YOGANOVEMBERS 2020AMONTHLYT NEWSLETTERT OF THEV YOGA INSTITUTE,A INDIA OLDEST ORGANISED YOGA CENTRE IN THE WORLD Father of Modern Yoga Renaissance Shri Yogendraji, Founder The Yoga Institute 124th Birth Anniversary YOGASATTVA NOVEMBER 2020 CONTENTS F E AT U R E D Y O G I C A C T I V I T Y I N S I G H T S 21 • Annam Brahma • Advanced Online Yoga Mind and Matter Teachers’ Training Course 10-11 H E A D L I N E S Events & Happenings at The Yoga Institute 5 around the world L I F E L E S S O N S F R O M F O U N D E R Shri Yogendraji Speaks about the Soul to Sadhaka Harish, R E C I P E O F 22 Just Out of a Civil War T H E M O N T H in Lebanon Chips With A Twist - 12-18 Healthy Oats Lavash Harold Sequeira 6 Y O G A M D Y O G A C E L E B R AT E S 2 3 T E S T I M O N I A L S L I F E Gut Brain 2 5 U P C O M I N G Connection 7 Interviewing A C T I V I T I E S Dr. Neha Agarwal Shri Yogendraji 19 2 7 P U B L I C AT I O N S Y O G A T E C H N I Q U E & C E N T R E S O F T H E M O N T H Yogendra Pranayam II - Intercostal Breathing 8 The Yoga Institute Shri Yogendra Marg, Prabhat Colony, Santacruz East, Mumbai - 400055, India. Email: [email protected] T R A N S F O R M AT I O N Tel: +91-22-26122185/+91-22-26110506 T H R O U G H Y O G A www.theyogainstitute.org Follow us on Overcoming addiction with the help of yoga 9 EDITOR’S NOTE Namaste, Diwali, the festival of lights, brings with it beacon of hope for the entire human race, symbolizing the spiritual "victory of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance". With the festive spirit all around, this time of the year is celebrated with excitement and enthusiasm. However, this year, with the ongoing pandemic, it is essential to lay additional emphasis on mindfully following social distancing and hygiene protocols for safe festive celebrations. This month, The Yoga Institute also celebrates the 124th Birth Anniversary of our Founder, Shri Yogendraji. We are deeply grateful to him for illuminating the path Yoga and making it accessible for millions. Referred as the Father of Modern Yoga Renaissance, he has been responsible for reviving the practice of asanas, pranayamas and kriyas for the common man and making Yoga accessible to people other than renunciates. Smt. Hansaji shares more about practical and effective Life Lessons from our beloved Founder, in this issue. Also in an excerpt from an interview, Shri Yogendraji clearly states that ‘Yoga teaches you how to live and enjoy life.’ On that note, let us commit to Yoga way of lifestyle and realize it to the fullest. Wishing you all a very Happy Diwali! Stay healthy and joyful! PraneeHYogendra Pranee Hrishi Yogendra 3 YOGASATTVA PEARLS OF WISDOM Shri Yogendraji Founder, The Yoga Institute 4 YOGASATTVA PEARLS OF WISDOM Life Lessons from Founder ounder was a magnicent man with a vibrant personality. Yoga. Month one would be to learn and practice the Yamas, Right from a young age, he was very clear with his month two would be for Niyamas, and so on. He wanted the Fintentions. He knew exactly what he wanted to do, and students to practice what they are learning, only then would a once he xed his aim in mind, he would ensure to get it done. He piece of knowledge be termed useful. had a very highly developed intellect which was different from the bookish knowledge. Sure, he knew about the Indian Texts One thing that I believe everyone must learn from him is that he like Vedas and Upanishads but he always looked at every was always focused, fearless and straightforward. In fact, knowledge in a practical manner. He believed in looking at nobody dared to argue with him. I think we must all have this things in a scientic manner, and how we can use all the level of focus and fearlessness when we want to achieve information in practicality. something. Even while constructing the ofce building for The Yoga Institute, he stood his ground to get the steel from the One thing that we must all learn from Founder is to never settle ofcials, even though they denied to give it to him as they for anything in life. Never fall into the loop of ‘make-belief’. thought it wasn’t essential. He took it upon himself to explain to Always keep nding the purpose behind