Yoga is 1 percent theory and 99 percent practice ?

                                                         

Yoga is 100 percent practice

Most of the yoga practitioners must have listen this saying, Yoga is 1 percent theory and 99 percent practice. One of the tradition proudly using this quote frequently. But is it really true  or people totally misunderstood this ? What I always see is that they believe only Asanas (physical postures) as practical and do it regularly. Most probably their Guru/Master didn't mean it literally or students totally misunderstood this statement. If we see the various traditions of yoga then we can find out that all traditions or Masters of yoga has given practices not theory (Theory is the explanation of the practices and technique), whether it is Hatha yoga or Patanjali's Eight limbs or even Bhakti yoga, Karma yoga or Gyana yoga. Yoga is all inclusive and practical knowledge. Yama, Niyama, Pranayama, Pratyahar, Dharana, Dhyana, Mantra Chanting, Shatkriya, Mudra, Bandha, all these are practical not theory. Only Asanas are not 99 percent practical. Yoga is a lifestyle to practice and follow not to listen and read theory only.

I used to teach yoga in one Yoga institute where teachers from all other traditions used to teach yoga. They all had different approach of teaching. I used to teach Asanas, Pranayama, Yoganidra, Meditation and all other traditional practices and all other teachers mostly used to teach or mostly like to teach strong and advanced Asanas, so students always used to say that I teach theory and when the students want to learn theory, then they come to my classes. This perception was very interesting and funny to me and still I strongly feel that how popular traditions spreading misunderstanding about yoga  consciously or unconsciously.

There is nothing like theory in yoga . all are just practice and there is theory or concept  behind the practices and certainly Asana (posture) is not 99 percent of yoga. Yoga is 100 percent experiential knowledge not theoretical . Yoga is to seek not to believe. Other practices like Pranayama, Pratyahar, Dharana, Mantra  are also has same importance as Asanas. In fact Asanas are just warm up and preparation to experience the state of Yoga higher consciousness. The outcome of Asana is that we feel comfortable physically in other practices or action.

I read interviews of many teachers, who were teaching those traditions of flow/vinyasa/postures, saying that after teaching 15 years or 20 years, I stop teaching and shift to basics or Pranayama or dhyana.  What does it mean ? Are you wasted your time and also your students time for 15 or 20 years ? That is why it is said that if you want to practice yoga then you need a right Guru or teachers not just an instructor. It is highly possible that few people like to do more physical practices or few like to do Pranayama or Meditation, there is nothing wrong in it but saying Asanas as 99 percent practice and other practices 1 percent theory is totally wrong. Even if one percent of theory is wrong than our 99 percent practice will be totally waste of time.

Fast Facts:

• Other limbs are as important as Asanas (Postures).
• Focusing on breathing and specific part (Drishti) is not Pranayama and Dhyana.
• Training body vigorously gives perfection of postures but the purpose of yoga is to train the mind and go beyond body and mind not just keep challenging body.
• Practice should be according to the need of an individual. Someone need more physical, some need more Pranayama, some need more Dhyana.
• Ideal should be combination of all limbs and moderation.

Meditation is a social distancing from mind and emotions

Meditation: Social Distancing from Mind and Emotions

What is the motivation behind the 500 million meditators around the world? Many are allured to the promise of a relaxed and peaceful state of mind or to rejuvenate their brain cells. Others hope to escape from their unhappiness and problems. Some even aim to reach the much talked about enlightenment or to gain supernatural powers. Whatever their aims, many mistakenly think meditation is a means to their personal goals, when in fact, the importance of meditation lies in its process of self-discovery and to be in the present moment.

Just as social distancing is practiced to protect ourselves from harmful viruses, meditation allows us to distance ourselves from our own adverse emotions and thoughts as well as social expectations. Most of the pain we experience in life is caused by our own thoughts and emotions; comparing ourselves to others, fear, sense of loss, jealousy, bitterness, greed, attachment, etc. Of course unexpected situations arise in the outer world, such as natural disasters, pandemics and fluke accidents but they are beyond our control. What we can manage is how we mentally and emotionally react to any events. 

Meditation allows us to look inward to identify the true sources of our problems. Setting goals and conditions to meditation is counter - productive because they distract and limit us from the main purpose of the practice. Meditation is the practice of distancing one’s awareness from thoughts and emotions and simply witnessing them.

