Teaching Yoga to the Korean Group

In this month of September, Daniel and I (Jeenal) conducted a Yoga workshop for Koreans at the Yoga Institute. This Korean group was sent by the Government of Korea and they had come to research on India, it's tradition, culture etc.

Daniel started the session with Asanas that were taught in detail. After the Asana session, I taught them the breathing practices or Pranayamas along with a detailed explanation.

Daniel teaching Vakrasana - Lying down twist pose.

Konasana 3 - Angle Pose 3

Shalabhasana - Locust pose

I also introduced a few Sanskrit words like Namaste explaining them the meaning of it. Later, I had a brief discussion on the history of Yoga, Patanjali and Patanjali Yoga sutras.

Jeenal teaching Intercostal breathing.

Jeenal teaching Diaphragm/Abdomen/Belly breathing.

Conceptual and Experiential Training in Yoga - Ball game activity for neuro-muscular coordination, memory, concentration and stress management with Daniel.

The participants from Korea were extremely interested and enthusiastic to know more about Yoga. This made us think that we could probably do a Yoga Teacher Training course (YTTC) for Koreans. 

So if you are a Korean and interested to have a YTTC or Yoga workshops in Korea or any other place, then contact us info@wiselivingyoga.com and visit us on www.wiselivingyoga.com or/and on facebook on www.facebook.com/WiseLivingYoga

Also click the links below to visit our Course website for:

Yoga Teacher Training in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Yoga Teacher Training in Chiang Mai, Thailand

Yoga Teacher Training in Bali, Indonesia

Namaskar,


Jeenal Mehta

Yoga Asana - Paryankasana

Hey friends.. Let's do asanas !? How about Paryankasana !? I want to share my experience of this Asana. Initially it was really difficult, but with practice I am now able to do it easily. I have experienced great benefits of this asana. My legs seem more toned, flexible and stronger. Let me share with you the benefits and the method.

Benefits

Paryankasana gives a full stretch to the anterior and antero-internal muscles of the abdomen and the pelvic. The inner thighs as well get a good stretch. There is a deep pressure on the uterus and abdominal organs as well as the urinary organs and genitals. There is an increase in blood circulation around the abdominal and sex organs. It also leads to a better muscle tone. This deep pressure on the sex organs is very beneficial to a woman during pregnancy and to have a painless childbirth. It is advisable to avoid Paryankasana after the fourth month of pregnancy and during the first three days of menstruation. It is also extremely beneficial for women suffering from menstrual cramps. When done throughout the month, the cramps might reduce or even disappear.


Muscles that are exercised.

Leg extensors, hamstrings, quadriceps, medial rotators of hip. Plantar flexors, knee flexors and hips extensors as well as elbow flexors are exercised.

(Jeenal practicing Paryankasana)

How to do it?

First kneel down on the floor and sit then on your calves and place your feet under your buttocks. Now adjust to let your calves get positioned next to your thighs and your feet on the side of your buttocks. While keeping your knees together, slowly lean backwards while supporting your upper body on your elbows and forearms. Gently lie on your back with your body straight on the floor. Let your head and your neck rest on the floor. Keep both your hands and keep it on your abdomen.

Breathing pattern.

While getting down in the posture begin to inhale for 4 seconds. The inhalation should be deep, slow, gentle and rhythmic. The exhalation should also be equal as inhalation. Abdominal breathing is the most beneficial. If it is not possible to inhale and exhale for 4 seconds then 2 seconds or 3 seconds is also fine. The pose can be maintained in static as long as possible, but not more than two and a half minutes.

A few tips to make the posture easier.

Paryankasana is a difficult posture for people with less flexibility should first try to just flex the knees and sit for some days for a minute in the beginning. After, one can attempt to lay down with one leg flexed each time for a minute or depending on the capacity. If keeping the knees together when lying on the back is difficult, one can keep it away. After regular practice the pose can be accomplished and remaining in static will get easier. Initially lie supine for a few seconds and keep increasing the time span according to the comfort level.

Limitations.

-Pregnant women and menstruating women should not do as mentioned above
-People with knee pain
-People with any kind of back problem
-People with injured ankle

I hope this post was informative for the beginners who wish to get better with this asana. I will soon be back with more interesting posts. Do let me know if this post has helped you!!

Namaste!

Jeenal :-)

The Yoga of Mahatma Gandhi

Dear friends,

It has been some time that I have not visited Sevagram where Gandhiji lived for 10 years and now there is an Ashram. We take the people to the Ashram with an intention to spread the Gandhian principles. Also I wish that the children benefit from such trips by studying Yoga, Gandhiji's philosophy, vegetarianism, village industry and sustainable development. This year I have not been able to organize a trip to the Ashram, therefore, this is my endeavor to spread this knowledge to everyone for the benefit of humanity. Please have a look below!

