harshada’s guided meditation — on yogaglo. After about five minutes, I was laughing so hard (mostly at myself) that I almost fell off my zafu, and I was happy the whole rest of the day. So I signed up for a retreat with Harshada at Kripalu this past October. When I was there, I knew something was going on partly because my dreams were really wild and partly because the meditation sessions themselves were powerful in lots of ways. So this practice works on the conscious, unconscious, body, mind, spirit — all of these. Since then I’ve been participating in the Way of the Crow, and I’m going back to Kripalu for the Radical Happiness retreat in February. While I can’t speak for anyone else, I’m also amazed at how inspired I’ve been to keep up my meditation practice since I started studying with Harshada.
Just today I heard someone talk about a person he knows who meditates with a group of people once a week and really likes it, but, he said, in her heart she isn’t interested in changing. It’s like people who go to church once a week, put on their good clothes and best selves, and then leave and go right back to their habitual ways. Harshada’s approach to practice is more practical; as I see it, the aim is to live a more awake, authentic life. Of course, sometimes that means you have to look at the places that have collected a lot of dust bunnies. Yikes. That’s where being part of a community of people on similar paths is especially helpful. Harshada is good at creating a space not just for people to be as they really are but also for supporting each other. Also, whereas some teachers tend to attract just one kind of student, Harshada attracts a diverse group, so you’ll get a lot of perspectives, which is cool.
This time, I’m going partly because it will give me time to reflect, a quiet space in which to let the dust I’ve been stirring up (those bunnies again) settle a bit. And, I’m likely to voyage into who knows what inner realms, so it will be an adventure, too. Besides, the retreat is bound to be fun, the people in the workshop will be great, and the food at Kripalu is awesome.
I love it- from the Finite to the Infinite- from good food to inner realms! See you in Feb!
Being based in Sweden it is hard for me to make it to Harshada’s retreats, but having the weekly support via the email courses (about the Bhagavad Gita and The Way of the Crow) helps me to stay on the right path. And so do our individual sessions of course, even though they take place over Gchat/Skype!
I think Mia wins the miles award- we met when I was teaching in Bangkok and have stayed connected through her move to Sweden. Who know where we’ll go next! Want to join me in May in Ireland??
The year I met Harshada I went to Kripalu, Menla, India and then the every special one day events he held in NYC. It was a year of investing in myself, and I believe that every corner of my world has benefited from my experiences. I actually am more awake, more present-to the good and the bad. Awakened Living for me is telling the truth, seeing it all. Practicing with the community here in NYC weekly and through the online course continues to open these little windows in me and the world. Windows to see more, feel more, love more.
*very special one day events…
By a series of kindnesses from friends I wound up on retreat with Harshada last year. It was a bit like bungee jumping without the rope but winding up falling in a bed of marshmallows- the most exhilarating and transformational experience. Since coming home I have continued to work on the online course and private sessions – sometimes extremely challenging, sometimes highly joyful, all times deeply rewarding. I am coming to look at parts of me as if for the first time and am also learning to love some of those parts for the first time too. I don’t think there is anything quite like what Harshada does -I am taking baby steps but always forward – thank you Harshada.
You are coming to EU? Great? But I am giving birth in april (if all goes according to schedule), so May will probably be too soon for me…. more EU dates planned? I sure hope so! And I would love to study more of the material you teach (i’m a Yogaglo’er). what books can you recommend? And are you writing one? Maybe a new online course…. since I discovered you after the closing date of the current one.
Many questions, but most of all a lot of insights, smiles, and love and understanding thanks to your meditations. I sleep with you all the time haha!!
all the best from the Netherlands!
Rose