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This is the same Source, many call it G-d (or God) which designed you with purpose, set your life in motion, and continues to pull for your health and development.

In my view the ideal is to be "G-d Centered." There is a "–" in the word because in truth it cannot be truly named or defined. We ignore the reality of this nurturing relationship at our own peril.

The purpose of our approach, then, is to form a closer connection to this Source of life. Here are some core steps that form the foundation of this approach:

1. Physical

Eat foods that are close to nature and that are within your body's ability to easily digest. Get exercise almost daily if possible. Try to reduce and/or let go of unnecessary drugs including caffeine and sugar and meat intake. Practice deep breathing and if possible some form of yoga. Maintain a healthy body weight. Try to simplify your life where possible and take pleasure in simple things.

2. Mental

Try to be around nature almost daily. Spend time in meditation to help calm the mind and see beneath the surface mental chatter that does not nurture your wellbeing.

3. Emotional

Take in those things which you can digest emotionally and that do not make you sick with discord. This includes the type and quantity of news and social media participation and the people with whom you associate.

4. Communal

Find supportive people to be around. Try to keep the company of those who put you at ease and minimize contact with those around whom you can't breathe. Many find associations with religious people supportive. At the same time you are unique so find the community that helps you move where you know you must go.

5. Spiritual

Recognize that for this journey you cannot rely upon your will power alone but must have a Higher Power working in your life. Pray and meditate in a way that brings you peace, greater wisdom, and insight and that is consistent with your beliefs. Try to discover your Creator's will for you and your life and to do it to the best of your ability. This will move you toward greater happiness. Cultivate faith and trust by reading supportive books. Strive for peace and kindness.

Move toward these principles and away from their opposites: Acceptance of yourself · Hope that better things are coming · Faith · Courage · Honesty · Willingness to change what you can · Humility · Responsibility · Love · Discipline · Awareness and Growth · Service to others, especially those who you understand well due to your own challenges.

"G-d, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference. May I see that I can only control my actions, and that a loving, all-embracing Creator will guide me and support me through any experience I may encounter as I do my part."

For more than 3 decades I've been on this journey — practicing and teaching. I have made great progress from where I once was. I am happy to be helpful, both as a professional and, when I can, as a caring fellow human being. I think the opposite of self-centered is G-d Centered.

— Andrew Kahn

Lets provide a clear and reliable path to inner peace. These ideas are not original but are universal principles found within all the major religions and woven into democracies and governing systems the world over. However, obviously there is still a distance to go. It is my intention for this book to reach the broadest possible audience. Hopefully, people of all backgrounds will be able to benefit from these teachings.

I learned that I could change internally and choose to react differently to those around me. My peace and well-being were not dependent upon others changing.

Having inner peace is no mistake. It is not luck. It is a result of definite actions. You will need to get in touch with your purpose, so your energy can be channeled in the appropriate way. The correct channeling of your energy results in peace. In the same way that we cultivate a field so that it yields the desired crops, we must cultivate our inner field of consciousness to gain the desired fruit of peace and well being.

Love

Because we are communicating to people with very different backgrounds, we must find a term that is universally acceptable and easily understood. Aligning with Love not only brings you into harmony within yourself but also with others who are aligned with Love, regardless of their religion or perspective. Therefore, “Love” will be our term of choice. To achieve the kind of lasting inner peace that you want, you are going to need to develop your relationship with Love itself. You need to let it in, let it grow inside of you, and let it flow through you and into the lives of others. You, like everyone, have great potential as an instrument of Love.

Purpose

This world, from the smallest sub-atomic particle to the outer limits of the galaxies, has order. Order serves a purpose, whether or not you or I understand that purpose. Today many scientists are finding that even what looks like chaos, when looked at more closely, proves to be a necessary part of an orderly, deliberate cosmos. Human existence is no exception. You are here for a purpose, too, whether or not you understand what that may be. When you do understand your purpose, you become a greater instrument of Love. By embracing your strengths and passions (whatever they may be) and trying to use them for good, you are on the path which leads to peace.

Peace

We believe the following:

1) You can cultivate peace within.
2) There is a relationship between your inner peace and your self-control.
3) When you are in control of your mind and passions, you become relatively calm, like a flame burning in a place where no wind blows.
4) As you create peace within yourself, you cannot help but bring more peace into the world.
5) Mastering your own passions helps to subdue the anger and discord of other people in your life.
6) Your peace is promoted with a healthy, vital body.
7) It is only through harmony with your true purpose that you become an instrument of peace in the world.

You may already agree with the above beliefs, and maybe you think of yourself as peaceful. Maybe you’ve never thought about yourself in these terms. Here are some questions to help you assess your own standing:

Self-Assessment

1) Do you have a feeling of inner peace?
2) Do you have mostly loving thoughts of others?
3) Do you mostly avoid thoughts of violence, anger, rage, envy, or resentment?
4) Are your words and actions consistent with your thoughts?
5) Do you have harmonious relationships?
6) Do you try to avoid being pulled into physical or verbal confrontations?
7) Is your main goal and energy directed toward building up others?
8) Do you mostly avoid spending your time and energy tearing others down?
9) In your mind and heart, do you want Love and peace to prevail?
10) Do you try to defuse explosive situations?

If you answered “yes” to most of these questions you are already well along on the path to becoming a peaceful presence. If not, these questions will help get you thinking and may give you a greater sense of where you currently stand.

How to be a Peaceful Presence: Finding Your Inner Peace by Andrew Kahn © 2013 is available at Amazon.com, Kindle, peacefulpresence.com, or by calling Andrew at 516-371-3715.

By the time I was eight years old, familial discord caused me great shame and distress. I struggled in school. Both of my parents were liberal minded and prided themselves in not being submissive to any external religious authority. They finally decided to separate after years of clashing. This exacerbated my feelings of insecurity and inadequacy. Feeling like an outsider, I played the “class clown” in order to gain the attention I was craving. I also found temporary relief with binge eating which got more compulsory and solitary over time.

I wanted to feel better, to come out from my sad isolation, but I could not control myself or my situation. It was comforting to know that I could turn to food whenever I needed to deal with anxiety, fear, rejection, boredom, loneliness, or just for enjoyment. The food became my “Higher Power” that I used to fill the many voids in my heart. My over-dependency on food made me seek more food, rather than secure the appropriate “ingredients” I needed in order to have a fulfilled life: stable and loving relationships, a purpose to live for, and clear moral guidelines to develop contentment and inner peace.

Eventually, it became clear to me that the strategy I was using was not working. Life too often felt like torture. How to gain self control was a pressing question. I needed to keep my head above water. Nearing my wit’s end, I looked around for whatever was in reach that I might grab hold of as a life preserver.

My mother practiced yoga so I asked her to teach me. She also introduced me to a spiritual recovery fellowship. My father spent hours talking with me about psychology and philosophy and eventually gave me a book about meditation. I studied psychology in college and graduate school. While it seemed like a logical place to find answers regarding mental health, and also a means to earn an income, I found the answers to questions like “what is a healthy human being” to be insufficient.

After making a significant commitment to a support group and immersing myself in the study and practice of yoga in the beautiful Berkshire Mountains, I deepened my connection to the tradition to which I was born but had little understanding of - Judaism. With the help of compassionate teachers and role models, I embraced my faith. I found that the answers I had been seeking were within the teachings of Torah. This elevated my thinking and got me even more passionate about my purpose: to continue to come into greater alignment with the Loving source of strength that I had learned to open up to. It became clear to me that my goal in life was to help others gain well-being and peace.

Let’s talk about (y)our current situation. Does it feel a little precarious? Do you feel like you are in harm’s way or like you are trapped, a stranger in a strange land? While in many ways we have it much better than those who came before us or our ancestors in Persia or Egypt, to a great extent we share their dilemma. Exile is not only a geographical condition but is a problem of our separation from G-d and our purpose. To be alienated from your proper place in the world is unpleasant. How do you deal with it? Like most people, you try hard to be “in control” of your life, but, too often, the outcome is a condition that controls you. There are a very limited number of things in this world that you actually have control over. To take control over what you can —yourself, your attitude, and your inner peace— you need an approach that is grounded in the truth of who you are here to be in the world.

If you or someone you love is experiencing some of the symptoms of exile -anxiety, insecurity, fear, headaches, physical tension and pain, disease, depression, obesity, relationship problems- then let's utilize timeless principles that can be found in Torah and yoga to get back home. Sincere motivation, coupled with the right principles, will shed light on the necessary actions.

