Stress Management through Yoga - Part 1 (By Hansaji J. Yogendra)

Every situation which has bothered you, you are supposed to identify that situation, give an answer to that situation and see that it does not pile up.  This is the best management.  In the morning you had an argument with your boss and you could not shout back at him, so you kept quiet, however you did get hurt.  You returned home, argued with your wife or somehow released your tensions.  But you have not yet solved the problem. Now before going to bed maybe you could just close your eyes and analyze the situation.  Then you could philosophize and answer it.  Well, boss is justified for his behavior because maybe that is the only way that he can get the work done and this is his way of managing his employees.  So you could answer that, well, anybody who is behaving in anyway is justified.

The thing here is that 'you don’t label it as wrong', because you put yourself in the boss’s situation, and then try to understand it.  Somehow bring all that logic, reasoning, and understanding and answer it and label that situation as a normal situation which should happen as it happened and finish the matter.  If you could do like that every day, things would not pile up.  But somehow we don’t do that reflecting each day and things get piled up. Sometimes the situation is such that any amount of philosophy does not work.  You are really disturbed and someone comes and tells you, “You should not!”  You feel like slapping that person.  You feel like saying, “Now shut up! I know all about it, but now I am disturbed, that’s it! I don’t want your advice!”  So when this is the situation, what to do?

Now Yoga tries to see stress from a different angle.  As Dr. Jayadeva said, any situation is a right situation.  If the understanding is there, then there is nothing like stress.  This word stress is not a Yoga term at all.  According to Yoga, the moment balanced state is lost you are under stress.  The moment you are away from a happy state you are under stress.  I am talking about negative stress.  This stress is going to cause havoc in your personality. So never let this stress pile up.

As soon as you are away from a happy state, what happens scientifically?

Hansaji Jayadeva Yogendra
Director at The Yoga Institute of Santracruz
Mumbai - India

- You all know the adrenaline, hormone is secreted into the blood stream, muscles become tight, arteries become narrow, blood pressure shoots up; you start breathing fast, your pulse rate goes up; all this happens;
- Also the purification of blood does not take place because you are really not taking a normal breath;
- Whatever food you have eaten, the body starts storing it because the body cannot assimilate it;
- Storage starts occurring, arthritis begins, arteriosclerosis starts.  It’s vicious circle;
- Above all your nervous system is much affected because nerves are no more in a normal state, a happy state.

Mind wants to be peaceful, relaxed and in a happy state. Everybody wants happiness.  But now what is happening here is that your nerves are not in happy state, so your concentration, memory and your reasoning power are poor.  Then if reasoning power is poor, then action/reaction begins and a person starts functioning at an animal level.  When he gets affected by others, action/reaction starts.  It is a vicious cycle.  So the Yogis say don’t allow this. But if it does happen then what do you do?

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Keep in touch with our blog. We'll soon post the continuation for this article: 'Stress Management Through Yoga - Part 2'

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About the author:

Smt. Hansaji Jayadeva is at present the Director of The Yoga Institute of Santacruz, Mumbai, India and the President of The International Board of Yoga. She is perhaps best known in India as the charming lady who was the Yoga expert in the popular television series 'Yoga for Better Living’, first televised in 1980 which was judged the best program of that time. But unlike many 'stars' she just does not act the part on the screen but lives what she preaches. She has also been selected 'Woman of the Year - 2000' by American Biographical Institute - USA, for her outstanding accomplishment and the noble example she has set for her peers and entire community.

Yoga Hygiene: Care of the Tongue

It is not generally known that tartar and decomposing material tend to collect on the root of the tongue and are often more responsible for foul breath than stomach conditions. Most persons do not know that the base of the tongue is often the place from where bad breath arises. So it is just as imperative to scrape the tongue well as to cleanse the teeth and the mouth. 

In diagnosis, it is an accepted medical fact that the condition of the tongue acts as an index of the state of health of the alimentary canal more truly than other external organs. It is held by the Yogins that the neglected and therefore, unhealthy tongue likewise reacts unfavourably on the alimentary canal. The yoga practice of Jihvamulasodhanam or the cleansing of the root of the tongue consists of reaching the back of the tongue, as far as one can, and thus removing with the finger-tips whatever mucus and phlegm deposits that may have accumulated there. 

The practice of brushing the tongue and the root of the tongue with an ordinary tooth-brush is really not as safe as it appears, because the hard bristles if thrust too far by oversight, may lead to an injury of the oropharynx, or can cause extreme gagging or sometimes may even hit the root of the mouth.

In this respect, the yoga method is comparatively more precise, simple and effective. It is practiced thus:

Practice of Jihvamulasodhana
or the cleansing of the root of the tongue.

1. Join together the first three fingers known as the forefinger (Tarjani), the middle (Madhyama) and the ring finger (Anamika);
2. Push them into the throat deep enough and rub well till the root of the tongue is cleansed. While washing thus, simultaneous efforts should also be made to throw out whatever phlegm and mucus (Kafa), that may have surrounded the cavity.
3. After a minute or two of such cleansing, rub the tongue with butter very sparingly so that the scraping which is to follow may not lead to an irritation of the surface. Then hold the tongue scraper on the tongue pulling the same slowly downwards.           

