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The Art & Science of Raja Yoga

  • Ananda Temple 2171 El Camino Real Palo Alto, CA, 94306 United States (map)

Thursdays, Sep 29th - Dec 15th
Fee $295
Prerequisite: Lessons in meditation offered by Ananda

One of our most popular offerings, Raja Yoga encompasses all the different types of yoga, including meditation, devotional practices, dispassionate discrimination and wisdom, as well as the yoga postures well-known in the West.

Raja Yoga offers a scientific approach to the spiritual life, with techniques for stilling the mind and expanding our awareness of spiritual realities. It offers techniques for self-mastery in every aspect of life, from calming turbulent emotions to awakening deep compassion and love for others. Ultimately, it is a well-explored pathway, walked by countless yogis and mystics, to union with God.

6:30pm Guided Sadhana
7:15pm Potluck Dinner
8pm Lecture, discussion and Q&A
9pm - 9:30pm (Optional) Practicuum

The teachings of Raja Yoga are compatible with the core teachings of all the great world religions. Devoted members of other faiths are also an active part of Ananda.

More info here.

Instructors: Shanti Rubenstone, Lakshmi, Saiganesh, James and Keshava.

Cost: $295

Please contact us if you are in need of financial assistance.

 

Instructors

Featured
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Nayaswami Shanti

Nayaswami Shanti is a lifelong devotee and is now a co spiritual director here at Ananda Palo Alto. She teaches, counsels and still maintains a practice of medicine through her coaching practice of “Transformational Medicine.” Her talks are rich with stories from her life as a physician and her many years on the path. With her warmth and wisdom, she is a much-loved counselor and teacher. Shanti’s talks online.

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Saiganesh Sairaman

Saiganesh is an Ananda minister and one of the co-managers of Ananda Palo Alto. He is a deeply thoughtful, clear speaker, and connects easily with people. He has a passion for sharing the teachings of Kriya yoga and meditation. A world citizen, he grew up in a traditional Hindu family in India and was trained as an Indian Classical musician. He is a former tech manager in the silicon valley, and applies his tech acumen to many Ananda projects.

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Brahmacharini Lakshmi

Lakshmi is an Ananda minister and one of the co-managers of Ananda Palo Alto. She also serves as an English teacher and a mediator at a local high school, dedicated to merging mindfulness and academics in a professional setting. She is a thoughtful and delightfully engaging teacher at Ananda, as well. Lakshmi serves Ananda Palo Alto in many ways, with a rare gift for organizing major projects with ease.

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James Noh-Kuhn

James Noh-Kuhn is a former senior executive with a San Francisco based coffee company. His calm, cheery management style in a fast-paced environment is born of many years of yoga and meditation practice. He directed the yoga program at Ananda Santa Rosa in 2003. In the corporate world, he was often asked how he remained so calm. He joyfully answered by sharing Ananda's breathing and meditation practices. He brings years of management and strategic planning experience to the Sangha staff.

 

Explore these areas of study

Yoga Philosophy: the purpose of life • the dream nature of the world • what is the soul? • karma: the law of life • what is good and evil? • inner spiritual realities (the chakras, kundalini) • what happens when we die? • what is a guru? • the cycles of time (yugas) • how to achieve freedom from suffering • what is God? • Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras 

Pranayama: how breath influences the mind, body, and energy • breathing techniques to reduce fatigue, depression, or lack of mental clarity • techniques for stilling the mind and heart • techniques to calm strong emotions • methods of slowing the heart • health benefits

Meditation: clinical research on meditation • the purpose of meditation • techniques to calm the mind • how to reach deeper states of meditation • meditation as a spiritual practice • the role of the heart (devotion)

Healing: yogic techniques for improved overall health • techniques to help chronic pain, insomnia, high blood pressure, anxiety, weight problems, digestion, heart ailments, and stress • methods of healing others • healing at a distance • affirmation • prayer

This immersion includes course texts, The Art and Science of Raja Yoga, Swami Kriyananda, How to Meditate, John (Jyotish) Novak, and a syllabus.

 

More testimonials

“The teachers individually and together are wonderful, experienced and caring people. They create a community where the energy is clear and high.”
—S. M.

“I could keep coming to this class for years and never get tired of it. On a scale of 1-10, this is an 11!”
—A. Trowbridge

“...a philosophy and way of being that far surpasses anything I’ve studied before.”
—B. Gallup

“This is a fun class with like-minded people. The content was excellent and made me want to learn more. Great teachers, great energy—and great food.”
—A. Manolov”
Earlier Event: October 12
Energy & Energization: A Deeper Dive (for Ananda Kriyabans)
Later Event: October 13
Clases de Yoga y Meditación (en Español)