About Uma Krishnamurty Goswami, MD

Uma Krishnamurthy, MD, has practiced child psychiatry in Bangalore, India, for many years and is currently a visiting faculty member at the Yoga Biomedical Trust in London and the Holma College of Holistic Studies in Sweden. During the course of her medical practice, Uma has conducted her own research on the transformation of emotions using yoga therapy, and has authored a book on yoga psychology to be published soon.

Where to Stay

Ojai is filled with a variety of inns and hotels and cottages and campsites. Please refer to our "Where to Stay in Ojai" page for ideas and connect in if you are having trouble finding a match.

Lulu Bandha's Yoga School Certification Hours

Attendance at Uma's 5 Day Immersion will result in 25 hours credit. If you are not able to attend the complete program, you are welcome to drop in as your life allows. Attendance of anything less than 8 hours will not count towards certification.

A 4 Day Immersion in Joy

Dates: April 5 thru 8, 2012

"Without Love, there can be no Learning" - Krishna to Arjuna

Bhakti is the mother of Gyana (or Jñana) for without Love, there can be no integration of Wisdom.

Our main purpose in gathering is to develop our capacity and stamina for delight and joy so that we may be appropriately prepared for the teachings of the Sutras, the Bhagavad Gita, the Upanishads and other sacred works. Otherwise, these texts cannot find the juicy soil they need to take root. Without the ground of experience from which these texts were sung and written, we are not invited to engage.

Uma is our Bhakti Teacher. She can transform even the most grumpy and resistant into song and dance. We long for her return like bees long for the flowers so that we can again taste the honey of Joy.

Our time together will be a combination of lecture, song, dance and practice. Topics we will cover include:

Psychological stages of bhakti
Psychological aids for cultivating wisdom
Psychological challenges on the spiritual path
Teachings of bhakti yogis such as Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, Swami Ramdas and other mystics
Teachings of gyana yogis such as Shankaracharya, Ramana Maharishi, Sri Aurobindo
Enhancing bhakti - Mantra yoga and Japa yoga (Practice sessions)
Enhancing wisdom - Meditation practices from the Upanishads (Practice sessions)
Teachings of Narada Bhakti Sutras (illustrated through dance and music)
Symbology of Gods and Godesses (illustrated through dance and music)
Role of pujas, chanting and pilgrimages in cultivating bhakti
Patanjali's Yoga Sutras - Aids for cultivating bhakti and gyana
Bhagavad Gita - Aids for cultivating bhakti and gyana
Vivekachudamani - Aids for cultivating bhakti and gyana

How the Workshop will Unfold

We will begin our time together Thursday Morning at 10:30am. We will break for lunch and gather again at 2:30pm.

On Friday we will again gather in the morning from 10:30am to 12:30pm and in the afternoon from 2:30pm to 4:30pm with a break for lunch. These sessions will be a combination of lecture, bhakti and gyana yoga practices.

On Friday Evening we will gather for dinner and puja from 6 to 9pm.

On Satuday, we will leave the morning open for a spontaneous walk or field trip or sleep and formally gather from 2 to 5pm for lecture, bhakti and gyana yoga practice.

If we are lucky, we will have a kirtan on Saturday night.

Our last gathering will be Sunday afternoon from 2 to 5pm for lecture, bhakti and gyana yoga practices.

Gathering Times:

Please note that once Uma gets started, her Bhakti Momentum can be difficult to stop. You are advised to not schedule too much around the workshop as it is likely we will often run over. Most of the sessions will take place at Lulu's. You will be informed if and when they are happening elsewhere.

Thursday, April 5: 10:30am to 12:30pm; 2:30pm to 4:30pm

Friday, April 6: 10:30am to 12:30pm; 2:30pm to 4:30pm; 6pm to 9pm

Saturday, April 7: 2pm to 5pm; (maybe 7pm to 9pm)

Sunday, April 8: 2pm to 5pm

Cost:

Entire Workshop: $200. To drop into one of the lecture and practice sections is $30.

To Sign Up

If you have any questions, please connect in.

Sign up online for entire workshop
Or mail a check to Lulu Bandha's, 306 East Matilija Street, Ojai, Calif. 93023
Or call us at 805.798.1700 to let us know you are coming