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Publisher,
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Yoga and T

2 YOGA AND TOTAL HEALTH • August 2016

 Contents

4 Letters to the Editor

5 The Yoga Way to Happiness - Talk by Shri Yogendraji
8 Hatha Yoga Pradipika
9 Life Style Management - Dr. Jayadeva in Parisamvada
12 What is Yoga? - Talk by Smt. Hansaji J. Yogendra
13 Talasana - II
14 Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) - Smt. A. N. Desai
17 Four Satsangs - Shri Ajay Kalra
19 My Experience with Yoga - Shri Jayprakash Varandani
20 From the Archives of YTH - Yoga, A Way of Life - Shri J. Clement Vaz
22 A Moment in Childhood - Smt. Anuradha Rao
23 The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali - A Perspective - Shri Samar Chauhan
24 Teacher Training Course - A Student Perspective
25 The Thinker
26 Yogic Ahara - Smt.Minati Shah
27 Thoughts on the Gita - Smt. Hansaji
28 Yoga News - Smt. A. N. Desai
31 A Bouquet of Scriptural Tales - The World is a Mirror

Cover Design : Onads Communication

Page Design : Shri Mayank Sen
Creative Design : Kum. Sheetal Kapoor

Edited and Published by Dr. Jayadeva Yogendra, at The Yoga

Institute, Shri Yogendra Marg, Prabhat Colony, Santacruz
East, Mumbai - 400055. Phone: 022 - 26122185

Printed at Ranking Prints, 101, Mahim Industrial Estate, Off

Mori Road, Mahim, West, Mumbai - 400016. Phone: 022 -
24464210/24453476

YOGA AND TOTAL HEALTH • August 2016 3

 Letters to the Editor
I joined The Yoga Institute in 1975 and learnt Asanas, Pranayamas etc. from Dr.
Jayadeva. I attended the Institute for one full year and continued with what I learnt
even at home and now I am still continuing with Pranayamas. I will be completing 81
years of my life in August 2016 and by God’s grace I am healthy and active. I do not
have any major health problems like High B.P., diabetes, cholesterol, cardiac problems,
etc. My body parts are functioning well. I hope that my example will encourage those
who are learning at the Institute to follow sincerely the teachings to lead a healthy
life. On the occasion of the International Yoga Day, I express my gratitude to you for
showing me the path and improving my life.

Rahul Mehta
Vadodara, India

It has been almost two and half years that I re-visited The Yoga Institute. My
deepest gratitude to you forever for all you do for the world. You have touched my life;
I am on the path of self-discovery and spiritualty in this journey of yoga.

Boontiva
USA

I have been visiting The Yoga Institute since November 2015 and whenever I have
visited it, I have felt a since of quietness and calm. I discovered that the place not
only can draw you but can also change you completely. Not only yourself and Smt.
Hansaji, but even the teachers and the employees at the Institute are good examples
of compassion, friendliness and a non-materialistic outlook towards life.

Recently I had visited the book store at the Institute, and my total bill was
approximately Rs. 171.72. The person at the counter returned Rs. 30 to me instead of
Rs. 28. When I tried to tell him that he has paid me a rupee or two more, he replied,
that a rupee or two more will not make anyone richer or poorer. I was surprised to hear
this, as this was one of those rare few times when a shop or a business establishment
was not looking to take more money, but rather willing to help me as I didn’t have the
change. Most of us have materialistic goals and are ready to do anything to achieve
goals even at the cost of other people’s happiness. However here at the Institute was
someone who could think above the material goals Each and every person who works
here can be a role model for the society outside the four gates of the Institute.

Pooja Shah
Mumbai

Send letters to the editor, articles to yogatotalhealth@theyogainstitute.org

Notify change of address or non receipt of magazine to bookstore@theyogainstitute.org

