As we come fully into the adana of the sun’s journey in the northern hemisphere, bringing us summer in all its glory, its ruling time, we are reminded how the sun can deplete us as it does the earth and we may look forward to the visarga or cooling nature of the moon later in the year. In the meantime, the joys of lush fruits, swimming pools, yes even ice cream keeps us going…organic and non-agave based, of course, as we plumb the depths of what may be another un-natural sweetener as we discover that low glycemic factor does not overrule exceptionally high fructose levels. Consider that apples have a fructose factor of around 5-10% and agave nothing less than 70% and apples are plenty sweet. As a dear and wonderful healer friend of mine says, why has no one ever used the Agave plant for anything other than tequila till now, when it is overharvested as the best organic sweetener, raw (hah!) and pure (after all the machinery it is put through to cause this transformation…well, I for one do not like how it makes me feel and so I neither use it nor recommend it to any of my clients till the air is cleared up…but oh my, how did I get here from talking about summer! I digress and will leave it in for you to digest:)
A reminder: THIS SEPTEMBER! STILL SPACES FOR THE KERALA RETREAT! TEMPLE TOUR IS NOW SOLD OUT!
Contact Arun at (310) 435-4197, for more information.
It has been a busy spring. Among trips to Salt Lake City, Las Vegas, Grass Valley and Encinitas was a lot of private reflection time. I have been contemplating both yoga and my yoga. As an Ayurvedic Practitioner I will have a particular view of yoga when it comes to healing. And what this view is now showing me is that yoga is the single most powerful healing tool that Ayurveda can offer. Needless to say, yoga based on the principles of Ayurveda. What I am discovering is that it has never been any other way. They are inseparable. They are Vedic knowledge specialized into sister sciences. For some years now, I have been blessed to share the wisdom of Ayurveda with yogin`s and yoga teacher trainees. Most blessed also to share Ayurveda with the awesome Larry Payne’s Yoga Therapy Rx Program at LMU. I continue to do so.
Ayurveda: The Science Of Self-Healing
On July 20/21, I will once again get to do so at Black Dog Yoga in Sherman Oaks. It is open to the public, please come.
Now I find myself wanting to bring yoga to Ayurvedic Practitioners. This is a formidable undertaking, I believe. But I feel I have some truths I have gathered from my teachers that I wish to share as they “realize” within me. The journey goes on:) 
On August 4/5 there is the Moksha Festival. On the 4th, I will be presenting on “Combining Yoga & Ayurveda For Better Health”. On the 5th, I will join a panel discussion on Yoga Next: Shaping The Future of Yoga.
On the other hand, both yoga and Ayurveda are shortchanged unless their therapeutic message reaches deeper into us than just the physical body. Or even just the mental body. It must reach into the core of us, where our emotions arise.
What I have discovered is that this Emotional Intelligence can be accessed even through just our yoga practice. I am putting this theory to the test coming up soon at the Sivananda Yoga Center, at Anahata Yoga Studio in Encinitas and at the Zen Den in San Clemente.
All this summer.
Then I take off with a lovely group for the Yogarasayana India Retreat where we will meet up with other lovely yogin-s from India! There is still space if you wish to join us. The more, the merrier. After that, it is Greece once again. And another Retreat with my friends from Greece. This time on a smallish, spectacular island where we will share all of the above including Ayurvedic cooking and tasting:)
And then this November, for Thanksgiving, Jutta Hecht and I will host another Joshua Tree Retreat. The last one was a huge success. This time, once again starting the day after Thanksgiving, we will explore Ayurveda and Food: Raw, Cooked and Vegan! With yoga and a picnic hike. So, if you would like to share some of this year with me, I would love to share any and all of it with you!
Have a wonderful summer and look forward to seeing you on the yogic path!
Arun Deva, DASc, AYT, E-RYT500 YTRX is a well known yoga therapist and Ayurvedic Practitioner. He serves on both the National & State Ayurvedic Associations: NAMA & CAAM. Arun teaches internationally, lectures at Conferences, writes articles for different publications, has been featured on both radio and television and has an Ayurvedic clinic for consultations and various treatments including Panchakarma in Los Angeles. Born in India, he has made his home in Los Angeles for the past 30+ years. 
Arunachala Yoga & Ayurveda 