World Householders’ Yoga Convention

World Householders’ Yoga Convention

25th & 26th December 2012

The Yoga Institute of Santacruz, Mumbai, India - The Oldest Organized Yoga Center in the World completes 94 years of existence on 25th December, 2012. Celebrating this auspicious occasion, we cordially invite you to the World Householders' Yoga Convention 2012.

EVENTS HIGHLIGHTS: 

EXHIBITION: Learn about the pioneering research done by The Yoga Institute in Therapeutic Yoga, Yoga Indology and Yoga Education through a wonderful Exhibition also showcasing different aspects of Yoga.

PANEL DISCUSSIONS: Various important applications of The Yoga Way of Life will be discussed in enlightening Panel Discussions including leading personalities in fields of Medicine, Education, Corporate, Media, etc.

EXPERIENCE: The physical as well as the subtle (mental, emotional and spiritual ) effects of Yoga.  Feel true relaxation of body and mind and learn how Simple Yoga Practices help to gain clarity of mind and strength of character.

So join us in celebrating the ancient wisdom and science of Yoga passed on to us by our forefathers.

Venue: The Yoga Institute, Yogendra Marg, Prabhat Colony, Santacruz East, Mumbai 400 055, India.
Dates: 25th & 26th December 2012
Time: Between 8:00am to 8:00 pm

Contact for more information:
Email: info@theyogainstitute.org
Or call: 022-26122185 / 022-26110506

Watch out for more updates of the event on the blog: http://theyogainstitutemumbai.blogspot.in

Seeing Beyond

We gather from our daily experiences a great deal of knowledge and understanding. We weave this understanding into a personal approach to life. Each one of us has a unique personal philosophy. Some see pain and suffering and say:

 “Well this is the way the world is.
Carry on amidst all this senseless suffering that man is forced to face”.

Another one might see meaning in an event and believe that nothing is happening senselessly. Everything moves after a large plan. The joy of life is in living and not in cursing and blaming. There are different points of view here.

Yoga encourages the growth of such mental conditions like serenity, objectivity, etc., that a characteristic philosophy of life blossoms forth for the sincere practitioner. The Yogi enjoys peace within and so sees much peace and happiness around. The approach of the Yogi towards the world around is one of being a witness. One witnesses external changes, changes in one’s body and mind, witness changes in attitudes and motivation in near and dear ones and yet does bot get affected by all this. The Yogi maintains a balanced state all the way.

Such a one sees more than many others. Such a one understands and appreciates what happens and contributes more. This possession of a personal philosophy is a great aid in facing the rugged, wicked, imperfect world of ours. It acts like a shock absorber in a car bumping up and down a rugged terrain.

The highest philosophy enunciated in the Yoga Sutra is one of transcending mentation itself. Our thoughts are the real source of all our problems. If we can control the thoughts, stop the chattering of the mind, then the panoramic view beyond the mind is celestial.

Yoga lays down the pathway to reach this state of higher consciousness.

Thoughts of Dr. Jayadeva Yogendra
- President of The Yoga Institute of Santacruz, Mumbai - India.

Self-Development - (Book Review)

Don’t we strive to improve ourselves everyday in every way possible? “A better tomorrow” is our decided motto as we retire for the day. At times we are aware, and at other times, we are painfully reminded by others of our shortcomings. We are not up to the mark in our performance at school or at office or on the sports field. We do not maintain good health, our concentration is poor, and our memory is failing. We cannot control ourselves in crucial situations. We lack that quality of excellence in our lives that we have come to admire in our superiors. As we become conscious of such defects within us, we resolve to change. We want to improve our health, our mental and physical capacities, and our image in the eyes of others.

Most often such an urge to improve is a momentary one. When we find ourselves humiliated in the presence of others, or are incapacitated at a time when we should have acted, we are overpowered by regret and pain. We grow sad and disappointed and allow negative thoughts to corrode our personalities, we begin to doubt ourselves. The worst is when we make half-hearted attempts to improve ourselves. We make resolutions, we keep diaries, we read articles on how to overcome frustration or read books on keeping fit or even join some activity of Self-development.

But alas! This very approach of ours as well as the mechanics of the activity defeats our purpose. While reading a book, we display a lot of enthusiasm in the beginning but soon exhaust our emotional energy. When we reflect, we find that the techniques of Self-development seem to be sheer common sense and look practicable but we just do not have the time or the patience or the energy required.

The rule is simple: Self-development is not like learning some trick, mastering which, one reaches the desired goal. The answer to the overweight is not found in mere exercise. You have to watch your diet and your emotions. Similarly if you wish to improve your concentration, you just do not achieve results by making a black dot on the wall and staring at it all day. Concentration becomes an attitude of the mind and grows out of our desire to cultivate a meaningful participation in all our experiences.

In straight words: “Self-development cannot be separate since it is part of a total process. We cannot improve our bodies, as long as we do not improve our minds.”