G-d is the greatest source of love in the world. One of the ways that G-d manifests love is by giving us a soul that forever remains connected to Him. Your soul (neshama in Hebrew) wants only to do acts of goodness. It wants to extend love in a unique way. Because your body's cravings for food, sex, and other sensory stimulations tend to compel you to pursue selfish desires, there is a battle raging within you. This spiritual battle goes by many names but we can follow the convention of calling it the rider (neshama) and the horse (yetzer ha'ra). No matter how skilled one is at riding a bucking bronco it is never a serene trot through the park. If you want your actions to be in harmony with and empowered by G-d, you will need to exercise control over your deeds, words, and thoughts. To really take the reins means to gain control of the body. This is called self control or self mastery.

How? Recognize that you have a great helper on your side--G-d--and to a large extent all of His love infused creation. The power in the world that we call love is both universal and intrinsic. Finding it within leads to greater selflessness and enlightenment. By moving towards love we endeavor to share more of ourselves- our gifts, talents and skills-with an eye towards bettering the lives of others. Strive to discover your unique purpose for being here and wholeheartedly exercise your will to fulfill it. By leading this purpose-driven life, instead of running after selfish attachments, you will cultivate peace within yourself. You will move closer to others who are striving to do the same in their lives, and you will find new, more satisfying pleasures that are much more compatible with long term peace.

Start where you are and focus on doing what you can. Don’t be afraid of failure or slow progress; just keep practicing.

© 2014 by Andrew Kahn. All rights reserved. Andrew Kahn is the director of the Peaceful Presence Yoga Studio in Cedarhurst, NY. More on this topic can be found in his book: How to be a Peaceful Presence: Finding Your Inner Peace. He can be reached at andrewkahn@peacefulpresence.com.

"Yehudah ben Tema said: Be bold as a leopard, light as an eagle, swift as a deer, and strong as a lion, to carry out the will of your Father in Heaven." — Pirkei Avos (Ethics of the Fathers, 5:23)

True yoga practice is not exclusive, but open to all; brings an awareness of our underlying unity; and fosters acceptance and compassion for ourselves & others.

Here is an explanation of "to carry out the will of your Father in Heaven": There is a will and a purpose greater than yours. The terms "Father" or "He" are simply conventions used to talk about that strength and intelligence that many of us have a sense of, though we can neither fully understand nor explain. "Heaven" is another conventional term that refers to "the place" where "He" abides and rules.

Should we really strive to be like animals? No, to the contrary, we are trying to gain self-mastery over the animal part of us that moves us to rage, demands immediate gratification, and renders us slothful. We aim to be physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually ready to do the good that we are uniquely positioned to do. As the inner discord is replaced with calm, we naturally know how to act with peace, love, and kindness and promote a more lasting harmony. This helps repair our world.

After calming the restlessness in the mind with meditative techniques like yoga, learning, praying or just being out in nature, intuition functions as it is meant to and insight is gained. We know when to be unyielding and when flexibility, going with the flow, is the wiser choice.

Whether our intention is to gain inner peace, fulfill a sacred covenant guided by Torah or other scriptural learning, or just to be the best human being we can be, we can look to nature, including the animal kingdom, and be inspired. With continued practice we can be bold, light, swift, and strong as we actualize our human potential and serve a larger purpose. Serving our families, our fellows and the One who lives within all — the Eternal One — is our real purpose. This is the essence of true yoga practice. Our growing mastery and inner peace definitely helps to bring on a larger peace in the world. May a greater peace, clarity, and harmony come soon and in our day.

Shalom, Andrew Kahn, Peaceful Presence Studio

The Leopard — Boldness

While being bold is not always a good thing, there is a time to "stare the world down." Sometimes we truly need to have the quality of boldness to preserve life (often our own) and to help secure necessary sustenance.

The Eagle — Lightness

To be light like an eagle means to have, to some degree, overcome the forces of gravity. We do not want to be too earthbound, so grounded in the pursuit of our own physical pleasures that we become "sluggish". We want to rise above our own addictions and attachments and excesses. As we do, we become physically lighter and we may even spiritually soar.

The Deer — Swiftness

When we know the right way to go, we should run and not walk. Swiftness is a virtue when we are serving our fellows and G-d, but not when we are racing after our own selfish desires.

The Lion — Strength

Sometimes we need to be strong and resolute in acting upon the truth that we see and know — our truth — even though others may see things differently and not share our vision. Our vision has an important place, and we need to stand our ground with strength.

I. Healthy Eating Guidelines

Based on The Kripalu Self Health Guide, 1993.

Most of us have some discomfort if we overeat, eat foods that disagree with us, or eat food combinations that are difficult to digest. If you are one of these folks, here are some pointers to increase your eating happiness.

1. Eat when you are hungry and eat moderate amounts of food. Overloading the stomach leads to poor digestion.
2. Chew your food thoroughly; especially starchy foods like bread, potatoes, rice, other grains, and beans.
3. Physical exercise strengthens digestion.
4. If you are thirsty after meals, try reducing your salt intake.

Suggestions for Conscious Eating

When you are truly hungry, the simplest food tastes the most delicious. After eating, you should feel relaxed and alert. If you feel tired or sluggish, you have eaten too much.

• Try taking a moment, before and after eating, to be grateful for the food.
• Try relaxing and breathing while eating.
• Try dining silently, or without unnecessary talking.
• Try taking personal responsibility for discovering what foods agree with you best.

Recommended Foods

Fresh fruit and dried fruit · Fresh vegetables · Fruit or vegetable juices · Nuts and seeds · Beans · Whole grains and cereals · Honey, blackstrap molasses, maple syrup, barley malt · Herbal teas, coffee substitutes · Soy products · Milk and dairy products, in moderation

Foods to Avoid

Canned or processed foods · Refined sugar or sugar products · Artificial preservatives or additives · Refined flour products · Overcooked foods · Caffeine, alcohol, and drugs (unless prescribed by a doctor)

II. Breathing Techniques

Life begins with the first breath and ends with the last breath out. A baby breathes diaphragmatically (you can see its belly moving) but as we age we learn how to breathe shallowly. When we do we take in less oxygen. Oxygen is our primary form of energy. When we are not getting enough we feel insecure no matter how much money we may have in the bank. When we breathe deeply we calm our nervous system, our emotions come into balance and our mind settles down. We are left with more mental clarity.

The Complete Breath (The Yogic Breath)

This breathing technique can be done either in a sitting or a lying position, with the spine straight. The idea is to fill the lungs completely. Filling the body with air is like filling a glass of water: First the bottom is filled, and then the middle, and then the top. Emptying the body happens in the reverse order.

Directions: Slowly inhale and bring the air into the bottom of the abdomen. (You should notice your abdomen swelling with the inhalation.) Immediately begin to draw the breath up, opening and expanding the rib cage upward and out to the sides. Continue to inhale up under the shoulders to fill the lungs completely. Now exhale slowly from the top of the lungs down until all the air is removed from the abdomen. Gently contract the abdominal muscles at the end of the exhalation to squeeze out all of the remaining air. Continue this for a few minutes.

This breathing is calming and relaxing. This exercise uses the full capacity of the lungs, removing stale air and toxins. It keeps the chest and lungs flexible and relaxed. It increases overall energy and improves digestion and elimination.

Progressive Relaxation

Find a comfortable place to lie down. Regulate your breath by taking long, deep, and uniform breaths. Gradually slow down the rate of your breathing until you begin to sink into relaxation.

You will be tensing and relaxing each muscle of your body, from your toes to the top of your head. Begin by contracting the muscles of the feet and holding in your breath. Count to three and then release the contraction and the breath. Feel yourself letting go of tension. Follow this same procedure of holding the breath for a count of three as you tense and release your muscles in this order: ankles and calves, knees and thighs, hips, abdomen, back and chest, shoulders and arms, hands, neck, jaw, and face. Finally, tense and relax your forehead and scalp. Once the whole body has been relaxed, continue deep breathing and remain in this state of sleep-relaxation for as long as you wish. When the time is right open your eyes and gently stretch your body. When ready, sit up.

III. Meditation: Tips for Beginners

Who can meditate? Almost anyone. Search around and find a technique that works best for you. Whichever approach you choose, you will need to have patience and perseverance to reap the rewards.

What is meditation? Many activities and disciplines have been called meditation. We will be practicing meditation on the breath.