That the practical Yogins should have realized the import and necessity of not only cleansing the surface but even the base and lower portion of the tongue most carefully twice every day, namely (i) early morning and (ii) before retiring to bed, when even the casual cleansing of the tongue was not so popular is really remarkable.

by Shri Yogendraji

Source: This text was originally written by Shri Yogendraji and posteriorly used at the monthly journal "Yoga & Total Health" issue of May 2011, edited and distributed by the Yoga Institute of Santracruz, Mumbai - India.

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You can learn this and many other techniques for the care of the body (kriyas), and experience an authentic Yogic lifestyle by attending our next Yoga Teacher Training Course in Thailand.

Namaste

Pranayama - By Shri Yogendraji

Pranayama is the controlling of Prana or the “life essence of the universe”.

A great deal of misunderstanding, however, seems to exist in relation to the various practices of this science. Some call it the Science of breath, while some call it the control of psychic Prana. But the truth is that it is both: physical as well as mental.

In Sanskrit, Prana literally means Life; it is also supposed to mean Breath. It is the sum total of all cosmic energy. It is the vital force in our body that moves us to action.“From thought to the lowest physical force, everything is but the manifestation of the Prana” (Swami Vivekananda). It is the “potential energy which remains constant, no matter what changes take place around us; it is eternal and infinite” (Tyndall, Fragments of Science).

This is what the Yogis know to be, as Cosmic Prana. This all-pervading cosmic energy, when it becomes limited in a certain body is called the individual Prana or the kinetic energy (finite) that manifests itself through the different functions of our organism. It is the same cosmic energy that the recent scientists try to control.

According to the Yogic psychological anatomy, there are five main Pranas and five minor Pranas, which have different duties to perform. The main ones are the chief nerve-currents that control certain vital organs. The minor Pranas are subordinates to the function of the higher ones, but they are independent of each other. They have also the corresponding relation with the cosmic energy. The main Pranas have a separate element and have different planes on which they chiefly operate. It is the control of this cosmic energy or Prana that is desired by the Yogis for the control of higher life.

Regulation of breath

Shri Yogendraji in suitable pose
for Pranayama practice.

Patanjali defines Pranayama as the stoppage of the inspiratory and expiratory movements. It is quite natural that, when the breath is active, the mind becomes active also. In sleep, when the mind is temporarily inactive and concentrated the number of respirations is generally reduced, so much so, that they are nearly half the number of the otherwise active condition.

It is true that the control of Prana requires steadiness of mind. The easiest way to control the Prana is to control the breathing process, because it is it’s chief activity.

The lungs are the most active part of our system that works automatically and unceasingly. It is the control over their motion, which is necessary for the control of vital energy. The essence of the techniques of Pranayama lie in the fact that if the breathing is controlled to the extend of having the capacity to stop it, if this can be done, the activity of the body is quite naturally controlled.

This article was published in Yoga & Total Health (August 1991) - the monthly magazine of The Yoga Institute.

Integrating Habits (Words of the Master)

We are often conscious of a certain habit pattern that has become a part of our life. We may, for example, be vaguely conscious of our habit of hurrying away with things, or our habit of procrastination, etc. We realize the consequences of some of these wrong habits. We even feebly, wish to change our habits, but unfortunately nothing much comes out of such wishes.

The question that troubles many of us is how to overcome what we have come to regard as a wrong habit. Obviously, the impulse to change a habit has to arise from the same personality structure that has all along nurtured the old habits.

In Yoga, therefore, we talk of the existence of both the Klista (afflictive) and Aklista (non-afflictive) Vritti (thought waves) in a particular state of mind. Nobler aspirations exist in the midst of ignoble traits. We must strengthen the nobler aspirations against the overpowering influence of the ignoble ones. No sooner we detect a desirable tendency growing within us, we should help to strengthen it. One should try to remain very aware of these happenings in our mind.

The inherent understanding about life and its purpose, that we all possess to a larger or smaller degree, is the very foundation for all improvement. With some, of course, the clarity is very poor. With others, there is much greater clarity. Once a good base of clarity or discrimination of the real, from the unreal, is available, one can go about identifying, the desirable tendencies more easily. The right thing for all of us will be, to continuously clarify our minds, about the way we live, and the satisfaction we gain by such living.

Sketch of Dr. Jayadeva Yogendra
President of The Yoga Institute of Santacruz

Those who do not study this aspect of their lives, or do not evaluate their progress, are very much like the ‘disappointed villager’. This villager, according to the story, went enthusiastically to witness a drama performance. On realizing that he was too early for the performance he preferred to spread his mat and rest for a while. However, in the process, he overslept and was shocked to find that, while he was asleep, the performance had already taken place.

