Ever since he has been involved with the activities
of the Institute, he has been introducing several
courses, pioneering work in Yoga Education and Therapeutics.
The Director of the Institute Smt. Hansaji is a well-known
speaker known for her vibrant and lively talks. Her
simple and practical approach and tips from the Yoga
way of life are like eye openers.
The
simplicity, sincerity and non commercial angle draws
many people and today more than a thousand people
come to the Institute daily. The courses also include
Health camps for several health conditions like Cardiac
problems and Hypertension, Respiratory problems, Diabetes,
Orthopedic conditions and Stress related problems.
Some had remarked that at the Institute we cater to
people from the womb to the tomb as Couple's classes
offers guidance for harmony in marital life, pregnancy
ante natal and post natal classes are held children's
classes including some for teenagers and then right
into adult life. Some Personal Growth workshops foster
on the concepts of Self Development, Concentration,
Relaxation and Mind and Memory Training. These topics
are based on the Samkhya principles of the Bhavas
or attitudes which have to be inculcated.
Hansaji
the Director of the Institute says, “Family
as an Institute is breaking apart fast causing a lot
of frustration and tension. The Yoga Institute caters
to Householders and offers guidelines of how to manage
self and keep up one's sanity and balance in today's
competitive tension ridden world. We guide people
how one has to do duty to one's own self. One learns
how to take care of oneself at physical, mental and
emotional levels with awareness and accept situations
as they are and then take action. As Yoga believes
that the control of the mind is of paramount importance
if at the thought level there is balance and harmony
and the emotions are guided well the actions would
be correct.”
The
teacher training programmes have been conducted since
1954. Many individuals come from all over the world
and have set up their own centres after being trained
at the Institute. The International Board of Yoga
has been set up and in collaboration with the Yoga
Institute a great deal of research is being undertaken.
Research has been carried out in Asthma and Bronchitis,
Diabetes, Back and Joint Disorders and the most recent
one Reversal of Heart Diseases. This month, a research
on weight management through Yoga is scheduled for
a launch. The Yoga Institute is continuing its work
quietly and sincerely. What Shri Yogendraji started
when Yoga was not known has spread to all the corners
of the world. We try to retain the classic spirit
of Yoga.
Dr
Jayadeva Yogendra, the President of the Yoga Institute
once wrote the following in describing the need of
a certain kind of Yoga school a life school which
is the need of the hour. He was referring very much
to The Yoga Institute, Santacruz Mumbai India, which
is like a model for other centres.
LIFE-SCHOOL
Is there a life-school where one learns how to live?
The objective of such a life-school of course will
not be in helping acquire money or power or pleasure
but rather in sharing and teaching of the art of a
healthy way of life at physical, mental and spiritual
levels. Caring, mindfulness and discipline will be
its hallmark rather than its possessing tall buildings
and expansive campus.
All
activities that go on here including interpersonal
relationships in classrooms and Administrative offices
will lend to a spiritual awareness. Emotional tensions
will get Resolved against a larger understanding of
the incomprehensible and irresistible twists and turns
of life. Whether it is learning of Asanas or learning
of yoga sutra, the learning would go on adding to
Sattvika experience. The need for specific techniques
will diminish in face of a change in values, motivations,
attitudes and habits. Yogic living will re-establish
the homeostatic balance and treatment of dieses will
be a by-product of a yogic life.
The
faith in a higher reality will instill a positive
approach of life and will definitely lead to a reduction
in floating states of anxiety responsible for many
psychosomatic and neurotic conditions. One would learn
to participate fully in any and all day. This would
lead to a joy in living and meaningfulness of life.
The life school would prepare men and Women to live
well in the world again. They would not only learn
this but would teach it to others as well, through
sharing. Can we dream of such centers of learning
in the country? It does not matter if we call these
life-school "The Yoga Institute" or we call
it by other names. There is an overwhelming need today
for such life-school in the society .what we seem
lacking is not various skills involved in our work
or massive information Related to it but in actual
living models and in living experiences of the fullness
of life.
