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NEWSLETTER N O V E M B E R 2 0 2 0

GENESIS OF

VaYU was launched by Dr.H.R. Nagendra - Chairman VaYU (second from right) November 20, 2020 at the Rayburn US Congressional building, Washington DC., in the presence of – Shri Harsh Vardan Shringla (center) Indian Foreign Secretary and the then Indian Ambassador to US. Prem Bhandari - VaYU Executive Team member is at the extreme left.

The idea of Vivekananda University or VaYU, Licensing from the State of California Bureau of was first formed and discussed by Dr. H.R. Private and Postsecondary Education (BPPE) was Nagendra, and Babulal Gandhi of Los Angeles, CA the next challenge. Requirements were tough, as in 1997. Dr. Nagendra eventually established the the State agency needed for the University to be SVYASA University, Bengaluru, , India in licensed, that every single course of the offering 2002, but it took a while to establish VaYU in the Program to be ready to be delivered on a Learning USA. Management System (LMS) platform. We recruited the best faculty available from SVYASA Prof. Sree N. Sreenath and Dr. Murali Venkatrao (svyasa.edu.in) – our sister organization in were recruited by Dr. Nagendra in May 2014 for Bengaluru, India, and faculty from around the US, the project. On July 7, 2014 Babulal Gandhi of to create a unique online program. SVYASA - the LA incorporated ‘Vivekananda Yoga ‘First Yoga University in the World,’ with the University’ in the State of California. The experience of creating university level Yoga Executive Team applied for and gained the 501 academic programs for 18 years, consulted for (c)(3) nonprofit status as an online university VaYU – the ‘First Yoga University in the world after battling the Federal bureaucracy for four outside of India’ to create a unique program. years (2014-2017). Yoga online was an oxymoron in 2014.

www.vayuusa.org 01 The team under the skillful coordination of Talkad Launch was on the Internet keeping in line with S. Prasad created course catalog description, the spirit of VaYU’s debut program – Online M.S. credit assignment, detailed modular syllabus, (Yoga), and, COVID restrictions. Kudos poured in weekly videos, notes, assessment (homework, from different Yoga- (teachers) and quizzes, discussion boards and, midterm and researchers across the world: Sri Sri Ravishankar final exams), solutions and, rubrics for grading. (Art of Living); Baba Ramdev (Pathanjali On January 23rd, 2020, after nearly three years Yogapeeth); Kamalesh ‘Daoji’ Patel (Heartulness of struggle and reams of paperwork, VaYU, was Institute); Prakash Tiwari (Indian Yoga officially conferred the license subject to a Association); Swami Sarvadevananda (Vedanta provision that the University will obtain Society of Hollywood); Dr. Lorenzo Cohen (MD accreditation within 5 years. Anderson Cancer Institute) and many officials from the Government of India: Shripad Naik, Master of Science (Yoga), the debut graduate Union Minister of AYUSH (Health), and Ravi Kumar program of VaYU, is an online 4-semester, 21- (Niti Ayog – Planning Commission). month, 30-credit, program with a 2-week face- to-face Personal Contact Program (PCP) during With only 10 weeks available before August each odd semester. PCP is offered at the VaYU 24th, 2020 - the first day of Fall 2020 semester, LA campus and at multiple VaYU satellite the team worked very hard to recruit students to campuses across North America. Three tracks the Online M.S. (Yoga) program. Currently, the are offered: Yoga Therapy, Yoga Research, and program has 30 registered students with 28 full- Yoga Philosophy. Graduates optionally can time and 2 part-time students. complete Yoga Instructor or Yoga Therapist certifications from SVYASA, Yoga Alliance, and Acknowledgement: VaYU is grateful to: (i) VYASA International Yoga Therapy Association (IAYT). In LA and its volunteers, Sanathan Mandir, the future, VaYU plans to offer the PCP for Norwalk, CA, for monetary and moral support; (ii) international students, in Singapore; Pune and The SVYASA faculty for developing the Bengaluru, India; and locations in Europe and curriculum (iii) VYASA NorCal/Yoga Bharathi Australia. This year COVID has restricted PCP to team, and (iv) Bhikhubhai Patel, Avadesh Agarwal, online. On June 13, 2020, VaYU was officially Pankaj Agrawal, and Ravi Tilak for financial and launched its first Graduate Yoga program. moral support.