This villager represents all of us, who come to this world to enjoy life and to understand it. Unfortunately we never come to grip with the issue, till the very end of our life – which happens to be the time of our departure.

Source:

From "Stray Thoughts on the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali" by Dr. Jayadeva Yogendra, published by The Yoga Institute of Santacruz, Mumbai - India.

Vairagya - Disinterestedness (Words of the Master)

Grapes Are Sour?

"The fox who longed for grapes, beholds with pain

The tempting clusters were too high to gain;

Grieved in his heart he forced a careless smile,

And cried ,‘They’re sharp and hardly worth my while"

The Fox and the Grapes (example of not true detachment)

"This Fox has a longing for grapes:
He jumps, but the bunch still escapes.
So he goes away sour;
And, 'tis said, to this hour
Declares that he's no taste for grapes"

"Pleasures are dear and difficult to get.

Feasting the eye, fat grapes hung in the arbour,

That the fox could not reach, for all his labour,

And leaving them declared, they're not ripe yet."

by Aphra Behn, Walter Crane, Isaac de Benserade respectively, from the original "The Fox and the Grapes" traditional Aesop's fables

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The fox that gave up in attempt to reach the grapes, that were too high for it, saying that the grapes were sour, was not an embodiment of true disinterestedness.

When one lacks capabilities, and therefore shows disinterest in otherwise interesting objects, then one is not really disinterested. If you are sick, and you have no desire for food, you need not have to praise yourself foe being sparing in your food habits. The real test of your disinterest lies, when in spite of good appetite and tasty food available you, show disinclination to eat it.

It is often found, during pathological conditions e.g. psychiatric disorders, that one loses one's urge, for normal biological activities of life. This should not be mistaken for any spiritual development. You may lose your appetite, when you are under influence of anxiety and fear. But when you are free of such anxiety and fear, the appetite returns. Thus, we see a lot of sadhus and sanyansis showing their pseudo-spiritual qualities of unworldliness, etc. however, when they are in a favourable situation to partake of material pleasures, they go about uninhibitedly indulging in their secret cravings. They betray a lack of any true disinclination to material objects.

Rise of a spiritual understanding of the real from the unreal, is an important ingredient of yogic disinterestedness.

One has to have faith in a spiritual destiny to begin his attempt at self improvement. It is said that to create such an attitude, one must enjoy a certain amount of tranquility of the mind. Clarity is poor with us, when our mind is confused and we are overpowered by hatred, jealousy and such negative feelings. It is therefore recommended that one begins cultivating his disinterest, by experiencing positive feelings of friendliness, compassion, etc. these emotions when not excessive, remove toxicity (mala) from our mind.

It may happen that, with the rise of positive feelings, certain amount of disinterest develops. We have to therefore find out what sensory stimuli have been mastered at this stage, and what sensory objects still remain active. This sort of understanding of the mind is not so easy to obtain.

Yogis at this stage show disinclination to the gross material objects, and yet they remain attached to the subtle ones. Some of the tallest individuals in our society, disinterested in wealth and material comforts, may yet very attached to power.

The final stage of disinterestedness is when one gains a sense of mastery over material things. However, this too is considered inferior, if a corresponding understanding of a spiritual life is not available.

Disinterestedness based on spiritual knowledge culminates in final liberation from bondage.

Source:

From "Stray Thoughts on the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali" by Dr. Jayadeva Yogendra, published by The Yoga Institute of Santacruz, Mumbai - India.

Abhyasa - Perseverance (Words of the Master)

“Practice makes a man perfect” - This is true of Yoga studies as well.

In fact, the role of perseverance is pivotal here. Because after stalling the flow of one's biological and psychological energy, from getting dissipated in mundane objectives, one has to direct it to better purposes.

There is this great need for holding on to that first inspirational state, that arises within us occasionally, to pursue the path of self-improvement. We are apt to lose heart, when traveling this path of self-evolution. Long is the journey, and uncharted the path. It is therefore, that we are commended prolonged and uninterrupted effort. There is no sense of a spiritual life that proceeds by fits and bounds turns into a drudgery or is devoid of energy, strength, enthusiasm and cheerfulness.

For one thing, there is no question of hurry in spiritual matters. In the oft quoted story in the commentaries on Yoga Sutra: 

"The two tiny tittibha birds, that lost their eggs, to the sea, vowed to recover the same, is very apt. The birds began to gather drops of water in their beaks and flew a distance away dropping the sea water, with a hope that in this operation they would dry up the sea bed. They affirmed to themselves that though they knew very well, that their final objective may not be met in a few moments, or few hours, or even a few days, or a few weeks, or a few months or a few years, they were sure that if they persisted, birth after birth, they would succeed in the end. That was their determination and their source of enthusiasm. The impossible happened, as per the mythological story, when the divine Garuda intervened on their behalf, and recovered their lost eggs."

The efforts are not to be just for a little while.
Efforts are to be continued for a long time.
Much patience is needed here.

