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Sheila Miller

Sheila Miller, Ph.D., ERYT-500 is a Senior Teacher of ISHTA Yoga and has been a student of yoga and Buddhism for more than 20 years. Her specializations include teaching meditation, asana and yoga nidra for healing, self-knowledge and lasting personal transformation. She researches the effects of meditation and yoga practice on learning, communities, health and the healing of trauma. She also teaches public and private classes, workshops and retreats around the world.

Sheila left a career as a professor of mathematics to offer her attention to writing and the teaching of meditation and yoga. For more information, or to book a workshop at your studio or private instruction in person or online, please visit www.roarofjoy.com.

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Articles by Sheila Miller

An Introduction to Kriya Yoga An Introduction to Kriya Yoga An Introduction to Kriya Yoga An Introduction to Kriya Yoga


Kriya yoga is a powerful, effective and expedient method of practice for those who take to it. The goal — liberation — is the same as other...

The Importance of Cobra Pose: Bhujangasana The Importance of Cobra Pose: Bhujangasana The Importance of Cobra Pose: Bhujangasana The Importance of Cobra Pose: Bhujangasana


Although there are other poses that look fancier, there are few that are functionally better and safer than cobra pose (bhujangasana) for...

From the Lotus: The History and Benefits of Padmasana From the Lotus: The History and Benefits of Padmasana From the Lotus: The History and Benefits of Padmasana From the Lotus: The History and Benefits of Padmasana


Padmasana, better known as lotus pose, is the quintessential yoga pose. Here's a look at why padmasana is such an important posture.

The Chakra That Isn't: Sahasrara, Your Crown Chakra The Chakra That Isn't: Sahasrara, Your Crown Chakra The Chakra That Isn't: Sahasrara, Your Crown Chakra The Chakra That Isn't: Sahasrara, Your Crown Chakra


Our Crown Chakra, Sahasrara, isn't like the other six chakras. Here's an introduction to sahasrara and how you can cultivate your practice...

Top Tips for Your Best Virabhadrasana Series Top Tips for Your Best Virabhadrasana Series Top Tips for Your Best Virabhadrasana Series Top Tips for Your Best Virabhadrasana Series


The Virabhadrasana/Warrior series is key aspect in many yoga styles. Here are some top tips on how to improve your warrior series and find...

The Best Meditation Style to Help Bring You into Balance The Best Meditation Style to Help Bring You into Balance The Best Meditation Style to Help Bring You into Balance The Best Meditation Style to Help Bring You into Balance


While all meditations are tools for reaching liberation, they aren’t equivalent. Every one fits different styles better. Here's a look at...

Hidden Magic: The Power of Nadi Shodhana Pranayama Hidden Magic: The Power of Nadi Shodhana Pranayama Hidden Magic: The Power of Nadi Shodhana Pranayama Hidden Magic: The Power of Nadi Shodhana Pranayama


Nadi Shodhana Pranayama, or alternate nostril breathing, is a powerful cleansing breath, but not a technique that is always well explained....

Achieving Your Best Downward-Facing Dog Achieving Your Best Downward-Facing Dog Achieving Your Best Downward-Facing Dog Achieving Your Best Downward-Facing Dog


Downward-Facing Dog is a staple in all yoga practices. It's the position you come back to again and again. Here are the best ways to...

Where is Your Spiritual Discipline Wavering? Where is Your Spiritual Discipline Wavering? Where is Your Spiritual Discipline Wavering? Where is Your Spiritual Discipline Wavering?


Weaknesses in our spiritual practice often come from our own thoughts. Here are some strategies to help you locate and resolve the places...

Tapasya: Breaking Patterns of Limiting Beliefs Tapasya: Breaking Patterns of Limiting Beliefs Tapasya: Breaking Patterns of Limiting Beliefs Tapasya: Breaking Patterns of Limiting Beliefs


Most of the problems we face originate from our own mind, from our fear or aversion of change. Tapasya can help you break through these...

Renunciation: An Invitation to Fulfillment Renunciation: An Invitation to Fulfillment Renunciation: An Invitation to Fulfillment Renunciation: An Invitation to Fulfillment


In order to give ourselves over to what is most important, we must give up what isn’t. Here's how renunciation can help you obtain what it...

The Law of Karma: How Karmic Forces Really Work The Law of Karma: How Karmic Forces Really Work The Law of Karma: How Karmic Forces Really Work The Law of Karma: How Karmic Forces Really Work


Karma is not the system of punishment it has come to be known as. Karma is the law that all actions have reactions. Learn more about karma...

