Posts by sowmyaayyar

I’ve been working “in the field” of “yoga therapy” for a few years now, and have experienced a wide spectrum of individuals with their own needs, whether physical, mental, emotional, or behavioral. Some people come for stress and depression; others after being diagnosed with a physical health concern such as arthritis, heart health, or diabetes; and still others for relationship issues including anger management. I was invited to facilitate a workshop on Yoga, ADD and ASD at a brand new speech & hearing clinic in Koramangala, Bangalore. I’ve worked with a few children who have these issues in the past, and I’ve also been working with similarly challenged women in an NGO in Bangalore and private students (children) as...

There’s a difference between the two. While yoga is therapeutic in itself, yoga therapy uses the methods and practices of yoga to work on one or more concrete physical, mental, or emotional health concern to create peace within. Join me!!! Private and group sessions conducted in Cox Town and Whitefield. Classes in Cox Town:                                             Classes in Whitefield: Mondays, 6:15-7:45 pm                                              Thursdays, 6:15 – 7:45 pm Fridays, 6:15-7:45 pm                                                 Saturdays, 6:15 – 7:45 pm 2nd Sunday, 4:30-6:30 pm (Yoga Nidra) 4th...

Yoga Workshops January 2012 Sunday, January 29, 2012: 4:30-6:30 pm. Mudras, Mantras, and Meditations A look at how hand positions, combined with sound and chakra meditation, can be used as a therapy for various physical, mental, and emotional health needs by channeling energy. Supplies: Wear comfortable clothes. Do not eat or drink after 2 pm. Bring a yoga mat or rug to sit on. Registration: Register by sending an email or SMS response to me by the Friday prior to the workshop, with your name and “I’m attending on Sunday”. Space is limited, so commit yourself only if you plan to attend. Cancel 24-hours in advance. Cost: Rs 200 Share this:Facebook

When you’re working with kids, you have to be creative. I often use the route of nature, asking them what their favorite animal is. Kids at the Little Infant Jesus Home, and even kids I work with individually, here in India are quick to ask for a few animals, one of them being the elephant pose. Elephants are, after all, auspicious beings in this country. Many temples have a temple elephant that parades around town, and then lands up at the temple to “bless” everyone who comes by for “darshan” of the Gods. (I visited one such temple in Pondicherry with a couple of Peace School buddies. I had been there 10 years before, and Lakshmi, the elephant, had grown from a youthful 5 years to about 15 years. Check out our pictures together!) My...

Make Yoga the only purpose, aim, and real interest in your life. Plunge in Sadana now, and realize God.  – Sri Swami Sivananda If only people even knew about yoga! So many people don’t have access to this beautiful aspect of life. My dear friend and colleague, Ms J’aime Tilston, MA, is a peace education researcher. Her Master’s Thesis was conducted on the role of nonviolence education (NVE) in transformation, focusing on how NVE can help prison inmates rehabilitate themselves and lead to a more peaceful life post-release. In the process of interviewing individuals in the system in California, Tilston discovered that many inmates had never had a chance to learn anything but violence. Nonviolence was not even a remote concept in many of the...