"Patience is therefore also synonymous with the name of great yogis like Goraknath."

In traditional learning, there are to be asked no such questions:

"How long will I have to continue my studies?"

Sketch of Dr. Jayadeva Yogendra
President of The Yoga Institute of Santacruz

There can be no crash program in Yoga.

Another important point is that of not allowing any efforts to get lost. Once we create a certain climate, momentum and mood, we should keep up the tempo. The slightest distraction has to be avoided, lest the momentum might get interrupted.

It is often that the students of Yoga undertake tapa (severe discipline) to condition themselves for a serious and consistent study of Yoga. In this act of sadhana (spiritual study), the ritual of initiation has an emotive value. Spiritual journey could not be a dry and barren exercise, shorn of feelings of a positive kind.

Much can therefore be said of devotion, enthusiasm, cheerfulness and spiritual passion in this context. Before anything else, one has to pass through this positive experience.

This experience combines the will with the next important process of disinterestedness.

With regard to Yoga, faith and disinterestedness are the two sides of the same coin.

Source:

From "Stray Thoughts on the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali" by Dr. Jayadeva Yogendra, published by The Yoga Institute of Santacruz, Mumbai - India.

What is Classical Yoga or Traditional Yoga?

Understanding Yoga as on of the Indian systems of philosophy;

Understanding Yoga as a path for Self-realization;

Understanding Yoga as way of life;

Understanding Yoga in its entirety (not just taking one part of it).

All of the above is meant when we say Classical or Traditional Yoga.

Raja Yoga can also be called as Ashtanga Yoga or Patanjali Ashtanga Yoga.

So lets understand what is Raja Yoga or Patanjali Ashtanga Yoga in brief:

Raja literally means 'king' or 'royal'.

Raja Yoga may refer to one of the paths of Yoga amongst the 4 valid paths; the other 3 paths being Karma Yoga, Bhakti Yoga and Jnana Yoga.

But in reality it is the culmination of all Yogic disciplines and efforts. So Raja Yoga actually refers to the highest states of Yoga.

Patanjali, was a great sage who systematized the entire path of Yoga in his 195 sutras. And, in this way he has contributed to the human society this great work on spirituality and human psychology. Raja Yoga or Ashtanga Yoga consists of eight parts, often called as eight-limbs-of-yoga. Yoga traditionalist and scholars devote their entire lives in studying, learning and practicing the Yoga sutras of Patanjali.

Our beloved Guru Hansaji had once said to me that "the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali serve as a path for the humans to help themselves to come out of the turmoil of life".

It is a highly organized path, giving precise directions and guidelines to humans who are interested in spiritual and self-development.

So the eight disciplines of Ashtanga Yoga are:

1) Yama - Universal ethics; the don't(s) - five in total

2) Niyama - Personal observances; the do(s) - five in total

3) Asana - Physical postures

In a systematic and traditional path of Yoga, it is highly essential to place ethics and observances before physical postures. The first two steps empower a human to sublimate his negative tendencies, freeing the mind from many negativities. Then only, a deep awareness and control on the body can be gained. A total understanding over the body can be achieved when our thoughts, our behaviour, our entire lifestyle is pure. Otherwise, as our Gurus say "asanas will also become a materialistic way, to show off, to compete". Asanas will lose their deep spiritual purpose without the practice of Yamas and Niyamas.

4) Pranayama - Training of the bio-energy

5) Pratyahara - Sense withdrawal from sense objects

6) Dharana - Concentration

7) Dhyana - Meditation

8) Samadhi - Deep absorption in consciousness state.

To really understand Yoga, one has to experience it. It is an experiential science. It is a way of life, a very profound philosophy which needs to be put into application. It leads to an overall transformation of the human personality on all the planes.

Our entire Yoga Teacher Training course 200 hours and advanced 300 hours is based on Raja Yoga. It is a Classical Yoga training, with a traditional approach. 

All the techniques practiced in our center are scientifically taught. Here the students get to understand Yoga from the scratch, from its very roots. We get many students from different walks of life, some who have not practiced any Yoga, no yoga asanas. On the other hand, we also get so many students who had been doing Bikram Yoga, Hot Yoga, Ashtanga ‘Vinyasa’ Yoga, Power Yoga and such styles of physical practices. There are just so many styles. Today so many fancy names are put in front of Yoga.

But these are just some 'styles' of doing an exercise.

If it is not done with the right attitude, it is actually not 'Yoga'.

Even a style of asana has been now called as 'Ashtanga Yoga', but it is only an exercise style and many a times it can get confusing for a person who does not know the real meaning of Ashtanga Yoga. 

