Organised into resource type for your convenience, explore this ever-expanding free library of resources, hand-crafted with contemplative teachers and researchers and integral thinkers in mind.
Integral Yoga: Resources for Teachers & Students
The following information sheets (pdf format) offer explanations on the practice, approaches and techniques of the Integral Yoga of the Dharma Ananda tradition:
Academic Literature on Spirituality & Education
Academic Books Astin, A. W., Helen S. Astin, H. S., & Jennifer A. Lindholm, J. A. (2011). Cultivating the spirit: How college can enhance students’ inner lives. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass. Cohen, A. (2009). Gateway to the Dao-field: Essays for the awakening educator. Vancouver, BC: Writeroom. Dillard, C., & Okpalaoka, C. (Eds.). (2013). Engaging culture, race,… Continue reading Academic Literature on Spirituality & Education
Recommended General Reading on Yoga
Yoga Books Asana, Pranayama, Mudra and Bandha By Swami Saraswati Satyananda The Aquarian Teacher By Yogi Bhajan The Breathing Book: Vitality and Good Health Through Essential Breath Work By Donna Farhi Deeper Dimension Of Yoga: Theory and Practice By Georg Feuerstein Eastern Body, Western Mind: Psychology and the Chakra System as a Path to the… Continue reading Recommended General Reading on Yoga
Chinese Written Language in Taoist Thought
‘It is the search for the Tao, the Way of Nature which, if you could become part of it, would take you to the edge of reality and beyond.’ ~ Martin Palmer Taoist philosophy and practices have influenced Integral Yoga enormously. Integral Yoga, as I write on the Welcome Home page of this website, ‘has a… Continue reading Chinese Written Language in Taoist Thought
Recipes: Homemade Kitchen Staples
Dairy & Dairy Substitutes Natural Yoghurt d Sour Cream d Plant-Based Milks v Seed & Nut Butters v Vegan Cheese v Paneer (Indian Cottage Cheese) d Ricotta d Buffalo Mozzarella d Vegetables Fresh Sprouts v Raw Fermented (Pickled) Vegetables v Burmese Fermented Tea (Laphet) v Kimchi v Vinegar & Oil Italian Vegetables v Fresh Tomato Sauce v… Continue reading Recipes: Homemade Kitchen Staples
Awakening & The Plant-based Diet
‘The amoeba and I are the same, the difference is only in degree; and from the standpoint of the highest life, all these differences vanish.’ ~ Swami Vivekananda The Yoga of Nourishment It could be said that plant-based nutrition, diet and food do not hold a significant enough place at The Art of Integral Being to warrant discussions of their own. I… Continue reading Awakening & The Plant-based Diet
Awakening: Fast, Slow & Integral
‘Truth is One, Paths are Many.’ ~ Mahatma Ghandi Paths of Awakening There are many paths for the awakening of consciousness. Some are ancient, some are modern. Some are fast, some are slow, some are integral. The Integral Path is quite different, combining the most accessible and powerful practices in a judiciously creative and culturally-responsive way. Practising… Continue reading Awakening: Fast, Slow & Integral
Recipes: Light Bites, Starters & Snacks
Cold Tofu Skin & Salad Wraps v Cauliflower Tabouleh v Fennel, Mixed Sprout & Cherry Tomato Salad v Dragon Fruit Boat v Root Vegetable Carpaccio v Fennel, Celery, Mint & Artichoke Salad v Eastern Gazpacho v Seeded Matzos v Coconut, Kale & Moringa Salad v Hot Seasoned Chinese Yam Chips v Grilled Halloumi, Rose Petal Salted… Continue reading Recipes: Light Bites, Starters & Snacks
Ways To Go Beyond (the Mundane)
‘The universe is not in a steady state; there’s an ongoing creative principle in nature, which is driving things onwards.’ ~ Rupert Sheldrake Science and Spiritual Practices Studies have shown that spiritual practices generally make people feel happier, healthier and support them in leading more meaningful and authentic lives. The concept of spirituality can carry meaning… Continue reading Ways To Go Beyond (the Mundane)
Recommended General Reading on Nutrition
Non-Fiction: General Read Literature The China Study: The Most Comprehensive Study of Nutrition Ever Conducted and the Startling Implications for Diet, Weight Loss and Long-Term Health By Dr T Colin Campbell Chinese Medicine: The Web That Has No Weaver By Ted J Kaptchuk Food As Medicine: How to Use Diet, Vitamins, Juices, and Herbs for a… Continue reading Recommended General Reading on Nutrition
Sadhana Diary: A Weekly Planner
The Sanskrit term sādhāna refers to a daily practice. The literal meaning is closer to ‘a means of accomplishing something’. Sādhāna is a generic term from the yogic traditions that refers to any spiritual daily or near-daily practice that is aimed at progressing the practitioner (sādhaka in Sanskrit) towards the very ultimate expression of their life. A sādhāna can include… Continue reading Sadhana Diary: A Weekly Planner
Meditation Music Timers: Resources for Teachers & Students
Many find meditation challenging, not because they have not understood the techniques they’ve chosen to adopt in their practice, but because self-directing one’s own practice adds more challenges than simply understanding, sitting with intention and mastering the technique itself through daily practice. The mind wants constant attention and will try just about everything to pull… Continue reading Meditation Music Timers: Resources for Teachers & Students
Sacred Sound: An Immersive, Mysterious and Healing Power
‘If we accept that sound is vibration and we know that vibration touches every part of our physical being, then we understand that sound is heard not only through our ears but through every cell in our bodies.’ ~ Dr Mitchell L Gaynor Sound Work: An Introduction Sound has an intensely immersive power. It is heard by… Continue reading Sacred Sound: An Immersive, Mysterious and Healing Power
Desktop Wallpaper: Little Pearls of Inspiration
The following is a small collection of desktop wallpaper intended to provide little pearls of inspiration from The Art of Integral Being. Download the complete set for your own personal use or to share with a friend right here.