For example, when you feel angry, your awareness is identifying with the emotion of anger and the attachment to it traps you. You can no longer differentiate the emotion of anger from your awareness. Meditation allows you to peal your awareness away from the emotions, with no expectations of outcome. You simply observe your inner world. By doing so, you learn to witness your thoughts and emotions without judgement and only then can you slowly learn how to release them. If you set an aim and say to yourself, “I meditate not to be angry and become peaceful,” you put pressure on yourself to succeed and you are frustrated and, consequently, peacefulness is out of reach.

The more pressure you put on yourself, the more you are under the grip of your thoughts and emotions. Meditation is about experiencing the process and not about setting aims. It is about being in a present moment and enjoying the moment as a seer.

Meditating with the correct attitude and approach

Yoga is an ancient science teaching us the correct attitude, approach and awareness to meditation so that the practitioner may experience his or her own journey to self-discovery. Yoga shows us the process of meditation and not its goal. As outlined in Sage Patanjali’s Yoga Sutra’s Eight Limbs of Yoga, the sequential yoga practices are there to facilitate meditation. All the mentioned practices are equally important to develop the awareness and self-witnessing attitudes necessary for meditation. Observing personal and social codes of conducts (Yama and Niyama) is the first two preparatory, but indispensable, steps towards meditation.

A sincere effort to become responsible and moral individuals, who have the wellbeing of the entire community in mind, is a prerequisite to developing awareness of our actions. There is no room for self-centered attitudes in meditation. Body awareness is developed through asana practices (physical postures). The main purpose of physical practices is to prepare the body to sit still in meditation. Breath awareness is fostered through pranayama practices (controlled breathing) to settle heightened emotions and racing thoughts and ushers awareness to the present moment. Isolating awareness and ability to withdraw the senses is developed through the pratyahara practices. These practices relax the mind and deepens your awareness inward to prepare for meditation. Yoganidra is the most powerful and accessible pratyahara practice, to disconnect with the outer world and be in present moment. It is the first step towards practicing meditative detachment. Bringing the awareness to a one-pointed focus is learned through dharana practices. Trataka, a single pointed gazing dharana practice, subdues restlessness and fosters concentration, both qualities necessary for meditation. Armed with awareness of our actions, bodies, breath, senses and some ability to isolate, detach and focus, we have finally reached at the door steps of meditation. Beyond this point, you are on your own to experience your inner world. 

Dhyana (meditation) is the practice of self-witnessing attitude. The purpose of meditation is to bring the awareness to the present moment and in doing so, a self- witnessing attitude is developed. Through this process, we discover who we really are and let go of who we thought we were.

Gaining a peace of mind is not the aim of meditation because as soon as you place expectations, it fuels attachment to the desired outcome and sabotages the self-witnessing process. There are times we can meditate with ease, calmly observing our thoughts and being able to detach from the negative or positive emotions associated with them. We feel peaceful in those instances. However, there are times when strong emotions, deeply rooted in our memories, disturb our self-witnessing ability because of strong attachments. These instances are difficult but are valuable experiences of the self-discovery process.

Meditation allows us to shed the limiting aspects of our personalities and brings us closer to the core of our being. Meditate without expectation but heighten your self-witnessing ability. Try not to identify with your thoughts and emotions and just observe them as if you are looking at scenes through a window. If your awareness should lapse, and thoughts and emotions take over, realize what has happened and just go back to observing them again without self judgement. Meditation takes patience and practice, but as you progress, you will reach a state where you feel equanimity towards any situations, good or bad. This means you will no longer be dictated by your emotions, tainted by your attachments and instead, can accept reality as it is. When we see ourselves for who we are, and have can assess situations as is, we develop discernment, allowing us to make the best decisions and course of actions in our lives. Drop all preconceived notions about meditation now and focus on the self-witnessing process.

There are many different meditation practices which fosters self-witnessing attitudes. Inner silence meditation (Antar Mouna) is suitable for practitioners of all levels to learn to observe thoughts and emotions without attachment. Ajapa Japa is another practice where total awareness is developed by mindful concentration upon the breath, synchronized to the Soham mantra. Vipasyana meditation is also a popular self-exploration and self-observation practice. It is important to learn how to do these practices under the guidance of a competent teacher to develop the correct attitude, approach and awareness of meditation.