Gunas Gunas Gunas Gunas


Gunas form the three aspects of all of experience and all of creation. Learn more about each of them, how they play out in your daily life...

Yoga Sutras Yoga Sutras Yoga Sutras Yoga Sutras


Here are 10 insights into the role of concentration (dharana) in your development as a yogi, as inspired by the Yoga Sutras.

Feelings Feelings Feelings Feelings


Want to take back control over your pattern of reactions to negative emotions? Start by understanding the behavior of feelings and creating...

Silence Silence Silence Silence


Silence is your great ally. Here is what quiet has to offer you and how to make friends with silence.

Bhatki Yoga: An Introduction to the Yogic Path of Devotion and How It's Practiced Bhatki Yoga: An Introduction to the Yogic Path of Devotion and How It's Practiced Bhatki Yoga: An Introduction to the Yogic Path of Devotion and How It's Practiced Bhatki Yoga: An Introduction to the Yogic Path of Devotion and How It's Practiced


Bhakti is the path of devotion, the absolute dedication to the Divine. Learn about its origins, how to practice it and how to incorporate...

5 'O Arjuna' Quotes From the Bhagavad Gita for You and Your Yoga Practice 5 'O Arjuna' Quotes From the Bhagavad Gita for You and Your Yoga Practice 5 'O Arjuna' Quotes From the Bhagavad Gita for You and Your Yoga Practice 5 'O Arjuna' Quotes From the Bhagavad Gita for You and Your Yoga Practice


Here are five pieces of counsel from the Bhagavad Gita offered by Lord Krishna to Prince Arjuna with notes on how you might find use for...

The Meaning of Namaskar and the Way We Say 'Namaste' The Meaning of Namaskar and the Way We Say 'Namaste' The Meaning of Namaskar and the Way We Say 'Namaste' The Meaning of Namaskar and the Way We Say 'Namaste'


The verbal greeting of namaste is a part of namaskar. Here we explain what namaskar is, the significance of each component and the meaning...

Ahimsa: Yoga's Single Most Important Practice (Kindness) Ahimsa: Yoga's Single Most Important Practice (Kindness) Ahimsa: Yoga's Single Most Important Practice (Kindness) Ahimsa: Yoga's Single Most Important Practice (Kindness)


The first of the first of The Eight Limbs of Yoga, ahimsa is an attitude of loving-kindness that is practiced on and, more importantly, off...

Diksha and the New Year: It's All About New Beginnings Diksha and the New Year: It's All About New Beginnings Diksha and the New Year: It's All About New Beginnings Diksha and the New Year: It's All About New Beginnings


Diksha, a Sanskrit term meaning 'initiation,' offers us a fresh start. Here we look at the ancient diksha ceremony and ways to experience...

No, You Aren't Terrible at Meditating: 3 Tips for Getting Back to the Cushion No, You Aren't Terrible at Meditating: 3 Tips for Getting Back to the Cushion No, You Aren't Terrible at Meditating: 3 Tips for Getting Back to the Cushion No, You Aren't Terrible at Meditating: 3 Tips for Getting Back to the Cushion


Meditating isn't easy, but we promise you aren't doing it all wrong. Here are three ways you can relieve common frustrations and develop a...

Q&A by Sheila Miller

Tandra refers to a state of being while Tantra is a method for attaining liberation.Lineage differ significantly in where they place the meditative state of tandra on the spectrum of experience. A few seem to place it as a... Tandra refers to a state of being while Tantra is a method for attaining liberation.Lineage differ significantly in where they place the meditative state of tandra on the spectrum of experience. A few seem to place it as a... Tandra refers to a state of being while Tantra is a method for attaining liberation.Lineage differ significantly in where they place the meditative state of tandra on the spectrum of experience. A few seem to place it as a... Tandra refers to a state of being while Tantra is a method for attaining liberation.Lineage differ significantly in where they place the meditative state of tandra on the spectrum of experience. A few seem to place it as a...


Tandra refers to a state of being while Tantra is a method for attaining liberation.Lineage differ significantly in where they place the...

You may have heard someone say Namaste at yoga class, or when you walked into a studio or ashram, and you might be curious about what it means.Four Meanings of NamasteHello!First of all, namaste is a respectful way of saying... You may have heard someone say Namaste at yoga class, or when you walked into a studio or ashram, and you might be curious about what it means.Four Meanings of NamasteHello!First of all, namaste is a respectful way of saying... You may have heard someone say Namaste at yoga class, or when you walked into a studio or ashram, and you might be curious about what it means.Four Meanings of NamasteHello!First of all, namaste is a respectful way of saying... You may have heard someone say Namaste at yoga class, or when you walked into a studio or ashram, and you might be curious about what it means.Four Meanings of NamasteHello!First of all, namaste is a respectful way of saying...