When to meditate? Anytime you want the mind to become stiller, to calm the mental restlessness or emotional upset. The morning, before the beginning of the day's activity, is a nice time to meditate, or before meals, when the body is not too busy with digestion. You might try meditation at the same time each day. This consistency is encouraged.

Where to meditate? Any comfortable, safe location. Ideally, the setting should be well-ventilated, quiet, and a location where you will be uninterrupted. A natural setting is an added plus.

How do I meditate? (Beginning with exercise or yoga will enhance your meditation.) Start with 5–10 minutes and then increase the time as your desire to meditate increases.

1. Sit in a comfortable position, on a chair or on the floor, with your back, neck, and head fairly straight. Try to let your body be comfortable, but not so comfortable that you fall asleep.
2. Close your eyes and begin noticing the sensations of breath at the tip of the nostrils as you breathe naturally. If breathing through your nose is difficult, breathe through your mouth and notice the sensations on your lips.
3. Naturally, the mind will wander into memories of the past and thoughts about the future. Each time you notice your mind wandering, gently return your attention to your breath — again and again. (Be very compassionate with yourself. You may find your mind won't focus on the breath at all. That's OK. You will still benefit from simply sitting still.) Don't get discouraged. Your practice is what's important, not a final goal.

Why meditate? This meditation allows the mind to calm down. It promotes mental focus, brings the mind into the present moment, and enhances the functioning of the intuition (which can be blocked by too much mental activity). You will discover many more benefits as well.

May your efforts bring you peace and joy.

Physical Benefits of Yoga

• Increases flexibility, strength, and circulation
• Relief of muscle stiffness
• Increases vitality
• Promotes restful sleep
• Helps activate your body's natural healing power
• Reduces stress and aids in relaxation

Mental & Emotional Benefits of Yoga

• Calms the mind and emotions
• Balances the emotional state, helping to relieve depression and anxiety
• Improves mental focus and clarity

Yoga For Health — Conditions Which May Respond to Yoga

• Muscle and joint pain
• Reduced range of motion
• Arthritis
• Asthma
• Circulatory problems
• Headaches
• High blood pressure
• Insomnia
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Addictive behavior

Spiritual Benefits of Yoga

• Promotes self acceptance
• Enhances creativity
• Fosters inner peace and harmony
• Strengthens connection to the source of life
• Facilitates a deeper appreciation of the spiritual connection

Origins of Yoga

The science of Yoga is a 5,000-year-old system that leads to physical vitality, peace of mind, and a deepening experience of spiritual connection. Yoga is not a religion, though through its practice some discover faith and some return to their own with renewed enthusiasm.

Pantanjali, the Indian sage who reformulated the teachings of yoga, defines yoga as the control of thought-waves in the mind. To achieve this control, or stilling of the mind, it is important to cultivate a relaxed body and to use energy wisely. When the mind and emotions are still and calm we can more easily remember who we fundamentally are and our place in the world.

Peaceful Presence Yoga™

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed people can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has." — Margaret Mead

We teach hatha yoga (like almost all yoga schools and studios) but have a special emphasis on being a "peaceful presence," teaching this to others, and helping to create more peace in the world.

Here are some of the core principles of Peaceful Presence Yoga:

1. An individual can cultivate peace within.
2. As we create peace within ourselves, we cannot help but bring more peace into the world.
3. An individual's peace is promoted with a healthy, vital body.
4. There is a relationship between inner peace and self-control. When a person is in control of the mind (and passions) his inner flame burns like a candle burning in a place where no wind blows: The person is calm and steady.
5. It has been said that around one who has mastered his senses, a person's anger subsides.
6. Ultimately all peace comes from God and it is only through harmony with Him and His purposes that an individual becomes an instrument of peace in the world.

While the teaching styles of our teachers may be quite different (influenced by Kripalu, Iyengar, Ashtanga and more), all of the teachers share a commitment to learning to be a "peaceful presence" and teaching this to others.

While "Peaceful Presence Yoga & Massage" is a registered trademark and legally only those "Peaceful Presence Yoga Teachers" specifically certified and authorized to use this title may do so, anyone can learn to become a peaceful presence and teach it to others. We do not want unnecessary barriers to full participation.

Share, adapt, and spread this message in your own way—it belongs to everyone. This work begins with ourselves. We must learn to care for and love ourselves, then extend that love to our family. Making this real and practical is essential.

Human life is precious. We share common ancestry and the capacity for empathy and love. These bonds unite us more than our differences.

Treat others as you wish to be treated. Extend kindness to family, neighbors, and strangers. Helping those in need strengthens communities and builds goodwill.

Fear should not stop us from acting with care and courage.

Music, art, and shared experiences connect hearts where words alone cannot.

True values are universal: kindness, empathy, and cooperation. Doing good—whether inspired by religion, philosophy, or human decency—lifts communities.

The highest principle is simple: the whole world is one family. Caring for others is the truest expression of our humanity. It makes sense to start with your own family and try to love them. I believe only good things follow from that.

There is much to do and little time. Let’s act with compassion, courage, and hope.

A single idea can change the world. As Rabbi Jonathan Sacks said:

“YOU CHANGE THE WORLD NOT BY THE IDEA OF POWER, BUT BY THE POWER OF AN IDEA.”

The Greeting “Shalom” & “Namaste” Lead to Peace

Why use the universal greeting “Namaste”? Because in the larger world an additional strategy with global reach is needed to gain Peace! Shalom!

Embrace Torah wisdom and universal kindness. Open hearts and transform relationships. Yoga and Torah guide us to act with justice, live with mercy, and connect deeply with G‑d and one another. Greet others with “Shalom” or “Namaste” and notice the shift it brings. Together, we move closer to the peace that is the true destiny the Jewish people, yogis, and all humanity long for.

We stand for building a world of love and not hate. May we have moral clarity now as we stand strong together. It is not too difficult to see who is building what is good and whose deceptive and hate-filled ways will lead to more destruction. Choose life and choose the good.

All of God’s children were meant to live with goodness, kindness, unity, harmony, and love all along. My teacher said “Evil” is the word “Live” turned inside out. In the spirit of yoga, while we unite to fight the evil of hate and needless violence, we should also turn our vision inward and double our efforts to eradicate the evil within us. The yoga and spiritual masters understood that the inside job is the most consequential battle. We must not see evil only in “the other.” We must wrestle with and try to overcome our own hidden selfishness to earn the world we yearn for.

May peaceful wings spread over Jerusalem soon. May the light of goodness and the spirit of cooperation inspire all of God’s children to live with kindness, harmony, and love.

I’d like to see colleges, universities, media outlets, and social media platforms stand up and stop harboring groups that spread hate. Freedom of speech should not include harboring those who incite violence by fomenting anger, hate, and rage. America needs a higher standard than that. Hate does not bring anyone toward the goal of a freer, kinder, more holy, more compassionate, and loving world.

Let’s take a deep breath and reset. There is a better way forward and we all need to work on it now — with our full spirit — before even greater strife.

Here is a little spiritual/yogic teaching that the sages also understand: There is a battle of good and evil, and the evil is not only in the other but within. As we overcome it within, peace emerges victorious within and outside. This is actually very empowering. Nobody should feel powerless in this battle. As the good becomes really good it creates a much more visible contrast with that which is not good. Choosing the good becomes less confusing, more obvious, and more inviting. As more and more people choose the good, evil loses its support.

Calmness, kind communication, and cooperation can still shine through our words and actions even during these troubled times. We can be very strong and very discerning and empathic at the same time. In this way, we will do our part to help restore civility, respect, and the feeling of safety.

May more and more people help create an environment of cooperation as we stand strong for all that is good and courageously stand up against what is bad — including all words and actions that further spread divisiveness and hate in America.

We must quickly learn to see the forces in media and the people who divide and stir hate. We really need leadership that unites. We need to work together or we will be divided and conquered by the forces that seek our destruction. May a leader who can unite Americans step forward.

May this growing circle — this unity of goodness — become stronger and stronger now!

There is a time for peace and a time for war. Sadly, this is a time for war in Israel, and for a while there will be necessary violence. Teaching hate and revenge leads to another cycle of violence. It delays our ultimate destination of peace on earth. May cool heads and discernment prevail — especially in Israel. May we always remember that peace and prosperity for ALL are our deepest and most enduring longings, and that life is truly precious and sacred.

All people and leaders with a true vision of God’s goodness and unity — join together now. The solution is in the hands of the moderate, silent majority who must learn to speak up to stop the spread of hate. The dream and hope for peace is alive and can never be lost.