Finding the right teacher

A good teacher guides students into the experience of meditation and does not plant ideas of unrealistic aims in them. Sadly, some teachers who claim to understand meditation attract students with their flowery language or bombards them with theoretical jargon way over the students’ heads. This causes the students to have false expectations and frustrations, robbing the students the opportunity to experience the meditative process for themselves because they are keen to live up to the teacher’s expectations. As a result, the student does not develop a self-witnessing attitude. The result of such misguided exercise is simply not meditation. Each student’s experience is different and therefore the significance of meditation is in the process of self-discovery. Emphasis should not be placed on the outcome of the meditative experience.

Finding the right teacher takes discernment. Make sure the teacher has proper qualifications and decide for yourself if the focus of his or her guided meditation is on the self-witnessing process or on something else. As discussed earlier, there are many practices leading up to meditation to develop awareness in the present moment. Does the teacher incorporate those practices? These are all relevant questions you need to ask yourself. In the yogic tradition, it is said there is an appropriate guru, a spiritual teacher, to suit different personalities of students. Your guru can best direct you on your meditative journey. With diligent practice, you will one day be able to awaken your own inner wisdom (the guru within), thanks to the mentorship of their guru. A guru challenges your understanding of reality and helps you broaden your horizons. In the same manner, the student too must challenge conventional stereotypes of a teacher and decipher the right mentor for yourself. 

Benefits of meditation

Meditation is the science of wellbeing and the road to self-discovery, helping us to observe our deeply rooted fears, suppressed thoughts and desires. By learning to self-identify our issues, we can then release them from our sheaths of our personalities (koshas). Our sense organs receive enormous amounts of information daily, leaving both positive and negative impressions which needs to be processed. In effect, meditation acts as a detox of the mind to keep it balanced, and allowing you to accept reality as is, without judgement or wishful thinking. To see things as they are is empowering because only then can you assess your options realistically for the future. Meditation is a journey of your personal evolution to arrive at your own destination. Your awareness frees you from limiting attitudes of self judgement and social images of success and empowers you to live your life fully. Let yoga guide you through the process of meditation so that you can face life’s challenges awake, without delusion. Ultimately, meditation will be your state of being. Meditation will no longer be just practiced on your cushion. You will live fully awake in the present moment for every moment, because even one moment in life is too precious to waste unaware.  

Misunderstanding About Ashtanga Yoga

Ashtanga Yoga Meaning

When we think and want to know about yoga then the word "Ashtanga Yoga"  is one of the most common and important word, we hear. So the question is what this word mean and from where this word came ? I think this is one of the most misunderstood or misinterpreted word in the field of yoga knowingly or unknowingly.
Sage Patanjali synthesized and organized the knowledge of yoga in his collection of 196 Sanskrit Sutras in four chapters.  This is in the form of Sutras (mathematical formula) of theory and practical, written 2500 years ago almost.  His Yoga Sutras are most accepted, respected and translated in the field of yoga. His yoga is also known as Raja (Royal) Yoga. Patanjali's classification of classical yoga is known as eight fold path or Ashtanga, the eight limbs of yoga.  He defined the eight limbs as Yama (Social code of conduct), Niyama (Personal code of conduct), Asanas (postures), Pranayama (breathing), Pratyahar (withdrawal of senses), Dharana (Concentration), Dhyana (Meditation) and Samadhi (Enlightenment). Set of these limbs in sequence is a process or practice starts from outer (Society) to inner (Soul). These are said to be limbs because it is related and depends upon each other and all has same importance. One can not claim that He or She is doing yoga by just practicing one limb, like asana or pranayama or dhyana.

                                                                                                      (Picture source: Wikipedia)

However, when we see in present yoga field then we can clearly know that Ashtanga yoga becomes 6 set of practices developed by Sri Paatabhi Jois ji from South India. He designed 6 sequence with the combination of asanas as level 1 to 6. Certainly it is not eight limb or Ashtanga but only one limb.This word Ashtanga is being used but it has nothing to do with Ashtanga yoga of Patanjali or yoga. There is nothing wrong to practice only asanas but calling it yoga is not right. Sometimes teachers teach by focusing on breathing and some specific parts called it drishti but doing asanas with breathing and focus on specific part is not pranayama or dhyana respectively. Pranayama and Dhyana are separate limbs to practice regularly like asanas.