What is Integration?
‘Writing in a journal is one of the oldest methods of self-exploration and expression.’ ~ Daniel Barbezat & Mirabai Bush What is Integration? Integration is the embodiment of wisdom into the fluxes of daily life. Embodiment is central to integration. Integration is the embodiment of the wisdom, realisations and revelations that are arrived at from one’s… Continue reading What is Integration?
What is the Practice of Integral Yoga?
‘The human body is an instrument of the Divine.’ ~ Snatam Kaur An Introduction to Integral Yoga Our bodies are the ships in which we sail across the ocean of life en-route for personal growth and human flourishing. Our bodies depend on us to navigate as fluidly as we are able, with minimal heavy burden in the… Continue reading What is the Practice of Integral Yoga?
New Directions: Trauma-informed Yoga
‘You know that you should not feel this way, but your body keeps getting hijacked into feeling intolerable sensations and emotions.’ ~ David Emerson Background Trauma-informed Yoga, also sometimes referred to as Trauma-sensitive Yoga, is the practice of yoga for individuals affected by psychological trauma. The goal is to help trauma survivors to develop a greater sense of… Continue reading New Directions: Trauma-informed Yoga
Literature on Contemplative Education Research Methodologies
This reading list includes some recommended academic literature that has informed conceptual and methodological concerns of mine in my own educational research on the integration of meditation and other contemplative practices into higher education pedagogy and curriculum. Please Note: The reading lists on this website are continually being updated. Please feel free to get in touch… Continue reading Literature on Contemplative Education Research Methodologies
Recipes: Breakfasts
Cold High Protein Smoothies v Pure Fruit & Nut Bars v Miam-O-Fruits v Mandalade & Apple v Quinoa & Yellow Millet Avocado Salad v Yoghurt with Fruits v Black Sesame & Green Smoothie s Buckwheat & Fig Yoghurt v g Passionfruit On-The-Go v Mish-Mash Avocado, Fresh Herb, Olive & Ricotta Halves d… Continue reading Recipes: Breakfasts
Meditative Arts: The Practice of Kintsugi
‘In repairing the object you really ended up loving it more, because you now knew its eagerness to be reassembled, and in running a fingertip over its surface you alone could feel its many cracks – a bond stronger than mere possession.’ ~ Nicholson Baker A Very Brief History of Kintsugi Kin (金) means gold and… Continue reading Meditative Arts: The Practice of Kintsugi
Recipes: Side Dishes
Starches & Vegetables Roasted Bamboo & Artichoke with Black Garlic v Baked Purple Potato Halves v Eight-Treasures Rice with Vegan Caviar Chia Dressing v g Steamed Wholegrain Rice with Furikake-style Rice Seasoning v Yunnan-Style Potato Tian & Spicy Pickled Vegetables v Tapenades, Sauces, Pates & Pestos Legume & Sour Vegetable Pate … Continue reading Recipes: Side Dishes
Contemplative Education: A Brief Introduction
‘While we are justifiably proud of our ‘outer’ development in fields such as science, medicine, technology, and commerce, we have increasingly come to neglect our ‘inner’ development—the sphere of values and beliefs, emotional maturity, moral development, spirituality, and self-understanding.’ ~ Alexander W Astin What is Contemplative Education? Contemplative education, which flourished in higher education but is not… Continue reading Contemplative Education: A Brief Introduction
Recipes: Sweet Treats & Afters
Hot Drinks Aloe Vera, Passion Fruit & Rose Green Tea v Matcha-Chai Spiced Tea v White Cardamom Coffee with Dates v Golden Horchata Milk v Berry Green Tea v Coconut, Citrus Zest & Fennel Coffee v Sweet Desserts Mulberry Stew & Warm Spiced Coconut Milk v Goji Berry Raw Jam & Cordial v s Red… Continue reading Recipes: Sweet Treats & Afters
Integral Education: A Brief Introduction
‘Integral education is a framework, a methodology, a community, and/or a stage or phase of human development that incorporate a range of educational themes concerning but not limited to principles and practices of “whole person” or “holistic” education.’ ~ Tom Murray What is Integral Education? As a philosophy of education, ‘integral education’ is often likened to a… Continue reading Integral Education: A Brief Introduction
Gurmukhi Language from Sikh Dharma
‘With my palms pressed together, I offer this prayer.’ ~ Guru Arjan Dev Ji In addition to the classical Kundalini Tantra teachings originating from the classical Hindu text Lalita Sahasrama, Integral Yoga of the Dharma Ananda tradition is influenced enormously by the modern teachings of Kundalini Yoga by Yogi Bhajan, also known as Sikh Dharma. Therefore, an… Continue reading Gurmukhi Language from Sikh Dharma