4 YOGA AND TOTAL HEALTH • August 2016

 The Yoga Way to Happiness
Talk by Shri Yogendraji Circa 1982
Yoga is a technique for living. Life
means existence, so the technique for
existence during the existence should
be of such a nature that what you expect
from life is available to you. What do
you expect from life?
Health, happiness, peace of mind,
ultimate knowledge - these are your
expectations from your life. You try
to receive happiness through various
means, like the material system of
happiness: enjoying music, going to
a party, eating good food, dancing,
and you think you get your happiness
from there. But you ultimately find
that in order to maintain that rhythm
of happiness, you have to sacrifice and
suffer much, because that happiness is
for the time being; it’s impermanent.
Anything which is impermanent is
never happiness, because as soon as it
ends, you are at a loss. A drunkard, as
long as he is in his state of intoxication,
thinks he is alright, but as soon as
that condition is gone, he is miserable.
So happiness through these worldly
means ends somewhere. Therefore,
you want happiness that is perpetual.
Now where is that to be found? Yoga
says it is available in yoga; where the
mind is trained to that attitude where
it believes there is happiness all around,
all the time.
Happiness cannot be enjoyed unless
there is health, so the first principle
YOGA AND TOTAL HEALTH • August 2016
they have put down is that man must
be healthy to enjoy anything. A sick
man or an unhealthy man cannot enjoy
anything, however nice it may be. Some
good music may be on, along with very
good scenic views, but a sick man simply
does not enjoy it. So health became
primary in yoga. There are many
practices and processes which are of a
physical, psychophysical or psychiatric
nature and they are developed further.
All practices in yoga more or less tend
to be towards good health.
Good health cannot be had as long
as there is disease. So even before
acquiring good health, you have to get
rid of diseases, not only of the physical
body but also of the mental, ethical and
intellectual character. The first attempt
is preventive. Yoga says that if you
do not create any further diseases and
have only the stock of diseases which
you already have, it can be taken care
of. But, if you keep on adding to it,
when will it end? Hence yoga teaches
you restraint; if you want to prevent
anything from occurring in life that will
be troublesome, have restraint. Don’t do
things in the spur of a moment; think
whether it is worth doing, whether it
will create pleasure for you, pain for
you or do nothing. If you are entering
into something which will give you
immediate pleasure, you cannot be
sure that it will remain continuous or
permanent, so think over it.
You are asked to be discriminative, to
see both sides. You cannot say something
is good unless you see something else
which is better or worse than it. So a
sense of comparative knowledge of
things which are good and which are
5
bad is a part of Yogic study. It tells you
to examine yourself, and ask yourself
whether you are happy at whatever
level you are in life. Sometimes you
feel like saying yes and sometimes you
say no. You are quite uncertain about
what you are or how you are. Yoga says
reflect, sit quietly, condition your mind,
and then evaluate yourself to find out
whether the state at which you are in
life is the one that you want or you want
a change. If you are very sincere and
honest with yourself, you will find that
the life that you live is not satisfactory,
and you want something else, but you
do not know how to get at it. So yoga
says don’t worry; first having known
what you are, find out what is wrong
with it and what is right with it; pursue
the right and remove the wrong by
the method of elimination. By having
positive and negative contemplations;
which means you sit, you think of
certain defects within yourself and
then you try to think of the contrary,
why that defect cannot be recovered
and why it cannot be improved upon; if
there are good, how to make it better.
There are two types of contemplations
where you sit quietly before you begin
your yoga, Pratikpaksha Bhavana and
Vipaksha Bhavana, the two Bhavanas, the
two types of concentrations, where one
is in favour of what you are, and one is
against what you are. After you think
over these things, you have to decide
how to make progress. Those which
are bad and which you think are against
your interests, remove them one after
the other, have patience and those which
are good in you, try to increase them.
A time will come when the good, when
it is made to enlarge itself, will make
the evil lesser and lesser each time. So
either you promote that or you decrease
evil so that there is more good, which
6 YOGA AND TOTAL HEALTH • August 2016
are two processes accepted by yoga.
You therefore have to sit down and
evaluate yourself in the condition as
you are in today and see from yoga’s talk
of technology, what should apply to
you. Yoga does not throw flowers at you
so that you do nothing and everything
comes to you just because you think
of yoga. Yoga says you have to work
yourself; yoga can only help you if you
work, it cannot do anything on its own.
In studying yoga, you have to be under
practice all the time. You cannot say
that you will do it today and forget your
yoga tomorrow, that would not do. At
present, unfortunately, that seems to be
the position, they learn yoga in a hurry,
go to some Ashram, some Sanyasi, some
Yogi, learn a few things, probably good
things also, but unfortunately there is
no persistency, there is no constancy of
purpose to carry on with it, to involve
it into their life. They are enthusiastic
for a very short period and afterwards,
under one excuse or another, they seem
to leave the studies.
Yoga cannot grow that way, like a tree
that you plant and put a jug full of water
in; that does not make any difference, it
requires nourishing each day.
 So yoga practices are not those kind
where you practice all sorts of things
in one day and then forget them. It has
to be a continuous practice because
the nature of our mind is such that
it is always unstable, a momentum is
there all the time. What you are just
now is not what you are the very next
minute, it is something quite different.
To stop that and to keep it at one place
is the process which yoga tries to
teach you, so that if you are in a good
frame of mind at a highly elevated
stage, you can maintain that position.
But, unfortunately, sometimes under
some influence, you get into a higher
exalted stage and then you fall down
very quickly. Yoga tries to teach you
stepwise how you can maintain that
position for as long a period as you
want. Sporadic attempts to study yoga
are a sheer waste. You learn something
just now and you forget it afterwards,
that is not the way it is to be; you must
study yoga and see that it is practiced.
This will happen only when you realize
the benefits of yoga. A man, who drinks
milk and becomes stronger, will want
milk because he has become stronger by
it. So you must have faith in the practice
of yoga, which gives you something
that you did not have before, and that
analysis has to be done by you in a quiet
period.
Now the question that arises today
in the modern world is whether people
can find time; everybody has everything
YOGA AND TOTAL HEALTH • August 2016
but not time. They are too busy because
the situations have changed; man is
completely exploited by circumstances
and by those who govern him.
There is a continuity of work given
to him and by that time, he has nothing
that he can think of. There are countries
where they are not supposed to think
anything, they just have to keep on doing
something which has been told to them
and there are supervisors who go and
see whether they are doing their work or
not. No man can sit and contemplate. If
he does, they will kick him and get him
back to work. They believe in physical
work, something which is worldly and
that which can add to the prosperity of
what they like, but not anything to do
with their mind or with their higher
self. This type of a culture, which has
come into the materialistic countries, is
a bane to humanity. It is made to forget
the higher perspectives of life and life
is now lived at the level of an animal.
They give you good food because they
want good work from you and not
because they love humanity. They give
you good work so you can work hard
and when you work hard, they exploit
you and they know how to take the
last drop of blood out of your body.
This is the present stage of humanity
where human beings are exploited
completely by a gang of dirty people
who have collected themselves and
called themselves a political body or a
political philosophy or a political entity;
some social structures; some cultural
structures; some religious structures
and they are all busy trying to take the
blood out of your body. Don’t attend
to anybody, be non-conforming, believe
in nobody, and do just what is right,
otherwise any happiness and peace of
mind will never come to you. This is the
teaching of yoga.
7
 Hatha Yoga Pradipika
k|ydf]kb]z
od]lijj ldtfxf/'M clx+;f+ lgod]lijj .
d''Vo+ ;jf{;g]]iÅ]s+ l;4fM l;4f;g+ ljb'M ..$)..
Just as a sparing diet is amongst the Yamas, and non-violence is amongst the
Niyamas, so also amongst all Asanas, the Siddhas, the perfect ones, consider Siddhasana
to be the chief.

