“Its Ironic That The Most Important Lesson
We Have Yet To Learn,
Are Also The Oldest One’s Ever Taught”
“Let Noble Thoughts Come To Us From Every Direction.”
- Rig Veda
“One Has To Be A Teacher Of Oneself
And A Disciple Of Oneself.
There Is No Authority,
There Is Only Understanding.” - J. Krishnamurti.
“Your health is in you and you do not observe it.
Your aliment is in you and you do not register it.” - Sufi Saying
“The doctor of the future will give no medicine,
but will instruct his patient in the care of the human frame,
in diet and in the cause and prevention of diseases.” – Thomas Alva Edison
“If you look after the root of the tree,
the flowering and fragrance will come by itself.
If you look after the body,
the fragrance of the mind will come of itself.” - B.K.S.Iyengar.
What Is Yoga?
“Yoga Is Efficiency In Action” - Bahagavad Gita
“Grace, beauty, strength, energy and
firmness adorn the body through yoga.” - Yoga Sutra
We live in an age in which we have made tremendous progress in the areas of science and technology. We have sent spacecraft to the moon and the planets in our solar system and have investigated the particles of the subatomic world. Great strides have been made in the medical arena. Scientists and doctors have found cures for many illness and can replace vital body organs to keep a patient alive. Never has mankind known such an evolutionary explosion. We have accomplished things beyond the wildest dreams of our ancestors. Compared to prehistoric times, ours is in short, a paradise on earth . But the vast array of inventions and gadgets should have provided humanity with health & happiness. Yet with all the advanced technology, we are not at peace. The stress and tension of the modern life is ruining us. Alcoholism, drug addiction, and psychosomatic diseases are on the increase. Civilised maybe, but are we happy? Most of us are no longer homeless and hungry, but need pills to send us to sleep, medicine to evacuate our lazy bowls, aspirin to ease our aching heads and tranquillizers to make our lives more bearable. We are now living in an age of explosions and exploitations. The remorseless struggle for money and power has hardened our hearts silenced and corrupted our moral sense. There is some thing missing in our lives. Peace for the individual, peace in families, peace in the neighbourhood, peace within and between nations is on the decline the world over. People try a variety of means to escape their pains and disappointments of life. Some try to find happiness by visiting places of entertainment or through engaging in sensual pleasures. Many turn to drugs or alcohol. All these means of escape may provide some momentary or temporary happiness, but they are not cures. In fact some of these means of escape are even addictive or harmful. We still must return to face the problems of life. Though we are civilised we have not matured mentally. We are still behaving as animals though living as humans. We fighting in the name of religion, race, and nationality forgetting the fact that we are all just mortals and only about 6 feet of land will be said as our own after we are dead and buried. In this age of scientific advances we begin to wonder if there is a way to find lasting peace & happiness in this world or is it only a dream? In pursuit of global peace we may talk about demilitarisation, but to begin with some kind of inner disarmament is necessary. They key to genuine world peace is inner peace. There will be no lasting world peace unless individual human beings have some sense of inner peace. To create inner peace it is necessary to calm the body & mind . And this can be achieved by the practise of Yoga. Because it offers a relaxed outlook on life and it helps us to make friends within our inner-self and allow us to stop living in conflict within ourself and others. In the past few decades we find more and more people are exploring Yoga as a means to find health, happiness & peace. Recent studies in the field of medicine are conforming that Yoga can improve our physical and mental well being. And Yoga is now being prescribed by doctors and specialists as a treatment for a number of stress related ailments.
So, is Yoga the panacea for all problems?
No, The solution rests with the individual. It is not yoga alone that solves your problem - it is yoga plus ourself. It changes us, not the situation. It is always we who must cope but it is yoga that gives us the extra strength, the better balance, the calmness, the higher mental development needed to
find our way. But it is no instant remedy, like everything else worthwhile it demands work and perseverance. It does for you whatever you do for it, and gives back according to what you put into it.
Is Yoga a Religion?