Yogis and spiritual masters remind us that the inner work we do to purify ourselves is most effective for helping restore good order and peace in the world around us. Let’s get to work and have victory in the inner battle for peace. The inner battle is actually the most important one.

As social workers, we can stand strong for these ideals and when we see individuals or groups that spread the hate that always leads to a growing cycle of violence, we can speak up or take some other action to stop it rather than remaining silent and letting it grow and become out of control.

I believe that passivity and silence just don’t create the world we want. Constructive words, being an active part of the unity of goodness, and discerning strong actions are necessary. One of the messages that I’d like to promote is that all of life is sacred and precious.

I hope that many social workers will work to raise this awareness and that as soon as possible we can go back to building rather than needing to destroy. Thank you for being on the team. There is so much to do.

Speak Out Against Blanket Vilification. It’s vital to distinguish legitimate criticism of policies from sweeping hate against a people or identity. Calling out unfair stereotyping or demonization of all Zionists, Jews, Palestinians, or Black people is essential. Historically, demonizing any group paves the way to treating that group badly and acting violently.

Promote Nuanced Understanding. Conflict can blur realities. Right now black-and-white thinking is part of the problem. Labels like oppressor/oppressed, occupier/occupied, Zionist/Palestinian — while they have some meaning — are very often being used to divide society and make listening and working together very difficult.

Maintain Human Dignity for All. Even amidst war, every person — including Israelis and Palestinian civilians — deserves respect and recognition of their humanity. I’ve heard people on both sides say “they are all complicit and deserve to be harmed.” To me this is not helpful. The “enemy” can never truly be destroyed. The yogis say that the real enemy and evil must be confronted within. Every individual, group, and nation has their share of what the Tanya calls the Animal Soul — but we also all have a Divine Soul that can grow stronger.

Build Bridges Despite Tensions. Intentional connection with diverse voices and communities fosters empathy and resists the pull toward baseless hatred.

Counter Hate Speech and Misinformation. Conflict zones are ripe for propaganda. Actively challenging hateful or false claims about any group is crucial. While individuals and groups must face consequences for what they have done, blanket dehumanization is not the way forward — because humans have inherent value, and recognizing this is part of the solution.

Support Peace and Justice Initiatives. Encouraging efforts that promote peaceful coexistence, justice, and mutual respect provides a positive path forward. Greatness has much to do with humility, kindness, love, and human caring. Let’s try to show respect for other people even if we see things differently.

The archer keeps making corrections as he focuses on the center of his target. At first he misses completely, then hits the outer ring, then little by little he hits the center. What is the true target? Peace.

I pray that I and others never forget that peace is not minor but major. We must never become vicious, callous, undiscerning, and stoop to brutality. That is not the way forward. It is a missing of the mark.

Peace is found within and shared. It is in seeing our unity, kindness, and cooperation that God, so to speak, smiles. But how can we find this with our present enemy? If someone is sworn to our destruction it will be very difficult if not impossible. Does that mean we can give up on peace? No. There will be strength and more solid boundaries necessary. We must protect life, including our own. Life is sacred and precious — all of life. Yet life sworn to death needs to be stopped one way or another. I always prefer the least possible harm to life.

Our goal is not domination but helping everyone we can. They will need food, water, clothing, housing, and education — which leads to more freedom, abundance, and choice. True liberation leads to one finding their place within the whole and playing a constructive role.

So our job, for all who accept it, is to simply help our struggling fellow beings if they will let us. In return, we hope that others will pass it on and this world will become not a hell but a heaven on earth — a place where people care for the weak, the sick, and the old, nourish the young, feed the hungry, clothe the naked, shelter those in the cold, and share light with those who stumble in the darkness.

In the battle between light and darkness, I pray that the light of brotherhood will win — and that in time more and more people will recognize that the whole world is one family. This is not just my dream. It is the true state of affairs. And the realization of this is the destination that goes by many names, including messianic times, or the time of self-realization.

I have no official sanction or permission to speak for anyone else but myself. Having said that, here is my people’s ultimate goal as I understand it: A world of peace, kindness, cooperation, sharing, caring, respecting others, and celebrating religious, ethnic, and cultural diversity. There is tolerance and patience but there is also moral clarity — not knee-jerk moral equivalence. All approaches are not equal. Some lead to life and some lead to death.

Good practices and their opposites: Purification / Impurity · Moderation / Excess · Self-control / Impulsiveness · Energy / Lethargy · Joy / Depression · Peace / Conflict · Hope / Despair · Humility / Dismissive pride · Kindness / Cruelty · Empathy / Apathy · Generosity / Selfishness · Truth / Falsehood · Faith / Worry · Contentment / Discontentment

I am a Jew and I have survived and will survive. There have been great empires — Assyrian, Roman, Byzantine, Spanish, Nazi Germany — that eventually tried to destroy or subjugate the Jewish people. While our numbers have been cut down, our strength has grown. This is because the soul continues its work with even greater zeal.

I want a world where people of different religions can cooperate and those with no religion can also exist without unnecessary pressure. There are many legitimate paths to goodness and to God. I want that world to be progressively filled with more light, strength, and kindness, and to always treat life as precious and sacred.

I don’t care so much for material things. I’ve heard that the key to impact is to work hard and not care who gets the credit. There are so many people across this earth — Jewish, Muslim, Christian, no religion — of like spirit. We need to see this through together with great vigor.

What I want: a place where I can live safely and do this sacred work. It is a land that my ancestors lived in and worshiped in — the land of Israel. From that place, I want to offer the world the light of kindness, mercy, proper judgment, and strength. Will you help me? If you will you will be blessed. The choice is everyone’s to make: light or darkness, good or bad.

I will always believe in doing the least possible harm. I can’t help but be sad about the fate of even an enemy. Human life is the most precious and sacred thing. In my view, all people are created in the image and likeness of God. Join me, but don’t try to destroy me. It is like destroying the air you need to breathe.

A bit about me: I live in a modern orthodox neighborhood. Many people have brothers and fathers who have been called up as reservists or know people recently killed or taken hostage. The people I have worked with for years are Holocaust survivors — many have been re-traumatized. What about “Never Again?” The trauma is all around.

My father had a beautiful life and marriage with a Persian woman from Iran for 35 years. Nargus cooked for us, cut our hair, and brought my father and us great happiness.

My father gave me the middle name Martin after Martin Luther King, who was his hero. He and his father worked for causes like the Congress of Racial Equality. I would love to see reciprocity when it comes to fighting antisemitism. Questioning the right of a nation to exist is antisemitism. It has grown rampant — and I ask all good, decent, God-loving people to bring that to a stop.

My first name, “Andrew,” is named after an Israeli fighter pilot who died in the Six-Day War — Arnon Livnat (1937–1967). His plane was shot down as my mother was pregnant with me. livnat-brothers.com

My last name is “Kahn.” My grandfather always said we are Kohain — a priestly group descended from Moses’s brother Aaron. One of my brothers had his DNA tested and the Y-chromosome analysis found a match with the Cohen Markers.

I hope that people will say no to hate and terror but I don’t want to fight it every day unless I must. I was becoming discontent. I don’t want to spend my life that way. “Who is happy? He who is satisfied with his lot.” I want to focus on being grateful for all that I have. I’d prefer to grow love — and I think the effect will be better.

It is sad that the world does not seem ready for The World Is One Family. I guess specific groups must start off by saying “We are all one Family: One Heart.” We will get to the bigger world is one family one day. The truth can’t be forever denied. It is a dream of cooperation, kindness, and love that I need to keep alive — for myself at least.

higherorderlove.org is a way for me to focus on gratitude and for others who wish to do the same. Also useful: An Introduction to Mindful Gratitude

I am someone who believes in a Power Greater than myself and I am comfortable calling that power God — even though I know the term carries baggage. If I had to define what I mean by God in one word, the word would be “Love.” There is something I call Higher Order Love that is much more specific, and its nurturing, healing, comforting, and disciplining power is quite real. It often works through people.

For America to truly be a great light to the world we need to get beyond the polarization and divisiveness. So much media takes political sides and only exacerbates distrust, communication breakdown, and hate. A house divided falls. Benjamin Franklin: “We must all hang together, or most assuredly we shall all hang separately.”

