Ancient Yogic Wisdom In A Contemporary Context

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. ™

URBAN SADHU PHILOSOPHY

Yoga means to yoke, union, becoming one, or reunification. Yoga ends separation and otherness.

Philosophically, Urban Sadhu Yoga is a non-dualistic yoga system. In spirituality non-dualistic simply means “not two” or “one undivided without a second.” Non-dualism refers to a state of consciousness that allows the individual to see and experience the oneness of being.

Dualistic division is a weapon of domination used within society, religion, and corporate structures to subjugate the masses and control them though otherness. It feeds on individuals’ fears and insecurities based on perceived separations that are manifestations of the mind and ego.

Alienation and separation cause us to split reality according to what we think we like and dislike, a dualistic approach that is self-defeating. Yoga reveals our true nature, love, and compassion. Likes and dislikes are equalized. When you wake up and realize your true nature, consciousness reveals that everything around you has the same nature of love and compassion. Otherness dissolves into an ocean of true eternal awareness.

Non-dualistic philosophy gives us the ability to experience reality in a way that does not exclude concepts we don’t understand and feel alienated by. Non-dualistic yoga philosophy liberates and frees us from fear and insecurities, leading to true Self-confidence.

THE SIX PILLARS OF URBAN SADHU YOGA

SADHANA – Sadhana is a methodical discipline to attain the desired knowledge or goal through one’s practice.
AHIMSA – Ahimsa is the practice of non-violation, non-harming, or non-violence.
SVADYAYA – Svadyaya is Self-study: study of the true Divine nature or the Higher Consciousness within.
DHYANA – Dhyana is deep internal meditation.
AIKYAM – Aikyam is seeing the unity that yoga reveals, the oneness of being.
DHARMA – Dharma is “right duty” or “right way of living” expressed through spiritual activism.

We welcome everyone to our yoga studio regardless of age, sexual identity, culture, race, political persuasion, or religious beliefs because yoga is all about union not separation.