The Yoga Hour

How can I find happiness? Is it possible to quiet the mind? Whether we are just starting along the path of spiritual awakening or have been on the path for some time, we often have questions about our spiritual journey and about how spiritual teachings relate to issues in our lives. Imagine sitting down to listen to a conversation between two spiritual leaders who are longtime disciples in the spiritual tradition of Paramahansa Yogananda. You can! Join Yogacharya Ellen Grace O’Brian from the Center for Spiritual Enlightenment and special guest Nayaswami Asha, spiritual director of Ananda Palo Alto and author of Ask Asha, as they discuss questions that arise on the path of self-realization.

Practicing yoga in all of its forms—hatha yoga, meditation, contemplation, or selfless service—turns up the inner light of awareness. We start to see a new way to live. Rolf Gates, author of Meditations From the Mat: Daily Reflections on the Path of Yoga, joins Yogacharya Ellen Grace O’Brian to discuss how the yamas and niyamas can help us to bring our spiritual practice off the mat and into every aspect of our lives. Tune in to discover how the practice of yoga encourages living a joyful, fulfilling life that leaves the world a better place.

Yoga and Vedanta offer us the keys to the kingdom—the way to realize our essential self and live in the highest way. Join Yogacharya Ellen Grace O’Brian and Swamini Svatmavidyananda, an accomplished scholar of Vedanta, as they discuss:

Why does the yearning to spiritually awaken arise?

Where does it come from and how do we find our way?

Why is spiritual discipline necessary if we already are what we are searching for?

Discover how spiritual practice is the discipline of joy upon joy. Find out how we can live a life of disciplined, purposeful living through the practices of yoga and Vedanta.

How do we cultivate a calm, peaceful, and spiritually awake life? How do we access the wisdom that is within us? Dr. Edward Viljoen, senior minister of the Center for Spiritual Living in Santa Rosa, California, and author of The Power of Meditation, joins Yogacharya Ellen Grace O’Brian to discuss how meditation can joyfully transform our lives and contribute to harmony in the world. Tune in and discover where stillness, power, and joy meet through the practice of meditation.

Would you like to access the same sense of well-being, clarity, inner freedom, and loving connection realized by the world's meditation masters? Join Yogacharya Ellen Grace O’Brian as she talks with Loch Kelly, founder of the Open-Hearted Awareness Institute and author of Shift Into Freedom: The Science and Practice of Open-Hearted Awareness, as they discuss how we can tap in to this inner freedom. Tune in to learn how we can intentionally and immediately connect to peace of mind any time of our day.

How does the change of seasons affect our health and well-being? How can we incorporate simple, home-cooked meals into our lives so that we can start living a healthier, more nourishing lifestyle right away? Join Yogacharya Ellen Grace O’Brian and special guest Kate O’Donnell, author of The Everyday Ayurveda Cookbook: A Seasonal Guide to Eating and Living Well, as they discuss:

How to make easy, scrumptious meals to nourish your body

Lifestyle advice to live consciously in each season

Self-care practices that help our bodies adapt as the seasons change

It is simple and it is possible!

What factors are essential for optimizing our health? What connections are there between our digestive health and other symptoms such as headache and fatigue? Dr. Trupti Gokani, an award-winning neurologist and author of the book The Mysterious Mind: How to Use Ancient Wisdom and Modern Science to Heal Your Headaches and Reclaim Your Health, joins regular guest host Dr. Laurel Trujillo to explore how Ayurveda and conventional medicine can work together to help us discover and address the underlying causes of our “dis-ease” instead of just treating our symptoms. Tune in to learn how digestion holds the key to living a balanced, “at ease,” optimally healthy and vibrant life.

How can the practices of yoga help us to have radiant health? Arising from the inherently therapeutic practices of the ancient system of yoga, Yoga Therapy is now a field for active research and treatment. The blossoming field of Yoga Therapy uses yoga’s tools to help clients maintain wellness, prevent chronic disease, and improve the course of numerous illnesses. Larry Payne, author of Yoga Therapy and Integrative Medicine, joins regular guest host Dr. Laurel Trujillo for a discussion of Yoga Therapy’s vast potential. Tune in and find out more about how yoga can help to heal body, mind, and spirit.

How can we remain vital and healthy as we grow older? The ancient system of Ayurveda, the sister science of yoga, has a deep understanding of our body’s natural aging process. We can utilize the medical science of Ayurveda to age naturally, remaining robust and vigorous throughout our entire life. Cynthia Copple, author of Know Your Blueprint: The Ayurvedic Secret to Restoring Your Vitality and Passion in 30 Days, joins guest host Dr. Laurel Trujillo for a discussion about Ayurvedic practices that help us stay healthy, energetic, and passionate as we age. Tune in and find out how!

After we face physical or emotional trauma, how can we reconnect with the wholeness that is present at the soul level? How does yoga help us to heal? Yogic practices have been proven to alleviate both pain and suffering, and to allow us to find increased joy and serenity in our lives. Mary NurrieStearns, author of Yoga for Emotional Trauma, joins regular guest host Dr. Laurel Trujillo for a conversation about how yoga can help us rediscover the healing and wholeness that is within us. Tune in and learn steps you can take to live more joyfully in the present moment.