When it comes to hate, I much prefer love. I don’t really want to fight hate — I’d rather feed the fires that produce warmth. The problem with hating any group — Blacks, Jews, Arabs, Muslims, Israelis, Iranians, immigrants — is the hate itself, which poisons hearts and tends to rationalize violence.

“And they shall beat their swords into plowshares… nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.” (Isaiah 2:4)

It is very difficult for Israel to live alongside an armed group sworn to their destruction. Peace agreements can only be made with parties willing to live and let live. We must create shared narratives that leave open the possibility of hope and the valuing of life.

It is too simplistic to say that Jews are simply white, colonizing, privileged oppressors. Some Jews have been living in Israel for thousands of years. Many Jews have worked very hard to reach a point of affluence and many have never gone beyond poverty. Perhaps more than any other group, Jews have suffered historically as victims. Germany has paid tens of billions in restitution. Hate can take on an overpowering and destructive force of its own if the silent majority stays silent.

My grandfather came from Poland when he was 17. Many years later he could not call home because there was nobody home. They had all been murdered along with about 6 million other Jews and millions of others.

We also cannot justify as “resistance” murder, rape, and kidnapping. And it is too simplistic to say there are no people in the West Bank or Gaza who have the right to a secure life with hope.

True Religion: that which helps create more love and helps reveal the fundamental truth that has been nearly lost: that The Whole World Is One Family. Swami Kripalu said: “If we cannot love others, we aren’t following religion, but the illusion of religion. True religion teaches the oneness of all.”

If you like what you are hearing please let me know. I have more to say and there is so much work to be done. theworldisonefamily.com

H — Honest: I genuinely desire something better for both you and me. From a yogic perspective, “evil” exists within, even as people perceive it outside. The battle of good against evil must be fought within and won first. Please join me in trying to win that internal battle first.

O — Openminded: I aim to be open to what I don’t yet understand. Many valid approaches exist to solve problems, so it’s crucial to define the problems we’re addressing.

Problem 1: Divisiveness, polarization, and lack of trust in America. Solution: Reward those who unite and heal our nation. Share narratives that promote peace.

Problem 2: Hate. Solution: Embrace love and marginalize all forms of hate. Love must be strong, using its power with discernment until hate loses popularity.

P — Purposeful: Thoughts, words, and actions should be purposeful for someone devoted to peace. The purpose, in my view, is to protect the most precious thing there is — life. We must make a decision: do we justify anything in the name of “resistance,” including murder? Revenge won’t create the world we want unless we desire mass destruction and anarchy.

E — Everlasting: Hope springs eternal. The effort to find hope, redeem, and work toward harmonious coexistence persists as long as life exists. While land can be secured by strength, the ultimate promised land includes freedom from fear, a deep devotion to life, and an awareness of the sacredness of God’s creation. “Innocent until proven guilty” prevails.

When we dehumanize and demonize a group or a country, we create more death and destruction — for both those using distorted language and the target. In this case, the one Jewish State and the Jewish people.

Please help promote responsible language in all communication and media — language that builds bridges for coexistence rather than walls of destruction. Every form of media has a duty to preserve civil society, not to tear it down.

At Peaceful Presence, we honor the dove—our symbol of peace. But we also recognize the lion—rising when necessary to defend life and hope. These two are not in conflict. They are on the same team.

If a regime calls for a country to be wiped off the map, chants “Death to Israel,” and, at the same time, builds nuclear weapons, it must be stopped. This isn’t a political opinion—it’s a moral responsibility.

I am a peace lover. A card-carrying kumbaya yogi. But I don’t believe in just kicking the can down the road.

Israel has incredible potential and so much it wants to give to the world. But when hatred is taught—when children are raised to see others as evil and worthy of death—it steals the future from all of us.

Interrupt the Teaching of Hate

Most people, deep down, want to live, love, learn, and connect. I believe—as we do in the U.S.—that a person or a people is innocent until proven guilty. But when hate is embedded in education, culture, or media, it leads to demonization, dehumanization, and ultimately violence. And that violence often comes full circle.

We must interrupt the teaching of hate. We must speak for friendship, for shared humanity, for the ancient truth that every human being is made in the image of God.

A Warning for America

In the United States, our media silos—CNN, Fox, MSNBC—and even more so, our social networking platforms—often push us to extremes. They fuel division to gain loyalty. But what happens next? People fume. They rage. And some act out. Guns are drawn. Fires are lit. There are reports that bots intentionally stir division, weaponizing our pain against each other.

If we don’t stop this, the consequences could be catastrophic. I don’t say that lightly. The potential for destruction is real.

A Call to Connection

So what can we do? We must renew our commitment to connect across differences. To listen. To understand. To love our neighbor as ourselves. That is the hope for the future.

The Jewish people may need to rise like a lion—for self-defense and survival—but our ultimate goal and vision must never be forgotten: Shalom means Peace. The Promised Land is a world where love, opportunity, abundance, and kindness prevail—it helps usher in the time when all recognize that we have one common Creator.

Let’s work together to build that world. As we continue our efforts, we will find help and success that appears to be miraculous.

Does the Peaceful Presence Dove fit into our real world? Let us move toward the day when all can rest without fear.

Israel Longs for a Lasting Peace
Created by Andrew Kahn

Israel longs for peace, a safe home for all,
yet too many voices are calling her fall.
Freedom should build, not tear apart;
peace must be rooted in truth from the start.

We have more in common than divides,
but hate and denial can’t be our guide.
Guided by love, we can make things right,
together in courage, together in light.

Rally the masses, friends from near and far;
brotherhood and goodness — that’s who we are.
Teach mitzvot, teach kindness, show the way,
and build bridges for tomorrow, starting today.

We have more in common than divides,
but hate and denial can’t be our guide.
Guided by love, we can make things right,
together in courage, together in light.

The world is listening; our choices ring,
trust in love, trust in kindness — let all sing.
A higher light guides us, quietly within;
hope and compassion are where we begin.

The sickness of hate has finished the body I briefly called my home but my soul must speak. Here is the message worth reposting:

Please stop teaching all forms of hate and don’t use technology to spread it. Please try to stop hate from spreading wherever you see it. Even in the name of human rights or freedom, hate leads to violence — and often ends up causing even more harm to the very people it is meant to avenge.

Across the divides, let’s work to grow a better world with a love for goodness. May new alliances form now and each day, both small and large, and move us toward a unity of goodness. Be a realist and pursue a worthy ideal at the same time. The age that we long for is close at hand.

For peace and love to prevail, they must guide our actions. Every day, may more and more people stand unequivocally with the goodness which never teaches hate, but instead cherishes all of life. Goodness recognizes the necessity of strength to preserve and build an inclusive world of beauty, diversity, and kindness — seeks connection, welcomes friendship, and cultivates cooperation and caring. This is what God wants for us to actively help create, and what religions are supposed to guide humanity toward.

According to this humble Jewish yogi, God wants Israel to have a country from which to share light, innovations, and help with problems like disease and hunger. Allow Israel to exist. Of course it will need to protect itself from those who try to destroy it. Help protect her. Gradually, let even those filled with the seeds of hate see for themselves that while Israel is very far from perfect, she really does not want to kill. She much prefers to help and heal. Having to kill is the saddest thing of all.

Let’s put an end to the hate that perpetuates killing. Everyone is a part of God’s creation and life is sacred and precious. War is hell and is the last thing I want. Trying to destroy Israel “From the River to the Sea” is promoting genocide and is very bad. While there are legitimate needs of impoverished people, there is a much better way to get those needs met. Using them to try to destroy Israel is pointless. It won’t work. This approach will just create more suffering and death.

It has been said that the first casualty of war is truth. There are competing narratives about Israel. One is bent on destruction — highly destructive, with the potential to lead to unbelievable destruction and even World War III. The vast majority of humanity does not want this and should not be silent.

Another narrative says Palestinians have no right to a land to live in. This too is false. Those sincere about living in peace should be protected from harm and supported.

We must form a shared narrative that allows Israel to live and fulfill its God-given mission — and at the same time recognizes the rights of those who would live and let live. The trust is presently deeply broken and will not quickly be rebuilt.

God is love, and love is God. It is time for us to see that Abraham and all of his children really have only one God — a God best universally defined as love. We must learn to live together before so many are destroyed. No matter what has happened to you or your family, teaching hate that perpetuates the cycle of violence is never the solution. Working accords are the only option until a genuine love and universal brotherhood is gained.

Those set on promoting hate, destruction, and death — please quickly reconsider your approach. Killing leads to more of the same. The cycle of violence must be stopped as soon as possible.