Yoga is very often confused with dogma and sectarian religion; especially it is very often mistaken as unconditionally bound to Hinduism But the standard and scientific Yoga and its texts do not subscribe to this view. In fact Yoga bases its system mostly on the ‘Sankhya’ Philosophy (One of the schools of Indian philosophy) which is either atheist or at least non-committal about God. This is a clear indication that even a theist can follow and succeed to the highest stages of yoga. Thus yoga, is universal, and it is available to any man of any religion and in any circumstance. Yoga is neither a weird cult nor a religion. It is just a practical system of self-culture that aims at the harmonious development of the body & mind. It has no priests or dogmas, nor does it affect any personal beliefs. Anyone believer or non-believer can practice Yoga successfully for it is not a discipline that demands nor presupposes adherence to any specific faith. There is nothing in the essential principles of this time-honored system that is antagonistic to any religious belief or code of ethics It is practised by believers of many faiths in many parts of the world because it helps them to intensify and deepen the capacity for one’s own religious experience, because yoga makes them more patient, understanding and compassionate. Where a religion is based on faith, a belief that man will ultimately attain a higher state than he is now capable of reaching. Yoga shows a way of proving that faith, demonstrating that same truth underlies all religions. For truth in any tounge, in any time or country, remains the same.
What is Yoga ?
When the mind and body are working together
harmoniously due to Yoga discipline
we can find calm and peace of mind
at every moment.” - Bhagavad Gita In the evolutionary process of nature, humans are unique living beings in that we alone are gifted with the sixth sense. The sixth sense is a higher level of mind which is able to understand its own existence and functions. It is a divine meter measuring all the functions of the universe and understanding oneness among multiplicity and unity in diversity Yoga is a science of life to develop this sixth sense to its fullness and to enable and equip us to enjoy peaceful and blissful life. It is an art of realising the relationship of the body to the society, the world and the universe, maintaining its harmony. Yoga is one of the six schools of ancient Indian Philosophy. The word Yoga means union, symbolising the Co-ordination & efficient functioning of the body and the mind. So, Yoga could be defined as the discipline that leads to inner and outer union, harmony and joy. It is the discipline of conscious living. Throughout the centuries, dozens off yoga doctrines and schools took shape, of which only 4 are believed to be independent and original.
The four major branches of Yoga are:
• Karma Yoga • Bhakti Yoga • Jnana Yoga • Kaya Kalpa /Hatha/Raja Yoga
Karma (Work) Yoga Is the method of realisation through work, practice, activity. What is meant here is that the earthly life determines all subsequent life, that is, as you sow in this world you will mow in the next. Karma compels everyone to be active, to work industriously for the good of society and, of course, for their own good
Bhakti (Devotion) Yoga Is the way of attaining realisation through love and loyalty to the God . Bhakti is a series or succession of mental efforts at religious realisation beginning with ordinary worship and ending in a supreme intensity of love for the almighty.
Janana (Knowledge) Yoga Is the path of realisation through knowledge. As soon as ignorance – avidya- is destroyed, the human being becomes free.
KayaKalpa / Hatha / Raja (Body) Yoga Is the practice of entering the sanctuary of the body to quite the restlessness of the mind. It is an experience of using Asanas (Postures), Pranayam (Breathing Techniques) & Dhyana (Meditation) to go inward and discover what blocks us from living joyfully and in alignment with the body’s & nature’s natural rhythm.
Is Yoga safe?
“The younger, the old, the extremely aged , even the sick and the infirm obtain perfection in yoga by constant practice.” – Yoga Sutra.
Yoga is safe for everyone. It is suitable for people of all ages and levels of fitness. the elderly and people with chronic health problems can all practice yoga . While other exercise systems are based on external action & develop the muscles, Yoga work in depth in our interior being. And also on the mental level where they produce the sort of calm and serenity which are the key to energy and happiness The uniqueness in yoga is that no limb or internal organ of the practitioner is subjected to any strain. Yoga works as one unit by combining both the mind and body. As yoga is not very strenuous it could be an ideal fitness regimen for both the weak & the strong, healthy & unhealthy, fit & unfit . Also the time required for the entire series of sequence is very short and, however busy a life we may lead, you can fit the exercises into your schedule. No mechanical aids or implements are required, nor do you need a vast play field. In yoga philosophy there is something for everyone. Those who cannot do the postures could learn to relax tension and increase their energy through improved breathing & meditation. Yoga understands that people are different and they need different approaches that are in harmony with their differences.
