THE FLOWERS BLOOM

Tek Mirchandani

         

In a remote corner of one of Mumbai’s shore-line stands beautiful Jogger’s Park. Mr. Shanker, after a half an hour stroll sat on a high rise bench to enjoy the evening breeze and sink in the sunset’s golden glow. At some distance was a young lady in a track-suit, doing standing Asanas on the lawn which was surrounded by a five foot hedge, offering complete privacy. At the opposite side was a middle-aged woman practicing sitting postures.

Yoga Asanas in a public garden? Of course the entry was restricted by an entrance fee and it was manned by uniformed well-behaved guards. There were many enclosures which women, children, senior citizens and families visited for rest and recreation. The rhyme and rhythm of the Yogic Asanas in such a serene atmosphere was fascinating.

In the open-space lawns were some men engrossed in their own endeavours. Not to be undone, the senior citizens on the benches were practicing Pranayamas.

How did all this happen? Mr. Shanker realized that in 1991 when the park started there were only some joggers and walkers who were regular visitors. Slowly it dawned upon him that in not a very far away suburb, Santacruz, was situated The Yoga Institute, known worldwide for the excellent service rendered to humanity for 92 years. 

The Yoga Institute was running special classes for those who had health    problems. There were 7 months and 1 year Teacher Training Courses. In addition, on invitation from the Ministry of Human Resources Development, in 1994 a one month Teacher Training Course was introduced to teach Maharashtra Government Teachers to impart yoga knowledge to school children to keep them healthy and fit. To spread knowledge, private participants were also allowed to undertake this course.

Due to some changes in the working of different ministers in government the one month Teacher Training Course was discontinued. Having established this very useful course, it has continued for private students. Over the years the number has nearly expanded to one hundred, including both English and Hindi sections. 

It is a great feeling that the new course, which started with one main teacher, has progressed so much that men, women, young and old have embraced the yoga fold and are bold enough to practice in the park.

Let the flowers bloom!! 

Published in the June 2011 edition of Yoga & Total Health Magazine.

Santosa

Dr. Jayadeva Yogendra

Contentment (one of the 5 Niyamas) implies absence of desire for any possession in excess of the immediate necessities for maintaining one’s life.

Contentment (Sam + tus) with what comes of itself.

From contentment unsurpassed happiness is gained (Yoga Sutra 11.42). Contentment is the highest heaven in Mahabharata (XII . 21.2).

It has been said in this connection:  ‘The happiness gained on this earth through enjoyment of desired objects, or the supreme heavenly joy, is not even one-sixteenth of the happiness caused by the cessation of desires’.  

Santosa assumes a spiritual content viz. full faith and satisfaction in God as against external changeful objects and in this it is rightly said that the Niyamas help in creating right reorientation for Isvarapranidhna.

Contentment is freedom from desire in Vishnupurana quoted in Patanjalarahsya of Raghavananda Sarasvati. As Vijnana-Bhiksu has rightly said in his Yoga Varttika on Yoga Sutra 11.42:  the joy obtained in contentment is not resulting from desire for any sensory object. It is really the Citta’s establishment in its own Sattvika nature which is joy and which arises spontaneously when desires get reduced. This joy of tranquility does not depend on any object. 

With faith in a spiritual entity (really spiritual awareness within oneself always), one has least attraction for lesser things. This is not just a make believe but is really a deep inner feeling nurtured by certainty. If God is with me, who is against me, everything lies within me, is an attitude born of confidence and not weakness.

Published in the Jan 2011 edition of Yoga & Total Health Magazine.

YOU ARE WHAT YOU EAT

Hansaji

Our physical as well as mental health is, to a large extent, determined by two to three inches of muscle, popularly known as the tongue. An uninhibited tongue, cannot be reined in by its owner and cause its owner much trouble in more ways than one. It is said that the person who has control over the tongue can rise to great heights. Because it is the tongue that sends out words that can offend or uplift, hurt or heal, praise or condemn, and the man who uses words carelessly, without discrimination, will sooner or later pay for his indiscretions. On the other hand the man who uses his tongue well to deliver his words in measured way, is the master of his destiny.       
       
At another level, the tongue is like a sentry at the gates of the digestive system. It has an important job; it has to sense and taste the food, which it has to then certify for release into the system. It’s the quality control department but, like a corrupt politician who abuses his position when made in charge of an important portfolio, the tongue is also prone to corruption. Instead of accepting that which is delicious and nutritious, it can be easily corrupted and led into accepting all that ‘tastes’ good but is ruinous to our health. And this is what has happened to most of us. Due to our callous and indifferent attitude to our diets, due to our ignorance of the role of diet in our lives, an entire range of harmful foods has entrenched itself in our lives, and we continue to consume them without even being aware of the tremendous harm they cause. Our only idea is taste and we are only starting to discover that all that is tasty is not necessary healthy. Perhaps in the future, in a more enlightened time, some of our choice foods will come with statutory warnings like the ones we see on cigarette packets.

As the pace of life changes, as our lifestyles change, we adopt new foods, not necessarily healthy, and discard foods from our diets, which are beneficial for us. The changing role of the woman in society has caused upheavals in the kitchen and this also impacts our health. As a result of the many changes, we have forgotten what is good for us, we have lost touch with ourselves. This probably explains the rising number of hospitals, all of them doing roaring business; this also explains the high obesity ratio observed among children these days, and the many other ailments whose origins are being traced to poor, faulty and imbalanced diet.

Published in the July 2010 edition of Yoga & Total Health Magazine.