Bapu's words : When in despair I remember that all through history the way of truth and love has always won; there have been tyrants and murderers, and for a time they can seem invincible, but in the end they always fall.

Fear and love are contradictory terms. Love is reckless in giving away, oblivious as to what it gets in return. Love wrestles with the world as with the self and ultimately gains mastery over all other feelings.

The law of love will work, just as the law of gravitation will work, whether we accept it or not. Just as a scientist will work wonders out of various applications of the law of nature, even so a man who applies the law of love with scientific precision can work greater wonders.

Gandhiji ka Charkha...means Handspunk. This was Gandhiji's appeal to the people of India to use human labour to produce cloth with the handspunk as it would to be a practical economic means for the poor villagers of India against the modern commercialization and industrialization leading to unemployement (64.27 percent people of India live in villages with low wages due to unemployment)

Return To Simplicity If I preach against the modern artificial life of sensual enjoyment, and ask men and women to go back to the wimple life epitomized in the Charkha, I do so because I know that, without an intelligent return to simplicity, there is no escape from our descent to a state lower than brutality. (YI, 21-7-1921, pp. 228-9)

Revival of the cottage industry, and not cottage industries, will remove the growing poverty. When once we have revived the one industry, all the other industries will follow…. I would make the spinning-wheel the foundation on which to build a sound village life. I would make the wheel the centre round which all other activities will revolve. (YI, 21-5-1925, pp. 176, 177)

The person who discovered the law of love was a far greater scientist than any of our modern scientists. Only our explorations have not gone far enough and so it is not possible for everyone to see all its workings.

Evening prayers at the Ashram at Sevagram. Till date the Ashram continues to follow the Gandhian principles and as you can see a kerosene lamp in the picture is used for light instead of electricity. Everything used in the ashram is ecological and non-violent to nature.

It is the law of love that rules mankind. Had violence, i.e. hate, ruled us we should have become extinct long ago. And yet, the tragedy of it is that the so-called civilized men and nations conduct themselves as if the basis of society was violence.

T

The law of love will work, just as the law of gravitation will work, whether we accept it or not. Just as a scientist will work wonders out of various applications of the law of nature, even so a man who applies the law of love with scientific precision can work greater wonders.

Talking on Swaraj and asking them to wear local indian clothes and help to uplift the village industry.

Empower our children with love, compassion, courage and patience. Take children to places like Ashrams like the one of Mahatma Gandhi and show them a way of Non-violence. Educate them on concepts such as vegetarianism, environmental awareness, sustainable developement and self sufficient village economy. Inspire them by sharing the work of great personality such as Swami Vivekananda, Gandhiji, Mother Teresa and many such. This will pave a path of peace for us and our future generation.


Lots of peace to all !! Namaskar !!
Jeenal

2nd International Yoga Seminar 2011

Yoga for Health, Illness & Disease
From 23rd to 25th September, 2011 at Ujjain, M.P. India

Our beloved Guru Smt. Hansaji Jayadeva Yogendra is one of the Guest Speakers and the Chair Person of the Opening Ceremony of the 2nd International Yoga Seminar held in the city of Ujjain, state of Madhya Pradesh, India.


Daniel & Jeenal were also invited to make a presentation and workshop at the Seminar.

The event is organized by the Ujjain Yogalife Society, another affiliated and authorized center of The Yoga Institute of Santacruz, Mumbai, the oldest organised Yoga institution in the world.

Hansaji speaking at the 1st International Yoga Seminar in 2010.

The International YOGA Seminar will present lectures and workshops within the following six program tracks:

Track A: Effects of YOGA on the human body
Track B: YOGA as clinical and prevention science
Track C: YOGA for physical health
Track D: YOGA for mental health
Track E: Scientific research, case studies in YOGA
Track F: Involvement of YOGA in various therapies
Track G: YOGA philosophy for societal well-being, peace and integrity

We also would like to call attention to the fact that this event is an Eco-friendly seminar:

- The organisers of this Yogalife Seminar wanted to show a strong commitment to environmental protection and, for that reason, did not use any paper during this unique event. 

- All procedures for registration, abstract submissions, fee payments, tour and accommodation bookings, volunteer applications, sponsorship and donations were completed online.

 - Badges and Certificates were also presented in a new format using only cotton materials.

To know more please click here and visit the Event's Website.

Namaskar !!