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Practice of the Month

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Celebrating World Meditation Day with the Indian Yoga Association 

On World Meditation Day, the Associate Centres and Member Institutes of the Indian Yoga Association came together to honour the profound practice of meditation. Across various locations, our community gathered to reflect, connect, and deepen their meditation journeys, fostering a sense of unity and inner…

Celebrating 6 Years of Excellence:Indian Yoga Association Gujarat Chapter Foundation Day 

The Indian Yoga Association, Gujarat Chapter, virtually celebrated its 6th Foundation Day on 29th December with the theme Yoga for Lifestyle Management. The program began with a prayer, followed by Mauli Baviskar introducing all dignitaries. The event emphasized yoga’s role in promoting holistic well-being, inspiring…

Geetham Institute of Alternative Medicine hosts transformative sessions 

In December, Geetham Institute of Alternative Medicine, Associate Centre of Indian Yoga Association hosted a series of transformative sessions centered on Varma therapy, which plays a significant role in enhancing physical, mental, and emotional health. The month-long series was conducted by experienced practitioners, each focusing…

Indian ancient Siddhars and the science of longevity: A remarkable discovery byAttangaogam Peedam 

Recent research, supported by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), sheds light on the ancient practice of Attangaogam, Associate Centre of Indian Yoga Association, and its impact on longevity. The study, titled “Effect of Yoga-Pranayamam on Telomere Length in Medical Students,” revealed ground breaking…

Tamil Nadu SCC meets to discuss way forward 

The Tamil Nadu State Chapter Committee meeting was held in World Community Service Centre, Chennai on December 28, 2024, at 10:30am. The meeting commenced with a prayer and meditation session, creating a serene atmosphere for the discussions that followed. Shri Rajeshwari Prabhakaran, Senior Vice-Chairman of…

Enriching programs at Sri Aurobindo Society, Hyderabad 

Throughout December, the Sri Aurobindo Society, Hyderabad, hosted a series of insightful talks and satsangs, focusing on various elements of yoga and spiritual growth. The month began with Elements of Yoga 1 by Smt. Suneetha Sekhar on 1st December, followed by Smt. Harshitha’s session on…

Vedic Kaya Sadhana celebrates convocation ceremony 

The Vedic Kaya Sadhana, Associate Centre of the Indian Yoga Association, recently held its convocation ceremony, marking a significant milestone for its graduating students. The event celebrated the culmination of rigorous training and dedication, with graduates receiving certifications that recognize their comprehensive understanding and expertise…

SSIYRC Students Set World Record inArdha Matsyendrasana 

In a remarkable achievement, 105 students from the Sri Shankari Institute of Yoga and Research Center, Gummudipoondi (SSIYRC), Associate Centre of the Indian Yoga Association, sustained the Ardha Matsyendrasana pose for an impressive 10 minutes, earning them a place in the Worldwide Book of Records….

Sree Bala Yoga Studio reflects on a year of remarkable achievements in 2024 

Sree Bala Yoga Studio, Associate Centre of the Indian Yoga Association, celebrated a year of significant milestones in 2024, underscoring its commitment to yoga education and community wellness. The studio conducted two sessions of its 200-hour Certificate Course in Yoga and a 500-hour Advanced Certificate…

Ananda Chaitanya Meditation Center launches in Coimbatore 

The Ananda Chaitanya Meditation Center in Kurumbapalayam, Coimbatore, Associate Centre of the Indian Yoga Association was inaugurated with grandeur on December 20, 2024. The event began with the traditional lighting of the kuthuvilakku by renowned writer Jeyamohan, symbolizing the dispelling of ignorance and the illumination…



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10 Feb 2025

Yogavani

Online Gurukulam – Learn with the Masters
Online Gurukulam - Learn with the Masters

Online Gurukulam – Learn with the Masters 

Webisode-24

‘Yoga is not a Work-Out, It is a Work-In’

Shri Sudhir Tiwari, Yoga Guru,

Kaivalyadhama learned yoga under the guidance of Swami Digambar, a disciple of Swami Kuvalayananda and his father Shri Om Prakash Tiwari. His goal is to present yoga not just as asanas but as an experiential practice. As part of Webisode 24 of Online Gurukulam- Learn with Masters, we did the first one-to-one interaction with him on September 4, 2022 on our social media platforms. Here are the excerpts.