www.vayuusa.org 02 THE HIGHEST EDUCATION LEARNING TO LIVE A MEANINGFUL, JOYFUL, AND HEALTHY LIFE

- Jessica Singh, MD, Student, VaYU Online M.S. (Yoga)

Today’s society is more technologically advanced than preceding generations in unimaginable ways, especially since the dual advents of the computer and the internet. People are globally connected. Cars fly and drive themselves. There is more freedom in society than ever before. In a world with so much to offer, how is it that there is unprecedented suffering and unhappiness?

Our current educational systems do not teach us how to optimize the functioning of our minds and bodies, nor do they teach us how to expand our consciousness to higher levels. Human “technology” – the design of our species – is the most advanced technology. Just like any other advanced technology, we need instruction to optimize its function. Yoga offers us this guidance. Yoga is an ancient science which teaches us how to gain mastery over the modifications of the mind. Sage Patanjali describes in his yoga : Yoga Chitta Vritti Nirodah [Yoga calms the mind] (1.2). In the words of Swami Vivekananda, the 19th century who brought Yoga to the United States, “We want that education by which character is formed, strength of mind is increased, the intellect is expanded, and by which one can stand on one’s own feet.” VaYU is founded on the teachings of Swami Vivekananda with the mission, “To prepare a new generation of citizens, who with the practice of yoga, work harmoniously in the society and contribute to the welfare of humanity.”

The inaugural class of 2022 is more than half-way through the Fall 2020 semester. Under the blessings and guidance of our World-renowned faculty, we have started to gain a strong foundation for the vast science of Yoga. VaYU offers a rare, rich education in the United States from respected, prominent teachers who are masters in the science of yoga and immersed in the culture. We are learning the basis of yoga and yoga therapy, Samskritam, ancient yogic texts, preparatory practices, asanas, kriyas, mudras, bandhas, pranayama, and meditation. These teachings are a way of life.

The debut class of 2022 has thirty students who are located in Canada and throughout the United States with diverse backgrounds. There are physicians, professors, engineers, attorneys, yoga teachers, and yoga therapists. What’s more? Ten of the thirty (34%) students are yoga therapists (certified through the International Association of Yoga Therapists). This class welcomes everyone, regardless of prior experience. Although the university is online, we have already become family in the short time since classes began on August 24th, 2020. The teachers have made themselves available to us from India despite the time difference. Nine of the ten VaYU faculty have a PhD or are physicians, and seven VaYU faculty are full professors. Every week they bless us with live Satsangs (uplifting fellowship) during office hours. Their dedication, devotion, and service to humanity is an inspiration to all.

www.vayuusa.org 03 Faculty Spotlight Dr. H. R. Nagendra

Dr. H.R. Nagendra is the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of VaYU. With his far-sighted approach he has pioneered an evidence based scientific approach to the study of Yoga, and has established many institutions around the world. From 2002 to the present, he has been serving as the Chancellor of S- VYASA, the World’s first Yoga University, in Bengaluru. With his vision he established VaYU along with VaYU Trustee Babulal Gandhi.

He received his doctorate in 1968 in Mechanical Engineering at the prestigious Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru where he also served as a faculty. He was a Post-Doctoral Research Fellow at the University of British Columbia, Canada, in 1970. He worked at the NASA Marshall Space Flight Center, USA as Post-Doctoral Research Associate in 1971 and moved to Engineering Science Laboratory, Harvard University, USA as a Consultant in 1972. He served as Visiting Staff at Imperial College of Science and Technology, London later. In 2016, he received Padma Shri, one of the highest civilian awards, from the Government of India.

Launching VaYU, Dr. Nagendra, an yoga consultant to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, said Swami Vivekananda "heralded the grandeur" of Indian yoga dimension to the world through his famous speech at the Parliament of Religions in Chicago in 1893. "Inspired by his teachings and the solutions, we are bringing yoga into the academic dimension," he said. He noted that the university "combines best of the East in Yoga and its applications, and, best of West in modern scientific research."

