Yog Sadhan Ashram of Chicago

Join us on January 1, 2012 at 11:30am for Havan (fire ceremony)! Start your new year off with prayers, blessings, and good company!

Yoga is a systematic practice for achieving a more peaceful life and moving towards self-realization. While attending asana and philosophy classes  can be satisfying, cultivating a yoga practice in one’s own home is an integral part to achieving real progress.

At the same time, even serious students find it difficult to make yoga a regular part of their day.  We struggle with making time or prioritizing elements of our practice in whatever time we do have.

Yet there are countless examples of students with busy family and work lives that have found a way to integrate yoga into their life.  How did they do it? What does it take?

To help us start the new year, the day is dedicated to helping each of us bring yoga to our homes. What asanas should one practice if they have 10 minutes or 1 hour? Is it more important to do cleansings, asanas, pranayama, or meditation if I don’t have time for them all? Is it better to do my practice in the evening or night? Where in my home should I practice? These and many other common questions will be answered in this workshop for both beginners and experienced students striving to make yoga a regular part of their lives.

Schedule:
8:00 – 8:45am: Shatkarmas (Internal Cleansings)
8:45 – 10:00: Asanas & Pranayama
10:00 – 10:15: Break
10:15 – 10:45: The importance of daily practice
10:45– 11:00 Meditation
11:00 – 11:15: Break
11:15 – 12:15pm: How to build a daily practice
12:15 – 1:00: Q&A/Counseling

Cost: $35 suggested donation. No one will be turned away for lack of funds. YSA is a 501(c)3 organization, and donations are deductible to the extent allowed by law.

Questions? Email YogSadhanAshramUSA@gmail.com or Call 630-293-9554.

To Register: Please send the slip below with your donation to: Yog Sadhan Ashram, 28W100 St. Charles Rd., West Chicago, IL 60185

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Name: _________________________________________

Phone Number: __________________________________

Email: _________________________________________

Enclosed Donation to Yog Sadhan Ashram: $______________

The Taittriya Upanishad is one of the oldest yogic scriptures. Acharya Hersh Khetarpal will take us through this deep text line by line, explaining both the philosophy as well as practical applications.

This workshop is suitable for beginners as well as experienced students.

Schedule (preliminary):
8:30 – 9:45am: Asana & pranayama class
9:45 – 10:00: Break
10:00 – 11:30: Lecture I
11:30 – 12:30pm: Lunch & Break
12:30 – 2:00: Lecture II
2:00 – 2:30: Break
2:30 – 4:00: Lecture III

Cost: We suggest a $50 donation to cover costs. However, no one will be turned away from lack of funds. YSA is a 501(c)3 organization, and donations are deductible to the extent allowed by law.

Questions? Email YogSadhanAshramUSA@gmail.com or Call 630-293-9554.

To Register: Please send the slip below with your donation to: Yog Sadhan Ashram, 28W100 St. Charles Rd., West Chicago, IL 60185

————————————————————————————————————————————————-

Name: _________________________________________

Phone Number: __________________________________

Email: _________________________________________

Enclosed Donation to Yog Sadhan Ashram: $______________

Dhyana (Meditation) is one of the most important practices for yoga students. Most people have an image of someone sitting quietly with their eyes closed, but what really happens inside? How do we stop our mind from chatting? What does it feel like when you’re finally able to still the mind? And what exactly is the purpose of meditation?

These and many other questions will be addressed during this one-day workshop dedicated to meditation. Acharya Hersh Khetarpal will not only distill the philosophy and techniques for meditation, but there will also be multiple practice sessions.

This workshop is suitable for beginners interested in an introduction, as well as experienced students hoping to heighten their understanding and practice.

Schedule (preliminary):
8:30 – 9:45am: Asana & pranayama class
9:45 – 10:00: Break
10:00 – 12:00: Meditation Effects and Benefits (lecture & practice)
12:00 – 1:00pm: Lunch & Break
1:00 – 3:00: Meditation Techniques (lecture & practice)
3:00 – 3:30: Break
3:30 – 4:00: 30 minute meditation practice
4:00 – 5:00: Optional Q&A session

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Please join us for the auspicious celebration of Vyas Puja this weekend at Yog Sadhan Ashram! Click here to view the full details and schedule of events.

Please join us for the 7th annual Hatha & Raja Yoga Retreat! It will be held August 22nd-26th.

Click for more information and registration!

The Ashram will be holding its 3rd annual Children’s Yoga Camp July 18th – 22nd, 2011! In this 5 day camp (1pm -4pm), children will have the opportunity to learn and practice yoga and enjoy the outdoors with others their age at the Ashram!

Click for more details and registration!

Hershji gave a very enlightening and inspiring speech on Ram Ravmi! Click below to listen:

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This past weekend over 20 students participated in a workshop on the Hatha Yoga Pradipika. In addition to learning the great wisdom contained in this yogic scripture, everyone also had the opportunity to learn and practice asanas as well as cleansing techniques, like neti and vaman. Pranayama, mudras, and bandhas, practices less commonly practiced in the U.S., were also discussed and practiced.

Above all, students walked away knowing more about the true purpose of Hatha Yoga, which is preparation for higher consciousness. While yoga is commonly thought to be a practice for the body, we wee reminded that  we are not merely seaking the freedom from diseaeses but the freedom from the bondage and the waverings of the mind.

The scripture proved to be full of information, and we will likely be studying it in even more depth during Sunday philosophy classes in the future. Stay tuned!

The Ashram held another enlightening, inspiring, and enjoyable retreat last month! Many helped put together the week of hatha yoga, philosophy, cooking, meditation, and pranayama classes. This year we were especially honored to have Melanie Camp teaching the morning asana classes and Grammy-nominated David Young performing his beautiful melodies! Playing two different recorders at once, he enchanted us with relaxing and peaceful sounds. We introduced new topics this year as well, including an interactive session where participants discussed applications of yoga philosophy in daily life. Stay tuned for next year’s schedule!