Source: Google Images On the 23rd March we had a 90 minute zoom session for the Indian Summer Fest, CINS and Arkaya teams. We introduced them to the Artist as Healer project and had them experience a healing session sitting on chairs. “Karma” was also there. She is the star of the short film I am going to make on multisensory healing. We had artists and doctors attend where Dr. Arun introduced the need for integrative thinking in modern medicine and Sirish gave his artistic perspective. I facilitated a session so those present could experience this integration of the right and left and brain ..read more

Photo Credit: Bing Images (bing.com) with text added by Arkaya CLICK HERE TO JOIN ONLINE ARKAYA COMMUNITY CLASS & SATSANGH VIA ZOOM Every Saturday from 9 - 11 AM PST Wishing everyone a year filled with ease, grace and many blessings. We have heard of new year’s resolutions and used them many times. A resolution requires will power to move away from that which does not serve us or the goals we think we need to reach. It has the element of motivating ourselves to reach certain milestones. A sankalpa is a sanskrit word that has its root meaning in kalpana. Kalpana is imagination, an ide ..read more

CLICK HERE TO JOIN ONLINE ARKAYA COMMUNITY CLASS VIA ZOOM Every Saturday from 9 - 11 AM PST Today, the 10th of September 2021, is Ganesha Chathurthi or Ganesha's birthday. Till today vedic astrologers are able to calculate the exact date in the vedic calendar. This birthday is celebrated all over India with a lot of excitement. The food that is Ganesha’s favourite is made, like kozhukattai (as it is called in south India) and modhak (as called in the north). His symbolism is seen in the picture above and below is an Ode to Ganesha. Ganesha had one of the first ever head transplants, as he ..read more

CLICK HERE TO JOIN ONLINE ARKAYA COMMUNITY CLASS VIA ZOOM Every Saturday from 9 - 11 AM PST PLATITUDES PLATED FOR A PRICE A platitude is a dull or trite remark, especially one uttered as if it were fresh and profound. It gives the false impression of wisdom when it actually is propagating irrelevant ideas, falsehood and in certain cases causes damage. So if you find someone serving you stale or saccharine sweet spiritual smoothy, go elsewhere. Or better still, drink from your own cup. PLATITUDE 1 - “GET OUT OF VICTIM MODE” I was on a women’s forum a while ago and one of the ladies sha ..read more

Photo from a Facebook post by Maskwasis Boysis telling the story of her father’s experiences in residential schools in Canada. CLICK HERE TO JOIN ONLINE ARKAYA COMMUNITY CLASS VIA ZOOM Every Saturday from 9 - 11 AM PST So far we have been looking at cultural appropriation specific to yoga culture. However the stark abuses, atrocities and genocide of the first nations people in Canada and the U.S needs to be spoken of. The last week was heavy due to the discovery of 215 first nations children, some as young as 3 who were buried behind the Kamloops residential school after being physically ..read more

CLICK HERE TO JOIN ONLINE ARKAYA COMMUNITY CLASS VIA ZOOM Every Saturday from 9 - 11 AM PST The Namasthe is a beautiful gesture to humble ourselves, connect to the heart and cultivate Empathy. Through this balanced connection with ourselves, we connect to the essence in another. We truly LISTEN. Reconciliation becomes natural when we EMBODY the Namasthe. “Nama” means to bow and “they” means you in Sanskrit. More details are given as you scroll down “Namasthe” warrants a post of its own as it has become the poster child of appropriation that “lay Indians” ,not just yoga practitioners or a ..read more

"While not a native American Indian my self I do find the term 'low man on the Totem pole' to be an offensive stereotype." - CartoonStock CLICK HERE TO JOIN ONLINE ARKAYA COMMUNITY CLASS VIA ZOOM Every Saturday from 9 - 11 AM PST Reconciliation Needs Further Understanding And Having Conversations Last week we focused on the list of 9 points that support reconciliation. We need to take steps to bridge this divide and create inclusive spaces where we can speak about the yogic life. If you find someone using a derogatory term or misconception about another culture or specific misconception ..read more

CLICK HERE TO JOIN ONLINE ARKAYA COMMUNITY CLASS VIA ZOOM Every Saturday from 9 - 11 AM PST Process For Reconciliation In the last session we discussed what is needed to reconcile: Understanding and empathy - Observing history in the context of colonization is very important to see how race, language, religion and way of life can become an excuse to oppress and exploit by a so called superior race. A deeper understanding of the science and art of yoga is also needed.  Cultivating culture - We looked at culture as a process of refinement where the senses and being are happy with w ..read more

https://www.sangam.org/2012/08/images/ReconciliationcartoonDailyMirrorAugust172012.jpg CLICK HERE TO JOIN ONLINE ARKAYA COMMUNITY CLASS VIA ZOOM Every Saturday from 11 AM – 1 PM PST In Part 1 on cultural appropriation, I shared about the colonial mindset. Again, this is a mindset and not dependent on the colour of one's skin. However, historically, when a country or race has been oppressed, the stereotypes, exploitation, belittling and biases continue through generations. Or a country and/or its people are sensationalised, exotisised and even tokenised. Many times these biases are hidde ..read more

Cultural Competence and Awareness Training CLICK HERE TO JOIN ONLINE ARKAYA COMMUNITY CLASS VIA ZOOM Every Saturday from 11 AM – 1 PM PST March 21st was not just the day after spring equinox but also the International Day for Elimination of Racial Discrimination. It is unfortunate that gender and race is the reason for much disparity. In essence we are all equal, yet we may have been discriminated against for being in a woman’s body, a certain kind of body (fat or disabled) or a person of a particular race.   Not  everyone is connected to the spirit within, identifying mo ..read more