How does Yoga work?
Harmony between body and mind is achieved through correct postural exercises, breathing and meditation. And the benefits react on the mind and personality. When the body is in perfect working order the outlook is cheerful and optimistic. When the nerves are calm and relaxed the attitude is more philosophical towards setbacks.
Is yoga just a fitness work out?
Yoga is not merely a system of physical exercises, it is a method of bringing the body & mind into a state of balance and integration. Yoga is not mind over body. It is harmony between them. In yoga the mind is used to perceive and guide the body. Not to control or force it. If you try to rush it, you will only slow yourself down. And Yoga is not just about making you stand on your head but ultimately helping you to learn how to stand on your own feet. Yoga assumes there is a basic link between the mind & body and that one cannot be affected without the other. In other forms of exercise you can allow your mind to wander, but in yoga your mind is focused on your breathing or the posture.
Why should we practice Yoga ?
“Attain good health. Without health how can you live? Without health how can you earn? Without health how can you get success in any undertaking? Possess wonderful health through yoga.” - Sivananda. The human body is a vehicle for journeying this life. It must be kept in proper form if the mind should function well. Health is wealth. Health is indeed a covetable possession. Good Health is a valuable asset for one and all. It can be achieved by the regular practice of Yogasanas. For , Yoga is a Science that can teach you the Art of Living Effortlessly.
Invitation To Perfect Health & Fitness
“Courage is thy birthright, but not fear;
Peace is thy divine heritage, but not restlessness.
Immortality is thy birthright, but not mortality;
Strength, but not weakness.
Health, but not diseases;
Bliss, but not sorrow;
Knowledge, but not ignorance.” - Swami Sivananda For us, disease is not a necessity but a choice. Nature did not impose sickness upon us. These are largely our dubious creations. But what we have built can also be unbuilt. There exists in every one of us a place that is free from disease & tension, that cannot age or die. This is the place called perfect health & fitness. And Yoga offers a short cut for people who would like to explore this new existence, bring it into their lives, and make it permanent. For those who are ready to explore, the price of the effort will be repaid many fold. If an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, then a few minutes of yoga each day is indeed worth the risk of physical debilitation and breakdown that attends neglect of properly body care. As Patanjali, one of the supreme Yoga sages, said –
“The trouble that has not yet arrived, that is what is to be avoided.”
“The quality of one’s life can be seen from one’s person. A confused and unsteady person has a mind that is enervated and depressed, a body that is weak, and breath that is short and laboured.” - Yoga Sutra “Yesterday is but a dream, tomorrow is but a vision. But today well lived makes every yesterday a dream of happiness and every tomorrow a vision of hope. Look well, therefore, to this day.” - Sanskrit Proverb.
The Key To Longevity
Once upon a time a visitor at the seashore
Met ten centenarians still going strong.
In all sincerity he made a bow:
“Pray , how have you managed to live so long?” Stroking his beard the first man replied,
“I’ve never touched liquor in all my life.” “I walk a hundred steps after each meal.”
The second greybeard rejoined with a smile. Nodding in agreement, the third chimed in,
“I eat only vegetables and the simplest fare.” “I travel by foot instead of by wheel,”
Said the fourth , leaning on his cane. The fifth added , flourishing the sleeves of his robe,
“I do my laundry and all other chores with my own hands.” Demonstrating a taijiquan form , the sixth explained,
“I do this fitness exercise every day.” Rubbing his nose the seventh observed,
“Keep the windows open and let the fresh air in.” The eight , rosy-cheeked remarked,
“I get a tan from the summer sun.’ Twisting his moustache, the ninth stressed,
“Early to bed and early to rise.” The last gentleman concluded , raising his eyebrows
“I am as merry as the day is long.” Always remember these old men’s words,
For there is much truth in their song. Do precisely as these men do,
If you want your days to be long.
