From Yog to Yoga

From yog to Yoga

As per vedic system human life cycle is fragmented into four stages they called as “ashrams”. Brahmacharya (the student life), Grihasta (household life), Vanaprastha (retired life), Sanyasa (renounced life). Till Grihasta or married life we are busy bee. Life is all about dangling phone wires, buzzing mobiles, full mail boxes, deadlines, pressures at domestic front, emotional turmoil. To beat and confront the stress we need “fix – it” like techniques to keep our body fits and maintain a balance of brain. We never realize existence of state of mind. It’s during Vanaprastha (retired life) entire sequence of life we lead comes in front where we confront our own thoughts and past and brood on our own deeds. During the moment of stillness many of us take path of journey within, taking a path to reach a stage of renouncement to feel the god, the ultimate bliss and yoga is one such path “…… the moment the intellect of the heart and mind meets through complete understanding of body and mind cleansing, that is when the consciousness of the egoistic self or the “I” is nullified and a practitioner experiences boundless uncolored joy”. These words of yoga guru BKS Iyengar reflect power of yoga. Ranked as top 100 most influential people in the world he made yoga accessible to common man. No matter what stage of life into you are you can choose any ashram of vedic system irrespective of age, caste and creed. BKS Iyenger teaches yoga that normally encourages students for inner contemplation and a system of meditation to realize supreme peace. And most of his students comprise westerners.

For centuries in the west yoga was perceived as an art of acrobat. Indian spirituality and its vedic wealth pulled many westerners they came to know that it is not mere an act of moving body parts and they learned Patanjali’s “yog” as healing science and a medium to connect mind and body. They then took it back and it again made its foray in India as “yoga”.

Patanjali’s system comprise of 108 body postures with 8 sutras to attain “Samadhi” and today it has many branches emerged out of it across the globe. “There are two types of yoga according to me. One is classical or simple yoga and other is commercial. Simple one is original version of patanjali sutras and is a penance that people undertake to realize god within. Another one is commercial that acts like Mr. Fix it on body. One sweats out to bring body in shape in short frame of time”, says Jason Isaac, representative of Malaysia on World yoga counsel and secretary of Malaysian yoga society. He was an aerobics instructor and over a period of time he developed severe problem in spine that doctors gave up all hopes of its ailment that he has to stop his aerobics. At this juncture he came in touch with his guru Mani Sekaran and for 7 years he learned yoga under his steer and today he teaches yoga and at peace.

 “Commercial yoga is fact pace and is all about burning calories and it is very popular among young generation. Whereas classical or simple is slow, steady and gives holistic results including fat burn over a period of time. Old generation in particular Chinese are more inclined towards it.” Explains Jason.

During month of July a local body organized a 2 day Malaysia yoga festival in five star resorts introducing various types of yoga. Power yoga, vinyasa, yoga Pilates, hatha yoga, Restorative yoga, Gentle flow yoga, Inspired acro yoga, yin yang yoga. From west yoga is now marching towards east and captivating hearts of easterners. This camp is just a glimpse of penchant of people of Islamic state towards this healing form of Indian origin.

“Malaysians take up yoga for different reasons. Take for instance, some club members at True Fitness find that attending yoga sessions regularly help their back, shoulder or respiratory problem while other members who appreciate this form of exercise, took it to stay healthy and look good in general.” Says G. Radhakrishnan. He is teaching yoga in True fitness club. He got attracted towards it at the age of 17. And he started learning at Sri Ambal Ramasamy, Yoga Centre Virudhunagar and later at Maruthi Yoga Training Centre in India. He has earned prestigious titles namely World Champion in Yoga in Argentina in 2001 and for a second time in Portugal in 2003. “I can’t make any claim when it comes to what type of group is interested in what type of yoga on everyone but in general, our members at True Fitness from different age groups tend to have their own preferences with regards to the types of yoga workout. The older members like classes at a slower pace, such as Gentle Yoga and Yoga Therapy, while the younger and energetic members seem to prefer more challenging classes such as Power Yoga and Astanga Yoga.

Our latest yoga class offering, Kripalu Yoga is a popular class with many working adults as it helps to promote internal healing naturally that is suitable for members who are really stressed out at work. This form of yoga includes deep relaxation, breathing techniques, physical postures and meditation.”

More and more young and working class are choosing the option of quick and rapid result oriented techniques of yoga. “In my class is mostly young who take up Astanga yoga”, claims Nicholas Cheah who earned a certificate from an Australian institute owned by David Meutisam. He is the one who professed Astanga that branched out from original patanjali sutra. Nichloas is a certified fitness trainer and sailor and he got attracted towards it while he was in primary school. “I did various courses in physical fitness including physiotherapy but I always use to think that there is something missing and moment I learned yoga I saw that space got filled up with joy and peace and I feel a sense of belongingness today” he is yoga instructor at celebrity fitness another multinational chain of fitness club.

Patanjali’s yog that he invented during Mauryan period has taken myriad forms and that in turn are paths. All of them lead to attainment of peace and realization of His presence within. No matter what the form is, at the end of path they see the goal of Samadhi defined by Patanjali.