This book will show you easy steps towards Self-Improvement and the basic ingredients of Self-development. An excellent reading for people from all profiles!

Cultivating Faith - to be balanced midst duality

Faith is a critical virtue in Yoga. Man cannot succeed without having any faith in himself, his environment, nature or God. Without faith man remains full of doubt, which gives rise to worry. His actions are haphazard and without a clear goal, and thus he cannot succeed. Faith helps one to be balanced midst duality.

Faith can be developed by practice. When one has faith in his actions he will succeed. As nothing succeeds like success, ones faith grows stronger every time he succeeds. For example:

- One may not sit in Sukhasana for hours but one should sit for 10 minutes with mind absorbed in breathing. Meditative asanas can cause introversion. Quietude is gained when eyes are closed for a few minutes together with composure.

- One may not succeed in doing Paschimmottanasana for 3 minutes but one should rhythmically move hands towards toes and return (keeping a manageable breathing rate of 2:4:2 or 3:6:3). So with a selection of easier and more effective asanas, doing them dynamically and for shorter duration we can learn asanas.

All this helps in generating faith. On the other hand, stress results when routines at physical and mental level are not followed e.g. proper rest, mental conditioning, performance of one’s own duties, etc. In absence of relaxation one gets confused and suffers from loss of faith and capacity to accept life.

Faith is a mental state which is positive and has to be cultivated. It is called an ‘upaya’ or technique.

When certain calmness is encouraged faith is born.  It has to be strengthened and also cross-checked.  There are moments when one is totally lost, like during an earthquake, and only faith helps him to maintain sanity.

Ishwara pranidhana is resignation to the will of the Absolute.

It requires the student of yoga to believe that whatever happens, happens according to the will of the Absolute. One should accept the results of one's deeds without feeling pain or pleasure. One should concentrate fully on doing one's duty and be disinterested about the results. The other side of this is that one has faith in a higher reality which maps out our lives beyond our control.

What you can do:
- Watch yourself during the day and observe how you behave when someone disturbs or offends you, or when something goes wrong. Do you immediately loose your balance of mind? Or do you have the understanding that some things are beyond our control, but there is always a great power ruling over all things?

The philosophy of Karma Yoga

The philosophy of Karma Yoga is exposed in the Bhagavad Gita by Lord Krishna to Arjuna. In a very simple way we may say that it tells you that we humans should do our part, our duty, with the best of our capacity and leave the rest to God, to a Higher Reality. A simple statement! Now this statement should be understood thoroughly well by us. This philosophy talks about work. How any action should be done in life. 

There are 4 or 5 points which a person should remember while doing action:

• First, doing the action to the best of your capacity; analyze it and know that everybody has different capacities and according to one person what is best, may not be best according to somebody else. You have to play your part well. So naturally, when you have done your best, others may appreciate or may not appreciate. Now while doing work, what state of mind should you have?
• Here is the second point. If you have decided to work, then work happily. Happiness has to come. Work joyfully! Be creative in your work! Never allow laziness and boredom to overcome you. Be totally enthusiastic and joyful and do the job.
• Third point, when you are working, work with total concentration, total integration, your body, your mind, your emotions, your intellect, everything should be present in that work. This is called as an integrated personality.
• Fourth, see that you are remaining in the present while working. You have to be in the present, not in the past, not in the future. The past gives you experiences, and from these experiences you have learned something so that, in the present, you can do things in a better way. You have learnt and so, forget the past! 
• The fifth point, which is the most important, is developing faith, leaving the rest to God. So what does this mean, leaving the rest to God? That as far as the result is concerned, you are not supposed to have a specific opinion about it. You are not supposed to demand a particular result. You are supposed to jus accept whatever result comes. Have faith that the particular result which has come will do good to you because God knows more than you; have complete faith in that. That is what is meant, by leaving the rest to God!

So this is basically the Karma Yoga Philosophy talked about in a very practical way in the Bhagavad Gita.

Bhavana Techniques (Cultivating the feeling)

Pratipaksha Bhavana, Nishpandha Bhava, Anitya Bhavana are yogic techniques which are holistic in approach and are necessary pre-requisites for improvements in all aspects of our life. Sure these techniques are difficult and there is a need for constantly drilling these bhavanas into oneself. We need to read more about them; repeat these thoughtful processes and try and understand their meaning.

Pratipaksha Bhavana - Overcoming Aggressive Emotions

A management technique which is like a genie in your mind, it cultivates a state of opposite feeling and transforms a negative thought into a positive thought, an unkind work into a kind word. 

PRATI means OPPOSITE; PAKSHA means SIDE; and BHAVANA means FEELING.

It involves invoking the opposite kind of feeling consciously. We are often held by negativities like jealousy, envy, anger, hatred and similar states of defective mind. Yoga suggests the technique of thinking the opposite when ever the mind is overcome by negative thoughts. So creating an opposite side feeling or raising the opposing concept will curtail negativity.

