While practicing the rich tradition of yoga here in San Francisco, it's easy to forget that there are so many poor people in the very land that yoga came from. Swamini Lalitananda, an incredibly energetic 70-year-old Indian scholar and yogini, has devoted her life to helping some of them. She spends six months a year in India (mainly Bangalore) running residential establishments and orphanages for the poor; she spends the other six months of the year traveling all around the US to raise money for her mission. Last Sunday evening, I went to a mediation and satsang at the Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Center to hear her speak and to donate to the cause.

This was not my first experience with the Swamini. We met when I visited the Grass Valley Yoga Farm ashram several weeks ago. The first time I spoke to her, she told me about her life as a university professor, yoga teacher, and meditation instructor. When I asked her about her family, she said, "You are my family. Everyone is my family." I learned that's what it means to be a swami—to renounce all of your material and personal attachments and devote your life to a higher purpose.

On Sunday, Swamini led a chanting session (she's got a great vocal range) and gave a dharma talk that focused on the Vedas. She also talked about why we often say shanti three times when we chant: once for peace inside, once for peace for our loved ones and community, and once for peace in nature.

But the thing she stressed the most was the importance of charity. Starting with nothing, the Swamini and another Sivananda disciple named Sro Omananda Swamiji created five establishments that house 300 women and children in India. The children need lots of stuff. Their education is taken very seriously, and in addition to the basics, they also need money for things like notebooks, bus passes, and uniforms.

Every now and then it's important to remember that giving is an essential part of yoga. To find out more about Swamini Lalitananda's mission and to donate, visit www.atma-vidya.org

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GET TICKETS TO SEE DEVA ON SEP. 29! Mantra superstars Deva Premal and Miten are making a rare appearance at the Sonoma County Day School to benefit the Sonoma Ashram. I'm going! For tix, visit www.YogaMates.com.