NOTE: The Yamas are those found in the Hatha Yoga tradition as enumerated
in verse 17. The Niyamas cannot be the traditional Niyamas either of Patanjali or of
Hatha Yoga since Ahimsa does not form a part of it. Consistency evidently is lacking
in this verse in light of the previous verses (17 /18). The emphasis on Ahimsa is based
on the commentaries on the Yoga Sutra.

To lessen the use of many meditative postures, the value of Siddhasana has been
re-emphasized. It implies that the mastery of one meditative posture is sufficient for
meditation.

rt'/zLltkL7]if' l;4d]j ;bfEo;]t\ .

åf;Ktlt;x:qf0ff+ gf8Lgf+ dnZff]wgd\ ..$!..
One may practice always Siddhasana from amongst the eighty-four poses. (This
lead to) purification of the 72000 Nadis.

NOTE: The idea represented earlier, that Siddhasana is as unique amongst Asanas
as Sushumna is amongst the 72,000 nerves, is also indicative of the special place of this
meditative posture in the scheme of Asanas. The emphasis therefore is not so much on
the physical education aspect of yoga, but on the effect they produce on the nervous
system. The Asanas are essentially formulated for the achievement of yoga and not for
gymnastics.

8 YOGA AND TOTAL HEALTH • August 2016

 Life Style Management
Dr. Jayadeva in Parisamvada
We all feel that we are contributing
a lot. We even have dreams
of changing the world,
influencing the country’s
future, improving the
society, making an ideal
family, and so on. We
express these ideas
and sometimes also
believe in them when
we are younger.
But gradually, we
realize that we cannot
change the world. The
world will continue as it is.
A country has its own destiny
and in spite of the
best efforts of
great people it has
remained just the same. The society
around us is full of all kinds of people
and they will carry on in the same way.
Even with family, in 20 to 30 years, we
realize that other members of the family
just carry on their own pattern and our
ideal thinking does not work. So as far
as the external world is concerned, we
have very limited capacity.
During the day, besides earning
our bread and carrying on with the
responsibilities at home, we should
not claim that we are doing much. Our
whole mentality of carrying on is of
Chalao. But there is another area that
we can think of and also work on, is
‘ourselves’. This is an area that we have
not attended. Changing ourselves is
in our hands. It is a tough job, but we
can attempt and we can succeed also.
But the point is that we don’t have any
interest in it. We are more intrested in
YOGA AND TOTAL HEALTH • August 2016
our own home, in earning, in our respect,
and so on. That is occupying all
our time. Changing ourselves
would require a change
in our outlook towards
life, our personal
philosophy, our values.
There we have done
no work. We just
carry on or Chalao.
Is money the
most important thing
for us in life? It is. It
has to be replaced. Our
own personal development
is the most important thing.
Experiencing a
better state of
consciousness
is very important. We have to work
at it. During the day there should be
moments when this understanding and
these kind of experiences come. If it
comes, it will come continuously. But
we have not given it any footing. A little
thought comes and then it goes. We
have not worked hard at it, just as we
work hard in the office to earn money.
Setting good values, building up correct
attitudes, so that that line of thinking
stays all the time is important; setting
up a behaviour also that matches, so
that we can come back to our own clear
thinking at any time. Here we are carried
away. Others are doing so we also do.
We cannot resist. We just don’t want
to behave differently. Those who evolve
and grow are those awkward people
who don’t go with the society. They try
and see that they believe in something
worthwhile and follow it. It may be a
very ordinary thing, drinking a cup of
9