Nishpanda Bhava - A state of tranquillity

A curative technique, this technique makes us like a smooth flow of water. As one throws a stone in water it only causes a ripple but is unable to bore a hole in it. Nispandabhava is derived from the Sanskrit words:

NIS meaning WITHOUT; SPANDA meaning MOVEMENT; and BHAVA meaning STATE.

This practice has been formulated by founder of The Yoga Institute, Shri Yogendraji. It involves sitting relaxed against a wall or chair, keeping attention on low intensity and fading sounds. Allow the sounds to come to you without seeking them.

Anitya Bhavana - Change is the only constant

A preventive technique, this technique is like a clock or a watch on your hand, which constantly reminds us that time goes on, it never stops, the date, the day; the time keeps changing, it never remains the same. Just like the waves in the ocean, everything comes and goes, everything is changeful, nothing is permanent. Reflecting on this condition of impermanence of all things is Anitya Bhavana.

Home practices for the week

- With each session of practice a little of one’s tension will be shed. Thus, start practicing Pratipaksha Bhavana to become a little less negative and a little more positive; a little more passive and less agitated with Nishpanda Bhava; and a little more accepting and a little less expecting with Anitya Bhavana.

Make good use of these techniques and progress on your spiritual path!!

Namaskar

Yogic Life - A Cure For Asthma & Bronchitis

Dear friends & Yoga enthusiasts,

Books on Yoga provide an overview of spiritual yogic philosophy and teach how posture and breathing can reveal other aspects of human personality. You will find instructional books for all levels of practice, books to inspire and deepened your practice, books on the philosophy of yoga, books on specific forms of practice and more.

We will be regularly publishing in this blog, reviews of the main publications of The Yoga Institute of Santacruz, Mumbai, India, which has completed now over 92 year of  existence and guidance for serious students of Yoga education & research.

The first book is on Yoga Therapy:

Yogic Life - A Cure For Asthma & Bronchitis

Most of us who suffer from asthma and bronchitis come to accept our condition as something to be borne with fortitude and patience. During an attack we may take a tablet or an injection or use an inhaler and once the attack is over we limp back to normalcy and carry on with the business of living. Another attack, and we reach for the tablets or injections again. Would you like to change this pattern of behavior? Do you want to? Do you believe you can? 

The fight against asthma and bronchitis begins with a strong will to overcome you disability and has to be backed by an implicit faith in yourself. 

The Yogic life strengthens your will, augments your faith in yourself and opens the air passages. How soon you can breathe with ease and on your own, depends on yourself. Some may achieve it in weeks, others may take months. But what are you waiting for? Begging now! 

"The work of The Yoga Institute, Santa Cruz as I have been seeing it for the last several years is excellent. The scientific data collected is impressive. I am convinced of the great value of Yoga for the cure of Asthma and Bronchitis".

Dr. A. A. Mahashur

Head of the Dept. Chest Medicine

K. E. M. Hospital, Bombay

Yoga in a Nutshell

Yoga is intimately related to life and living.

It is difficult to equate it with only one aspect of life – physical, intellectual, emotional, etc. though in Yoga all these areas are involved in different ways. In ancient times people experimented and arrived at certain modes of living, which they found more proper for leading one to a better life.

Thus, Yoga represents the way of life which endows perfect health in physical, mental, moral and spiritual levels. To achieve this great art and science of life, a comprehensive and practical system of self-culture has been formulated which brings harmonious development of one's body, mind and psychic potencies, that ultimately leads to physical well-being, mental harmony, moral elevation, self-confidence and habituation to spiritual consciousness.

Guru-Shishya / Parampara
(Traditional method of imparting Yoga Education)

The methodical study of scientific Yoga thus rightly begins with a disciplinary training of habits, actions, speech and thoughts in order to positively condition the mind followed with physical and postural training and rhythmic breathing to bring flexibility and muscular strength  to the body. Then follows respiratory and nervous control that enables an individual to regulate his or her biological living by conservation and control of the bio-energy (prana). With this a higher level of immunity is achieved. After physiological training comes the psychosomatic training with a view to controlling the external and internal senses which affect the equanimity and peace of mind. This is achieved through a series of graded physio-psychic efforts by relaxation, centralization, visualization, dissociation, introversion and meditation. Through autosuggestion and contemplation on the negative and positive virtues a man can cultivate a universal outlook in his practical way of life rising above all the inhibitions and environmental influences common to human nature.

Progressively the purity of the human nature and healthy mindedness is achieved through good physical health and control of the senses.

This is how the yogis have practices of sitting in 28 ways, standing, bending, stretching, breathing, concentrating, quietening the mind and so forth. What unfortunately is treated as Yoga today is just some external aspects of Yoga, forgetting the attitude that goes with it.

What you can do:

- Try and create the habit of sitting quiet with eyes closed (5 to 10 min.) few times a day watching the breath.

Namaskar!!