What is Urban Sadhu Yoga™?
Urban Sadhu Yoga™ is a method of applying ancient yogic wisdom in a contemporary context. The Urban Sadhu Yoga™ Method is a modern, integrated Yoga method that incorporates many unique aspects of a traditional Yoga sadhana (practice) for the contemporary urban spiritual seeker. The method draws from the ancient yogic wisdom of India – Raja Yoga, Tantra Yoga, Hatha Yoga, Karma Yoga, Jnana Yoga, Nada Yoga, Jappa Yoga, and Bhakti Yoga – but does not exclude spiritual teachings from other cultures. Spiritual activism is a key component within the Urban Sadhu Method.
While Raja Yoga, also known as Ashtanga Yoga (Eight Limbs of Yoga), does not acknowledge Kundalini shakti, both Tantra Yoga (ritualization through a daily yoga practice) and Hatha Yoga (yoga asana) do. Urban Sadhu Yoga™ utilizes the latter two in order to reach the ultimate goal of Raja Yoga, which is samadhi or union. To help guide the practitioner to the goal of union with the Higher Self, the Urban Sadhu Yoga Method is supported by six pillars, SADHANA, AHIMSA, SVADYAYA, DHYANA, AIKYAM, and DHARMA.
Yoga should bring about harmony within, and that harmony should be expanded externally into the world around us. Yoga makes us better humans, more loving, insightful, grateful, and compassionate toward others. These attributes are useless unless expressed in the outside world around us. Urban Sadhu Yoga™ expresses yoga in the world through spiritual activism focused on key issues such as veganism, environmentalism, and social justice for all beings. ™
EXPLORATIONS AUGUST 2021 — Follow The Sun
Oṃ sūryaya svaha, sūryaya idam na mama
praja-patayē svaha, paja-patayē idam na mama
Vedic Fire (Agni-Hotra) Ceremony, sunrise prayer
Meaning:
Meaning: I offer this oblation to the sun and the Lord of creation. This offering is not for my benefit alone, but for the welfare of all. – Translation by Austin Sanderson
Over the past few years there has been a lot of talk about the appropriation of yoga and the need for western yoga teachers to teach yoga from a perspective that honors the long cultural tradition that yoga was founded upon but sometimes it is easier to look for connections to past heritage, rather than focusing on our disconnects to tradition.
Yoga can be traced to the Indus-Sarasvati civilization in Northern India, 5,000 years ago. The term yoga is first mentioned in the Rig Veda, the world’s oldest spiritual text. The Vedas are a collection songs, prayers, mantras and rituals to be utilized by Brahmans (Vedic priests) for the purpose of spiritual enlightenment. In 1.115 of Rig Veda, Sūrya, Surya or the sun, is mentioned with particular reverence, thinking the “rising sun” and proclaiming the sun as “dispeller of spiritual darkness”. Prayers asked Sūrya to empower humanity with higher knowledge. Sūrya is described as everything that is the good in the world and is seen as the life giving energy of the material universe (Prakriti). Hence, they adored the Sun as the principal deity in the Gayatri mantra. Addressing Surya in the Gayatri mantra: “Dhiyo yonah Prachodayāt” – May that quality of Light, within us and around us, awaken our spiritual intelligence, set in motion sun worship in the Indus Valley.
new class Types
We are very excited to bring several new class types to Urban Sadhu.
• Tri-Guna Yoga Class – In the Tri-Guna class the class is divided into three equal sections, giving equal time to the three energetics. 25 minutes vigorous Vinyasa Yoga, 25 minutes healing Yin Yoga, and 25 minutes pranayama and meditation with a final result of total yogic bliss.
• Yoga Nidra (yoga sleep) – Yoga Nidra is a form of Pratyahara (sensory withdrawal), where awareness is slowly drawn from the external world, the body, its functions, the mind, its thoughts and feelings, allowing us to connect to the deeper unconscious inner peace.
• Pranayama Meditation – A new class beginning with breath work that allows us to enter a state of deep meditation with ease.
• Fundamentals & Foundational Vinyasa – Great for those starting or those who want to review the core elements of a yoga practice.
For more info please see the updated schedule.
Listed below are both in person and virtual classes. If you register for a virtual class, you’ll get a link in an email 30 minutes before the start of class.
Online Class Archive
We are also pleased to offer an archive of online classes where you can practice at your own convenience at usyogalive.com . Pricing is $35 per month for unlimited classes. You can cancel at any time..