“One Has To Be A Teacher Of Oneself
And A Disciple Of Oneself.
There Is No Authority,
There Is Only Understanding.” - J. Krishnamurti.
“Your health is in you and you do not observe it.
Your aliment is in you and you do not register it.” - Sufi Saying
“The doctor of the future will give no medicine,
but will instruct his patient in the care of the human frame,
in diet and in the cause and prevention of diseases.” – Thomas Alva Edison
“If you look after the root of the tree,
the flowering and fragrance will come by itself.
If you look after the body,
the fragrance of the mind will come of itself.” - B.K.S.Iyengar.
What Is Yoga?
“Yoga Is Efficiency In Action” - Bahagavad Gita
“Grace, beauty, strength, energy and
firmness adorn the body through yoga.” - Yoga Sutra
We live in an age in which we have made tremendous progress in the areas of science and technology. We have sent spacecraft to the moon and the planets in our solar system and have investigated the particles of the subatomic world. Great strides have been made in the medical arena. Scientists and doctors have found cures for many illness and can replace vital body organs to keep a patient alive. Never has mankind known such an evolutionary explosion. We have accomplished things beyond the wildest dreams of our ancestors. Compared to prehistoric times, ours is in short, a paradise on earth . But the vast array of inventions and gadgets should have provided humanity with health & happiness. Yet with all the advanced technology, we are not at peace. The stress and tension of the modern life is ruining us. Alcoholism, drug addiction, and psychosomatic diseases are on the increase. Civilised maybe, but are we happy? Most of us are no longer homeless and hungry, but need pills to send us to sleep, medicine to evacuate our lazy bowls, aspirin to ease our aching heads and tranquillizers to make our lives more bearable. We are now living in an age of explosions and exploitations. The remorseless struggle for money and power has hardened our hearts silenced and corrupted our moral sense. There is some thing missing in our lives. Peace for the individual, peace in families, peace in the neighbourhood, peace within and between nations is on the decline the world over. People try a variety of means to escape their pains and disappointments of life. Some try to find happiness by visiting places of entertainment or through engaging in sensual pleasures. Many turn to drugs or alcohol. All these means of escape may provide some momentary or temporary happiness, but they are not cures. In fact some of these means of escape are even addictive or harmful. We still must return to face the problems of life. Though we are civilised we have not matured mentally. We are still behaving as animals though living as humans. We fighting in the name of religion, race, and nationality forgetting the fact that we are all just mortals and only about 6 feet of land will be said as our own after we are dead and buried. In this age of scientific advances we begin to wonder if there is a way to find lasting peace & happiness in this world or is it only a dream? In pursuit of global peace we may talk about demilitarisation, but to begin with some kind of inner disarmament is necessary. They key to genuine world peace is inner peace. There will be no lasting world peace unless individual human beings have some sense of inner peace. To create inner peace it is necessary to calm the body & mind . And this can be achieved by the practise of Yoga. Because it offers a relaxed outlook on life and it helps us to make friends within our inner-self and allow us to stop living in conflict within ourself and others. In the past few decades we find more and more people are exploring Yoga as a means to find health, happiness & peace. Recent studies in the field of medicine are conforming that Yoga can improve our physical and mental well being. And Yoga is now being prescribed by doctors and specialists as a treatment for a number of stress related ailments.
So, is Yoga the panacea for all problems?
No, The solution rests with the individual. It is not yoga alone that solves your problem - it is yoga plus ourself. It changes us, not the situation. It is always we who must cope but it is yoga that gives us the extra strength, the better balance, the calmness, the higher mental development needed to
find our way. But it is no instant remedy, like everything else worthwhile it demands work and perseverance. It does for you whatever you do for it, and gives back according to what you put into it.
Is Yoga a Religion?