Yes, Yoga has a part called Asanas, which is important. But the other parts are equally important and cannot be neglected. A good routine, healthy food, natural environment, healthy inter-personal relationships, personal hygiene, daily exercises and body cleansing, breath work, meditation, and so many other things all make up Yoga. This is what we are committed to pursue and teach. In order to help yourself and to help others, we highly recommend that you choose to study and practice Yoga in its entirety. That would be Classical Yoga or Traditional Yoga :-)

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Wise Living Yoga Academy is authorized to impart Yoga Teacher Training Courses on the tradition of The Yoga Institute of Santacruz in Mumbai, India – the world’s oldest organized Yoga Institution. The residential programs are held regularly in Bali (Indonesia), Chiang Mai (Thailand) & Minas Gerais (Brazil) throughout the year and are accredited by the Yoga Alliance USA, allowing the graduates to teach Yoga in any part of the world.

The 200 hours courses and the Advanced 300 & 500 hours Yoga Teacher Training Courses are conducted regularly in our new permanent Yoga Center in Doi Saket, Chiang Mai, Thailand.

Please follow the links to know more about all the scheduled
Yoga Teacher Training Courses (YTTC)  in 2013:

- Yoga Teacher Training Course in Minas Gerais, Brazil

- Yoga Teacher Training Course in Bali, Indonesia

- Yoga Teacher Training Course in Chiang Mai, Thailand

Growing Old Gracefully

We see certain changes happening in our own person.

The body grows from infant stage to the next stage where there is a complete change in the external appearance. The infant grows into a youth. So totally dissimilar! It is this feeling (that it is still myself) that is important for us. Even if we get completely disfigured, the feeling does not disappear. In a way the feeling is connected with our consciousness. We are aware that we exist. That's the only reality.

The man in the intensive care unit, breathing his last breath, also has the same feeling of self. Had he not become panicky, this awareness could extend to the awareness without the body. In our worldly confusion, nothing else exists for us except the immediate. We are too concerned with our possessions, with our image and our physical existence.

Whenever external changes occur, we are panicky. Growing up is a matter of great emotional trauma for a little infant as it is for the adolescent. It turns out to be a battle of wits for the very capable young person to occupy a senior position ousting the earlier incumbent. The old man does not want to give up and the young man is in a mood to take over. The individual recognizes his total incapacity, physical and mental; yet he is unwilling to give up.

Sankaracharya very nicely depicted this state in a verse: 'The old man’s head is now white with grey hair, all the teeth have gone. The old man walks with a stick for support still the desire to continue to live does not leave him.'

We have to recognize changes that occur, accept the ones that cannot be changed and still maintain our own peace and carry on what we have to do as our duty.

Actually at the highest level the individual becomes so philosophical that he realizes the changes that occur in life; like a Buddha he can see that we are all like the mute sheep that are driven to a slaughter house. We do not recognize the change that comes at the end. Buddha did accept it when he wondered in the end as to how long his rattling body will continue. 

Hansaji Jayadeva Yogendra

This article was published in Yoga & Total Health (October 2012) - the monthly magazine of The Yoga Institute.

Are You Following Yoga? (Words of the Master)

A considerable amount of confusion seems to prevail in the minds of many who come to this Institute (The Yoga Institute of Santacruz) for the study of Yoga. Unless such persons help themselves to remove many inhibitions, there is little scope for them to realize true Yoga.

When one wants to study Yoga, it is not for him to decide what is Yoga. 

Shri Yogendraji - Founder of The Yoga Institute
of Santacruz, Mumbai - India

First, many already hold preconceived notions incompatible with genuine Yoga which they are incapable of modifying in spite of all proof to the contrary.  Second, there is something like craze or greed to know more and more practices without appropriate habituation to what has already been learnt under conditions required by Yoga. Third, there is confusion in the mind of many who suffer from distractions and inhibitions common to the modern life and who remain subconsciously unwilling to follow Yoga under the requirements of its study.  Fourth, all are in a hurry to get all knowledge about Yoga in the shortest possible time from any place or teacher without finding out whether they have absorbed the true spirit of Yoga in their day-to-day behavior.  Each day their knowledge of Yoga and the practice of Yoga make for a wide gap which they are never able to fill up. Fifth, tagging Yoga as mere knowledge without its personal experience leads one nowhere. So while one may amass considerable information about Yoga by reading or learning it, the real achievement of Yoga evades him.

The reason for all this is that none is prepared to undertake the study of Yoga according to the requisites of Yoga (Adhikara) while at the same time anticipating the results ascribed to Yoga.

Unless one is willing to subscribe to the requirements for the study of Yoga and adopt the same into his day-to-day life, there is no chance of success by the mere mechanical study of Yoga, it does not matter how much he knows.

Therefore, the net result which should be regarded as normal is disappointment for many who search for Yoga but fail to achieve it. For this, they have only themselves to blame!

Shri Yogendra

This article was published in Yoga & Total Health (October 2012) - the monthly magazine of The Yoga Institute.

The Yogi in Sangita Dhvani - by Shri Yogendra

The later Shri Yogendra, founder of The Yoga Institute of Santacruz was also a poet. Under the pen-name Masta Mani he wrote many poems and melodiously expresses positive philosophy like in The Yogi:

Mani Haribhai Desai became Shri Yogendra
after receiving traditional training in Yoga
from Paramahamsa Madhavadasaji
at Malsar, Gujarat, India.