Yoga practitioners should be aware of this fact and try to develop their own understanding about various traditions and teaching methods. An ideal yoga tradition should be integrated with all limbs explained by our ancient Yogis. One should always find a right Guru/teacher and know about tradition behind it to move towards right path and approach according to our need and requirements. Yoga is to seek, not to believe.

Guru Poornima -- The day to pay gratitude to the Guru

 GURU POORNIMA (The Full Moon Dedicated to The Guru)
 
Guru is a light in darkness. The relation between guru and disciple is not intellectual but it is spiritual, at the level of prana, heart to heart. With faith and trust, one can connect with the Guru anytime, anywhere without physical presence. Guru is also like a mirror to see the reality as it is. Guru make you independent and empower you to excel in life with confidence. In the path of Yoga, spirituality the faith and trust in guru is very important to evolve. Teachings of guru gives us confidence to express our self with full potential without any confusion. Connection with the guru can not be expressed in words but one can only experience. Most of the time Guru teaches with his action and behavior instead of words or lecture and we can understand it only when we drop our ego and have full faith in Him/Her.

               Guru Brahma , Guru Vishnu, Guru devo Maheswarah .

               Guru Sakshaat Param Brahma, Tasmai Sri Guruwe Nnmah. 

Yoga For Management of Eyes Problems

Yoga To Manage Eyes Problems:

 

In modern society problem of eyes become common. We can see most of the people using spectacles or contact lenses. Glasses however do not cure the problem but it get worse through their use. There are so many factors to contribute bad eyesight including bad lighting, diet, mental and emotional stress, reading long, watching television, working in front of computer, office work, driving, toxic condition and ageing. Eyes are very delicate parts of our body, so it gets affected quickly also. Common factors are either weakness of eyes muscles or overuse of eyes. Sometimes other health problem also affects eyes like diabetes, headache, migraine etc. After having eyes problem, even after taking medicine or wear spectacles, it is very difficult to solve the problem. In fact it getting worse. But if we use the practices of yoga then not only we can prevent our eyes problems getting worst but we can improve our eyesight also. Sometimes we can control our mental and emotional stress also through eyes exercises. But it requires patience and regularity because it will take time. Do not expect instant and quick improvement. Here there are some practices -----

 1. Palming --- Rubbing both palms together until it becomes warm and then keeping it on close eyes for few seconds to feel the warmth and energy being transmitted from palms into the eyes. Placing palms on eyelids absorb the energy and relaxes eyes muscles. One can do it 5 to 10 times. This relaxes and revitalizes eyes muscles and stimulates the circulation of aqueous humour (the liquid runs between cornea and lens of the eyes). Palming also makes one alert and awake mentally by activating corresponding brain cells.

2. Blinking --- In sitting posture blink eyes quickly for 10 – 15 times and relax for few seconds. Doing this for few rounds is very good practice to improve eyesight and relaxes eyes muscles. Many people having defected eye sight blink their eyes irregularly and unnaturally due to anxiety and habitual tensions in the eyes. By practicing blinking consciously can make blinking reflex smooth and natural. People working in front of computer in office should do frequently in between work. This practice relaxes facial muscles too and reduces wrinkles from the face. 

3. Sideways Viewing --- Gazing right and left for few time is useful for those who read constantly or work very close in office with the papers. This practice relaxes the tension of the muscles. This practice also prevents and correct squint.

4. Up and Down Viewing --- Looking at the ceiling and the floor for some time balances the upper and lower eyeball muscles. It can be done also by looking at eyebrow and nose tip.

5. Rotational Viewing --- Looking up, right, down, left clock wise and then reverse anti clock wise. Means rotating eyeball in circular movement from both sides for few rounds, restores balance in the muscles surrounding the eyes and improves coordinated activities of both eyeball.

6. Near and Distant Viewing --- Focusing eyes on near objects and then distant objects for sometimes. One can use finger (Tip of the thumb), keeping in front at eye level. This exercise improves the accommodating and focusing power of the muscles. Especially for those who cannot see near and far objects clearly, helpful during driving car.