Yoga is very often confused with dogma and sectarian religion; especially it is very often mistaken as unconditionally bound to Hinduism But the standard and scientific Yoga and its texts do not subscribe to this view. In fact Yoga bases its system mostly on the ‘Sankhya’ Philosophy (One of the schools of Indian philosophy) which is either atheist or at least non-committal about God. This is a clear indication that even a theist can follow and succeed to the highest stages of yoga. Thus yoga, is universal, and it is available to any man of any religion and in any circumstance. Yoga is neither a weird cult nor a religion. It is just a practical system of self-culture that aims at the harmonious development of the body & mind. It has no priests or dogmas, nor does it affect any personal beliefs. Anyone believer or non-believer can practice Yoga successfully for it is not a discipline that demands nor presupposes adherence to any specific faith. There is nothing in the essential principles of this time-honored system that is antagonistic to any religious belief or code of ethics It is practised by believers of many faiths in many parts of the world because it helps them to intensify and deepen the capacity for one’s own religious experience, because yoga makes them more patient, understanding and compassionate. Where a religion is based on faith, a belief that man will ultimately attain a higher state than he is now capable of reaching. Yoga shows a way of proving that faith, demonstrating that same truth underlies all religions. For truth in any tounge, in any time or country, remains the same.
What is Yoga ?
When the mind and body are working together
harmoniously due to Yoga discipline
we can find calm and peace of mind
at every moment.” - Bhagavad Gita In the evolutionary process of nature, humans are unique living beings in that we alone are gifted with the sixth sense. The sixth sense is a higher level of mind which is able to understand its own existence and functions. It is a divine meter measuring all the functions of the universe and understanding oneness among multiplicity and unity in diversity Yoga is a science of life to develop this sixth sense to its fullness and to enable and equip us to enjoy peaceful and blissful life. It is an art of realising the relationship of the body to the society, the world and the universe, maintaining its harmony. Yoga is one of the six schools of ancient Indian Philosophy. The word Yoga means union, symbolising the Co-ordination & efficient functioning of the body and the mind. So, Yoga could be defined as the discipline that leads to inner and outer union, harmony and joy. It is the discipline of conscious living. Throughout the centuries, dozens off yoga doctrines and schools took shape, of which only 4 are believed to be independent and original.
The four major branches of Yoga are:
• Karma Yoga • Bhakti Yoga • Jnana Yoga • Kaya Kalpa /Hatha/Raja Yoga
Karma (Work) Yoga Is the method of realisation through work, practice, activity. What is meant here is that the earthly life determines all subsequent life, that is, as you sow in this world you will mow in the next. Karma compels everyone to be active, to work industriously for the good of society and, of course, for their own good
Bhakti (Devotion) Yoga Is the way of attaining realisation through love and loyalty to the God . Bhakti is a series or succession of mental efforts at religious realisation beginning with ordinary worship and ending in a supreme intensity of love for the almighty.
Janana (Knowledge) Yoga Is the path of realisation through knowledge. As soon as ignorance – avidya- is destroyed, the human being becomes free.
KayaKalpa / Hatha / Raja (Body) Yoga Is the practice of entering the sanctuary of the body to quite the restlessness of the mind. It is an experience of using Asanas (Postures), Pranayam (Breathing Techniques) & Dhyana (Meditation) to go inward and discover what blocks us from living joyfully and in alignment with the body’s & nature’s natural rhythm.
Is Yoga safe?
“The younger, the old, the extremely aged , even the sick and the infirm obtain perfection in yoga by constant practice.” – Yoga Sutra.
Yoga is safe for everyone. It is suitable for people of all ages and levels of fitness. the elderly and people with chronic health problems can all practice yoga . While other exercise systems are based on external action & develop the muscles, Yoga work in depth in our interior being. And also on the mental level where they produce the sort of calm and serenity which are the key to energy and happiness The uniqueness in yoga is that no limb or internal organ of the practitioner is subjected to any strain. Yoga works as one unit by combining both the mind and body. As yoga is not very strenuous it could be an ideal fitness regimen for both the weak & the strong, healthy & unhealthy, fit & unfit . Also the time required for the entire series of sequence is very short and, however busy a life we may lead, you can fit the exercises into your schedule. No mechanical aids or implements are required, nor do you need a vast play field. In yoga philosophy there is something for everyone. Those who cannot do the postures could learn to relax tension and increase their energy through improved breathing & meditation. Yoga understands that people are different and they need different approaches that are in harmony with their differences.
