ChayaYoga - Chaya's Mentors

Yoga Masters and Innovators

Patanjali is the author of the Yoga Sutras; which are the foundation of classical yoga. The Sutras are 1 of the 6 Darsanans in the Vedic text (ancient indian thought). Here he defines yoga psychology and practice as "the ability to direct the mind exclusively towards an object and sustain that direction without any distraction". His unique definition of Yoga is only his first contribution. He analyzes the functioning of the mind and cites inumerable means within one's grasp to bring order to a turbulent mind. He speaks of the activity of the mind and the "8 limbs" or steps of the practice with the goal of attaining a clear mind. These 8 components of yoga are: 1. Yama-Our attitude towards our environment 2. Niyama-Our attitude towards ourselves 3. Asana-The practice of body exercises 4. Pranayama-The practice of breathing excercises 5. Pratyahara-The restraint of our senses 6. Dharana-The ability to direct our minds 7. Dhyana-The ability to develop interactions with what we seek to understand 8. Samadhi-Complete integration with the object to be understood. He says in chapter 2, sutra #27 that the attainment of clarity is a gradual process. The first step is to recognize that certain tendencies of our mind are responsible for producing painful effects. If these tendencies are not curtailed, we may reach a point of no return. He also explains how such a mind makes a man/woman extraordinary in his potential and wisdom. The attainment of a stable state of mind and a healthy body are the goals in Patanjali's Yoga.

Krishnamacharya lived to be over 100 years old, and is one of the greatest yogis of the common era. His understanding as a healer of the sick, knowledge of Sanskrit and analysis of the role of Yoga in Indian ritual, make him a total teacher. His greatest contribution was his devotion to the individual, and to the possibility of unimaginable growth and freedom that is inborn in each of us. This, for Krishnamacharya was the gift of Yoga, and the Hope of Mankind. His view of health, as he put it, "Most important, according to me, is to provide necessary health, so that we can digest the food we eat, sleep well, and remember what we have been taught and what we have studied." He was also dedicated to revolutionizing yoga practice for modern life. He swept aside ancient prohibitions against certain practices by women and innovated therapeutic treatments for respiratory, cardiac, stroke, and injury victims, as well as new therapies for mental illness and disabilities. His great mission was to make yoga available to each individual, regardless of age, sex, race, culture, station in life, and belief-or non-belief. Through his relationships and responsibility to his students, he instilled faith, which is a key to the integration of the teachings and success of the practices.

TKV Desikechar, the son and student of Krishnamacharya, and one of the outstanding global authorities on the therapeutic uses of yoga, combines modern day empiracism with ancient wisdom. Desikechar has based his method on Krishnamacharya's fundamental teaching, which maintains that practices must be continually adapted to the individual's changing needs, and stresses the responsibility of the teacher to the student and the importance of this relationship to the growth, realization and health of the student.

Swami Kripalu, known to many as the Beloved Bapuji rooted his practice in silence and stillness. His vision of Yoga is of oneness with spirit with a focus on attuning to prana; energy, life force, higher intelligence. This level of consciousness evolves through Yogic practices aimed at developing an ever increasing awareness of our various levels of experience-physical, energetic, emotional, and spiritual. He spent most of his life in silence, only speaking on his birthday, and yet communicated so eloquently in his writings and teachings.

My Beloved Child,
Break your heart no longer.
Each time you Judge yourself
You break your own heart.
You stop feeding on the love
Which is the wellspring of your vitality.

The time has come-Your time-
To live-To celebrate-
To see the goodness that you are

You my child, are divine.
You are pure.
You are sublimely free.
You are God in disguise.
And you are always perfectly safe.

Do not fight the dark
Just turn on the light.
Let go
And breathe into the goodness that you are.

- Vidya~Carolyn Dellulomo

Joseph LePage is the founder of Integrative Yoga Therapy, who's vision is one of global health and healing for ourselves, our communities and the earth, through the integration of all aspects of ourselves through the art and science of Yoga. His brilliance and knowledge of the ancient texts and Aryuveda(ancient science of life from india) combined with acute intuition and awareness are an inspiration and gift.

Dr. Chauhan, Director, Jiva Ayurveda in New Delhi, India, is a silver medalist in Ayurveda from the University of Delhi. He established the Jiva Ayurveda Clinic, Panchakarma Center and Online College, and has produced over 600 Ayurvedic medicines and products. He devotes his life to the promotion of Ayurveda worldwide in a modern context and has the rare distinction of studying from both the modern and traditional schools of Ayurveda. He is a recognized expert in incurable diseases, pharmacology and rasashastra, and has received the Best Ayruvedic Physicians Award.

His ability to translate the essence of Ayurveda for a deeper integration of it’s message shines from his love, faith and devotion to it. [www.jiva.com]

Chaya met Satya Narayan Das a year and a half ago when she studied at The Jiva College of Ayurveda, Faridibad, India near Dheli, with his brother Dr. Pratap Chauhan and visited his ashram in Vrindhavan. His presence and way of sharing the ancient Vedic knowledge made a lasting impression on her and she took home some of his books which transmitted a way of being in the world that offered clarity and insights into spiritual codes of conduct and relating to oneself and environment in order to live ones dharma/ truth, the first limb of Yoga.

She planned her winter tour last year to culminiate with 10 days of studying with him which included teaching on Ayurvedic Psychology and Finding Freedom through the Bhagavad Gita. This program was an exploration of the fist chapter of the Gita, analyzing the root cause of dejection, recasting it as the beginning of Yoga and an integral stage on the spiritual journey. The Gita shows us how to transform ourselves by treating dejection as a form of Yoga. It then becomes a stepping stone to ultimate success by giving us the opportunity to let go of our fears and discover our true identity.

Dr. Satya Narayana Das shared his wisdom, passion and love through story, lecture and chanting. His depth of understanding and devotion to this wisdom and way of life is communicated so clearly as a result of his refined style which is a reflection of his own practice and devotion to this lifestyle and to spirit.

She is grateful to be in the presence of such a master who generously shares with his students. She hopes to be a vehicle for this wisdom and love in a way that is according to jer dharma/truth and to be able to share with those who are also interested in freedom from illusion and suffering and living the life they are meant for.

Dr. Satya Narayan Das, PhD is the founder and Director, Jiva Institute of Vedic Studies and Culture. He holds an M.Tech degree from IIT Delhi and a PhD in Sanskrit (Agra University), as well as eight additional shastric degrees in various subjects. He is the author of 15 books related to Indian culture and philosophy and conducts classes on ancient Indian sciences for scholars from around the world. He initiated a program for preservation, translation and publication of ancient Indian works of science and wisdom. His library houses over 2500 texts dating back to the 13th century. His deep respect for the wisdom of the ancients led him to translate important works from Sanskrit into English and he has produced hundreds of audio and video lectures and is seen on TV, offering daily morning talks that focus on spirituality in daily life.
[www.jiva.com]