7. Trataka --- Trataka means gazing something for longer period without blinking. It can be done by gazing black spot or any symbol or picture or letter or candle flame. Doing with candle flame is also detox practice. This practice not only improves eye sight but also removes anxiety, stress, Insomnia, develops concentration and memory. It balances nervous system and makes the eyes clear and bright

One should do practices either sitting on the floor (Mat) or sitting on chair but keeping spine upright and head still. One can do 10 to 20 times slowly without putting pressure on eyes muscles. Practitioners can use our hands and fingers for viewing up, down, right and left. People can do these practices anytime and anywhere. 

 Precaution:  All these practices are general so people can do regular as a preventive method and for relaxing eyes muscles but those suffering from any severe eyes ailments should consult doctor or experienced Yoga Therapist. One should not use contact lenses, while practicing. 

The role of Yoga in the post-COVID-19 world

A pandemic has no regard for social status, wealth nor religion and is colourblind. We all have witnessed how COVID-19 ravaged through nations indiscriminately, leaving behind a whirlwind of challenges for humanity to cope with. Our blind faith in conventional medicine was shattered as we observed doctors and healthcare professionals become paralyzed by the waves of those infected rushing to the hospitals with no definitive treatment nor vaccines insight. We helplessly watched the death toll increase each day. Social distancing and strict lockdowns were the only measures governments could implement to slow down the spread of the virus. Consequently, we are left with a world-scale economic slowdown, leaving many in financial hardships. Students have suffered setbacks in their education while schools were closed and their families worried for them. Humanity, as a whole, is anxious about their future, fearful of their health, and is experiencing a general sense of hopelessness in the post-COVID-19 world. Fortunately, there is Yoga to rebalance our bodies, minds and emotions to live our lives fully in our new reality.

 

Yoga has gained worldwide popularity over the past several decades and many practitioners have experienced benefits of Yoga. However, only a few are reaping the full, life-changing benefits by embracing the yogic lifestyle. Yoga is a road map to improving the lives of all people, regardless of their age and physical fitness, spreading a holistic lifestyle adaptable across all borders. Academic studies of yogic science have acknowledged the effectiveness of Yoga in restoring and maintaining overall health,

but less attention has been given to the rippling positive effects it has on the entire community and the environment. What is good for the individual must be good for the entire humanity and nature; not just for the privileged few at the expense of others and the ecosystem. The pandemic experience is an alarm signal pointing at how we have abused nature. Simultaneously, nature is giving us another chance to change our ways to live healthier and harmoniously with our environment. The novel coronavirus forced us to slow down and reflect on our old rat-race lifestyles fueled by zero-sum habits. We were working hard to gain wealth, ignoring our health, and then, ironically, spending our wealth to gain health. We were polluting and depleting nature for what we perceived as necessary comforts, but in fact, we were only contaminating our bodies, allowing chronic diseases to manifest, create larger wealth gaps and mental dependencies. The takeaway from this experience is we need to take care of our health first. Only then, can we gain wealth, enjoy and share our gains. Yogic lifestyle prioritizes health first and foremost, the foundation for all of us to thrive and evolve as a global community.

Many people still misunderstand Yoga as a form of physical exercise and their approach to practices are very casual. More than ever before, we need to take Yoga seriously, as it was intended to be a natural and holistic lifestyle incorporating integrative practices to create, not only physical health but also positive mental and emotional health. Physical practices (asana), are only but a part of a series of Yoga practices. Adhering to the social codes of conduct (yama and niyama), breathing practices (pranayama) and the meditative practices (pratyahara, dharana, dhyana) as outlined in Sage Patanjali’s Eight Limbs of Yoga (Ashtanga, Yoga Sutra) are all equally important Yoga practices. By dedicating ourselves to these practices with awareness and discipline, we can promote health and gain the mental and emotional stability to face not only the challenges of the post-COVID19 world but to face all difficulties in life. For example, Yoga cannot reverse situations of lost their jobs or lives due to the pandemic. However, it can fortify you to face the difficulties positively and not be defeated by them.

Accessible Daily Yoga Practices

Although Yoga practices are simple and holistic, and all levels of practitioners can do but “It is important to learn from a qualified yoga teacher so the practices are done correctly and safely.”

The daily yoga practices should be a combination of all limbs of yoga according to need and capacity. It is important to engage in practices with a correct and positive attitude. Practitioners should make a sincere effort to adhere to the Yamas (Truth, Non-violence, Honesty, Non-possessiveness, Celibacy), and Niyamas (Cleanliness, Austerity, Contentment, Self-study, prayer) because those personal and social disciplines are the foundations of taking care of themselves and living harmoniously in society. Following these disciplines gives us the right directions to our life. For example, we need discipline to maintain a good hygiene regiment and respecting social distancing rules to counter COVID-19 in order to protect ourselves and others. By following yama and niyama, we naturally foster these qualities.

