Facts Beyond Simple Thoughts: January 2019

" A time away from all your daily tensions free from all your bondage, free from all stressful thoughts, free from all your 'must do's ' & commitments and diving deep into a world of inner self ,calm and composed , refreshed and relaxed to emerge out energetic and enthusiastic.... this is just a bit of those days of my Yoga Instructor training program at Swami Vivekananda University Bangalore.

An Ashram kind of University in about 400 hectares of land located at a very remote place in Karnataka. The best isolated location, with a panoramic greenery view but well equipped with all facilities for learning , research and leading a yogic life. The rhythm of calmness can be felt in each breath you take. Statues of Gods,Goddesses and mandirs in the campus completes the peaceful and spiritual atmosphere.

Our course timetable was very tough starting from 5am to 9pm with back to back classes and activities. But the zest derived was unimaginable. Early in the morning at around 4- 4.30am after a hot water bath, entering the vast aerated meditating hall ( which can accommodate upto 250 ppl at a time and in the midst of greenery )for OM meditation with all freshness and calmness , chanting together OM kaaras 'pratas smarami' stotras ( the one before sunrise) , 'dhyana mantra' , 'avarthana dhyana mantra' in the morning darkness (lights off in the hall) gave a real spiritual invokation. We would gaze deeply into a 'Om kaaara' ( it can be any lighted object in the dark) and follow silent meditation. Feeling the vibrations of the chant in your body closing the eyes you go deep into yourself and start to feel the stillness of your fresh and peaceful mind then, you happen to see the bottom of your mind just like you see the bottom of the ocean when there are no waves. It's very true that one doesn't feel like coming back to the present from that world of stillness but just sink into the bed of silence.

Then was the Asana session. It was continous tiring and energizing which started with about 600 counts of Suryanamaskaram (20 counts being one pair of suryanamaskaram) in an open space. To salute the beautiful rising sun on misty mornings gave a . This was followed by basic intermediate and some advanced yogasana. Exercises to increase flexibility and methods / steps for each asana were taught in sequence. Different levels / stages for each asana made me understand that any asana can be practiced by anyone by following these levels. The asana session triggered an energy impulse in me that was maintained till the dusk.
Let me tell you, those old school days at 12 years of age when I started practicing yogasanas just for the purpose of winning the championships , never did I think it would turn out to be one of my life long best companions.

The chanting session that came later brought a spiritual enlightenment through invocation , intensification and thus settling and calming down the mind. You could feel the vibrations of peace in you by then.I enjoyed this session very much during my course.

'Satwik food' this is what is considered apt for a yogi. Food which is neither too spicy nor too oily or salty , at the same time consumed in a state closer to its natural state. Veg mostly plant products and easily digestible. The breakfast session that followed served real Satwik food. They say what you eat is consumed by your digestive system and then by your body and your mind. So remember, you are what you eat.

At 9am it was Karma yoga session. It was quite a different session.We learned the importance of Action in Inaction and Inaction in Action. Even when you sit relaxed doing nothing (inaction) your breath is on and your organs are functioning (action) , this can be taken as the simplest example for action in inaction. And when you do service for others without expecting anything in return or selfless action is the best example for Inaction in Action. Ie you are doing nothing for yourself but still you are in Action. Serving food , cleaning the premises, gardening , cleaning the classrooms all these were done as a part of selfless action. Growing from selfishness to selflessness ( Tamasik to Satvik) is the goal of Karma yoga. The session succesfully conveyed this message.

Later there were beautiful lectures from professors of the SVYASA university. They were from different fields like yoga therapy , yoga anatomy, yoga in tune with nature etc. You should remain very much receptive that lots and lots of information flows out in these sessions. Sessions were not restricted to yoga anatomy or yoga theory and it's origin , but it included classes where they taught vedas , upanishads , Indian culture and Bhagavath Gita.

Then each of us were asked to take classes following a certain standard method from the university as a part of our instructor training. This method is very important in our syllabus as it helps a beginner to completely gain the idea of each asana.Random asanas were asked and each of us had to act as the yoga instructor. Viva sessions , theory exams and practicals went on in between these.

Afternoons were dedicated to Relaxation techniques like Instant Relaxation technique , Deep relaxation technique etc and Pranayama. The relaxation techniques were techniques that ......
Pranayama was the ayama of prana. The bridge between your physical body and soul. It made us feel the prana and energised the breath.........

Evenings were colourful. Krida yoga was a session full of games. You may wonder how games are a part of yoga, yes these kind of games can improve your memory and concentration. Moreover it guaranteed a fun session fully interative. Bhajans followed which could invoke your spiritual mind , intensify the feelings and then calmed it down. Beautiful bhajans and songs were sung , short speeches were given out by professors espicially the related to lessons and slokas from Bhagavath Gita. Each day enlighted me with the slokas corresponding to Karma , Jnana , Bhakti and Raja Yogas.

The last session for the day was Trataka. As many of us know it is the eye exercise. It helps to maintain and increase the power of your retina. Trataka improves concentration as well. Recently I learned that eyes are the most purest of your sense organs for your eyes cannot tolerate even the slightest amount of
foreign elements and it clears itself to sustain pure. So it's very important that we take proper care of our most sensitive organ. Trataka was comprises of eye exercises ( eye ball movememts) and the candle gazing that went upto intensive gazing and recollection of the flame image in your mind. Tears may roll down your eyes when you are forcefully gazing restricting the natural blinks but thats a good indication of your eyes getting cleared.

Me presenting carnatic song at happy assembly

In addition to all these, to improve interaction we had outing session to a near by hill by walk. People enjoyed the scenic beauty of sun setting behind the hills. Happy Assembly was another cultural session where each team performed different activities. I was so happy to perform a beautiful Carnatic varanam in the raga Mohanam. We were all given a group picture with all our teachers and Gurus.

Rehearsal for HAPPY ASSEMBLY

Few early mornings were dedicated to kriyas. These are cleansing techniques. It's obvious that we keep clean daily ( like brushing teeth and taking bath etc)the same way in yoga, its said you need to clean your internal organs if not daily atleast once a week. We did intestinal cleaning , cleasing of the respiratory lobes and nasal region. These kriyas improves digestion and reduce vomiting reflex , reduces symptoms of sinus/ allergy and improves sneezing reflex respectively.

The Gurukula style was really enjoyed and towards the end, on the last day we had Ganapathi homam at the mandir and then Saraswathi pooja. Its beleived that Lord Ganesha removes obsucles and Godess Saraswathi is the Godess of knowledge,art ,wisdom and learning. Hence these were considered important and certificates were disctributed right in front of the mandir and the 'Homa Kundam'.(the brick structure where homam /fire for pooja is ignited)

This one week though it was a bit tough in the very begining , I would say is one among the best in my life time. It was totally refreshing to stay away from the outer world but to stay closest to your inner self. When you learn the latest definition for energy from the peak of developing technology the most powerful form of energy that brings a body to life remains undefined. And this energy is nothing but your soul. And to realise and learn any bit of my soul , I found it a real achievement.