1. Don’t let the teaching of hate spread through any means. Hating life or any people is not good. We can’t overlook it even when it happens to be the Jews — Jews count too and cannot be written off as white, Zionist, occupiers, or oppressors. Protecting the most vulnerable rather than ganging up is critical.
2. Individuals and groups bent on destruction need to be met with a clear and unequivocal rejection. Promoting destruction only leads to another cycle of violence, and the tired statement of “they deserve it” only rationalizes acts that violate civilization.
3. Full force forward — build a world of kindness, caring, love, helpfulness, giving, uplifting, treating the sick, feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, sheltering those without a home. This is humanity’s true destiny.
4. Trust only comes with time. This need not stop people from building. Those who seek world domination for their own selfish ends will not prevail. Love is strong. God, who in truth is love, will not ultimately let that happen as long as we do our part.
5. Never give way to despair or hopelessness — build this world every day with heart and devotion.
6. The most impactful work individuals can do is overcoming the evil within themselves. As this happens, their actions in the world reflect peace and leave a trail of life and harmony.
7. Just keep going forward. “Clean your own house” — purify yourself. Watch for internal pride, anger, greed, gluttony, lust, envy, and sloth, and ask for God’s help removing all that gets in the way of service to God and others.

Who: Family, friends, and fellow students. I hope to serve as the spiritual director and steward of the vision, guiding who participates, when, and how.

What: A year-round location, if possible.

When: As soon as the right opportunity presents itself.

Where: Ideally in Jerusalem — or as close to it as possible if that's not immediately feasible.

How: Through a combination of yoga, massage, social work, savings, and the support of family and friends.

Exploratory Questions:

Who would like to be a part of this? Who has resources or experience to help bring this to life? How and where should funds be responsibly managed? When might a purchase or lease become possible? Who else feels called to teach there? How will Peaceful Presence Yoga be taught and shared? Should the focus remain solely on yoga, or grow to include other healing arts?

Approach: Start by gathering a small circle of trusted allies — family, students, or supporters — who believe in the vision and may be able to contribute time, wisdom, or resources. A simple written proposal outlining the mission, core values, and spiritual goals of the Jerusalem space can help bring clarity and momentum.

Next, consider forming a legal or nonprofit structure to allow for transparent fundraising and organization. Begin small: explore rentals or partnerships in or near Jerusalem for seasonal retreats or short-term stays. Let the project unfold naturally and with integrity, always keeping the heart of it spiritual, healing, and community-centered.

As Shavuos arrives, I am ready to renew my acceptance of G-d’s gift of Torah. I’m also grateful for this opportunity to make an introduction. Allow me to tell you more about me, yoga and The Peaceful Presence Studio.

I began my yoga practice at about 10-years-old with my mother as my teacher. I’d like to say that it has all been a smooth ride since then but that would be a lie. Perplexed by life without any religion or central guiding philosophy, I desperately needed answers in my youth and I reached the point where I would go almost anywhere to find them. For the first 25 years of my life it was comforting to know that I could turn to food whenever I needed to cope with anxiety, fear, doubt, insecurity, frustration, rejection, boredom, loneliness – or just for socialization, celebration and enjoyment. Food was truly my “idol” and I had no other G-d before it. I returned again and again to the refrigerator, the cabinets, and the markets and I would simply stuff my face... I wanted to find my way out but sadly could not. I was entrenched in the battle of life and the food was the “higher power” that I used to fill the many voids in my heart. My over-dependency left me empty, rather than gaining proficiency at securing the appropriate “ingredients” I needed in order to have a fulfilled life: stable and loving relationships, a purpose to live for, and clear moral guidelines to develop contentment and inner peace.

Eventually, it became clear to me that the strategy I was using was not working. Life too often felt like torture. How to gain self-control was a pressing question. I needed to keep my head above water. Nearing my wit’s end, I looked around for whatever was in reach that I might grab hold of as a life preserver. My mother introduced me to a spiritual recovery fellowship. My father spent hours talking with me about psychology and philosophy, and eventually he gave me a book about meditation.

I decided to study psychology. It seemed like a logical place to find answers regarding mental health and also a means to earn an income. In 1990 I graduated, was president of the psychology club, and then began a Clinical Psychology PhD program at Fordham University. However, I found the answers to questions like “what is a healthy human being?” to be insufficient.

Next I immersed myself in the study and practice of holistic health, yoga, and meditation in the beautiful Berkshire Mountains. This was coupled with intensive involvement in a 12 step program specifically for those suffering in their relationship with food.

Finally, I deepened my connection to the tradition to which I was born but which had little understanding of: Judaism. With the help of compassionate teachers and role models, I embraced my faith. I found that the answers I had been seeking were within the teachings of Torah. This elevated my thinking, improved my clarity, and got me even more passionate about my purpose: to continue to come into greater alignment with the Loving Source of strength that I had learned to open up to. It became clear to me that my goal in life was to help others gain wellbeing and peace.

I am a kohein who understands that he is set apart for a definite purpose. I am a part of the incredible 3,000-year-old struggle of the Jewish people. Connected to G-d and the light of others, I am now shining my own light.

What is the most important thing I learned on my journey? G-d can and does provide guidance, support, strength and fulfillment more and more as I open up and let Him in. There are many disciplines I am involved in toward this end.

Since 2012 I have been learning Rabbi Noah Weinberg’s Torah teachings. In May 2016 I had my chance to travel to Jerusalem for a truly inspiring, bonding men’s trip with Aish HaTorah and then returned to Jerusalem with my wife and son in January of 2017. It really felt like a homecoming. We are not picking up and moving there right now but a seed has been planted, and time will tell how, when, and where it grows.

My wife Lori and I named our son Aaron after Moshe’s brother, Aaron. We are trying to teach him about “loving peace and pursuing peace, loving mankind and drawing them closer to the Torah.” It is too soon to say whether he will become a doctor like Lori and her father or take the Peaceful Presence Yoga Studio to the next level. We will love him and G-d will determine his path and timing.

Yoga

Each week another article praising yoga appears in a major newspaper. Doctors are recommending it, schools – including yeshivas – are teaching it, and major hospitals now incorporate it into their programming. Yoga stretches and strengthens the muscles, improves joint flexibility and overall circulation, helps focus the mind, calms the emotions, and leaves one with an experience of increased peace. One who practices yoga typically learns to breathe more deeply and develops a combination of flexibility with receptivity, and physical strength. Changes in diet (toward the natural) and lifestyle (more active) are also natural bi-products of a regular yoga practice.

As our peace grows, it then, hopefully, spills over into other aspects of our lives and we find that we can maintain our inner peace even when our surroundings become chaotic. Our peace then affects others.

Our Shomer Shabbos studio is right above Toddy’s Bagels. We have been serving the Five Towns community since 2005. Our certified staff are knowledgeable and experienced professionals. Women’s group classes are taught by and for women only. I teach the men’s group yoga classes, as well as private and semi-private classes. We offer restorative, easy flow yoga, and, more challenging, dynamic classes year-round. If you are new to yoga or prenatal, I recommend starting off with a restorative or easy flow class. Many of our local area doctors who regularly attend yoga classes at our studio will attest to the benefits that a regular yoga practice provides.

I am also grateful to the many rabbis and rebbetzins who have helped shape the studio into the kosher yoga environment which it has become. Not every yoga studio meets these standards.

In closing I’d like to open the Peaceful Presence Studio even more in service to the community. Feel free to call me and let me know how we can help you. If the sign on our Central Avenue door says “OPEN” this spring and summer feel free to come in and say hello and have a cold cup of spring water. While visiting feel free to enjoy a quiet moment, deepen your feeling of peace, meditate, daven, do some yoga, take a short nap, and/or share some words of Torah. Thus we can all bring peace and kindness back home and into our community. We are deeply grateful to the community that supports our presence and hope for the day when all people acknowledge that there is one G-d, work in harmony to fulfill His will, and strive toward the great ideals that can be found in the Torah.

© Andrew Kahn, 2017

Andrew Kahn is the founder and owner of the Peaceful Presence Yoga & Massage Studio and also the author of How to be a Peaceful Presence: Finding Your Inner Peace. Visit www.peacefulpresence.com to see our class schedule and read more. Call/ text 516-371-3715 or email andrewkahn@peacefulpresence.com with any questions or for an appointment. The Peaceful Presence Yoga Studio is at 436 Central Avenue. For group classes use the back entrance and for private sessions or visits use our Central Avenue entrance.