Elizabeth 'Kusum Jyothi' Leenheer Student Spotlight

My name is Kusum Jyoti, I live in Alberta, Canada. It is an honor to be part of Vivekananda Yoga University’s Master of Science Yoga program. I have been directed towards yoga my entire life, but only recently followed this path. In the short time I have been practicing, my life has completely transformed.

When I found this program, I instantly knew that is was for me. I am thrilled to be part of this first year, and I am so grateful for the opportunity to learn from teachers who are masters in the science of yoga. I know in my heart that it will expand my ability to live my best life as a healer, as a helper, as a . When classes began, I was quickly drawn in by the professors’ wealth of knowledge and the rich depth of the material. I am passionate about yoga, the yogic lifestyle and about healing. I am also passionate about teaching and motivating others. It is my desire to learn so that I may be of greater service.

I have a background in Criminal Justice, over five hundred hours of yoga teacher training and hope to open a Yoga and Ayurvedic healing center where people can connect to the healer within. I would recommend this program; it has given me so much. This program is teaching me how to heal, how-to live- in harmony with disabilities, and how to see challenges as opportunities. It has allowed me to realize, as Swami Vivekananda said, “We all have the ability to either make or mar ourselves.” Thank you for this beautiful program. .

www.vayuusa.org 04 HISTORY AND EVOLUTION OF YOGA

Yoga is one of the most ancient Indian Sage Patanjali says: Yogaha chittavritti Philosophical systems propounded by Sage nirodhaha| i.e. the word Yoga is derived from the Patanjali. The practice of eight limbs of Patanjali root of the verb 'Yuj' which means Yoga enhances the various potentialities of the yoking or uniting. Yoga means the union of the people. Hence one should control the mind and individual soul with the cosmic soul. Yoga can practice the moral and ethical disciplines (- control the body through the ‘calming’ ) before attempting serious Yoga. Yoga modifications of our mind. Sage Vasista while should become a daily lifestyle and people should imparting Yoga to Sri says in Yoga Vasista maintain discipline in their conduct (achara), treatise: Manaha prashamanopaayaha Yogam iti thoughts (vichara), trade (vyavahara), food abhidheeyate | 'The means for calming the mind habits (ahara) and entertainment (vihara) in order is called Yoga'. Lord declares in the to be a virtuous global citizen. Bhagavadgita: Samatvam Yogam Ucchyate: Balance or equipoise of the mind is Yoga ( II.48) and skill in actions is Yoga (Yogaha karmasu kaushalam I Bhagavad Gita II.50). Yoga in Pre-historic, Vedic and Upanishadic times: We find depictions of Yoga postures in the seals and mohars of Harappa, Mohenjo-daro, Chanu- daro, Lothal and other archeological sites in North India. This indicates that Yoga might have Everyone should have a meaningful goal in their been practiced even during Vedic times. Number life and keep Swami Vivekananda, the great Yoga of seals and fossil remains of Indus Sadhaka as their role model for attaining their valley depicts yogic mudras. Saraswati, a vibrant desired goals. International Yoga Day has river disappeared around 5,000 years ago in the become a global phenomenon for the last six Thar desert of Rajasthan State according to years, ever since UNO declared June 21st to be research by ICRISAT scientists, Hyderabad, celebrated as International Day of Yoga. Our own Telangana, India. Chairman Dr. H.R. Nagendra played a crucial role in this process that was instigated by the efforts During the , Yoga was practiced of Hon. Narendra Modi, the Prime Minister of India ritually for developing concentration. They were in 2014. quite different from the present practices of Yoga. The rituals were close to the definition of Yoga - Definitions: Yoga: Union of the individual self with the Yoga is an ancient Indian science having a supreme self. refer to words such as scientific background which has an antiquity of Yoga, , japa, karma, dhyana and 11,500 years. Practice of Yoga can enhance combination of such words. physical, mental, emotional, intellectual and spiritual powers of people as elaborated by the Prof. M K Sridhar world-renowned Yoga scientist Dr. H R Nagendra Sanskrit Faculty, VaYU

(To be continued in the next issue.)

Student Editor: Jessica Singh, MD.

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