The banyan roots grace
A pitched dark night,
And the solitary desolate place
Is devoid of light.

But from somewhere a song arose
Like feeble lunar glow,
Round the faint dhuni, a Yogi froze
Into a mystic smiling overflow.

In his lap a lute he played,
His fingers moved on strings
And well engrossed thus he stayed,
Experiencing a mystic musing.

The voice arose the joy to keep,
His ears sensed a thrill
He stayed in this divine sleep
Ending all his worldly ills.

As transcribed in the book The Householder Yogi. Life of Shri Yogendra by Santan Rodrigues and published by The Yoga Institute of Santracruz, Mumbai - India (1st Ed - 1982) 

Going Back to.. Traditional Yoga

Millions of people head towards Asia every year to have (besides the travelling experience) an encounter with eastern philosophies and practices which allows for self-healing, self-discovery and self-empowerment. Among alternative medicine systems, therapies, and many other technical systems (including massage, martial arts, dances, etc, etc) one of the famous and inspiring subjects that attract people to Asia is Yoga.

Although most people think, or like to think, of Yoga as a physical system, in reality it is an ancient and traditional system of Indian Philosophy and Disciplines that emphasizes on a holistic way of living which allows for a deep transformation, awareness and positive changes, not only on the physical, but also on the mental, social and spiritual planes of the human personality.

Traditionally, Asanas (postural training) is only one part of Yoga. Certain sets of conduct regulations (Yamas) and observances (Niyamas) throughout one’s own life form the very foundation of Yoga. Only then follows Asanas. The next step being control of bio-energy through breathing techniques (Pranayamas). Eventually withdrawal of senses (Pratyahara) will be achieved. Following stages are concentration (Dharana), meditation (Dhyana) and finally leading to total absorption in pure consciousness state (Samadhi). This is the goal of Yoga.

The stages described above are known as the “Eight-fold Path of Yoga” and the understanding of these disciplines and the systematic implementation of them in one’s own life is what is meant by “Classical Yoga”. The problem is that Yoga is becoming too much commercial and many teacher and so called “Yogis” have very little or no understanding of the Yoga path in its entirety.

Yoga has become just a matter of performing some “stunt moves” on a rubber mat. But, the truth is that, even for the physical training, if the right attitude and feelings are not present then the Yoga exercises will be just like any other exercise. It will, of course, bring benefits to the practitioner, but that will be only partial, not the real life transforming experience that one may be looking for. As we have seen, more and more, people are realizing this, and there is somehow, a search and an interest for going back to Traditional Yoga.

The first question is: where to go to learn Traditional Yoga? The most obvious answer would be: “India”. But nowadays even in India, commercial Yoga has taken over, and you can meet with either a good or a bad teacher or school, in India, or in any other Asian country. Literally thousands of workshops, retreats and teacher training courses are being offered throughout South East Asia, in countries like Thailand. And for one desiring to have an authentic Yoga experience (instead of just learning some acrobatic postures here and there) a good amount of research is necessary, before choosing a teacher or a course.

And which type of course? Well, the best way to absorb Yoga is to make it a part of one’s own life and then sharing it with others and teaching. That’s why more and more people are looking for Yoga Teacher Training Courses, because, besides being provided with the learning experience, at the end, one can be qualified and certified as a Yoga Teacher.

For this kind of program, the advice would be:

First, one should not undertake such a program only with the certification in mind, but to take it with a sincere interest in self-development and motivated by an altruistic desire to help one and others. Second, luxurious retreats usually divert the focus from the Yoga objectives, not serving the real purpose of simple, ecological and modest lifestyle which is in the core of Yoga. Then, choosing a school which follows a genuine Yoga lineage which upholds the traditional values of Yoga. Be aware of self-proclaimed gurus & too many mixture and fusions of “Yoga styles”.

Finally, if the program is a full immersion experience, that should enable one to live a yogic and holistic lifestyle which means, having a residential course, following a well structured routine including healthy diet arrangements and encouraging a meditative mood. Further, it should include a serious study of traditional Yoga texts like “Yoga Sutras of Patanjali” and “Bhagavad Gita”. Practice and theory should go hand in hand. Of course the curriculum should also include anatomy & physiology classes, methodology and teaching practice.

But one thing is for sure, a Yoga course, especially if it’s a Teacher Training, which only teaches Asanas, and does not encourage a yogic lifestyle (having a good routine, vegetarian diet, abstaining from intoxicants - for at least 1 month period) and does not include the study of the Yoga philosophy, is certainly not imparting authentic Yoga. In here I would quote Leonardo da Vinci who said:

“He who loves practice without theory is like the sailor who boards ship without a rudder and compass and never knows where he may cast”.

So, if you are travelling throughout South East Asia don’t miss the opportunity to find a good Yoga course and perhaps even return home certified and a Yoga Teacher.

