The Yoga Hour

The inspiring legacies of Mahatma Gandhi, Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Cesar Chavez have shown us the power of nonviolence to bring forth positive change. Michael Nagler and Stephanie Van Hook from the Metta Center for Nonviolence Education join Rev. O’Brian to explore how each of us can begin right away to harness this power for a better life and a peaceful world.

Rev. Dr. Bill Lesher, Emeritus Chair of the Parliament of the World’s Religions, joins The Yoga Hour to share his decades of experience working to build a culture of peace and nonviolence. From the early days of marching with Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to his more recent global work with religious leaders, Dr. Lesher offers a wealth of insight and inspiration about the important role of our religious and spiritual traditions in creating a nonviolent future. Bob Weeks, a member of the board of directors of Carry the Vision, will also join the program to discuss how we can create communities of nonviolence that light up the world.

Balance in our lives—harmony within ourselves, with one another, and with our world—requires that we understand and honor both masculine and feminine qualities. Cynthia Brix and Will Keepin, authors of Divine Duality: The Power of Reconciliation Between Women and Men, join Rev. O’Brian for an important and inspiring conversation about our role in facilitating the essential harmony, balance, respect, and healing that is emerging in our world today.

The traditions of Taoism and Yoga both offer insights and practices for cultivating a joyful life. Join Taoist author and teacher Derek Lin and Rev. O’Brian as they explore practical ways to discover peace, joy, happiness and well-being in every moment.

Surrender of the illusion that we are separate from the Source of all, and that the ego is in control of our lives, is essential to the experience of real freedom. Surrender is a spiritual practice found in every mystical tradition and a cornerstone to 12-Step recovery programs as well. Rabbi Rami Shapiro and Rev. O’Brian explore the nature of surrender as a practice and offer some surprising insights needed to enter the way of surrender.

Dr. Marc Halpern, teacher of Ayurvedic medicine, joins Rev. O’Brian for a look at how to unlock our healing potential through self-awareness and conscious living. Discover how the sciences of Ayurveda and Yoga come together to provide a comprehensive map for optimal well-being—physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually.

Join Rev. O’Brian and Richard Rosen, yoga teacher and pranayama expert, for an insightful exploration of how yogic breathing practices can break up ineffective breathing patterns, return you to your authentic breath and open the door to expanded energy and awareness. Richard Rosen is the director of Piedmont Yoga Studio in Oakland, California, and the author of The Yoga of Breath: A Step-by-Step Guide to Pranayama, Pranayama Beyond the Fundamentals: An In-Depth Guide to Yogic Breathing With Instructional CD, and Original Yoga: Rediscovering Traditional Practices of Hatha Yoga.

Visionary and world-renowned neuroscientist Richard Davidson joins Rev. O’Brian for this fascinating and illuminating conversation about the mind, the brain and our emotional nature that will change the way you see yourself and inspire your ability to make positive changes. A pioneer in researching the effects of meditation, Dr. Davidson was named one of the 100 most influential people in the world by Time magazine. He has co-authored a new book with Sharon Begley entitled, The Emotional Life of Your Brain: How Its Unique Patterns Affect the Way You Think, Feel, and Live—and How You Can Change Them.

Asana, the posture or seat that prepares us for meditation, is an intentional meeting place for the body, mind and essential Self. Meta Chaya Hirschl, author of Vital Yoga: A Sourcebook for Students and Teachers, joins Rev. O’Brian for a deep look at how yoga philosophy and practice can help us transcend fear and experience bliss.

Allan Lokos, founder of The Community Meditation Center in New York and author of the book Patience: The Art of Peaceful Living, joins Rev. O’Brian for an insightful conversation about the powerful role patience plays in our lives every day. Is it possible that many mistakes we have made, or unkind words we have spoken, could have been avoided if we had been more patient? What does being patient require of us? What does it make possible?