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‘YOGA IS NOT AN Indian THING... IT’S A SCIENCE’
me and my city through the lens
PHOTO: AMAL KS /HT
In the run-up to International Yoga Day, Sadhguru clears the air about prevailing misconceptions
Sonal Kalra
L
eading the coveted session at the United Nations on the occasion of the second International Yoga Day on June 21 is spiritual reformer and founder of Isha Foundation, Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev. The mystic answered our queries — some inane — on the myths around Yoga, with a characteristic smile.
What, as a Yoga master from India, does it mean for you to be leading the session at the United Nations?
Glorious ride
I think it’s great for the representatives of many nations at the UN to understand yoga as a science of self transformation. It’s largely understood, but there’s still a confusion that it’s an Indian thing. I want to make it clear that it is not. It’s a science — of inner well being. You don’t need to be Indian to understand or practise it better. If you are a human, it’ll work for you, no matter where in the world are you from. Yes, it was discovered in India, but that doesn’t make it Indian. If gravity was discovered in America, it doesn’t work only on Americans.
A Sikh warrior shows his skills during the Khalsa Sports. The sport belongs to the Sikh Community organised by Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) in New Delhi. photo: pTI
cultural capsule
see
Alchemy of Colours
This solo show of paintings by Rajesh K. Baderia plays are an expression of the artists’s experiences and beliefs. The artist uses the colour black as a background to highlight his main body of work. This allows the viewer to have a transcendental or metaphysical experience. Where: Visual Art Gallery, India Habitat Centre When: June 25 to July 1, 11am to 7pm
Campus chic
hindustan times, new delhi Sunday, June 19, 2016
What do you say to those who insist of linking yoga to saffronisation? Anything that a particular Government moots will always find opposition. Just because the PM mooted the idea of the Yoga day doesn’t
make it Narendra Modi’s yoga day. It is the International Yoga Day because the United Nations has declared it so, when 175 countries agreed to it. People who have nothing better to do will keep finding faults with everything anyway.
Just because the Indian PM mooted the idea does not make it a Narendra Modi Day. It is the International Yoga Day, declared by the United Nations Being Indian doesn’t make you understand yoga any better. If you are human, you would benefit, anywhere Sadhguru
What about the argument that chanting ‘Om’ is specific to a religion, and not allowed by others? That’s a most misunderstood thing. Firstly, it is not Om, it is the sound ‘Aum’. It’s the most natural sound of reverberation. If you open your mouth and exhale, the sound that naturally comes is ‘Aa’. If you start closing your mouth, it becomes ‘u’ and once you close it, the sound that comes is ‘mm’. In Yoga, this sound is just uttered more consciously and in a calibrated manner. It has nothing to do with Hinduism or any religion, for that matter. If someone doesn’t feel like doing the sound bit, they can simply do the other practices.
Is there a movement to teach yoga to the kids for their inner well-being? There is a campaign to impart yoga training at 30,000 schools this year. That would mean around 2 crore kids, over the age of 10, learning the art of self transformation. Our youngest yoga teacher, Khushi, from Chandigarh, is 11 years old. She is bringing Khushi to several lives. n
sonal.kalra@hindustantimes.com
City gears up for International Yoga Day Delhiities are geared up to take part in several yoga camps and workshops and take the traditional path to healthy life on International Yoga Day on June 21 photo: Arvind Yadav/ht
photo: prabhas roy/ht
International Yoga Day at India Gate
and informative. I want people to derive health benefits while enjoying themselves.”
Be part of a happy yoga movement organised by Aikya Yoga, which aims to spread health and happiness through yoga. Ruchi Phool, founder and yoga therapist, says, “I want to break the notion that yoga is boring and monotonous. My yoga sessions are engaging
What: International Yoga Day Where: India Gate Lawns, Next to Boat Club, India Gate Nearest Metro Station: Central Secretariat on yellow and violet line Timing: 7-8am When: 19 June
International Yoga Day by Vivekanand Yogashram
health benefits.” The event will also have a segment, called — Yoga for Yamuna, where the participants will take an oath to keep the Yamuna clean.