Practitioners should move into poses "with awareness and gentleness," maintaining control throughout. The man who "threw himself into a spinal twist" was not practicing yoga consciously. Ego instead of awareness leads to injury every time.

A reference to William J. Broad's article "How Yoga Can Wreck Your Body" (NY Times Magazine) prompted Andrew to respond with this letter from the studio, accompanied by a note from teacher Maureen: "Many of them don't want to take my advice, they want to do the more challenging version of a posture."

Shoulderstand requires learning half-shoulderstand first, keeping weight on shoulders — not neck. Forward bends hinge from the hips, not a rounded spine. Individuals with lower back problems must remain cautious. Hyperextension of any joint risks damage. Use a block, strap, or modification — the intelligent choice is always the safe one.

On safe yoga resources: DailyBandha.com — Preventative Strategies for the Lower Back  ·  Safe Yoga Video on YouTube

The Five Towns has it all! The best in shuls, schools, chesed organizations, Judaica shops, restaurants . . . the list goes on and on. Yet, on some occasions, our overactive residents must feel like we have too much. Surely, just because we have it all doesn’t mean we need to do it all. Peaceful Presence Yoga Studio in Cedarhurst offers an island of calm in the midst of the stormy traffic of Cedarhurst.

Perhaps the customers arrive stressed out over a honking match or parking troubles, or feel they spent too much at a local store. Unfortunately, the tension may run even deeper than that and involve more serious challenges to health, financial well-being, or family life. But they can relax as soon as they climb the steps and open the door into the simple, uncluttered space, unroll their mat, and let their experienced teacher take it from there.

The studio currently has six certified yoga teachers and three licensed massage therapists. They offer over 20 weekly classes and have about 60–70 regular practitioners, with newcomers trying out classes each week. There are classes for men and women of all levels and ages, and they also offer the newest type—hot yoga, which uses a higher room temperature to allow the body to purge toxins.

Andrew Kahn opened the studio five years ago after practicing yoga for over two decades and studying it for six years at the Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health in Lenox, Massachusetts, the largest yoga center in the country. He identifies his mother as his first teacher after he was “very tense, distracted, and feeling out of sorts.” When he and his wife, Dr. Lori Cohen-Kahn, an oral surgeon practicing in Lawrence, relocated to the Five Towns, they knew Andrew would have a challenge rebuilding his successful practice in this observant community.

Andrew feels a deep connection to yoga and to spreading its positive effect. Commenting on Peaceful Presence and its company logo, he explains, “The dove is the central part of our logo and even our name. As a kohein and a teacher of yoga, I seek to follow in the footsteps of Aharon HaKohein, who loved people and sought peace. I believe he was truly a ‘peaceful presence’ who drew people to Torah.”

Andrew’s experience with the local community has been beneficial for both. He says, “Living in the Five Towns has profoundly affected my own level of Jewish observance and also the way I run the Peaceful Presence Yoga Studio. I have gotten a great deal of feedback from community members, including numerous rabbis who have honored the studio with their presence. I have had more rabbis as students than any other profession and they have not been shy about sharing their knowledge and perspectives every step of the way in the development of the studio.”

He added, “Some practices I embraced from the start (like closing the studio for Shabbos) and others have evolved based on requests (such as having separate classes for men and women and not doing hands-on assisting in my women’s classes).”

Andrew points out that while it is true that, at some studios, unwelcome foreign religious references, terms, or rituals find their way into the teaching of yoga, true yoga does not come from or teach any one religion. “The teachings are meant to be open to and beneficial to all people,” he says. “That is the unifying beauty of it: Individuals from all observance levels and ways of life are welcome at this studio.”

Nevertheless, this being the heart of Cedarhurst, Andrew chooses to use the Rambam’s teachings as his guide and posts it in the studio: “Since by keeping the body in health and vigor one walks in the ways of G-d—it becomes impossible during sickness to have any understanding or knowledge of the Creator—it is a man’s duty to avoid whatever is injurious to the body and cultivate habits conducive to health and vigor” (Rambam, Laws Concerning Moral Dispositions and Ethical Conducts.)

As a stay-at-home asthmatic mother who spends more time hunched over a computer or cleaning up toys than on “healthy habits,” I knew it was time for a change. I have recently started attending the Sunday session with Lisa and have been blown away by her level of expertise, combined with the personal attention and warm approach that is offered there.

I’m not fond of getting out on a Sunday morning and usually come in with a stuffy nose and a not-so-positive attitude. Then Lisa begins to work her magic. She works parts of the body I never gave any thought to before and pulls it all together into a highly effective routine that has me breathing, walking, and feeling better by the end.

I asked Andrew to tell me some more about this hometown guru. “Lisa Bialostok, a native of Taiwan, has been a big asset to the Peaceful Presence Yoga Studio. Her fitness, grace, and passion for teaching, along with her knowledge of many healthy dietary practices, are only a part of what attracts large numbers of students to her classes. She has a story of recovery that is inspiring and speaks of uncommon strength. For many years she had a successful wedding-dress business, which she found extremely stressful. Through both formal and informal training, she cultivated a yoga practice which she loves to share with the community.”

Clients at Peaceful Presence include rabbis, physicians, teachers, writers, homemakers, and artists. Students’ levels of fitness range from those with chronic disabilities to those who are already in exceptional health. Peaceful Presence Yoga reaches out to serve Holocaust survivors, brain trauma victims, and special-needs children. In addition, they are expanding into some of the progressive local area schools who are using yoga as an extracurricular activity, while helping to develop open-minded and well-rounded children. Andrew hopes to create future programs for different groups in the community, such as teenagers, and to meet the needs of those in the corporate world and local business. Yoga retreats are a possibility as well.

Andrew strives to bring everyone together in the pursuit of health and well-being. As he explains, “To me, the concept of unity is very important. I think there is way too much discord and divisiveness, even in this community amongst Jews. I hope that among other things, the studio will be a vehicle for helping to heal this sense of separation.”

“I also hope that the studio continues to blossom in the Five Towns and that I can repeat this model in other communities,” Andrew added. “What community would not benefit from a ‘peaceful presence’ in the neighborhood, spreading our teachings of tolerance, compassion, peace, unity, and discipline? I pray that G-d works through us all to speedily achieve this goal.”

To learn more, visit www.peacefulpresence.com, call 516-371-3715, or—even better—try a class at 436 Central Avenue (main entrance in the Gourmet Glatt parking lot).

There is some irony in the fact that my yoga studio looks out across the parking lot to a popular kosher supermarket. Anyone who has battled for a spot in the parking lot on a Thursday or Friday may understand the quandary of a kosher yoga practitioner at the end of the week. You get to the parking lot with lots of extra time to find a spot so you can avoid some stress. After circling around for precious minutes, dealing with cars driving the wrong way and shopping carts abandoned in parking spots, you finally find a good spot, pray that the parking meter is working, then race to get to class on time.

Whether you take a vigorous or slow paced yoga class, the last 5 or 10 minutes are for winding down and letting your body absorb the poses you’ve completed and relaxing all your muscles. You float out of the class smiling and enjoying a sense of serenity, or calmly energized, feeling ready and able to accomplish the tasks of the day… until the spell is abruptly broken by an obnoxious car siren, the earsplitting blast from the firehouse or impatient honking by a driver eager to get away. Or if you’re lucky, you experience peace and relative quiet until you enter the store to tackle your Shabbat shopping list. Immediately, yoga is but a distant memory as you fight your way around abandoned carts blocking the aisles, loud personal cell phone conversations and long cashier lines.

Don’t get me wrong: I am grateful to live in a town with grocery stores that cater to my needs. I am thankful for the luxury of wonderful yoga teachers. But here’s the dilemma: is it better to do Shabbos errands first and then do yoga to relieve the stress, or do the yoga first to prepare for the shopping stress? I don’t know, but this is what I’m learning: take a deep breath in, then let it out slowly and repeat, until your smile returns and it won’t matter.

During this pandemic there has been a necessary and intense global focus on DEFENSE: face-masks, hand sanitizer, anti-bacterial wipes, social distancing and quarantining. When fighting any battle, defense is essential but often not sufficient. As we begin to open up our communities, we are going to want to be very strong physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually to withstand infection and, if infected, to recover quickly.

OFFENSE involves managing our own energy and choices so that we, as individuals, are truly prepared, vital, and able to help create a new, hopeful reality.