tea
i n
t h e
m o r n i n g.
Ever ybody
does it so we
do it. And like
that our whole day
is knit up with all
such kind of things
and so is our ordinary
mind. So when we are
learning yoga this also
should be considered,
whether we want to make
changes in these areas and
how much effort we are
making. What do you think?
Dr. Jayadeva: I will ask you a personal
question. You have been good enough
to read very good books and bring
them to the Institute. Now as a result
of this good work, can you give us some
examples where you have changed
yourself ?
Audience: I had come here for the
betterment of my heart problem and
during the last 3-4 years it has improved
a lot. I found very good results. It really
helped. I have improved 50%.That
is the medical report. I am not fully
implementing it, but I am trying to
improve more and more.
Dr. Jayadeva: It is good we have with us
a person who is working on this.
Audience: I have been coming for a
long time, since 1994. Till 2004 I was
drinking tea. Then I was told to stop
drinking tea. So I stopped drinking the
10 YOGA AND TOTAL HEALTH • August 2016
5-6 cups of tea. Initially I was very
restless but now it has quietened
my mind. I now go regularly for
morning walks.
Dr. Jayadeva: So you think you
have started some changes?
Audience: Yes.
Audience: In my routine,
to make life’s ends meet, I
used to go overboard in
my work and I used
to feel that this is
also not enough.
Slowly the
realization came that if the body itself
is not fit, if the mind is not useful then
the results are not going to be that
good. So now I have started making a
sincere effort to be cautious so that my
mind is relaxed. It does go overboard
many a times but I still am very
watchful now and it has helped me a lot.
I have also started telling myself that
the results will come on their own. You
just cannot expect that it will come at
one stretch, so I work hard but I work
sensibly giving equal importance to my
body and my mind. As you cannot climb
a mountain at one stretch, so also you
cannot improve at once.
Dr. Jayadeva: Good.
Audience: I would like to share one
example about how we are all keen and
we know everything that others should
do. We keep advising that the trains
are not running on time and what Lalu
Prasad should do and what he should
not do. When we are walking, we talk
a lot about what the world should do,
where the world is going, etc., but we
hardly talk about ourselves. So my wife
and I decided that whenever we
go for a walk we will not talk
about anyone else except the
two of us. We were surprised
to find that our talking
reduced by almost 95%.
We spoke for hardly 5%
of the time. From then
onwards, we have started
implementing it and it
has given us tremendous
benefit. We have been
able to overcome many
problems. Earlier we
thought they were
problems, but now we
don’t think they are
problems. We think they
are opportunities to grow.
Dr. Jayadeva: So the men
are trying to bring change
in their own personal life.
Anything the ladies would
like to say?
Audience: I think if we
have the determination,
then we can do it. As
someone talked about
drinking tea, I also had
been drinking tea in the
morning for years,
but suddenly I developed
an allergy. So for my body
I stopped drinking tea
and now I don’t feel like
drinking it anymore. Even
if my friends are drinking
around me, I don’t. I wanted
that determination that if
something is not good for
my body, I shouldn’t take it.
Dr. Jayadeva: So we have got
good boys and girls here.
YOGA AND TOTAL HEALTH • August 2016 11
11
 What is Yoga?
Talk by Smt. Hansaji J. Yogendra
If we understand our own selves
and our body, we will realize that even
if one area is disturbed, it affects the
whole system. Even if a person has
some pain in a finger, his entire body
will be stressed. Because of the pain,
the person starts breathing shallow,
his hunger is gone, his head gets heavy,
irritation comes in, his thinking is
affected; nothing works well. Now if we
are going to treat only the finger, then
we have not attended to our breath and
other things. So just observe – there is
nothing like our body. In our system, we
can’t separate the body, mind, emotions,
intellect, etc. We have to use everything
for living our life. So if there is a
disturbance in one area, all areas have
to be looked after.
Yoga has a holistic approach. Just
doing it for fitness, energy, etc. does not
work. These days yoga has become a
fashion. Any word is attached to ‘Yoga’
and it becomes some type of yoga. Yoga
encompasses everything; it cannot be
divided or separated using words. It is
being marketed and people are running
for it.
People say yoga is a religion, it is
Hinduism, but, actually, yoga is a
way of life. It has nothing to do with
religion. Of course, it can be called
the ‘Grammar’ of religion because
once you understand yoga, you can
understand religion. Again, some say
yoga is for awakening the Kundalini, the
serpentine energy. Dissect your body
and you will not find any Kundalini. The
message that is given is that the body
has a lot of dormant energy, and we
need to understand that whenever there
are problems, our own energy, our own
12 YOGA AND TOTAL HEALTH • August 2016
system helps us in solving them. To
remember this, these kinds of words
are used.
It is believed that yoga is for the
old and not the young. Don’t the young
live their life? Don’t young people have
tension. Don’t they fall and get hurt,
or catch a cold and cough? Then how
can we say it is not for the young? Yoga
starts from the womb itself.
People come to yoga only when
all other avenues are closed. When
a person has a heart problem and the
doctors say nothing can be done, then
he comes to yoga. If you could have
come to yoga earlier, things would have
been very different. You would not have
fallen sick and if you did, you would
have been able to handle it yourself.
Earlier, people used to think only
Yogis, Sanyasis, etc. practiced yoga. But
yoga is for every human. A recluse
would use different techniques, whereas
householders would use a different
technology. But, yoga is definitely a
science of living.
So bring yoga in your life by bringing
a balance in life, concentrating on
everything you do, becoming aware,
thinking before any action, etc.
Understand what is right, what is
wrong and act, do not react - all this is
yoga. Make efforts, and with the right
knowledge, move forward towards
progress.
 Talasana – II
When one tries to co-ordinate with another, one has to practice control over
one’s own self first. In controlling oneself, one needs to co-ordinate the
functioning of one’s body and mind.

Method:

1.Stand erect with feet 12” apart and

parallel.
2.Keep abdomen gently drawn in and
chest thrown forward.
3.Keep eyes fixed at a point ahead.
4.While inhaling 2 seconds, raise both
arms and heels simultaneously.
5.Stand on your toes and reach
maximum position of stretch. Let the
arms touch the ear lobe. Keep elbows
straight and palms facing each other.
6.Maintain the pose for at least 4 seconds
while holding your breath.
7.Rotate arms backwards and lower
arms and heels simultaneously, while
exhaling 2 seconds.
8.Repeat 3 rounds.

Limitations:

Acute cardiac problems, severe back

problems.

Benefits:

Stretching of the body at full length

is of utmost importance for relieving
the compression of the cartilages of
the spine, stretching of the skeletal
muscles, and encouraging freedom and
growth of the lungs, heart and other
vital organs.

YOGA AND TOTAL HEALTH • August 2016 13

 Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)
A.N. Desai
What is Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)?
Rheumatoid Arthritis is an auto immune disorder. This means that the immune
system forms antibodies against the body’s own cells. As the synovial lining of the
joint becomes inflamed the tissues swell and produce more than the usual amount
of fluid needed to lubricate the movement of the bones within the joints. This
irritates nearby nerves and stretches the capsules surrounding the joints. The
cartilage covering the bone ends and the bone itself may also be damaged.

