I am allergic to Gurus, so I was sceptical about doing Inner Engineering. But I was in when I read that Dr Gabor Maté said it has helped take the rough edges off his personality and gave him back joy; I was intrigued!
For those of you living under a rock, Sadhguru is an Indian yogi, mystic, and spiritual leader and the founder of the Isha Foundation. This nonprofit organisation offers various yoga and meditation programs and initiatives on environmental conservation and social well-being. Sadhguru is known for his charismatic and dynamic teaching style, and he has gained a significant following in India and worldwide.
According to Maté, it worked wonders. “It really balanced me out; I became less reactive, softer to be around, and lighter in my work. People working with me noticed it as well..”
Inner Engineering is a self-help and personal growth program developed by the Isha Foundation, a nonprofit organisation he founded. The program is designed to help individuals explore and enhance their inner well-being through yoga, meditation, and mindfulness practices.
The program is aimed at individuals seeking to improve their overall quality of life, manage stress, and explore their inner potential. It is not affiliated with any specific religion and is open to people of all backgrounds and beliefs.
The critical components of Inner Engineering typically include:
- Yoga
- Meditation
- Pranayama
- Guidance
I immediately felt an enhanced focus and clarity, and something I have been working on for years is how not to let anything steal your joy! One of the critical components of the Inner Engineering program is Isha Kriya, which Sadhguru developed. He stresses it is not a religion. It is a mechanism. Isha Kriya involves a series of breaths and positions to bring about a state of health, dynamism, peace, and well-being.
“Kriya is something that transforms you, something that changes you physically and spiritually. The kriya that they imparted—and that we were asked to uphold for 40 days, twice a day—is what made all the difference.”
I concur the Isha Kriya were so impactful! I found the main benefit I found is how Sadhguru speaks to the participants. It did not feel like an online course as is talk was endearing and inspiring. I also loved loved loved his emphasises that true bliss is an internal state of being rather than something dependent on external circumstances. A profound sense of joy and well-being within themselves, regardless of their outward conditions. It is an inner experience that can be cultivated through inner well-being and state of mind. When your mind is at ease, and your emotions are balanced, you are more likely to experience joy in everyday life. The program combines Hatha yoga practices, which I already have a good understanding of as I am a certified yoga teacher. It can be found challenging for someone with no experience but the volunteers and Sadhguru offer a great deal of help and encouragement throughout and after the program. Having coached on many “inner work” coaching retreats around the world this does not feel like a spa retreat ( ie you feel great when you are there and the effects wear off after 48 hours 😄 )
“What it comes down to is we can be responsible for our experiences in life. Our capacity to respond—our ability to respond—is very much up to us.”
Forget about what you know. This is not an intellectual experience. It is a full-body experience! I recommend considering the amount of time and genuine commitment you can give to the program before you do the program. It’s vital to assess if you are willing and able to invest in the program. Good luck!
Reference Inner Engineering is offered at a lower price. Sadhguru has written several books, including “Inner Engineering: A Yogi’s Guide to Joy”. His approach to spirituality and well-being combines traditional yogic wisdom with a contemporary perspective, making it accessible to a broad audience.