The Yoga Hour

We all have a deep, soul calling to live a life that has meaning and purpose. How do we discern that call and respond to it? How can we overcome fears and obstacles to realizing our purpose in life? Join Yogacharya Ellen Grace O’Brian in a conversation with her special guest Rod Stryker, a longtime teacher of yoga philosophy and the author of The Four Desires: Creating a Life of Purpose, Happiness, Prosperity, and Freedom.  Find out how, by connecting with our dharma, we can live by the power of the soul, in alignment with the power of the universe. 

What does it mean to live in the highest way? How can the practices of yoga help us to live in harmony with our own self as well as others? Join Yogacharya O’Brian and her special guest Edwin Bryant, author of The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali: A New Edition, Translation and Commentary as they discuss how insights and practices from the Yoga Sutras can help us live our higher purpose. It is not difficult to live a spiritually conscious, fulfilled life in today’s complex world. Tune in and find out how!
 

As we begin a new year, how can we bring our lives into harmony with our higher true self? What does yoga have to teach about living a balanced life and reaching our full potential? Authors and Vedic educators Dr. David Frawley (Pandit Vamadeva Shastri) and Yogini Shambhavi join regular guest host Dr. Laurel Trujillo to discuss how Vedic wisdom can guide us in regaining optimal health, pursuing spiritual awakening, and living a life of balance and fulfillment. The conversation will draw from the book The Art and Science of Vedic Counseling, which was coauthored by Dr. Frawley and Dr. Suhas Kshirsagar. Tune in for practical tips to get the new year off to a great start!

As women’s and men’s roles are changing in our society and in our world, what can the Hindu goddesses teach us? How do they model divine qualities and support us in understanding our own dharma? The Hindu goddesses are representations of feminine psychology and spirituality, and can show us how to understand spiritual law and live with divine purpose. Join Yogacharya Ellen Grace O’Brian and her special guest Dr. Rita Sherma, director of the Center for Dharma Studies at the Graduate Theological Union and coeditor of Woman and Goddess in Hinduism: Reinterpretations and Re-envisionings, as they discuss how the mythology of the Hindu goddesses can help us revitalize our own role in the world. 

How do we find our true purpose—our path in the world that allows us to bring forth all our strengths? How do we discover and pursue the calling of our innermost self? Stephen Cope, author of The Great Work of Your Life, joins regular guest host Dr. Laurel Trujillo to discuss how we find our svadharma, that true calling of our soul longing for expression. By drawing encouragement from the stories of others who have realized their life’s purpose, this conversation is sure to inspire you on your journey.

The goal of purposeful living is not new—every religious, spiritual, or even secular tradition has their version of it. With the influx of yoga philosophy and practice and Vedic wisdom in the West, along came “dharma,” a new way to look at how we live. Discover how dharma holds the key to right action and harmonious relationship with others in this timely conversation with Philip Goldberg, author of American Veda, and Yogacharya Ellen Grace O’Brian. 

What forms the common core at the center of all faith traditions? Why is discovering this common core so important today in our divided world? In yogic philosophy, divine love, joy, and bliss are our birthright. William Keepin, Ph.D., author of Belonging to God: Spirituality, Science, and a Universal Path of Divine Love, joins regular guest host Dr. Laurel Trujillo to explore this divine love that is found within the mystical paths of all faiths, and its transformative potential. Tune in and be inspired!

How can we change politics so that it contributes to healing and to positive transformation in our society—in our world? How can we move beyond “left” and “right” thinking to a more “transpartisan” approach of social reform and national reconciliation? Join Stephen Dinan, author of “Sacred America-Sacred World: Fulfilling Our Mission in Service to All” and regular guest host Dr. Laurel Trujillo as they discuss the possibilities for a revitalized America and the vision of a healed and peaceful world. Tune in and discover how you can contribute to this bold vision. It’s the perfect time!

How can I find happiness? Is it possible to quiet the mind? Whether we are just starting along the path of spiritual awakening or have been on the path for some time, we often have questions about our spiritual journey and about how spiritual teachings relate to issues in our lives. Imagine sitting down to listen to a conversation between two spiritual leaders who are longtime disciples in the spiritual tradition of Paramahansa Yogananda. You can! Join Yogacharya Ellen Grace O’Brian from the Center for Spiritual Enlightenment and special guest Nayaswami Asha, spiritual director of Ananda Palo Alto and author of Ask Asha, as they discuss questions that arise on the path of self-realization. 

Practicing yoga in all of its forms—hatha yoga, meditation, contemplation, or selfless service—turns up the inner light of awareness. We start to see a new way to live. Rolf Gates, author of Meditations From the Mat: Daily Reflections on the Path of Yoga, joins Yogacharya Ellen Grace O’Brian to discuss how the yamas and niyamas can help us to bring our spiritual practice off the mat and into every aspect of our lives. Tune in to discover how the practice of yoga encourages living a joyful, fulfilling life that leaves the world a better place.