Edited By Dr. Pashupati Steven Landau ([email protected])
Did you know that Yoga implies service to the Universe? It does! Here’s how.
There are many methods to improve one’s physical and mental health. The practice of asanas, or yoga postures, is just one. Meditation is another. In addition, yogic teachings on moral conduct bring about gradual changes in the way we perceive ourselves. In our training, we bring attention to our own bodies, feelings and inner processes. This stimulates self-awareness and simultaneously increases the awareness of how our behaviour in everyday life affects our physical and mental state. Then we find improvement in the development of our own lives. Our new-found self-regulation leads to the choice of better habits that promote Life and Happiness.
When yoga and meditation are taught to children these salutary practices are usually presented in the form of play or fairy tales, with creativity and imagination, within a serene environment. Various are the benefits: a sense of relaxation, a greater knowledge of the functioning of body and breath, the joy of moving and dancing and singing with each other. And yes, singing and chanting are an integral part of yoga practice, and can be beneficial even for those who cannot concentrate during their meditation. An increased sense of self-esteem, ability to balance and to concentrate can be observed after a short time. Trust and respect for others are also gained along with better ability to live with and handle their own emotions, both positive and negative. All of this is reflected in the way the child relates to himself/herself and to others, starting within his/her own family and expanding to the rest of society.
In fact, at a certain point, this life-promoting tendency transcends the boundaries of the individual and extends to the community of people, plants and animals. One finds that life is less tiring, and that helping other people, animals and plants is pleasurable. One finds that supporting one’s own ideas would also involve exposing oneself to others for validation animated discussion. One finds also that for true emancipation of consciousness it must also take place at a collective level.
Besides, technology brings real-time communication to a global network, beyond what individual human capabilities would allow us to achieve. Think for example of a person who lives within a community, anywhere from village to metropolis, and who lives out his/her relationships and activities predominantly at the local level. Through the Internet, this same person, can be in contact with a global community. We have just experienced this by taking formal Yoga Teacher training in the Ananda Marga system, as well as online introductions to Life Coaching, Public Speaking and Yoga Therapy. Our trainer was Dr. Pashupati Steven Landau, a Medical Doctor and Yoga teacher in the United States, and we were joined by fellow trainees from India, Brasil, Malaysia, Haiti, Australia, Cyprus and the Netherlands. The effect was stupendous and inspiring.
In modern life, as we carry on our daily activities and our individual choices, we have the opportunity to be observers of collective dynamics, in which each of us makes a small contribution that has its influence along with that of all other people. In the field of yoga practice the choice to promote Life and Happiness, in the form of psycho-physical health and ethical behaviour, has a weighty and rippling, processional effect in society. It motivates humanity towards positive development at a global level.
Moreover, the philosophy and the disciplines of yoga already have a universal character in themselves, as they are not placed within any particular religious tradition. They refer to transversal values on all spiritual paths, and the practices are imbued with the science that underlies all religious traditions. Hence we find that the practices tend to unite people of all faiths, colors, and nationalities.
*Authors of the Article : Bhavanii Valentina Polo – Yoga Teacher based in Italy, working both with adult and children and always inspired by traditional yogic teachings – Contacts: [email protected]
Rainjiita Raffaella Simonetti – Mathematics and science teacher in the public secondary school. Yoga Teacher for children – Contacts: [email protected]
Sudiipa, Mara Grandinetti, Ayurvedic therapist, Yoga educator, MD and founder of Anima Yoga & Ayurveda Center in South Tyrol, Italy – Contacts: [email protected]
