Samyak Yoga

🎙️ Ganesha Chaturthi: Leadership Lessons from GanapathiGanesha is not only worshipped as the remover of obstacles but also as a symbol of true leadership qualities:Big Ears – A leader listens more than they speak.Small Eyes – The power of focused vision and clarity.Large Head – Wisdom, big-picture thinking, and understanding beyond the immediate.Trunk – Flexibility and adaptability, knowing when to be strong and when to be gentle.Big Belly – The ability to digest both success and failure with calmness.Mouse as Vehicle – Humility; even the smallest companion is valued.On this Ganesha Chaturthi, let us see Ganapathi not only as the remover of obstacles in spiritual life but also as a reminder of how leadership in Yoga and life means wisdom, listening, adaptability, and humility.

In this episode, we discuss who is a teacher, qualities and perspectives of a teacher, according to the shastras - who's an Acharya and who can be called a 'Guru'. This discussion also guides how a student should be with the Guru, Acharya and a teacher.

Yoga itself is a brand now. There are many yoga, spiritual brands across the world. Most Yoga Teachers or studios, Institutes are guided/pushed to become bigger and larger brands. Capitalism rules the branding. Here is discussion - food for thought on branding and its just a small discussion, opening for different thoughts from all sides so that we can have better perspectives on this subject.

Yoga is no longer just a practice from ancient India; it's now a global phenomenon. Everywhere you look - Instagram, wellness retreats, fitness studios - you’ll find people doing yoga. That’s fantastic in many ways, but as yoga has spread, it’s often lost its essence, being transformed into something far removed from its roots. We're seeing yoga being stripped of its cultural, spiritual, and philosophical significance, and what's left is often just a fitness trend or exotic commodity. This is what we call cultural appropriation.Let’s break down what cultural appropriation is, how it’s happening to yoga, why it’s a problem, and how we can all do better moving forward.

Ashrama Vyavastha - Indic concept of stages of life is discussed in this episode by Yogacharya Rakesh.

How was Yoga taught earlier? How was it to study Yoga before 'the emergence of the new era of the Yoga business'? Let's discuss this in this episode.

Chanting of Prathamopadesha (1 chapter) of Hatha Yoga Pradeepika

This is the Surya Mantra from Krishna Yajurveda. This is a very short section that focuses on the sun god and is seen in Krishna Yajurveda. We are offering this to you on this special occasion of Makara Sankranti.  

The Narayana Sukta or Narayana Suktam is a hymn in Yajurveda. Some commentators see it as a mystical appendix to the Purusha Suktam. Listen to Narayana Suktam recited by Yogacharya Rakesh 

Shivaparadha Kshamapana Stotram recited by Yogacharya Rakesh

Is 200 Hour Yoga Teacher Training enough to be a Yoga Teacher? Yogacharya Rakesh discusses the process of being a Yoga Teacher. This is an interesting episode on the profession of being a Yoga Teacher.  For details visit Samyak Yoga

Durga is the active power within us. Durga Devi (Goddess Durga) is the power within us (Kriya Shakti) capable of overcoming all the difficulties. This chanting of Durga Suktam helps you in igniting the Kriya Shakti within and your efficiency increases.  Recited by Yogacharya Rakesh from Samyak Yoga

This is a Yoga Nidra Practice for Sleep and Relaxation guided by Yogacharya Rakesh. Yoga Nidra is a beautiful technique to build awareness of the human system and in turn to cultivate awareness of the inner journey.  Prepare your body and mind before taking the session. Make sure you have either taken the shower or washed your hands, feet and face. Make sure you have comfortable clothes on and lie down on the back of your body on a soft, comfortable mat.  If you are conscious throughout, it can help you in cultivating active relaxation which is a significant tool in spiritual practice.  For more details on Yoga Teacher Training Courses, please visit: samyakyoga.org

In Ashtanga Yoga Practice, you are expected to remember the entire primary series. It is often harder to get the right pronunciation of asana names. Here is the chanting of asana names in the primary series for your practice as an ashtanga yoga practitioner. For details about Ashtanga Yoga Training, visit - Ashtanga Yoga Courses with Samyak Yoga

This is for Ashtanga Yoga Practitioners to prepare with the Vinyasa Krama. If you are practising ashtanga yoga, you will need to work on the counts in Sanskrit. This episode is just the chanting of Sanskrit counts from 1 to 28 which is the requirement of the primary series i.e. Yoga Chikitsa.  For Ashtanga Yoga Teacher Training Courses, please visit - Ashtanga Yoga Courses with Samyak Yoga

Yogacharya briefly explains the Vedas, the meaning of the Vedas, different types, why the classification and all other details you should know.  For more details about Samyak Yoga, visit: https://www.samyakyoga.org/

In this podcast channel, we will explore the traditional wisdom of Yoga, practice methods, stories of Yogis and Yoginis, Mantra chanting and meditation techniques.  Read more about Samyak Yoga Institution: https://www.samyakyoga.org/ Read more about Yogacharya Rakesh: https://www.samyakyoga.org/yogacharya-rakesh/

Yoga is not just defined in Patanjali's Yoga Sutras. There are many Sanskrit texts explaining in detail the practice and philosophy of Yoga. In this episode, we explore other Sanskrit texts from Upanishads, Gita to Brahmasutras and find how the word Yoga is defined. It gives us a comprehensive idea about Yoga and the meaning of the word 'Yoga'.  Know more about Yogacharya Rakesh, visit: https://www.samyakyoga.org/yogacharya-rakesh/

This is a Vedic Chanting of a specific section in Yajurveda called "Shraddha Suktam". Enjoy the chanting

Namaste Dear Yoga Practitioners, this is a guided meditation called 'Indriya Dharana' for regular meditation practitioners. Hope you enjoy the meditation.  For more details of Samyak Yoga's Yoga Teacher Training Courses, please visit: https://www.samyakyoga.org/

In this episode, we explore the stories related to Maharshi Patanjali and how he has been influential in the development of the culture of Yoga and its philosophy.  For more details about Yogacharya Rakesh, please visit: https://www.samyakyoga.org/yogacharya-rakesh/

In this podcast, we discuss the word 'Patanjali', its literal meaning in Sanskrit, his life and contributions. We explore the details of his different contributions and opinions of different scholars on this topic. Please reach out to train with Yogacharya Rakesh: https://www.samyakyoga.org/

In this series of episodes, we will discover the history, contributions, mythological stories, other works and everything else related to Maharishi Patanjali. 

Listen to the chanting of the complete second chapter of Yoga Sutras of Patanjali by Yogacharya Rakesh

This is a complete Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga Primary Series Led class. This class is a practice method of Ashtanga Yoga in the tradition of Sri K Pattabhi Jois. It is not recommended for beginners in Ashtanga Yoga. If you have already been practising Ashtanga Yoga and familiar with the Vinyasa Krama, then this complete led class can guide you better in the regular practice of Ashtanga Yoga Sadhana. 

Listen to the chanting of 1st chapter (Prathama Pada) of Yoga Sutras of Patanjali

This mantra is used to complete the Ashtanga Yoga Practice.

This is the opening mantra of Ashtanga Yoga Practice (complete version)

Mantra on Lord Ganesha chanted or listened before beginning any new venture.