Desktop Wallpaper: Symbolism of the Lotus Flower
‘Offering his action to God, he is free of all action; sin rolls off him, as drops of water roll off a lotus leaf.’ ~ The Bhagavad Gita The above verse comes from chapter 5 of arguably the most seminal ancient texts on yoga from the Vedic era, originating from the part of the world that… Continue reading Desktop Wallpaper: Symbolism of the Lotus Flower
Sanskrit & Pali Languages: A Small Glossary of Big Concepts
This glossary includes important concepts from a range of philosophical, spiritual and religious traditions in Sanskrit and Pali. The majority of Sanskrit and Pali concepts originating from ancient India, although corresponding concepts from Tibetan Buddhism, Chan Buddhism, Zen Buddhism, Sikhism, Jainism and more have also been included where relevant. The concepts included have been drawn… Continue reading Sanskrit & Pali Languages: A Small Glossary of Big Concepts
The Various Forms of Breath Work
‘Feelings come and go like clouds in a windy sky. Conscious breathing is my anchor.’ ~ Thich Nhat Hanh Breath Work: An Introduction Conscious awareness of the breath connects to the present moment and the body. Breath Work, or breathwork, itself is a relatively new concept, largely used in New Age teachings, whereby it generally refers to… Continue reading The Various Forms of Breath Work
Meditative Arts: The Practice of Ensō
‘As a symbol, the circle expresses our totality of being. Whether in sun worship ceremonies, in mythological stories, or in religious art, the circle points to the most vital aspect of our existence—its ultimate wholeness.’ ~ John Daido Loori A Very Brief History of Ensō Ensō (円相) literally means circle in Japanese. In Zen Buddhist philosophy, it… Continue reading Meditative Arts: The Practice of Ensō
Yoga Nidra: The Meditative Heart of Yoga
Books The Art of Transformational Sleep Kamini Desai, PhD Yoga Nidra Swami Satyananda Saraswati Yoga Nidra: A Meditative Practice for Deep Relaxation and Healing (with CD) Richard Miller, PhD ‘Paradoxically, the Yoga of Sleep is awakening to what is asleep within us.’ ~ Swami Avinashananda Saraswati Online Teacher Training Courses Classical Yoga UK Jane… Continue reading Yoga Nidra: The Meditative Heart of Yoga
Literature on Contemplative Education
This reading list includes some recommended academic literature on ‘contemplative education’. I have also included related movements that overlap, complement or can be included in ‘contemplative education’. These include ‘wisdom education’, ‘moral education’, ‘integral education’, ‘social emotional learning’, ‘anti-oppression pedagogy’, ’emotional education’, ‘a pedagogy of hope’, ‘sentipensante’, and various other critical and contemplative pedagogies. Please… Continue reading Literature on Contemplative Education
Meditative Practices: Trataka
Definition of Trāṭaka: Still Eyes, Still Mind Trāṭaka or Trāṭak (meaning ‘look’ or ‘gaze’ in Sanskrit) is both a yoga purification practice (one of the shatkarma, meaning ‘six actions’ in Sanskrit) and a tantric method of meditation that involves focusing on a single point, such as a small object, black dot, a spiritual symbol (known as yantra in Sanskrit), a mirror, a meaningful… Continue reading Meditative Practices: Trataka
Recommended General Reading on Meditation
Non-Fiction: General Read Literature This list is by no means exhaustive. These are my personal recommendations as books that have taught me a great deal. This list contains general reads on everything from the origins within various contemplative and wisdom traditions and classical texts, to the vast range of contemporary applications and scientific discoveries in… Continue reading Recommended General Reading on Meditation
Recipes: Lunches, Mains & Dinners
with Asian Mushrooms Lotus Root, Chinese Kale & Oyster Mushroom Curry (with Steamed Black Rice) v Shiitake Mushroom Broth v Steamed Ginseng Wild Mushroom Banana Leaf Wrap v Wild Mushroom Pastina v Sri Lankan Cashew, Mushroom & Jackfruit Curry v with Eggs Beetroot Soup with Duck Egg & Vegetable Garnish d Steam-Fried Asparagus & Quail Egg… Continue reading Recipes: Lunches, Mains & Dinners
Seva Yoga: Individual and Community Care
What is Seva Yoga? Seva is the Sanskrit term for ‘selfless service’. Seva Yoga is essentially a combination of Karma Yoga (the yoga of action) and Bhakti Yoga (the yoga of love and devotion). To practice Seva Yoga is to serve others with both actions and an attitude of selfless love. In serving selflessly, one… Continue reading Seva Yoga: Individual and Community Care