Yoga is the integration of one’s personality. Does this mean integration of mind, body and soul?
This might look like a simple question but it isn’t an innocent one. Swami Kuvalyananda ji categorised a yoga practitioner as a physical culturist whose main objective is to do yoga for psycho-physiological health reasons. But the primary purpose or goal of yoga is more than that. It is spiritual in nature. One of the definitions of yoga is Yoga Samadhau which means Yoga is Samadhi.

One of the many meanings of Samadhi is an equilibrium and harmony between our instruments of perception. These instruments of perception make a human personality. Instruments of personality become the instruments of perception. The problem arises when these perceptions transform into misperceptions. When I don’t perceive things the way they are, it creates a chain reaction which ends up in suffering and ill health. Yoga is integration of personality— an equilibrium between the instruments of perception. When there is an equilibrium in your instruments of perception, they become clear and purified. You see things the way they are and you resolve issues appropriately.

Integration of personality achieves that state when your mind, body and intellect is calm, clear and unobscured. This is what yoga achieves— asanas for the body, pranayama for the mind and dharna, dhyana, samadhi for the intellect.

What is the importance of Guru-Shishya Parampara in Yoga?

Guru-shishya parampara is rooted in our Vedas and Upanishads. Even the shanti path- peace chantings with which our ancient texts start is a dialogue between a student and teacher. The person who wants to learn shastra is a student and the link between the shastra and the shishya is the shashtri- the Guru. The focus is on the shastra. In Yoga, Guru is extremely important. The Guru decodes the ancient texts in an objective and a methodical way, and presents them to students because the verses are coded, whether it is Yoga Sutra, Hatha Pradipika, Gheranda Samhita and others.

We have seen a stage when Yoga got diluted, but times have changed. Where are we now? Is the future of Yoga in 21st century bright?
The future of Yoga is always bright. The very fact that yoga has survived the onslaught of history especially in India. The strength of our system is that it still exists today. Indian systems of thought and practices have still survived because their effects at psychological level, physiological level and spiritual level have been validated and re-validated time and time again.

Yes, we are approaching a time which is challenging in nature because certain non-yogic practices have entered the realm. In our ancient texts, Hatha Yoga and Hatha Karma are defined clearly as two different concepts. Today, a lot of Hatha Karma is qualified as Hatha Yoga. Fortunately, In India more than 98% institutes are teaching Yoga the way it should be. Some sections have started to perceive Yoga as a set of physical exercises. Yoga is not a workout, it is a work in and that distinction has to be clarified.
Can yoga help us win over our mind and reduce pain, suffering, anxiety, stress and depression?

Yes, yoga can tame the mind and all our ancient texts point towards it, even Gita. But yoga will not reduce your stress, anxiety, or pain. Rather it will empower you to deal with stressful situations that lead to agitation, anxiety and disharmony. It empowers you to handle such situations and it prepares you for life.

Pranayama is much more than breathing exercise? What is Pranayama?
Pranayama is a very important practice in Yoga. Maharishi Raman translated 30 verses of Markanday Puran which is now known as Updesh Sar or Updesh Saram. In those 30 verses, he has spoken about Karma Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Gyan Yoga, Ashtanga Yoga. When he talks about Yoga, he only talks about Pranayama and nothing else. The question is why? Pranayama is a distinct yogic practice. In simple words, pranayama is nothing but training of our breath following a yogic protocol.

How important is it to learn Yoga and Pranayama from a qualified teacher?
It is extremely important to learn Yoga and Pranayama from a qualified teacher. All our ancient texts validate the fact. A teacher who is completely versed with a sense of Yoga, protocol of Yoga and a teacher who himself/herself practices Yoga because when you are dealing with breath you are dealing with life and you can’t be casual about it.

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