The Yoga Hour

How can we enliven the transformational power within us to energize our life and help us progress on our spiritual path? Shakti, the energy of the Mother Goddess, is the force that manifests the universe and drives our spiritual awakening. Yogini Shambhavi, codirector of the American Institute of Vedic Sudies and author of two books on the Mother Goddess, joins Yogacharya Ellen Grace O’Brian for a conversation about awakening the universal Shakti power within us. Tune in to kindle the grace of the Goddess within your own heart.

How do we find our way through life's challenges to discover our inner strength and deep resilience? What allows us to touch the heart of what really matters? Mark Nepo, New York Times best-selling author and poet, brings his healing story, insight, and presence to the Yoga Hour in a profound conversation with Yogacharya O'Brian about the way under the way—how to enter our experience in a way that is transformative.

How is humankind’s consciousness evolving toward global integration and interconnectedness? What evidence is there at the mystic heart of the world’s spiritual traditions that beneath the illusion of separateness humanity is one family? How can the practice of yoga in it’s broadest sense help us move toward the unifying power of love? Join regular guest host Dr. Laurel Trujillo and Robert Atkinson, author of The Story of Our Time: From Duality to Interconnectedness to Oneness, as they discuss the story of the spiritual evolution of humankind, and the unity that is our ultimate destination. Tune in to hear more about humanity’s shift in consciousness that is already underway.

How can we experience optimal health? How can we be proactive about our health in a way that is in harmony with the rhythms of nature? Why are the teachings of yoga and Ayurveda called “sister sciences”? Join Yogacharya Ellen Grace O’Brian and Acharya Shunya as they discuss how the lifestyle practices of Ayurveda—the knowledge of life—and the practices of Kriya Yoga work together to manifest a state of health and well-being that is vibrant with ease, energy, and flow. Find out how you can feel like a billion dollars!

The times we live in require us to develop a literacy of the heart—a deeper quality of listening, discerning, and connecting heart to heart and soul to soul. Literature itself, both poetry and prose, plays a timeless role in awakening our hearts to deeper truths we may otherwise miss. Khaled Hosseini, physician and author of the best-selling novels The Kite Runner, A Thousand Splendid Suns, and The Mountains Echoed, joins Yogacharya Ellen Grace O’Brian for a conversation about how reading, writing, and listening can bring forth profound questions, surprising graces, and the palpable presence of radical hope.

How does interspiritual study and connection help us bring forth the harmony that is needed so badly today in our lives and in our world? What contribution might the practice of yoga make to this emerging interspiritual paradigm? Rami Shapiro, editor of the new World Wisdom Bible, joins regular guest host Dr. Laurel Trujillo in a discussion about how the wisdom at the core of all faith traditions help us to recognize our essential oneness, and to move toward solutions that honor this truth. Tune in and be inspired!

Can writing support us in discovering the deep connection to our authentic self? Since self-realization is the revelation of our authentic self—that which we already are—how can we unburden ourselves of pointless baggage on this journey of spiritual awakening? Mark Matousek is an award-winning author, teacher, mentor, and speaker whose work is devoted to self-inquiry and the transformational power of writing. Join Yogacharya Ellen Grace O’Brian and Mark Matousek as they reflect on the path of transformational writing as a tool for spiritual liberation. Tune in and find out how this powerful tool can work in your life.

Poetry speaks truth, and speaking truth heals. Whether we write poetry for ourselves or to share with others, the process of creating poetry allows us to examine and express our own unique life. We can see who we are more clearly and bring meaning to all of our experiences: our joy, our sorrow, our fears, and our hopes. John Fox, author of Poetic Medicine: The Healing Art of Poem-Making, joins Yogacharya Ellen Grace O’Brian for an exploration of poetry writing as a way to heal body, mind, and spirit.  Tune in and explore the power, beauty, and healing potential of poetry.

Is it possible to quicken our spiritual awakening? What practices can help us to progress along our spiritual path? Ever since human beings began to use mental abilities thousands of years ago, their innate urge to be spiritually awake impelled them to want to know their relationship with the Infinite. Join Yogacharya Ellen Grace O’Brian and her guru Roy Eugene Davis, a direct disciple of Paramahansa Yogananda and internationally known spiritual teacher and author, as they discuss practices and actions that will support us in becoming spiritually awake more quickly. Tune in and find out how!

One of the ways to stay spiritually centered is to contemplate inspirational writing that connects us to what is true, what is most important, and uplifting. Throughout the ages, poetry and other forms of literature have offered insight, solace, and a challenge to live a spiritually conscious life. Join writers and poets Yogacharya Ellen Grace O’Brian and Parthenia Hicks as they discuss how the study of spiritual writing helps us to connect to our highest goals and aspirations. Tune in and find out how!