Symptoms: Causes:
•Pain and stiffness in affected joints, The causes of RA are not fully understood. Some
usually more so in the morning of the factors are:
•Joints may feel warm to the touch •Female sex hormones like estrogen and
•Swelling in the joints progesterone seem to affect RA in pre-menopausal
•Weakening of the muscles around women.
the affected joints •Genetic factors: RA sometimes runs in families.
•Painless nodules on pressure areas •Stress: Some people believe that stress may
such as elbows contribute to the development of RA.
•A general feeling of fatigue and
malaise
•Occasionally there may be
deformity of the affected joints
•Usually RA develops in a
symmetrical manner, so both hands
and both knees may
be affected together
•The body parts most affected
are the shoulders, hands,
wrists, knees, neck jaws
feet, ankles and eyes. The other
problems that can occur are anemia,
tiredness, circulatory and cardio
vascuilar problems.

Simple Remedies:
•Rest when tired
•Keep the joints active - Exercise daily
•Have a simple diet of fresh fruits, vegetables, whole wheat products. Avoid deep fried foods.
There are some foods which have shown to help certain cases. In a Japanese study it was shown
that green tea has anti-inflammatory effects. Another
study showed that avocado and soya bean extracts can help in relieving the symptoms of
arthritis.
• A positive frame of mind should be fostered. Research has shown that people who are happier
and have a positive outlook are likely to cope better with RA.

14 YOGA AND TOTAL HEALTH • August 2016

 Rheumatoid arthritis
usually affects joints
symmetrically (on both
sides equally), may initially
begin in a couple of joints
only, and most frequently
attacks the wrists, hands,
elbows, shoulders, knees
and ankles.

Some interesting facts:

• RA affects women two to three times more than men. The risk in women is further increased
in the weeks after giving birth and when breast feeding.
• Excess weight can place four or five times more pressure on certain parts of the joints than it
does elsewhere in your body- so even a small amount of weight loss can make a big difference to
the load your joints can carry.
• Exercise and RA - When the joints are painful the very idea of exercise can seem overwhelming,
but it is important to keep the joints mobile, reduce stiffness and maintain the strength of the
muscles. Exercise can also stimulate the release of endorphins (chemicals which can help block
pain signals).
• Joints affected by RA need rest as well as activity, a good balance between the two must be
found.
• Yoga has wonderful things to offer for the mind, body and spirit.