whatever you do, don’t the ofcials that Yoga is always going to be essential. Yoga is do it simply because you have to do it. Keep nding the real our culture and it is the most important thing that we Indians reason behind things, and keep gaining experience. Founder must have and shouldn’t let it go, otherwise, it would take us always believed in doing all his work himself. Unless we do towards a negative direction. something while guring out the purpose behind it, how will we ever learn something out of it and try to do it in a better manner? Founder truly cared a lot about India and its culture. He always propagated Yoga as a way of life. He brought Yoga to the Even though he did believe in God and that there is some higher common man in a very simplied manner. In fact, he has given reality who is running the show, I have never seen him asking rhythm and breath to the yogic techniques, and has brought something from God. In fact, I clearly remember him saying this, about a holistic approach towards teaching Yoga. Little surprise “Even if God comes in front of me, I won’t ask him anything. In then that Shri Yogendra is known as the Father of Modern Yoga fact, I would say that God you do your work and let me do my Renaissance. We must pick up as many good qualities as we work.” He was never of the opinion that we must ask something can from such personalities and turn them into life lessons, that from God, then it becomes like a business or a transaction, “God would only help us be a better person. you give me this, and I will give you 11 coconuts.” Founder always believed in self-development and self-improvement on your own merits and capabilities. Founder’s only aim was to simplify yoga and take it to the masses and householders. He simply wanted to demystify the complicated and make it uncomplicated and easy to understand for the layman. The householders were any which way pressed on time, having so many responsibilities to look after. Founder wanted to give them practical solutions to lead a healthy, t, and holistic life with easy to understand Yogic techniques. I Smt. Hansaji J. Yogendra remember when I came to The Yoga Institute as a student to do Director, The Yoga Institute. my Teachers Training Course. At that time it was a 6 months course, and Founder had dedicated each month to one limb of 5 YOGASATTVA FROM THE TEACHER’S DIARY SHRI YOGENDRAJI SPEAKS ABOUT THE SOUL to Sadhaka Harish, just out of a civil war in Lebanon (Timeline 6th Dec 1976, 2 PM) asked me to leave my bed at once?” “It was your soul”, says Yogendraji. It was easy to do Yogendra Nishpandabhava, in the yoga center, on Rue/Street Nagib Hadid, THE LANGUAGE OF THE SOUL downtown Beirut, in the old Arab quarter. It was easy to listen to the staccato Harish then requested Yogendraji to speak about the soul, and of the Doshka heavy machine gun, how does one know it was the soul that was speaking.. or the swoosh of the artillery above head… “His message is like a telegram, brief, there is no repetition of As usual Harish lay on his bed for siesta instructions,” said the Guru. Least expecting the impending doom. He listens to BBC radio, and it says “We generally do not know the language he will speak in. that the leftists, will make a push towards Rue Nagib Hadad, and attack the rightists. It could be symbolic language, it could be a metaphor, it could be in the form of a parable; mysterious and mystic are his ways,” Suddenly an inner voice says rmly, “leave” added the guru. Not knowing the source of this voice .. Harish continues to lie down “Because of the inner and incessant noise of the brain-mind, we cannot hear him. Learn to be silent…maintain antar mauna to And the inner voice now commands - “Leave at once”. listen to him,” he concluded. Hurriedly Harish collects his Sutra and Gita book, His passport and bottle of water, and runs to protect himself under a staircase. In seconds a missile hits the yoga center and reduces it to rubble. Harold Sequeira is one of the oldest living students of The Yoga Institute. He is 84. Next Scene He had the good fortune, to sit at the feet of the master, Many a new moon later, Harish returns during evening, in his room..