Organised by Acharya Dr Vikrmaditya, the International Yoga Day event at Yamuna Sports Complex is a step towards swasth Bharat. Dr Vikrmaditya says, “We mustn’t depend on medicine to heal our bodies. Yoga is the solution for our long-term
What: International Yoga Day Where: Yamuna Sports Complex, Road Number 71A, Surajmal Vihar Nearest Metro Station: Anand Vihar on blue line Timing: 6-8am When: 21 June
photo: Sant Arora/ht
The Yogshala Expo Ananda Yoga My style statement is boho, says Paavani Khanna from LSR.
Mansa Saxena of LSR says it has to be comfortable yet smart.
dil se My Super Boss, Bdays are 4 fun. Enjy a sticky bun. I’m glad u r my mate. Hope ur bdays great. Wishing u a vry happy wala bday boss. Payal (Shaitan) Dear Bhai, Wishing you a very very happy birthday. You are my super duper boss. U always turn my weakness into strengths, my mistakes into lessons. My godfather u r. Your Sister Baby Dear CSR, I am very happy to know that you are happy
and satisfied. You can write me a letter. Only God can help you to solve your problems. I am helpless, please come soon. —Your SJ Dear Babli Mosi, We miss u so much. Aap kyu chodke chale gye hume mosi? Plzz wapas ajao. Chinky di, vipin, hum sbko apki jarurat h mosi. We all love u a lot. Dont worry about ur family, we al are with them, we will take care of them. May ur soul rest in peace. Miss u so much. From Tannu (Family)
DISCLAIMER: Dil Se is a compilation of fun messages from our readers. The views expressed herein belong entirely to the senders and are not to be construed as an endorsement by the publication.
Ananda Yoga Ashram Trust has organised a month-long yoga event, which concludes on the International Day of Yoga. Swami Ganeshanand, founder of the trust, says, “We have a special event called Musical Yoga where we meditate and practice yoga with the help of devotional music.” What: Ananda Yoga Where: Durga Pooja Ground, Opposite Gali Number 29, Tughlaqabad Extension Nearest Metro Station: Govind Puri on violet line Timing: 5:30-8:30am When: 21 June
Etti Bali
O
n International Day of Yoga, June 21, Ministry of Ayush — Ministry of Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy, which is credited for reviving yoga in the country, has planned demonstrations and training workshops at various venues across the city. Apart from these, you can take part in many independent events too. Yoga Shiromani Ajay Rana, who is organising one such camp, says, “People think that yoga means doing asanas only, but yoga is much more than that. Yoga brings together the mental, physical and spiritual elements in a
Yoga Camp
have 40 instructors to help people with yoga postures.”
A yoga camp will be organised by Manav Dharam, a sociospiritual organisation on 21 June. Ajay Rana, yoga shiromani, says, “Yoga is very important for the overall development of the body, mind and spirit. At our camp, we will
What: Yoga Camp Where: Manav Utthan Sewa Samiti, 2/12 East Punjabi Bagh Nearest Metro Station: Punjabi Bagh on green line Timing: 6-8am When: 21 June
person.” The ancient Indian tradition of yoga is not just about physical exercise, but a discovery of the self. Ruchi Phool, founder of Aikya Yoga, says, “Yoga is complete science and can be used for everything, from spiritual healing to fitness purposes. Yoga is a way of life.” n
etti.bali@hindustantimes.com
Yogshala Expo, organised by the Namo Gange Trust at Pragati Maidan, will be a three-day yoga fest. Anshul Aggarwal, marketing head of the trust, says, “This is a first-of-its-kind event on yoga, wellness and Ayurveda. With this, we are trying to bring ancient traditional therapies to the masses to educate them about their importance for their holistic growth.” What: The Yogshala Expo 2016 Where: Hall Number 7, Pragati Maidan Nearest Metro Station: Pragati Maidan on blue line Timing: 10:30am to 6:30pm When: 21-23 June
I want to break the notion that yoga is boring and monotonous. Ruchi Phool, yoga therapist photo: istock