YOGA AND TOTAL HEALTH • August 2016 15

Real Life Experience of a Yoga
Student:
I had Rheumatoid Arthritis and I was
told by many doctors, including one in
London that there is no cure for RA.
Well perhaps there is no cure as such
in allopathy, but my life experience says
that with discipline and a change of
attitude everything is possible. I am a
living proof of using what Dr. Jayadeva
Yogendra, President of The Yoga
Institute, calls “innocent remedies.”
I was a bubbly, full of energy, fifteen
year old who joyfully took part in all
sports activities. Life changed instantly
with excruciating pain in my legs and
fingers. I was taken to many doctors
and was on six aspirins a day. The
pain in the joints reduced but the pain
at other levels including my stomach
was aggravated. I came to The Yoga
Institute and Mother Sita Devi said,
“Stop all medicines.” I could not imagine
living without my pain killers; I ran
away from the Institute.
Life was flowing by and so were the
side effects of the pain killers. The
doctors put me on strong doses of
steroids; the side effects continued.
My brother read a book and suggested
that perhaps I should ‘detoxify’ myself.
A simple diet of no sugar, no Maida
preparations, no salt and no deep fried
foods was advocated. Lots of salads,
vegetables and fruits combined with
whole wheat preparations were taken.
The system slowly adjusted to these
dietary changes and my detoxification
process helped.
Then I made my second entry into The
Yoga Institute. The diet continued but
there was a ‘diet’ of another kind which
was introduced. It was to feed the mind
16 YOGA AND TOTAL HEALTH • August 2016
with positivity; every minute there had
to be faith in God and love for fellow
men.
The daily practices of Asanas,
Pranayamas and Kriyas combined with a
deep faith in the Gurus, their constant
guidance and loving care brought about
a miracle. The pain slowly vanished. I
was free from the, “Sorry no cure for
your disease,” trip.
The price to pay for this was simple.
Strict discipline in diet, in doing the
Asanas to keep the flexibility, in thinking
and loving kindness towards all.
My ‘designer hands’ are yet there -
the deformity left its mark in the initial
stages of RA itself - but I had vowed
that even if the body is crippled I will
not allow my mind and spirit to be
crippled.
It is now forty three years since I
walked into the portals of The Yoga
Institute. I will ever be grateful to The
Yoga Institute for the light in my life.
- Devi Lakhiani
(Many of the facts in this article are from
the book,“Healthy Bones, Muscles and Joints”
published by The Readers Digest”)
 Four Satsangs
Ajay Kalra
As a student of the 7 month
Teacher Training Course at the Yoga
Institute, I had to complete a number
of assignments. One of them was
to participate in four Satsangs, an
interactive session with Dr. Jayadeva
and Smt. Hansaji held every Sunday
morning. The Satsang topics are based
on various Yogic concepts related to
living a balanced and meaningful life.
Each of these topics is presented by
students of various Teachers Training
Courses through four short skits.
These presentations are compered
by two students who have the added
responsibility of leading the team
comprising of fourteen participants
to their end goal of an interesting and
insightful presentation. Two of the
senior most faculties, Smt. Priyamvada
and Shri Sharad Waghmare, have the
overall responsibility of guiding and
mentoring the entire team each week.
I started my Satsang experience in a
small and dignified role of a nuclear
scientist. Even though I wanted to be
a compere, I did not fancy to taking
the added responsibility for leading the
Satsang team. The only reason I raised
my hand to compere in the next Satsang
was because Mumtaz, my co-student,
was the senior compere. Mumtaz is a
natural leader, while I on the
contrary am a reluctant
leader. I prefer the life
of anonymity unless
I am pushed to take
charge. In the third
Satsang, I played the
role of an overweight
businessman. Finally
with three Satsangs
YOGA AND TOTAL HEALTH • August 2016
under my belt, I just had one more to
go! All I had to do was get chosen for
another acting role and cruise safely to
my goal of completing four Satsangs.
Of course fate in the form of Priyam
Ma’am, had something else in store for
me. She nominated me to be the senior
compere! So I wisely chose to accept my
fate with Uday, another co-student, as
my deputy compere!
Much as I did not want to lead, here
I was in charge of fifteen participants
looking to achieve a common goal. I
started with ensuring the scripts for
the four skits were entertaining while
staying true to the message. This is the
key aspect of any Satsang. If the script,
meaning plot, climax and dialogues is
of a good quality, it is quite likely that
the performance will be good. As they
say in the movie business, no amount
of good acting can bring to life a
poorly written story. The second key
element is casting. Now this can be
tricky as one does not know everyone’s
acting capability. Luckily for me, I
had a fair idea as I had seen most of
the participants act in the previous
Satsangs. Good actors are like trump
cards, they need to be used judiciously.
I cast good actors in lead roles keeping
in mind their personalities and
requirements of the role.
Where I felt that the
casting did not work,
I suggested changes
mid-way.
Now came the
big daddy of
any Satsang
presentation.
17
Getting everyone to come on time to
practice their skits! This was the part
I did not fancy. I do not like to take
responsibility for others. Yet being a
leader I had to ensure that our goal was
met, which meant I had to find a way
to influence them to practice as often
as possible. I realized my leadership
approach is laissez-faire, which means
making each member responsible for
his own participation by giving them
freedom to make their own choices.
More often than not I simply brought
to their awareness our intermediate
and final goal from time to time. Also
as a leader it was very important to
walk the talk. When I committed to a
time, I had to ensure that I come good
on my commitment or risk losing my
credibility with the team.
There were few moments when I
almost lost my patience, felt taken for
granted, dejected or aloof. But each
time I introspected, I realized it was
my own ego that was the cause of these
emotions and not any external event
or person. It dawned on me, to be a
leader one needs to be totally involved
on the one hand and totally detached
on the other. In other words take full
responsibility and be fully surrendered
at the same time. Just like inhalation
and exhalation! I realized leadership
and authority is a lonely space. It is easy
to complain or comment on how things
should be done when others are in
charge and not so easy to be in charge
yourself. It made me reflect on my own
flaws in relating to authority in the
past. For the first time in my life, I felt
empathetic towards authority figures.
Felt their vulnerability and humanness.
I feel Satsang practice is a great self-
awareness opportunity. It sets the stage
to relate to fifteen different personalities.
And if you are in a leadership role as a
18 YOGA AND TOTAL HEALTH • August 2016
senior compere, the possibility of self-
learning or Swadhyaya is far more. The
true test of our wisdom is only revealed
when we relate to others. In other words
it is Yoga in Action.
Two hours before the performance is to
start is the craziest part of any Satsang!
Everyone is running helter-skelter -
practicing the skit, getting the props
in place, doing the decoration, ensuring
that the power point is working, etc.
The performance went off well! I was
delighted that our hard work had paid
off. Hansaji’s much valued feed-back
was positive and encouraging. The
entire team was overwhelmed by the
appreciation we got from all quarters.
The general sentiment was that this
Satsang was entertaining! Whew! With
that I had climbed the Mount Everest
of my 7 Month Teacher Training
Course. Completed four Satsangs!
A leader is only as good as his team. The
sincerity and talent of my team made
success possible. I am very impressed
with our Satsang co-ordinator couple,
Priyam Ma’am and Sharad Sir for
dedicating a significant part of their
life to this process. If I feel tired and
overwhelmed after every Satsang, I
wonder what it would be like to produce
Satsangs week after week, month after
month, year after year, decade after
decade for more than twenty-five
years! I fold my hands in a humble
acknowledgment of their commitment.
And of course, the Satsang process
itself which puts us all together
in a space where we have to work
together and put up with each other’s
idiosyncrasies and achieve a common
goal. The real test of yoga! My
gratitude to the unknown unseen force
that makes all this possible.
 My Experience with Yoga
Jayprakash Varandani
I have been associated with The Yoga was better but not completely cured.
Institute from the past three months. When analyzed, it was identified that
In 2014, I was diagnosed with prostate my urinary bladder was too weak to
enlargement, which is a common pump out the flow and hence in addition
ailment among men today. Some of the to medicines, I was asked to do some
key issues related to this ailment are exercise to strengthen the bladder.
irregular and insufficient outflow of
urine, and weakening of urinary glands. Hence, in February 2016, along with
medication, I got myself associated
I visited a specialist, who prescribed with The Yoga Institute. I explained
s o m e the entire
medication situation to
to cure the internal
me of this doctors
ailment. t h e r e ,
Initially the submitting
medicines my medical
w e r e reports
effective, for better
but as time guidance.
passed by
the effect After three
of these months
medicines of regular
reduced, medication
making it a n d
difficult prescribed
for me to exercise, I
undertake my day-to-day activities. visited my doctor for check-up and to
my surprise, the results were positive.
In January 2016, I decided to take a My urinary bladder had strengthened
second opinion and visited a specialist and the urine flow has reached almost
surgeon. He advised multiple tests to normalcy.
and based on my reports, asked me to I was then asked to continue with
undergo a small surgery to cure the my exercises and the medicines were
ailment. I decided to go ahead with the reduced almost to a fourth.
surgery.
Today, I can undertake all my day-to-
For this, I was hospitalized for two day activities and would like to thank
days, which included around 3 hours of my doctor (Dr. Abhinandan Sadagale),
surgery and 24 hours of post-surgery consultants and The Yoga Institute for
observation. Post-surgery, situation their constant advice and support.

