In a world where it’s possible to have almost everything one desires, it’s disturbing to know that clinical depression will soon be the No. 1 health issue globally. How did things get this way? And perhaps more importantly, what can we do about it? “Forget Prozac,” suggests Yogi Sarveshwarananda, “and think yoga.” Sarveshwarananda teaches practical ways to reduce anxiety and stress by calming the mind, resulting in greatly reduced incidences of depression. He will discuss this and other benefits of yoga at a presentation July 8 at the Yoga Studio on 2440B Rosewall Crescent in Courtenay from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. "It’s frightening to realize how many people in our fast-paced, material-obsessed world are so quickly becoming mentally unstable," he says. "Not even Third World countries are immune, as they have embraced our lifestyle.” He has studied yoga, in particular Kriya yoga and meditation, and has been promoting their benefits, for over 20 years. “Research is starting to unveil the complexities of the mind," he states. "And so science is beginning to recognize the important healing abilities of yoga and meditation as complementary treatments to conventional medication.” He concedes that anti-depressants have their place, but such a dependency rarely addresses the root causes of mental illness. He has guided hundreds of individuals and professionals through the maze of mental manifestations of our modern world. “Meditation and yoga have been used for thousands of years to greatly benefit followers of Eastern mysticism. These practices are easily adaptable for the West,” concludes Sarveshwarananda. His free public presentation will include a variety of songs, stories, and myths from his 10 years as a monk and personal attendant to the last realized master of Kriya Yoga, Paramahamsa Hariharananda. For details of Yogiji's program and for further information, contact 250-336-7939, or go to www.art-of-peace.org. — Yoga Studio