August 2025 | Dwesha/Aversion

We likely learn more about ourselves by what we avoid and dislike than by what we love. In fact, observing carefully what we feel an aversion to can provide many clues for growth and change. Sometimes the very things we feel a strong resistance to can be what we actually need. We try to avoid pain, and all that is distasteful, but it is pain that teaches us. Our attitude is very important in yoga.

Dwesha invites us to accept the painful, the distasteful. To notice the potential within the things we don’t like. In doing so we build true strength. Many of us are aware that our attachments require examination, and so also do our aversions.

In this issue of Sivananda Yoga Sandesha we look at aversion as a cause of pain and suffering. We discover how aversion to certain foods may have health advantages, but long-term may cause harm. We also look at ways for women to create hormonal balance through yoga practice, and we discover the Karni Mati or “Rat Temple” in Rajasthan, where rats roam freely, are treated as holy, and treated with utmost care.

We hope you enjoy the newsletter and take time to reflect on your practice. As usual, please feel free to reach out to us with your thoughts and feedback at: [email protected]

It’s been a busy month! These snapshots are taken several events held at our Ashrams and Centres and various other locations across India: a trip by Trivandrum Centre students and teachers to Thirunelveli, to enjoy a walk and temple surrounded by mountains; a new Health Hut and boutique at the Netala Ashram; our first-ever India Directors’ Retreat in Varkala, Satsang at Mitra Yoga Centre in Kadappa; and a new Siva lingam installed at the Gangotri cave.

Scroll through to see all snapshots.

These photos are from the Bhagavatha Saptaha recitation, conducted by our priest, from July 7 to 14 inside Swamiji’s cave.

Some photos of our first-ever bhandara held for Gangotri Sadhus on July 14.

What is dvesha?

Aversion is that which dwells on pain.

Through memory of pain from experiences, aversion comes towards pain and objects that give pain. This is Dvesha. You try to get rid of objects that give pain. Man shuns pain and runs after pleasure in this world. No one teaches him to seek pleasure. The mind is born of Ananda. So, it runs after pleasure.

Dvesha is the root cause for human sufferings. Wars, splits, dissensions, sectarian quarrels, murders are due to Dvesha. Wherever there is Dvesha, there is jealousy side by side. Jealousy is the intimate companion of Dvesha. Jealousy is petty-mindedness. It is a great pity to find that the minds of even highly educated persons who preach on the platform are filled with jealousy and hatred, and petty-mindedness. What a shame! As they are intelligent, they devise cunning methods and plans to destroy others, to get the whole fame and respect for themselves. A petty-minded preacher sows the seed of discard, disharmony everywhere. He is a pest and a menace to the society. He is a man of all evil. There is no redeeming feature in him. He does more harm than good. This Dvesha, aversion, should be completely annihilated.

Ch. 2, v. 8
Duhkhanusayi dvesah

Aversion is that which attempts to avoid pain.

Just as attraction brings pain, so does aversion. The mental attitude of aversion is a negative one, and often makes a neutral situation appear as if it were one to be avoided. It is not possible to avoid all distasteful circumstances. When there is raga-dvesha, or likes and dislikes, a person cannot be happy. He is dwelling on illusory pairs-of-opposites rather than learning to be content in all situations and surrendering to the Lord plan for his growth.

Hormones define everything about a woman, her health, appearance, thoughts, behaviour, and how she looks and feels! Women’s hormonal health has become a global health concern in the last few years with one out of every four women complaining of symptoms of imbalance including menstrual disorders, PMS, fibroids, PCOD, irregular periods, difficulty losing weight, feeling emotionally off, tiredness, bloating, anxiety, acne, hair loss, ovarian cysts, irritability, mood swings, bulging belly, skin breakouts, aging skin, hot flashes, insomnia, migraine, sagging skin, and a loss of youthfulness. While many women may seek medical assistance for their symptoms, those arising out of hormonal imbalance can only be healed by creating balance in the endocrine and nervous systems.

Yoga for hormonal balance is a preventive approach to practicing yoga and avoiding health conditions caused by the low hormone levels, such as osteoporosis and heart conditions.

Hormonal yoga works on reactivating the glands to function more efficiently. The practice involves asana practice combined with pranayama to fuel hormonal health at a deeper level.

Stress management receives special attention in yoga as it is scientifically proven that stress is very harmful to the production of estrogen and progesterone, the two most important female hormones. Pranayama and deep relaxation practices like yoga nidra help combat stress most effectively.

Areas of focus for hormonal balance:

Parasympathetic Nervous System – Activating the parasympathetic response of the body allows all functions of the body to perform at peak capacity including the endocrine glands which naturally creates hormonal balance. This can be achieved by deep breathing and relaxation.

Brain, Pituitary Gland, and Nervous System – The brain, the master controller of the body, sends signals to the pituitary gland, the master gland of the hormonal system in the body. The nervous system communicates either balance or distress to the brain, and the brain directs the pituitary gland how to behave, and the cycle of balanced or imbalanced hormones begins. Balancing these three systems with pranayama, meditation, and yoga asanas that include inversions helps improve internal communication, which naturally improves the hormonal balance.

Endocrine system for hormonal balance of stress and sex hormones – Stress can negatively impact estrogen and progesterone. It is important to reduce stress levels in order to bring balance to the hormones. Practices like pranayama soothe the nervous system and it sends out calming signals to the brain.

Pelvic Floor – Pelvic floor exercises, such as Kegels, can support activation of pelvic floor muscles and improve blood supply to the pelvis and reproductive organs. This nourishes and strengthens the uterus, as well as the kidneys and helps improve the production and flow of hormones.

Kidneys and Adrenals – Both healthy kidneys and less taxed adrenal glands better support feminine health. Backward bends, pranayama practices, and meditation stimulate and detoxify the kidneys as well as supply blood to the adrenals to help flush out excess cortisol (stress hormone) from the blood. This helps reduce stress levels and strengthen the kidneys.

Benefits of yoga:

• Helps regulate monthly cycle
• Reduces the occurrence of PCOD, fibroids, and cysts
• Helps reduce fatigue, excess weight, and high blood sugar levels
• Improves reproductive health and fertility and delays menopause
• Improves metabolism and calms the nervous system
• Stimulates the production of endorphins, serotonin, dopamine, and oxytocin, the feel-good hormones
• Leads to a rejuvenated, flexible body with firm, smooth skin
• Reduces PMS symptoms
• Provides relief from hot flashes, mood swings, sweating, and insomnia
• Drastically improves energy levels