YOGA AND TOTAL HEALTH • August 2016 19

 From the Archives of Yoga and Total Health
Yoga - A Way of Life
moral and spiritual forces in man.
Hence it seeks to develop the total man
recognizing the intrinsic relationship
which exists between the physical and
mental planes and which it works upon
for the development of an integrated
personality.

Yoga therefore is basically

By J. Clement Vaz
Published in ‘The Yoga Institute’
April 1968
The modern city dweller is too much
a creature of his circumstances. He
lives in constant fear and tensions of
all kinds. Like a feather tossed about by
each on-rushing gust, he has neither
time, nor freedom to choose his own
pattern of living. Social, economic and
political pressures and incidents in the
world around him and beyond weigh on
his mind. In vain he craves for mental
peace.
To such a man, yoga could well prove
to be a boon if, of course, he would
approach it with faith and confidence
urged by a powerful motivation. Yoga is
the ancient Indian science of living. A
well-developed sense of self-discipline
characterizes the life of one who has
imbibed the spirit of yoga. He lives in
a planned way purposefully. There can
be no haphazardness of any kind with
him.
Yoga aims at a harmonious
development of the physical, mental,
psychosomatic in its effects. Since the
human body is a temple of the mind
or psyche, yoga attaches considerable
importance to the proper functioning
of the body on the principle “mens
sana in corpore sano” (a sound mind
in a sound body). For this purpose, it
prescribes a course of Asanas, Kriyas,
Pranayamas, etc. These are not mere
physical exercises as understood in
the modern sense. Each Asana, for
instance, is so designed as to stimulate,
without over-straining or fatiguing, the
natural function of a particular organ
or a particular system in the body.
Thus, Talasana, Konasana, Chakrasana
or Utkatasana will exercise the various
joints in the body, tone up the various
muscles and secure the health of
the entire nervous system through
their energizing effects on the spine
(Merudanda). Similar beneficial effects
on the nervous system and the digestive
system will also result from regular
practice of some of the other means
such as Yogamudra, Paschimottanasana,
Dhanurvakrasana, etc, All these Asanas,
however, have as a common basis a
well-defined breathing rhythm and
consequently, Asana are necessarily
linked with Pranayamas which not only
make the respiratory system function
at peak efficiency, but also exercise a
profound and continuous influence on

20 YOGA AND TOTAL HEALTH • August 2016

the mind or the psyche. Even the Kriyas
which are performed as purificatory
processes are psychosomatic as they too
influence both the body and the mind.
Thus yoga physical education, which
includes yoga hygiene and sanitation,
can provide man with perfect bodily
health and inner harmony, for when
the different internal and external
organs - the many hormonal and other
secretions in the body and the various
systems namely the nervous system,
the respiratory system, the circulatory
system, and the digestive system -
function normally and well, man is
bound not only to live healthily but also
to live contentedly and to live long.
But yoga is not only the science
of living, it is also the art of living.
Yoga physical education is essentially
static, sedative and subjective, not
aggressive or objective in its results,
and accordingly, is best suited to a life
of meditation and mental sublimation.
Yoga has a set philosophy, which is
to rise through a gradual process
of self-awareness, resulting in self-
improvement to the final stage of self-
realization by subjugating the ego which
it regards as the greatest hindrance in
that process.
The yoga philosophy is based
upon an unchanging code of ethics
known as Yama-Niyama. It has two
aspects, the positive (Niyama) and the
negative (Yama). Yama enjoins non-
violence in thought, word or action
(Ahimsa), avoidance of untruth (Satya),
non-stealing (Asteya), abstinence
from unregulated indulgence in sex
(Brahmacharya) and non-covetousness
(Aparigraha). Regular practice of
Yama is fundamental to the acquisition
of the spirit of yoga from which will
YOGA AND TOTAL HEALTH • August 2016
follow the five-fold benefits of Niyama,
namely purity in thought, word and
deed (Saucha), contentment (Santosha)
ability to react to the opposites with
the same equanimity of mind (Tapa),
self-knowledge (Swadhyaya) and
resignation to the will of the Absolute
(Ishvarapranidhana).
These ten commandments of yoga are
the basis of yoga philosophy which is
evidently founded on very sound moral
and universal principles. With a living
faith in these principles, it is possible
to climb up, steadily and securely, the
other necessary steps towards the
attainment of the sublimest in yoga.
Asanas, together with yoga hygiene
and Pranayamas, point the way to the
acquisition not only of good health
and longevity but also of mental,
moral and spiritual elevation until full
control of bionergy (Prana) is achieved.
This energy is the highest form of our
physical nature so that with the control
of Prana, the process of the yoga
aspirant may be said to pass on from
the realm of Hatha Yoga to the realm
of Raja-Yoga or, in other words, from
the physical to the metaphysical. From
then on he lives through the processes
of thought-abstraction (Pratyahara),
concentration (Dharana), meditation
or mental sublimation (Dhyana), until
he reaches the final stage which may
be described as trance-consciousness
(Samadhi).
There is no short-cut to the yoga
way of life. It is a continuous, life long
experience, one stage merging into
the other, but at no time will yoga fail
to enjoin strict moral behavior, self-
discipline and purity of mind. Yoga
therefore is both a science and an art: it
is a way of life.
21

