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.

Yoga for Back & Joint Disorders

Dear friends & Yoga enthusiasts,

This is one more book on Yoga Theraphy: Yoga for Back & Joint Disorders

What Dr. K. V. Chaubal, an eminent and senior orthopaedic surgeon of International repute, has to say about this book:

• This book has a place in the treatment of the patient with disorders of back and joints;
• The orthopaedic surgeon has done well to explain connon joint problems in simple terms, yet has not sacrificed scientific facts;
• The place of asanas and their appropriate use in individual cases is a very, very useful prescription;
• When relief is obtained by learning to live with the affliction,
• Yoga would prepare the patients mentally better than any medical treatment.

"Doctors usually prescribe drugs, I would prescribe a book".

Rx
YOGA FOR BACK AND JOINT DISORDERS
Dr. K. V. CHAUBAL
M.S.(Bom), F.R.C.S. M.C.H. ORTHO. (L’pool)

Experience with the Yoga Teacher Training at LMYC

I found LMYC's basic classical yoga teacher training course very interesting and satisfying. I have been wanting to feel more integrated, healthier, and to be able to manage stress better for a better quality of life for some time.  I found LMYC's yoga teacher training support my goals very well.  It involves holistic development of ourselves, not only at physical level, but also in emotional, mental, social and spiritual level for health, peace and fulfilment.

Susie Li

As a coach, my professional and personal interest is in developing my being better, to enhance my quality of life, well-being, and to realize my potentials and benefit society with my gifts and talents. I found yoga and coaching complimentary.

The benefits I derived from this course are beyond my expectation.  I learnt how thoughts and emotions are developed, and to manage them better - an area I wanted to develop.  I also learnt about food, from which I started to explore outside of LMYC on food therapy the Chinese way, as we are in Hong Kong.

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

Culture of Consciousness

We are delighted to announce that we are joining hands to launch a new association “Culture of Consciousness” - a global clinic for self love -

To know more please visit our website: www.cultureofconsciousness.org
Or write us an email: cultureofconsciousness@gmail.com

Love & Light
Sonia & Sangeeta

My experience with Yoga at LMYC

Testimonial from 13th August 2011

"Every appliance comes with a manual. In my opinion Yoga is manual to life.

With regular practice of yoga I have learnt to live my life in the right way, I eat right, I don’t fall sick at all. I am always full of energy and never get tired.

Varsha Punjabi

Before joining yoga my body was quite rigid but with a regular practice of yoga my body has become more flexible.

I have toned my muscles; The co-ordination of limbs has improved; Eyesight is better than before; Sleep quality is much better; Excretory functions have improved; With breathing the lung capacity has increased; I feel calmer in stressful situations; I have increased awareness of thoughts, body and the world around me; My self-confidence and self esteem has boosted; It has brought about emotional balance; I feel harmony between body and mind.

And the most important observation & experience is that Shavasana is one of the relaxation techniques I can swear by: it can cure any kind of ailment, be it itchy eyes, runny nose, burping, sneezing, itching, pain in any part of the body, it also relieves body tension & cramps and much more.

Every lecture at LMYC was so well planned to teach all aspects of life - right from physical hygiene, eating habits, managing health issues, dealing with interpersonal relationships, to emotional management, spiritual growth and a lot more. I feel Yoga has totally enriched my life. It is the best thing that has happened in my life.

Having experienced the benefits of yoga I decided to share it with others so I began teaching the Senior Citizens and it just gave me a lot of joy. The more I taught the more I learnt from others experiences and my own. I wish every school could include Yoga into their curriculum so that every child learns how to live their life in a right way and stay healthy physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually.

The name of the yoga centre is Life Management Yoga Centre and I think it is very appropriate to the teachings of the centre. I thank Sangeeta Ahuja, my first yoga master, from the bottom of my heart and all visiting yoga masters who visit the centre from time to time."