Dharma Mittra is a rare and special yoga teacher.  He was born in Brazil in 1939, has been studying Ashtanga and Karma yoga since 1958, and started teaching yoga in 1967.  He founded the Dharma Yoga Center in Manhattan, New York City, in 1974 and is the first main independent yoga teacher on the East Coast.  He has been teaching class everyday since he started in 1967.  Dharma says, “Yoga practice will give one’s body the power and strength to have resistance to common illness and diseases.  With proper encouragement and increased faith in the Guru, one can improve his physical body and mental attitude rapidly, thereby igniting the higher motives of making oneself useful to himself and mankind”.

Take what you will of that, but Dharma teaches what he knows works and helps thousands of people.

I see Dharma’s teachings as very straightforward and clear, especially considering some of the convoluted and confusing messages that are trickled down to yoga students over the years from various “original teachers”.  

He gets right to the point in his classes.   There isn’t a lot of transitions or fancy combinations.  Dharma gets right to the poses and sticks mainly with the ones that “get the most done”.

The purpose of Asana Practice according to Dharma:

By doing yoga one develops radiant health, physical power and becomes free of all disease and may easily succeed in meditation.  

Every pose has a point to concentrate, which stimulates the glands.

It is not important to put legs behind the head and to do all these fancy poses.  The most important pose, the king of the pose requires no flexibility.  Headstand.


That sounds like a recipe for success to me.  Better than any diet book or self help book, practicing these poses will create vibrant health and keep me free from disease?  I’m in!

Dharma Mittra's Top 5 Poses...

1. Headstand



Photo: Vanity Fair




Dharma Mittra is famous for performing his headstand with no hands.  It’s pretty amazing, I agree, especially in that Vanity Fair issue where he was balanced on a manhole cover!  I think I’ve cracked his secret though. Padding!  His yoga studio, which is filled with carpet makes it a little bit more comfortable for the top of the head.  I’m sure it wasn’t much of a coincidence he opted for the wall to wall carpet over hard wood floors.  I’ve also been around him and seen him do his trick for photo ops.  He counts to three and lets go just for a second.  He balances and then slowly starts to tip.  But I have to admit, it’s still impressive and if it gets people doing headstands and on the road to optimal health it’s amazing!

Benefits
Whole body strength (abs, arms, back), balance, and reinvigoration



2. Shoulder stand



Benefits
Stimulates the thyroid gland, which is essential for metabolism and optimal health.  
Gets the circulation in the entire body going which we all know is great.



3. Cobra pose



Benefits
Affects the adrenal glands and sends a richer supply of blood.
Strengthens the upper back and limbers the spine and helps back aches.



4. Spinal twist



Benefits
Stimulates liver and kidneys
Energizes the spine
Stimulates digestive fire in the belly
Stretches Shoulders hips and neck



5. Meditation Pose (any seated position) 



Benefits
Quiets the mind
Centers your energy
Self Realization

More information on Dharma Mittra and for his daily teaching schedule in NYC.