This article was written, to be published at the South East Asia Backpacker Magazine, by Jeenal Mehta & Daniel Fonseca, co-founders of Wise Living Yoga Academy which is authorized to impart Yoga Teacher Training Courses on the tradition of The Yoga Institute of Santacruz in Mumbai, India – the world’s oldest organized Yoga Institution. The residential programs are held regularly in Bali (Indonesia) & Chiang Mai (Thailand) throughout the year and are accredited by the Yoga Alliance at the 200 hours level, allowing the graduates to teach Yoga in any part of the world.

Please follow the links to know more about our YTT courses 200 hours in 2012/2013:

- Yoga Teacher Training Course in Minas Gerais, Brazil

- Yoga Teacher Training Course in Bali, Indonesia

- Yoga Teacher Training Course in Chiang Mai, Thailand

Kriya Yoga or the Yoga of Action

tp> SvaXyayeñrài[xanain i³yayaeg>. 1.

II.1 tapaù svädhyäya Éçvarapraëidhänäni kriyäyogaù

SELF – DISCIPLINE, SELF–STUDY AND DEVOTION TO ÉÇVARA (GOD) IS YOGA OF ACTION

tapaù	austerity, fortitude, purifying action, training the senses, tempering
svädhyäya	self-study in the context of teachings about the Self, study of scriptures
Éçvara	creative source, causal field, God, supreme Guru or teacher
praëidhänäni	practicing the presence, dedication, devotion, surrender of fruits of practice
kriyäyogaù	yoga of practice, action, practical yoga

In the Yoga sutra different disciplines have been mentioned and many a times they are presented in groups. For example, Ashtanga Yoga (the Eight-fold Path). And under it, the Yamas & Niyamas. Kriya Yoga is another set of disciplines which are presented to us. These are three virtuous actions which are capable of reducing the Kleshas.

To start with we have to control all our physical actions. We consciously tell ourselves not to do certain things and as a result we gain strength. One of the examples is Mauna (maintaining silence). Then which is related to our thinking process. Here the suggestion is to think on some better matter. Just as for our progress in life, it is suggested we read some spiritual books and we constantly remind ourselves about more worthwhile things in life. If we do not do this, then useless and harmful things enter our mind. So far as feelings and emotions are concerned they should be directed towards God. In the Bhakti School they say that feelings are not wrong provided they are directed towards God. So there are suggestions on handling the three aspects of our personality. Wrong tendencies are corrected and diverted towards the right tendencies.

What is Kriya yoga and its objectives?

Tapa, (Fortitude), Svadhyaya (Self-study) and Ishwara Pranidhana (Surrendering to God) together constitute Kriya Yoga.  It is Yoga of practice. Sometimes Kriya Yoga can also be called Karma Yoga.

           

Tapa:  This is the chief weapon for beginners. It has been given an important place in literature where a student had to undergo some type of hardship or sacrifice; without this no development is possible. To come out of one's old habits, one has to have some pain, both physical and mental. The mental part being, when one wants to be emotionally involved, hold onto one's beliefs which are part and parcel of one's thinking process. We have to get rid of these, and get rid of old habits - thoughts, feelings, and external things. Tapa is like a fire, it burns things out like melting away our past. It can be a relaxing habit as you slowly get rid of old habits. 

Svadhyaya: Is the study of self. This can be achieved through listening to others, reflection,  scriptural study, reading philosophical literature and repeating  the mantra OM is also suggested. Observing the effects of Tapa discipline in oneself is part of Svadhyaya.

Ishwara Pranidhana:  All actions whether in religious or everyday life, are surrendered to a Higher Reality. Gita says, "I am not the actor at all, all this is God's own work". There are many quotations to bring out this spirit that one should constantly feel oneself as an instrument of a Higher Power, with no desires. The Gita says that whatever one does, be it charity, work etc, surrender it all to God. 

Its objective is to purify our physical actions, thoughts and feelings surrendering towards God.

Kriya Yoga is meant for what type of Yoga student?

Patanjali mentions three types of natures or personalities: mild, medium and intense. Students with moderate temperament in his efforts to progress in Yoga can take up Kriya Yoga.

Why does Patanjali mention Tapa, Svadhyaya and Ishwara Pranidhana as its ingredients, when they are also mentioned as part of the Niyamas in the Eight-fold Path?

Patanjali’s method is to develop gradually. Any type of activity, which puts strain on the body and mind, is forbidden. Once the system is disturbed so is its harmony. One then does not possess the right type of mind for progress. One must maintain fine balance of the inner situation. Yoga is for those who believe in moderation in diet, sleep, work, etc., and  not   for  those  who go to extremes. Bhikshu says that the Yamas & Niyamas are far wider and more comprehensive that these three (Fortitude, Self-study & Surrender to a Higher Reality) but are thought to be the best in that they are more powerful and are also able to bring about quick results.

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This is an extract of:
YOGENDRA, Jayadeva. Thoughts on the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. The Yoga Institute, Santacruz. Mumbai. 2009.

