Yoga

I had seen my father playing Tennis or badminton on the court . My mother had taught us ‘Suryanamaskar’ early in the childhood. But my real training took place in the ninth std when the classes began in Ranibhuvan. To get up early & go across the road was too much for a lazy person like me. Plus I had Aai’s company & yet I had not enrolled.My science teacher Mrs Asha Kulkarni asked about me every day & that was the beginning. As I have already acknowledged my teachers have played a prime role in my life. I am indebted to them forever.

I finished the first level with distinction & coming second in the class.The teacher was Mrs Poornima Mandlik, who became my classmate in the second level. I was in 9th std then. After Yog pravesh came Yog Parichay, that needed to appear for a theory paper along with the practical. The teacher was Mr Mandlik, now the Kulguru of Yog Vidyapeeth in Nashik. He brought in systematic way of Yog in Nashik & put Nashik on the map of the world due to his devotion. Today the institute boasts of several international students & PG, PhD courses in yog.

Immediately after Mr Mandlik introduced Yog Shikshak which most of us completed. This gave every possible hint to be a good teacher. Aai would conduct courses for the beginners & I worked as the demonstrator. I picked up a lit on the way. Such classes had no age bar & dealing with all kinds of students was a challenge. In the month of April & may When my friends were preparing for their tenth, I was conducting Yog classes. It gave me confidence. I called in Aai for the three lectures each on a sunday & to guide students to wear the sari ‘sakacha’ so that no leg is exposed. I wore Punjabi dresses so I couldn’t guide them.

At the end of the month at closure, the fees collected, expenditure was to be submitted. The teachers were doing honorary work but the interactions taught a lot. For the supple body what is required is the flexible mind, why our body stiffens with age? It does along with inflexibility of mind. Yuja a Sanskrit root means to join, it is the blending of mind with body. The asanas that are performed can be steady only if the mind is calm & peaceful. It is only a part of the whole process. Ashang Yog has eight parts, of which asanas are known well because they are overtly seen . What happens with the mind remains hidden.

It asanas of the mind like Santosh, Samadhan, Sneh are to be performed, practised daily.It helps to keep composure. The muscle development helps to tide over tough times. Look at the Prime Minister Mr Narendra Modi who never misses his Yog schedule in his busy routine. No one can complain of having no time. No one can be more busy than him . Our body is nothing but a machine. It requires to be taken care of. Proper exercise, diet, recreation are a must. If this’ trisutri’ or three things are followed no disease can touch you!

Yog did not come in my life as a Yogayog but rather as a habitual step forward. It has helped me in so many ways. It helps to balance your body & not slimming. It helps to nurture the mind along with the body. It compliments life in particular. We try to find solace outside but actually it is within you.

The lecture on Yog din or talking about ‘Anand dayi Yog’ helps to revise my concepts every year. I am not sure if the students look forward to it or not but I do. It helps to recollect anecdotes & put forth present scenario in a different perspective. The confidence has helped me to teach for so many years. Irrespective of the subject the content can be presented effectively. I have wonderful results.

Today, Almari madhe kapde ahet full, pan baher jayla bahane ahet gul, in this situation to keep the morale high can be achieved by Yog of the mind. That is what we need to do! Happy exercising!!