Dharma Yoga is named after Sri Dharma Mittra, a classical Hatha-Raja Yoga Master, born in 1939, who devoted over fifty years of his life to the direct experience and dissemination of Yoga as a holy science. Dharma Mittra learnt from Sri Swami Kailashananda i.e Yogi Gupta, who was one of the great sages of modern India and a complete master of all nine forms of yoga: Hatha, Raja, Kriya, Jnana, Japa, Yantra, Laya, Kundalini and Bhakti Yoga. Sri Dharma Mittra spent over a decade studying with his Guru. When he received his Guru’s blessings to leave in 1975, Sri Dharma Mittra founded the Dharma Yoga Centre in New-York (DYCNYC). The DYCNYC is now located on 46th West 24th Street - Ground Floor and is a temple for the body, mind and soul. I strongly recommend any yogis visiting New-York, whatever style of yoga they are practising, to visit the Centre and have a direct experience of practising with Sri Dharma Mittra and the team of teachers there.
Dharma Yoga is a modern interpretation of classical Eight-limbed or Hatha-Raja Yoga, deeply rooted in ethical precepts, the Yamas and Niyamas. Dharma Yoga was not a name chosen by Sri Dharma Yoga, given his humility. For him, there is only one Yoga. But as he is considered the ‘Rock of Yoga’, this name, Dharma Yoga, has been adopted and become famous.
“Dharma Yoga is traditional, yet contemporary — perfect for the fast-paced world of today.” ~ DYCNYC
“You have to get serious about your practice!” ~ Sri Dharma Mittra
Dharma Yoga as a physical posture (asana) practice is graceful and challenging. It includes elements of flowing Vinyasa, inversions and held poses that will help you to discover concentration, meditation, abiding contentedness and deep healing relaxation.
The practice tones and invigorates the body and mind, leading to enhanced flexibility, strength, balance and concentration.
It is challenging as it encourages you to work towards the full poses “with angry determination”. Many poses are held for a longer period of time than in vinyasa practices, which adds a level of difficulty. It however gives you time to work on the poses too, improving your asana practice class after class.
Teachers are trained to give only essential cues for each pose and let the students find their own practice, leaving space and silence in the room sometimes, to allow the students to go deeper into their practice. Another interesting point is that we always lead with the left side of the body, except in twists, for which we start on the right side.
Finally and very importantly, Dharma Yoga is a devotional practice. Sri Dharma Mittra constantly reminds us of the teachings of the Bhagavad Gita, that the highest form of spiritual practice is not meditation but renouncing the fruit of our action. This applies to the asana practice too. Practitioners are encouraged to offer up every pose, moving beyond expectation of results. This surrender allows us to experience a release into each posture that can give us a taste of meditation in the asana practice.
Breathing exercises (pranayama) and meditative techniques are part of the practice and regulate the heartbeat, de-stress the nervous system and calm the mind. Guided deep healing relaxation or Yoga Nidra relieves stress, slows down the thoughts, calms the mind and recharges one’s physical body. Dharma Yoga is a complete practice that will lead to radiant health, a peaceful life and, eventually self-realisation.
“Without Yama and Niyama, there is no Yoga.” ~ Sri Dharma Mittra
“All living beings fear violence.” ~ Sri Dharma Mittra
Dharma yoga is based on Ahimsa, the first Yama or observance. Ahimsa is non-violence or love: love towards ourselves, towards others, which include all living beings and extends beyond our pets. It is only when we are strongly established in Ahimsa that we develop what Sri Dharma Mittra considers as the most important attribute: compassion. The highest form of compassion is to see ourselves in others. This is a sign of the beginning of Self-realisation, which is the goal of Yoga; realising that we are not the body, we are not the mind, but a portion of God or the Supreme Self, lying at the right side of the heart, which is the same in every heart.
Dharma Yoga weaves together many teachings in order to bring all students closer to the goal of Self-realisation.
Dharma Yoga is “a devotional practice that emphasises good health, a clear mind and a kind heart.”
The Dharma Yoga community is a wonderful community, loving and supportive. I am honoured to be part of it and to be able to share Sri Dharma Mittra’s teachings. You will be challenged in your practice, but always in a playful way. Your asana practice will become much stronger and your flexibility will greatly enhance. But most importantly you will feel the bliss at the end of class, and hopefully take the practice off your mat, making Yoga an entire part of your everyday life.