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‘Householder Yoga’ is not a brand
of yoga, unlike many popular brands that exist today in the ‘yoga market.’ It
is simply a term to describe a simplified form of yoga for the common man and
woman. Many people believe that the spiritual aspect of yoga is for Sanyasis (Ascetics) who have left their
homes to attain enlightenment. However, there is a place, in the middle of the commercial
capital of India – Mumbai, where yoga and its spiritual aspects are taught to
householders.
The seed of this was sown 94
years ago, when Shri Yogendraji founded The Yoga Institute in 1918 after
receiving practical firsthand training from the last apostle of Yoga –
Paramhamsa Madhavadasji.
Even when he went to learn from
his Guru, Yogendraji made it clear
that he intended to live a householder’s life when he said, “I am anxious to
learn from you and am prepared for everything, but I can neither lose interest
in the society nor break ties with the world – the whole kaleidoscope of life
around me. I am deeply interested in spirituality not to seek an escape from
life but to live it more fully.”
At the time, many ill-informed people
had extreme prejudice towards yoga. Scientific minds also considered its study
as non-essential and unsuitable for householders and its practice by a woman
was inconceivable.
In 1918, Yogendraji worked very
hard to systematically revive Hatha Yoga by propagating it not just as a
philosophy but as a positive science of potent educational, therapeutic, moral,
intellectual and spiritual values to humanity. He simplified Hatha Yoga
techniques and brought about a great transformation in the outlook towards
yoga. Staying true to his word, he married and lived a householder’s life. His
wife Smt. Sitadevi joined him in spreading the knowledge of yoga for the first
time among women. Their son, Dr. Jayadeva Yogendra and his wife Smt. Hansaji
are now continuing their legacy at The Yoga Institute, Santacruz.
Today, a popular belief has
arisen that yoga means perfection in Asanas
where one can perform different stunts and attain some miraculous gains. So,
one may ask, “Why simplify Hatha Yoga techniques? Can we not do the same postures
as the Hatha Yogis?”
Hansaji explains, “There are many
varieties of yoga mentioned in scriptures. But Maharshi Patanjali used the
essence of yoga from them all and gave a systematic path and made guidelines
for us. He has defined an Asana as a
posture where one can remain steady and comfortable and a person should put in
enough effort to sustain it for a long time.
However, at the Institute, we
found that there were many varieties of Hatha Yoga Asanas which were harmful if done by a common man. For example, a Hatha
Yogi may stand on one leg, with his
hands up for many hours or days. If a normal man tried this, he would lose his
physical ability because his body is deficient and his nerves are restless. The
hands would go numb, the leg would get swollen. Hatha Yogis live a secluded life and have no other responsibilities. They
can afford to experiment with their bodies, whereas a householder has many
responsibilities, anxieties and worries. So the path of a Hatha Yogi and that of a householder has to be
different.
A householder does not require
the extreme stretch of Hatha Yoga practices. Backward bending followed by
forward bending till one can even touch the toes is enough for maintaining
health, instead of doing a complete Cakrasana.
A householder has the chance to learn
from the varied experiences he has in life, making his progress faster - he can
be happier, healthier, do right Karma,
can be accepting, productive and also good for the society. Patanjali
emphasizes on control of the mind which is done on the intellectual as well as
emotional level. The Bhavas (Attitude
Training) is a unique concept taught at the Institute that help in gaining this
control.
The main message we want to
propagate is that the householder should inculcate yoga in day to day life, similar
to how villagers squat when milking a cow and bend forward when cutting crops.
In fact, looking back into the
past, traditional yoga was originally for the householder. Krsna went to Sandipani
Ashram, Ram went to Vashistha Ashram. Students used to go and live in
the Guru’s house where the Guru was a householder with wife and
children. They learnt to apply the teachings to their everyday life.”
It is this very spiritual aspect
of yoga, that hardly anyone is aware about inspite of all the hype about yoga,
that The Yoga Institute has been silently working to propagate. On 25th
and 26th December 2012, we celebrate 94 years of this kind of
selfless service towards humanity.
As Dr. Jayadeva says, “This is a
small institute. No central government, no state government, no municipal
grants, no large donations from anywhere. It is carrying on for 94 years on its
own strength. We don’t have Sadhus
and Sanyasis. Here there are no
restrictions. Yoga can be practiced by all but there should be a very good
amount of self control and discipline. Try and understand concepts involved and
use them in a simple way. Patanjali has made it very clear; those who are
sincerely interested to follow yoga – to stop the Citta, should take up yoga.”
All are welcome to explore the world of classical yoga at the World Householders' Yoga Convention - 25th, 26th December 2012, at The Yoga Institute Santacruz.
Article by Ankita Shah, published in the August 2012 edition of Yoga & Total Health Magazine
