Subhash Mittal
I learned Yoga from my father while growing up in India and have been
practicing it regularly for over 40 years. During the early 90s I started
teaching simple yoga postures to some of my family members and friends.
Realizing that I was able to help others with some of their minor health-related
problems through the practice of yoga, I decided to go for a formal teacher
training program so I could impact the lives of many more. In the summer of
1996, I completed the Teacher Training program in the Integral Hatha Yoga style at the
Swami Satchidananda Ashram in Yogaville, VA.
After the course, I started teaching yoga on a part-time basis, about four
to five classes per week. However, since my retirement in 2005 from my corporate job, I am devoting my time fully to stydying deeper aspects of yoga and teaching several classes a week. I have constantly endeavored to increase my
yoga knowledge and teaching skills and have completed other training courses.
Here is a list of the yoga-related training courses that I have attended:
- Basic Teacher Training program in the Integral Hatha Yoga style at the Swami Satchidananda Ashram in Yogaville, VA - August 1996 (4 weeks). This was a comprehensive and intensive residential certification program. This program consisted of instruction and practice in asana, pranayama, relaxation, meditation, Karma yoga (seva), anatomy and physiology, diet and nutrition, Yoga Sutras of Patanjali and more.
- "Yoga Vedanta Philosophy" - March-April 2006 (8 weeks). This was a two-month course offered by the Divine Life Society at the Swami Sivananda Ashram in Rishikesh, India. Topics covered included The Bhagavad Gita, Upanishads (with Ishopanishad in depth), Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, 'Shad-Darshan' - the six systems of Indian Philosophy, History of Western Philosophy, and Narada Bhakti Sutra. The course was taught both by resident swamis of the ashram who were extremely knowledgeable, as well as a couple of renowned invited professors. The course helped me gain a much deeper understanding of the Yogic philosophy as well as establish a well-grounded personal daily routine which includes asana, pranayama, meditation and svadhyaya (study of scriptures). I found the experience of living at the ashram (including waking up at 4 AM each morning) highly enriching.
- Prenatal Yoga certification course at the Swami Satchidananda Ashram in Yogaville, VA - June 2006 (10 days). The course included a detailed understanding of the anatomy and physiology of pregnancy and how to tailor a yoga program to suit the needs of women during various stages of pregnancy.
- Stress Management certification course at the Swami Satchidananda Ashram in Yogaville, VA - July 2006 (10 days).
- Cardiac Yoga (yoga for people with heart-related problems) certification course at the Swami Satchidananda Ashram in Yogaville, VA - July 2007 (10 days)
- Yoga philosophy course at the Darshan Yoga Mahavidyalaya in Gujrat, India - March 2008 (8 days). The course was conducted at an ashram in a very peaceful, serene environment and included discussion on the Yoga Sutra of Patanjali, Sankhya philosophy and Upanishads.
As a part of my ongoing 'svadhyaya' (self study), I have been participating in a Bhagavad
Gita home study program for many years. During these weekly group sessions, we
study and discuss the commentary on Bhagavad Gita by Swami Dayananda of the
Arsha Vidya Gurukulam of Saylorsburg,
PA. For the last eight years, I have been learning the Sanskrit language,
the language in which all the yogic scriptures including the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, Bhagavad Gita, Vedas, Upanishads etc. are written.
I am deeply influenced by the yoga philosophy as expounded by Patanjali in his
Yoga Sutras. In order to understand the philosophy of yoga better, I currently
facilitate a Study Group for Yoga Sutras of Patanjali which meets twice a month. I continuously strive to develop a deeper understanding of the
underlying principles of the philosophy and incorporate the guidelines of the
eight limbs of yoga (ashtanga yoga), including the yamas and niyamas (moral and
ethical principles), into my
day-to-day life.
On the professional side, I worked as a telecommunications engineer with
AT&T/Lucent for about twenty five years before retiring in July, 2005. I plan to
devote my time now to the study of and teaching yoga.