Asana (Physical) Practices

Asana practices are vital in controlling body systems and to maintain optimal functioning of organs. It also promotes healing and helps to control unwanted symptoms. Regular physical practices boost your immune system by balancing the circulatory, respiratory and endocrine systems and keep the spinal cord in good condition. Although the main purpose of asana practice is to prepare the body to sit still in meditation, it also promotes stamina and confidence to boldly face any situations. By practising the asanas with awareness and in a relaxed state of mind, you have begun your journey towards health. Asanas practices are for taking care of the physical body through joints movements, spinal movements, muscles & nerves stretching and combination of backward/forward bending, squeezing, balancing pose can boost physical health which leads to mental health as w

ell. Few examples of asanas are: Sun Salutation, the Pawanmuktasana group of movements, backward/forward bending, stretching, spinal twisting, inverted and balancing asanas.

Pranayama (Breathing) Practices

Pranayama acts as a coordinator and inner guide that balances our physical, energy and mental bodies (annamaya, pranamaya, manomaya and vijnamaya koshas). Physically, the breathing practices balances and detoxes all organ systems and mentally, it controls the mind and emotions. Regular practice improves vitality, throws out toxins, provides thorough ventilation to the lungs and purifies the blood. Learning to control the breath also helps to control the mind and emotions since they are intricately linked. It also reduces dependency on medication, especially for those suffering from chronic diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and high cholesterol. Migraines, high-stress level and depression and other emotional issues can also be controlled by practising pranayama. During pranayama practices, we focus on inhalation, retention and exhalation with different speed, length and rhythm according to the purpose and need. Example of pranayama are – Bhastrika, Kapalbhati, Ujjayi, Sheetkari, Nadi Shodhana, Bhramari.

Yoga Nidra and Dhyana (Meditation)

After practising asana and pranayama, the body and mind are prepared for deep relaxation and meditation. Yoga Nidra is the most powerful and accessible pratyahara (detachment of sense organs from the mind) practice developed by Sri Swami Satyananda Saraswati. Also known as yogic sleep, Yoga Nidra is a guided practice in which the practitioner relaxes to a state of consciousness right before sleep but without losing awareness. It is a guided withdrawal of the senses practice in savasana (corpse pose), inducing deep relaxation without losing awareness. Yoga Nidra helps to surface and release deeply rooted desires and fears in the subconscious and the unconscious, thus relieving stress, worries, negative emotions induced by deep relaxation. Letting go of negativities frees us to accomplish our goals positively and successfully. This practice is highly effective for students to sharpen their focus and be in their best mental state for learning.

Wholesome Diet

We are what we eat. We are fully aware of what foods are healthy for us, but we make excuses to justify our poor choices. Seasonal fresh vegetables and fruits are best, yet we reach for convenient frozen or fast foods. As you reg

ularly practise yoga with discipline, you will notice a transformation within yourself, making it easier for you to make healthier food choices. Your body awareness will prompt you towards home cooking and will realize that it gives you more satisfaction. There may be social pressure to drink alcohol and or to eat meat like t

hose around you, but as you better understand

the consequences of your poor diet choices for your health and the environment, you will no longer feel tempted. It is easier than ever before to get fresh ingredients year-round. So no more excuses. Eat well and live well.

We can no longer be casual about how we live. Each and every one of us is responsible for the consequences of our choices. Yoga is the light in the darkness, offering us a chance to take charge of our own physical, mental and emotional health. There is no one else to blame for the state we are in today. If we do not care for ourselves, then we will create more problems for ourselves, our families and future generations. Now is the moment to adopt a yogic lifestyle and develop discrimination in our actions so that we may live our lives to the fullest. Yoga is not in the Himalayas. Yoga can guide you here and now, wherever you are, at this very moment. Adjust your life accordingly so that you may evolve and grow as a person, in your career, in your studies, as a family member, as a friend, as a citizen and member of humanity. Let the pandemic be a siren call to us all. No more procrastination. Begin your yogic journey today for a healthy and happy future.