YOGA FOR BEGINNERS by Hansaji
Creating some kind of deep interest in oneself helps. Ordinary knowledge and statements in traditional Hatha Yoga works will not help unless a deeper interest has been created by the teacher.
General interest in Indian achievements and the glory of its past culture can also help children to get interested in Yoga. Incidents in the life of Ashoka who withdrew from war after winning it or of Sukhdev who opted for self control over sensory pleasures when young etc. Simple ways that were followed like sitting with eyes closed, counting reverse from 1000 to one and some introversion studies, or acquainting students in the beginning with finer points of Indian culture like steadiness of mind, self help etc. are referred to.
Useful procedures and techniques called Yoga in standard old books like Hatha Yoga Pradipika could be shared and learnt both in theory and practice for our good. Yoga was for people who lived like us, had families, felt the need of healthy body, steady concentrated mind, good character and discipline etc. This entire tradition and process is applicable to us also today. This can make us healthy and efficient.
In Hathayogapradipika details are available about a whole day’s routine, which influences the mind in thinking in a certain way. Useful suggestions are there about food. A little acquaintance with all this helps in creating interest followed by simple discussions about Yama, Niyama, Asana as in the above book. (Chapter I, Sloka 12 up to 19th.)
The question is about a good teacher in the present set up. In India, the teacher has long hours to work with deadlines to meet and with large number of students in class. Sometimes around fifty to sixty in a small classroom with no facilities no large halls for good Yoga practice and no playground. A bunch of mischievous children are difficult to manage in this setting. How exactly teaching of traditional Yoga be imparted in this kind of set up of today?
It is indeed the rapport between the learner and the teacher that will be the crux of the matter. So far as the teachers’ imparting Yoga in its fullness, the closeness of the learner and the teacher will help. Watching each other and imitating the teachers and vice versa. The teacher watching the pupils managing themselves in difficult situations is a very good way of learning yoga. Say a teacher teaching a group of students, may say, “In this humid climate when nasal blockage or cold cough etc. is common, what I do is to massage the forehead and face for four minutes regularly thrice a day. Keeping the head a little bent down as in Yoga Mudra or covering the head while sleeping etc. All this has helped in managing simple upper respiratory tract problems.”
The teacher has taught Kapalbhati, kapalarandradhouti in a very natural and interesting way to the students.
The same can be when the teacher sitting with the students puts up the question of concentration of mind. “Close the eyes and count mentally 1000 to 1 in reverse. This can help in learning concentration” the teacher may say.
There is a scope for acquainting school going children with Yoga for preventive hygiene, norms of mental health besides ethical conduct etc. This can be done in the present kind of school in spite of poor facilities. The teacher will have to be a seriously interested person who can introduce these concepts and practices in class rooms with personal demonstrations, practices and talks and then group practices in small rooms. Places could be found for learning hygiene, mental discipline, simple philosophy of life etc. as per time and place available in schools. The usual asana part may continue.
If we in India are interested in our youth and want to make our youth mentally strong, physically healthy, Yoga will be our answer.
