michael stone Archives

We are delighted to welcome Michael Stone back to PranaShanti on December 9-11, 2016 for a Master Class Weekend on Embodying Practices. Before Michael's arrival you may like to listen in on some of his podcasts to get a feel for his teaching. The Dharma Talks podcast with Michael Stone is a library of talks on a wide-range of topics, including bringing mindfulness and meditation practice into daily life; personal and community issues regarding mental health; and social change. The podcasts are recorded at live events so you might hear coughing, airplanes, cars, sirens, laughter, and peoples’ questions—all part of the intimate experience. Michael Stone is often described as a cross between a spiritual teacher and public intellectual. His ability to integrate traditional contemplative teachings from his studies in yoga, Zen, and Vipassana, with the insights of Western psychology, gives him a unique voice for a new generation of students integrating mindfulness with the demands of their busy lives. He is the author...

“There is just enough suffering to get you in the door,” writes Michael Stone in The Inner Tradition of Yoga, “so that is our starting point.” I love this viewpoint - it highlights the simple fact that some discomfort, be it mild or intense, is often what first propels to yoga. For some, it may be physical suffering, such as a sore back, tight shoulders or hips, and for others it could be discomfort on a mental level, such as anxiety, worry, or restlessness. You might have been drawn to yoga because of a major life shift, including changing relationships or illness. Whatever the reason may be, most of us come into the arms of yoga seeking some relief, and for the most part, yoga meets us exactly where we are at and then graciously offers us more. I first came to yoga because I was finding my new job as a Montessori preschool teacher quite stressful. Days of trying to...

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Get to know Michael Stone!

Going Beyond the Doorway: Yoga’s Abundant Offerings – Tanya Riley