How does Yoga work?
Harmony between body and mind is achieved through correct postural exercises, breathing and meditation. And the benefits react on the mind and personality. When the body is in perfect working order the outlook is cheerful and optimistic. When the nerves are calm and relaxed the attitude is more philosophical towards setbacks.
Is yoga just a fitness work out?
Yoga is not merely a system of physical exercises, it is a method of bringing the body & mind into a state of balance and integration. Yoga is not mind over body. It is harmony between them. In yoga the mind is used to perceive and guide the body. Not to control or force it. If you try to rush it, you will only slow yourself down. And Yoga is not just about making you stand on your head but ultimately helping you to learn how to stand on your own feet. Yoga assumes there is a basic link between the mind & body and that one cannot be affected without the other. In other forms of exercise you can allow your mind to wander, but in yoga your mind is focused on your breathing or the posture.
Why should we practice Yoga ?
“Attain good health. Without health how can you live? Without health how can you earn? Without health how can you get success in any undertaking? Possess wonderful health through yoga.” - Sivananda. The human body is a vehicle for journeying this life. It must be kept in proper form if the mind should function well. Health is wealth. Health is indeed a covetable possession. Good Health is a valuable asset for one and all. It can be achieved by the regular practice of Yogasanas. For , Yoga is a Science that can teach you the Art of Living Effortlessly.
Invitation To Perfect Health & Fitness
“Courage is thy birthright, but not fear;
Peace is thy divine heritage, but not restlessness.
Immortality is thy birthright, but not mortality;
Strength, but not weakness.
Health, but not diseases;
Bliss, but not sorrow;
Knowledge, but not ignorance.” - Swami Sivananda For us, disease is not a necessity but a choice. Nature did not impose sickness upon us. These are largely our dubious creations. But what we have built can also be unbuilt. There exists in every one of us a place that is free from disease & tension, that cannot age or die. This is the place called perfect health & fitness. And Yoga offers a short cut for people who would like to explore this new existence, bring it into their lives, and make it permanent. For those who are ready to explore, the price of the effort will be repaid many fold. If an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, then a few minutes of yoga each day is indeed worth the risk of physical debilitation and breakdown that attends neglect of properly body care. As Patanjali, one of the supreme Yoga sages, said –
“The trouble that has not yet arrived, that is what is to be avoided.”
“The quality of one’s life can be seen from one’s person. A confused and unsteady person has a mind that is enervated and depressed, a body that is weak, and breath that is short and laboured.” - Yoga Sutra “Yesterday is but a dream, tomorrow is but a vision. But today well lived makes every yesterday a dream of happiness and every tomorrow a vision of hope. Look well, therefore, to this day.” - Sanskrit Proverb.
The Key To Longevity
Once upon a time a visitor at the seashore
Met ten centenarians still going strong.
In all sincerity he made a bow:
“Pray , how have you managed to live so long?” Stroking his beard the first man replied,
“I’ve never touched liquor in all my life.” “I walk a hundred steps after each meal.”
The second greybeard rejoined with a smile. Nodding in agreement, the third chimed in,
“I eat only vegetables and the simplest fare.” “I travel by foot instead of by wheel,”
Said the fourth , leaning on his cane. The fifth added , flourishing the sleeves of his robe,
“I do my laundry and all other chores with my own hands.” Demonstrating a taijiquan form , the sixth explained,
“I do this fitness exercise every day.” Rubbing his nose the seventh observed,
“Keep the windows open and let the fresh air in.” The eight , rosy-cheeked remarked,
“I get a tan from the summer sun.’ Twisting his moustache, the ninth stressed,
“Early to bed and early to rise.” The last gentleman concluded , raising his eyebrows
“I am as merry as the day is long.” Always remember these old men’s words,
For there is much truth in their song. Do precisely as these men do,
If you want your days to be long.