If you want to by this book, please visit our webite and make a order by email.

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If you want to get trained and learn in depth about the Yoga Philosophy and techniques:
Wise Living Yoga Academy conducts Yoga Teacher Training Courses (200 hours) following the Methodology & Didactics of The Yoga Institute of Santacruz. The course is recognized by The International Board of Yoga - India and accredited by Yoga Alliance - USA (RYS-200 Level).

Please follow the links to know more about our YTT course 200 hours in 2012:

- Yoga Teacher Training Course in Minas Gerais, Brazil
- Yoga Teacher Training Course in Bali, Indonesia
- Yoga Teacher Training Course in Chiang Mai, Thailand

Namaskar!! Om Shanti!!

International Yoga Seminar 2011 in Ujjain, India

Last year many different spiritual Yoga events took place. The Ujjain life society of Pt. Radheshyam Mishra organised an International Yoga Seminar at the Kalidas Sanskrit Academy in Ujjain on 23rd Sept to 25th Sept 2011. . The chief guest speaker of the inauguration function was our Guru Shrimati Hansaji Jayadev Yogendra. The other chief guest were eminent Yoga and spiritual personalities such as TT Rangrajan, Pt Vijay Shankar Mehta, Swami Magalananda, Yogi Andre Riehl and Basavareddy of The Morarji Desai Yoga University.

Jeenal and Daniel both were speakers at the seminar. They presented a detailed workshop on Yogendra Asanas. Jeenal spoke on Sustainable development based on Ethical norms of Yoga in the age of Industrial Violence.

The seminar consisted of informative presentation on researches on Yogic science, inaugural lecture on Yoga & naturopathy, a spiritual transformation session ‘ Voice of love’ by the founder of Alma matter TT Rangrajan, Obesity and Yoga, Heart care presentation by Dr. Shantaram Shetty of The Yoga Institute, Yoga Nidra session by Mr. Andre.

On the second day early in the morning there was a Yoga awareness rally being organized by the team of Ujjain Yoga life Society to motivate the residents of the city to incorporate Yoga as a way of life into their daily routine. Meena Ramnathan presented a very informative workshop on Rishi Culture Yoga.

Apart from this there were lovely cultural shows that were organized such as the Music session ‘ Kabeer Yog Gaan’ –Folk singing by Padma Shri Prahlad Tipaniya. A beautiful and vibrant Malwa dance of India by Pallavi Kishan and Pratikalpa group and a musical session by Salil Bhatt – Sattvik Veena (a form of Guitar).

There were many informative technical session by various doctors of Naturopathy, Homeopathy and Ayurveda. Dr. Arpan Bhatt from the Jamnagar Ayurveda University of Gujarat presented an extremely detailed session on Yoga and Ayurveda. Aslo Dr. Malshe spoke on Obeisty, fasting and Yoga.

The Valedictory session on the last day happened in the presence of emiment Yoga personalities suchas Shri Vijay Tiwari, Dr. Shantaram Shetty and Prof. H.R. Nagendra. Daniel R Fonseca of The Wiseliving Yoga was also one of the speaker in the valedictory session.

In all, the seminar was highly informative, it gave a platform to the Yoga scholars to exchange ideas, spread the knowledge of Yoga and also gave opportunity of networking.

We would like to thank Pt Radhe Shyam Mishra and his group to arrange this International Yoga event that brought the Yoga aspirants and renowned scholars from different parts of the world under one roof of spirituality.

Namaskaar,

Jeenal

The True Spirit of Christmas

“The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks.”

In the end of December of every year most of the western world and also many people in the east celebrate the birth of an exceptional man called Jesus the Christ.

This great man is what in the Vedic culture is known by an Avatar or an earthly incarnation of God. And a man who can be called a God is a man who exhibits exceptional qualities and virtues of the human species such as being humane, kind, considerate, understanding, sympathetic, tolerant, approachable, accessible, compassionate, selfless and who ultimately is able to sacrifice himself for the sake of others.

“Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”

God descends from his celestial plane and take human form to teach people by example of behaviour what is expect of  the other men (and of course the women) - in other words, what is expected of the human race as a species. The true followers of such God-Man are those who make all efforts to apply such behaviour and conduct in his daily life, and in such a way, practice his ways towards divinity themselves.

This is the true spirit of Christmas: to follow in essence the teachings of the Christ or to consciously copy his behaviour making his one’s own.

Those who make undue use of commerce, display luxury in manners of dressing & eating and indulge in intoxication of the body and mind are in no ways celebrating Christmas or the birth of Christ or his teachings.

“For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

Christmas is time for penance - but not in the sense of self-punishment or mortification - but in the sense of modesty, simplicity and ascetic austerity which allows to introspection and meditation.

These are the essential attributes that will allow the awakening of the divinity sought within.

“Greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world.' I John 4:4”

Let us imbue the true spirit of Christmas in these days of celebration!

Wishing you a Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!

Daniel & Jeenal