Why Simplicity Brings Inner Peace
This conversation explores the importance of simplicity and authenticity in spiritual practice, emphasizing the value of honoring diverse paths while staying true to one’s own. It touches on balancing technology with awareness, fostering meaningful dialogue across traditions, and speaking truth with love. The discussion highlights how creativity can deepen spiritual growth and the role of discernment in navigating new ideas and societal pressures. — Les Anand Roberts was born in Shropshire, England, in May 1953 into a working-class family. After dropping out of high school at 16, he spent two years working in manual labor before returning to education at 18. He eventually qualified as a Company Secretary and worked in various accounting roles, though a career breakdown in the early 1980s led to significant life changes. He later moved to Gibraltar, where he worked for Ernst & Young and other companies while navigating a challenging second marriage. Les’s life took a…
Yoga Nidra: An Outside In and Inside Out Practice
I spent January sinking deep into the study and practice of Yoga Nidra with Julie Lusk. I started practicing Yoga Nidra almost daily in 2020 during the COVID pandemic. Over time Yoga Nidra became a respite from all that swirled around me. As we emerged from the…
Integral Yoga Hatha and Mental Health
Introduction Most ancient theories of health and well-being include balance as a core concept. You can think of Yin/Yang in the Chinese system; even in the West, the Greek philosopher Aristotle writes: “Both excessive and deficient exercise ruin bodily strength, and,…
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The Value of Gratitude
Autumn has arrived to Yogaville and with it brings an abundance of reasons to be grateful. Fall foliage splashes the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains with color. Temperatures cool, and as the outside world transforms we acknowledge our own internal…
Jackfruit Tacos
Jackfruit is the fruit of all trades! You can enjoy it when it is ripe and sweet or when it’s unripe, green, and savory. It’s texture is almost identical to chicken, which makes it an incredible meat substitute. Trying to convert your loved ones to a healthy…
Are You Living Yoga? Or Just Stretching?
Yoga is much more than leggings, expensive mats, and contorting your body into complicated shapes. Despite its increasing popularity, western Yoga culture still tends to exclude many aspects of this ancient science. Luckily, Satchidananda Ashram-Yogaville is committed…
Vegan Potato Leek Soup Recipe
This classic Yogaville recipe is easy to make yet tastes like you really know your way around the kitchen. The entire family will enjoy this cozy and comforting soup. Ingredients 1 – 1.5 lbs of potatoes Olive oil 4 cloves minced garlic 3 cups chopped leeks…
4 Reasons To Practice Kirtan
In recent years, the practice of kirtan, or devotional chanting, has become increasingly popular in the West—and for good reason. Saints and Sages have claimed that it not only increases happiness and quality of life, but can lead to God realization. Not sure if…
Rewire Your Brain With Silence
Sound affects the human body on a deep cellular level. All of the sounds we hear throughout the day (alarms, music, traffic, etc.) vibrate every cell of our body, whether we are aware of it or not. In recent years, studies have suggested that Mozart’s sonatas have a…
Mouthwatering Mulligatawny Soup Recipe
“Mulligatawny” is the anglicized version of the Tamil words “miḷagāy taṇṇi”, or “pepper water”. In the late 1800’s while India was under British rule, English workers stationed in India with the East India Company took a liking to this flavorful soup. The recipe has…
8 Reasons to take Integral Yoga Teacher Training
For over 50 years, the Integral Yoga Academy has transformed thousands of Yoga practitioners into accomplished Yoga instructors. Our seasoned approach to teacher trainings allows students to not only gain the skills necessary to instruct a beginner level Hatha class,…
Ayurvedic Strategies for Balance
Ayurveda is usually translated as the science of longevity. The intention of Ayurveda is to bring our doshas, or bio-energy-body types, into balance so that we can experience optimum physical and mental health, which can support our spiritual growth. Since the…
Now More Than Ever: Yoga as a Peace Practice
The popularity of Yoga in these technocratic times is not by chance. It seems the more we disengage with human contact, the more our violent and abusive tendencies emerge and we find ourselves accepting new standards of incivility that are now pervasive in our…
Truth is One, Paths are Many
Any religion that quarrels with another religion is not truly a religion. Religion means all-embracing, no quarrels. If ever a person calls him or herself religious and denies the other’s way or religion, know for sure that person doesn’t yet understand his or her own…
There is No Countdown, There is Only the Present
In the last days of 2018 and the first few of 2019, I had the pleasure of attending the 5-day New Year’s Silent Retreat at Satchidananda Ashram in Virginia. What I experienced was profound: The self study The deep quiet The dedication It changed me Immediately And…