The Yoga Hour

On January 12, 2013, people all over the world will begin a yearlong  celebration of the 150th Birth Anniversary of Swami Vivekananda. Swami Prasannatmananda from the Vedanta Society in Berkeley will join Yogacharya O’Brian for an inspired glimpse into the person of Swami Vivekananda and the principles he taught. Swami Vivekananda’s speech and spiritual presence at the first World Parliament of Religions in 1893 is credited with opening the door to interreligious dialogue and interest in Vedanta in the West. Still today, his voice and spirit ring out around the world!

The spiritual path of Yoga has been described as simply a way of intentional living—to be awake in the world, live with purpose, skill, and meaning. Author and meditation teacher Phillip Moffitt joins Rev. O’Brian for an uplifting and informative look at how we can all live more skillfully and what that makes possible.

James O’Dea, former director of Amnesty International’s Washington, D.C., office and faculty member of the Institute of Noetic Sciences, joins Rev. O’Brian for a breakthrough conversation about the transformation of global consciousness that is changing hearts and minds and bringing the potential for real peace to our doorsteps. Discover how it all begins with choosing peace for yourself and for everyone else. O’Dea writes: "Choose peace as a compass for your inner life and for every relationship in the world, and you will get the biggest wake-up call of your life."

Swami Atmavidyananda from the Kriya Yoga Institute joins Rev. O’Brian for an in-depth exploration of the practice of Samadhi, or Superconscious Meditation. Samadhi is the culmination of Patanjali’s Eight Limbed Path and the beginning of a life of liberation and unconditional joy. It is for every person who would walk the path of enlightened living.

Meditation connects us with our inner power—it is a gateway to joy, peace and spiritual realization. Swami Bodhananda Sarasvati, spiritual director of the Sambodh Society, joins Rev. O'Brian for an inspiring and instructive conversation about this essential spiritual practice. Discover why it is so important and how you can begin, or enhance, your practice right away.

Dr. Kusumita Pedersen, professor of Religious Studies, returns to The Yoga Hour for an in-depth conversation with Rev. O’Brian about nonattachment, one of the essential practices of the spiritual life. Aparigraha, often translated as nonattachment, also means nonpossession, nongrasping and nondesiring. How is it possible to find such freedom in a culture that stimulates desire and greed at every turn? Discovering the answer to that question holds a key to our highest happiness.

Who doesn’t want more self-discipline or willpower? Kelly McGonigal, author of The Willpower Instinct: How Self-Control Works, Why It Matters, and What You Can Do to Get More of Itshares research from her Stanford University course, “The Science of Willpower,” as she and Rev. O’Brian consider what factors are really involved with our ability to manage stress and make positive changes.

The yoga practice of asteya, or nonstealing, gets right to the heart of the clutter problem that is pervasive to many people in the developed world today. Andrew Mellen, professional organizer and author of the book Unstuff Your Life!: Kick the Clutter Habit and Completely Organize Your Life for Good, joins Rev. O’Brian for a look at how to bring order to our lives and free up our time and energy in practical ways—a quick course on how to avoid accumulating more than we need, use or appreciate.

Judith Lasater, Yoga teacher and author of many books on yoga and co-author of What We Say Matters: Practicing Nonviolent Communication, brings a wealth of insight and practical guidance to this conversation with Rev. O’Brian about the power of satya, or truthfulness. Truthfulness is practiced on many levels, from understanding our viewpoints as relative truth to developing the willingness to live in harmony with universal Truth.

A grateful heart and mind transforms everything in our lives. Angeles Arrien, Ph.D., distinguished cultural anthropologist, author and educator, joins Rev. O’Brian for a timely and inspiring exploration of how to make gratitude a foundation for our lives and what becomes possible when we do. Discover how this simple focus can bring profound benefits.