You may have heard someone say Namaste at yoga class, or when you walked into a studio or ashram, and you might be curious about what it...

The two key steps to shifting your energy include discovering what you’re feeling, followed by applying an appropriate technique to bring yourself into balance.First Understand How You FeelThe yogic teachings speak of three... The two key steps to shifting your energy include discovering what you’re feeling, followed by applying an appropriate technique to bring yourself into balance.First Understand How You FeelThe yogic teachings speak of three... The two key steps to shifting your energy include discovering what you’re feeling, followed by applying an appropriate technique to bring yourself into balance.First Understand How You FeelThe yogic teachings speak of three... The two key steps to shifting your energy include discovering what you’re feeling, followed by applying an appropriate technique to bring yourself into balance.First Understand How You FeelThe yogic teachings speak of three...


The two key steps to shifting your energy include discovering what you’re feeling, followed by applying an appropriate technique to...

The third eye, or spiritual eye, is a chakra, or energy center. Ajna chakra is part of your energetic body in the way that an elbow or a spleen is a part of the physical body. It is generally in the region of the forehead... The third eye, or spiritual eye, is a chakra, or energy center. Ajna chakra is part of your energetic body in the way that an elbow or a spleen is a part of the physical body. It is generally in the region of the forehead... The third eye, or spiritual eye, is a chakra, or energy center. Ajna chakra is part of your energetic body in the way that an elbow or a spleen is a part of the physical body. It is generally in the region of the forehead... The third eye, or spiritual eye, is a chakra, or energy center. Ajna chakra is part of your energetic body in the way that an elbow or a spleen is a part of the physical body. It is generally in the region of the forehead...


The third eye, or spiritual eye, is a chakra, or energy center. Ajna chakra is part of your energetic body in the way that an elbow or a...

What we want isn't always what we need. We tend to feel more balanced (sattvic) after the practice we need—the one that helps us bring into balance excesses and deficiencies. One of the best diagnostic tools for what we need... What we want isn't always what we need. We tend to feel more balanced (sattvic) after the practice we need—the one that helps us bring into balance excesses and deficiencies. One of the best diagnostic tools for what we need... What we want isn't always what we need. We tend to feel more balanced (sattvic) after the practice we need—the one that helps us bring into balance excesses and deficiencies. One of the best diagnostic tools for what we need... What we want isn't always what we need. We tend to feel more balanced (sattvic) after the practice we need—the one that helps us bring into balance excesses and deficiencies. One of the best diagnostic tools for what we need...


What we want isn't always what we need. We tend to feel more balanced (sattvic) after the practice we need—the one that helps us...

The short answer is: yes.To have a guru is to learn and to practice unconditional love, to intentionally subvert ego and sense of self in order to recognize that they - ego and a separate self - are ultimately illusory. When... The short answer is: yes.To have a guru is to learn and to practice unconditional love, to intentionally subvert ego and sense of self in order to recognize that they - ego and a separate self - are ultimately illusory. When... The short answer is: yes.To have a guru is to learn and to practice unconditional love, to intentionally subvert ego and sense of self in order to recognize that they - ego and a separate self - are ultimately illusory. When... The short answer is: yes.To have a guru is to learn and to practice unconditional love, to intentionally subvert ego and sense of self in order to recognize that they - ego and a separate self - are ultimately illusory. When...


The short answer is: yes.To have a guru is to learn and to practice unconditional love, to intentionally subvert ego and sense of self in...

In the practice of alternate nostril breathing -- or nadi shodhana pranayama, as it's known in Sanskrit -- we use the fingers to direct the flow of the breath between the nostrils.(You may be first wondering, How do we... In the practice of alternate nostril breathing -- or nadi shodhana pranayama, as it's known in Sanskrit -- we use the fingers to direct the flow of the breath between the nostrils.(You may be first wondering, How do we... In the practice of alternate nostril breathing -- or nadi shodhana pranayama, as it's known in Sanskrit -- we use the fingers to direct the flow of the breath between the nostrils.(You may be first wondering, How do we... In the practice of alternate nostril breathing -- or nadi shodhana pranayama, as it's known in Sanskrit -- we use the fingers to direct the flow of the breath between the nostrils.(You may be first wondering, How do we...


In the practice of alternate nostril breathing -- or nadi shodhana pranayama, as it's known in Sanskrit -- we use the fingers to direct...

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