In addition to the physical practice of yoga, here are the yogic principles I have been practicing and continue to teach:

1. Eat pure, simple, nourishing, balanced foods. Always eat in moderation.
2. Be moderate with liquor, coffee, tobacco, prescription and non-prescription drugs, and meat if you choose to ingest these things.
3. Avoid meaningless conversations and all distracting activities, company and conditions that harm your movement toward true strength.
4. Reduce your wants to needs. Simplify your life and practice contentment.
5. Practice yoga, breathing techniques, and/or meditation each day.
6. Read sacred or inspiring books to fill your mind with high thoughts and ideals.
7. Try to go to sleep early and rise early — around 10 pm and up by 6 am.
8. Maintain cleanliness and purity of body, both internally and externally.
9. Keep good company. Look for the substance of a person and not just the outer trappings.
10. There is nothing quite like a grateful heart. Focus on what you are thankful for, the blessings in your life, so that you awaken a feeling of devotional love.
11. Try to have faith in God or at the very least in “the good that is.”
12. Practice nonviolence — with yourself first. This is the first principle of yoga. Avoid all violent thoughts and words as well as actions.
13. Try to see God or good everywhere and in everything and act accordingly. Do not disrespect any religion, righteous person, or scripture.
14. Be steadfast in the disciplines, rituals, and practices which will lead you to a true realization of the underlying unity of all.
15. Perform all actions with awareness and devotion, but without great personal expectations or attachments to results. Give help and service whenever the opportunity arises.
16. Try to move in the direction of gaining mastery over your thoughts, words, and deeds and focus them in a beneficial direction.
17. Earn by honest work and give with an open heart. It is in giving that we gain freedom from “the bondage of self.”
18. Let’s assume that “the good” and “love” are the very meaning of the word God. With this working definition in mind, serve God with each thought, word, and action.
19. Remember the truth that the whole world is one family. We are all God’s creation — children of goodness and love.
20. The great truth is not only to be found outside but also lives within you.

By practicing these principles all will bring out the most from themselves and those who learn from them. I must credit Kripalu for much of the guidance I have just passed along. Let’s aim for progress from where we are. — Andrew Kahn

Q: Don’t you think removing references to Sanskrit or “Hinduism” is a form of cultural appropriation — a violation of the commandment “Do not steal”? Is this not like what Christians did when they re-interpreted Jewish texts? As an anthropologist I have always thought it absolutely essential to connect cultural traditions to their source.

A: While yoga comes from India and I am not hiding its origin, I believe it is an essential gift to all humanity and meant to be shared freely. I believe yoga predates Hinduism and, while it has been widely practiced and taught by Hindus, it is not owned by any one religious group — not tied to any one religion even if it did originate in the same country as Hinduism.

I think the essence can be taught without needlessly alienating other religious groups who would find names of foreign gods problematic. Why push people’s buttons needlessly? I was taught to try to reach and teach people where they are. If I do not deliver yoga in an acceptable way to this population, the lesson will be a non-starter and they will be deprived of something that could greatly help.

Watch the 40-minute gentle yoga class → — with the non-violent teachings of yoga woven throughout.

Martin Luther King Jr. was a wise and capable leader who learned a great deal from Gandhi, a great yogi. Different people will always have different perspectives, but I can confidently speak for the vast majority of those who deeply engage in the practice of yoga:

• Life is and should be treated as sacred.
• The breath of life is precious.
• If we can breathe, have a voice, and the ability to act — we need to use these blessings wisely.

The mandate: First and foremost, let’s ALL go to great lengths not to end a life. Let’s refrain from destroying life and property. Instead, let’s listen, learn, and help others meet their needs and reach their worthy dreams. Let’s do all we can to spread more goodness and love.

These are not only things we need to practice to meditate (the original goal of yoga), but things that lead to a life of health, vitality, and peace. Whether one has heard of them or not, if a person ignores these principles they will pay a big price — and if they practice them, they are much more likely to find success.

YAMAS (don’t do’s): Non-Violence · Truthfulness · Non-Stealing · Moderation · Non-Possessiveness

NIYAMAS (do’s): Purity · Contentment · Austerity · Self-education & Study of Scriptures · Surrender to God

When I look at the universal principles in Judaism’s 10 Commandments next to the Yogic Yamas and Niyamas, I am struck by the similarities. The aims are to a great extent in alignment.

Dear Esther, I think you raise a critical point. “Human life should be viewed with sanctity…” I’m feeling moved these days and I’m going to run with this.

In social work research — in all research involving life — the principle is the same. While human words always fall short of defining reality, we still need to try. Song is perhaps better because it readily enters the human heart. The basic teaching found in all major religions, that greatly influenced the US founding and governing principles, and from which come the guiding principles for Social Work is: “Do unto others as you would have others do unto you.”

It is not perfect. I love unsalted raw almonds, but if I serve them to someone with a nut allergy it can be lethal. Yet the principle is still very guiding, as long as one is also aware that others have struggles and sensitivities that may be very different. The first principle in the discipline of yoga is called “Ahimsa” — non-violence, to do no harm. This seems a critical key ingredient.

From the Golden Rule we find the four principles President Roosevelt spoke to explain why America was entering World War II: Freedom of Speech, Freedom of Religion, Freedom from Want, and Freedom from Fear — beautifully illustrated by Norman Rockwell. rockwellfourfreedoms.org

Maybe together as social workers we can write a best-selling book. The title might shed light on the underlying reality of humanity: The World Is One Family.

Shalom,
Andrew Kahn

My last name is “Kahn” and there is evidence — both in my actual DNA and in my grandfather’s account — that we are Kohanim, descendants of Aaron. I named my yoga studio the Peaceful Presence Studio (with a dove logo) and often end group meditations with: “May we nurture peace in our own hearts and minds and may we be a peaceful presence, helping to bring a bit more peace into the world around us.” This sums up what I feel is both my personal mission and the larger mandate of not only the Jewish people but many others too.

I have always been intrigued with peace — both as a personal goal (inner peace), and peace in the home, and working toward a larger peace. I think it is a core value that deserves renewed attention.

As I become a new social worker I hope that at least a part of my work includes helping people — and perhaps groups — work together with greater accord toward the ideals of justice and peace. Toward this end, I hope to collaborate with many of my new YU colleagues.

I have given the matter of peace considerable thought and also know that I have just scratched the tip of the iceberg. I have so much more to learn.

Question for consideration and, I hope, collaboration: If our country is experiencing a crisis, what is the true nature of that crisis — and how can we as social workers join forces to help be a part of the solution that promotes growing love and peace in place of growing fear, anger, hate, and violence?

In social work research, in all research involving life, the principle is the same. While human words always fall short of defining reality, we still need to try. Song is perhaps better because it readily enters the human heart. The basic teaching found in all of the major religions — that has greatly influenced the US founding principles and the guiding principles of Social Work — is: “Do unto others as you would have others do unto you.”

It is not perfect. I love unsalted raw almonds, but if I serve them to someone with a nut allergy it can be lethal. Yet the principle is still very guiding, as long as one is also aware that others have struggles and sensitivities that may be very different. The first principle of yoga is called “Ahimsa” — non-violence, to do no harm. This seems to be a critical key ingredient.

From the Golden Rule we find the four principles that President Roosevelt spoke to explain to America why we were risking our children’s lives entering World War II: Freedom of Speech, Freedom of Religion, Freedom from Want, and Freedom from Fear. These sentiments were beautifully illustrated by Norman Rockwell. rockwellfourfreedoms.org

Maybe together we can write a best-selling book. I think right now it is called for. The title might shed light on the underlying reality of humanity: The World Is One Family.

Shalom,
Andrew Kahn

My mother often told me that “less is more” and I think it better to follow that approach. Let’s call this the Peace from Love Extended Family Project — written by one who feels a very deep devotion to G-d and who has a measure of faith and trust.

Over decades I’ve put a lot into development and tried to put it all into writings associated with my websites: peacefulpresence.com, theworldisonefamily.com, and higherorderlove.org.

These are relatively simple sites. While my goal is impact, I’m not sure that flashy is better. The World Is One Family was a dream born that took form shortly after 9/11. Higher Order Love is something I’m still trying to articulate — it seems to lend itself to becoming an organization, though not everyone likes the name. I think it can serve.

What help do I want? I’d like to know people who share my vision and can work with me. I have a strong desire to lead — but if I saw someone else doing this work more effectively, I could work under them.