The aroma of the first dust, the sky
opening out its doors, allowing the first
showers to pour upon the dry hot land,
quenching its thirst, simply bring in me
calm and peace.
I love the rains. It is by far the best
season of all. Going out and standing
under the pouring rain may sound
insane, but it is fun and I love it. We
are told, and our mind is trained to
believe, that we will fall sick, catch a
cold, pneumonia, migraine etc. in the
rain, but it doesn’t matter.
How many of us remember such crazy
things that we have done as children?
Just recollecting them gives such
pleasure. There was a song, “Those
were the days my friend, we thought
they would never end….” Where have
they gone? Memories left in one of the
forwarded Whatsapp messages?
I see children playing in a park and I
wonder where adult life has brought us.
Work, meetings, cocktail parties, food
and more food, gyms, shopping, maybe
a weekend game? No playgrounds, no
PT exercises? Is being out of childhood
being out of fun zone?
Learning yoga and being able to spread
this subject makes me say confidently
that there is still hope. That little child
which is hidden in each one of us has to
be brought alive. Yoga is an experiential
science. You can experience the feeling
and Bhavas through yoga.
How agile are children? They run,
22 YOGA AND TOTAL HEALTH • August 2016
A Moment in Childhood
Anuradha Rao
jump, skip, hop, eat and eat and do not
put on weight. Many, rather most of us
cannot sit down crossed legged. Simple
Asanas like Sukhasana, if practiced well
can help us not only for conditioning but
in building our agility, strengthening
our knees, spine and the core abdominal
muscles.
Children always want everything
first. They love themselves. If someone
hits them or hurts them, they cry and
complain. We have forgotten to love
ourselves. Yoga teaches us to love
ourselves - our body and our mind.
See a small baby sleeping, observe
the abdomen. The inhalation and
exhalation is so equal and rhythmic.
There are adults who cannot sleep at
night. They listen to music and try to
sleep. Regulating the breathing will
bring that blissful feeling we crave for.
We look at children and smile
automatically; we find them cute,
adorable and lovable. We want them
around us. We go all out to have them.
Our life is complete with children.
Continuing on the path of yoga even in
a small way liberates and brings about
the same carefree attitude in us just like
children. The end result is acceptance,
tolerance, happiness and freedom. It
makes people want you around them.
Rewind life and watch yourself as
a child. What are the things that you
loved doing the most? What is it that
as a child you loved experiencing the
most? Go for it. Practice yoga and live
that past moment, now. Stay on the
yoga path.
 The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali - A Perspective
Samar Chauhan

Chapter 1.13

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Tatra Sthitau Yatnah Abhyasah

The proposition in yoga is stopping the Chitta. The solution to this lies in the
two pillars of Abhyasa viz. continuous efforts and Vairagya viz. total disinterest in
anything else. This Sutra discusses Abhyasa.

The most important thing here is that the efforts have to be continuous. That is
the biggest challenge. For this to be possible the focus must be clear and motivation
behind it has to be very strong. This is an area we need to examine for ourselves. If
our interest is just one, our motivation could be stronger and we may succeed. This
is true for any field. Great musicians, for instance, do not restrict their practice to an
hour a day. Their rehearsals start from the morning and continue throughout the
day without any distractions.

Unfortunately, most of us are lacking here. We have diverse interests and hence
our motivation - and consequently efforts, are occasional and diluted. Learning yoga
for instance is a side activity which we carry out whenever time permits. And even
during this period, we may practice Sukhasana for 2-3 minutes and then say ‘What
next?’ That is our approach. In the absence of a variety we get bored, tired or
frustrated.

For the technique of Abhyasa to work - Steadiness of the mind is very important.
It needs to be totally one pointed and focussed. If the mind is wavery, jumpy – it
cannot work. For this, certain techniques have been mentioned in subsequent Sutras
- with the idea being to train the mind so that it remains continuously on one point.
Making mind free of negativity and full of positivity, filling the mind with certain
thoughts or ideas or images, making it free of desires and aversions – these are some
of the techniques that help. The attempt to control the mind includes the stages of
dream and sleep. And the approach required is ‘Carry on till you succeed’.

(Based on Parisamvada talks)

YOGA AND TOTAL HEALTH • August 2016 23

 Teacher Traning Course
-A Student Perspective
At The Yoga Institute, we regularly organise 3 Months Teacher Training Course
where, after successfully completing the course and passing the examinations, the
students are given their certificates. The course is a residential course and has
participants from various nationalities all staying together in the premises at the
Institute. From the recently concluded course in July 2016, some of the students
have shared their experiences with us -
The I chose The
Institute has helped me Yoga Institute to do the
understand Dharma Bhava and the Teacher Training Course (TTC)
hierarchy of duties. I have learned that as it appeared to be the perfect place
maintaining my peaceful state of mind is my for me. More than half way through the
first Dharma. course, I saw myself being more detached,
more accepting and loving of myself. The
- Parminder Kaur Institute has given me the right keys to
open the closed doors within myself.

- Severine Freval

The
TTC has a good
balance of theory and
practical. The diversity in the
course participants has helped me
see life from a different perspective. The
course has helped me in doing Swadhyaya.
The key lessons I have learned are of
courage and the importance of constant
effort in my Yogic practice. I have also
realized that in order to be a good teacher,
my learnings need to be based on my
own experiences and Yogic journey.

- Jennifer Batcha
Life at
the Institute was very The
different from my routines. Hence course has provided me
I had to put in constant and dedicated with the required training and tools to
efforts, as the Yoga Sutra says, to fight against confidently take an Asanas class.
my resistance to discipline. With constant efforts
I was able to regularly write the ten positive - Deepak Ranjan Choudhury
points and do the reflection daily. I now try to
live each day with a sense of purpose.

- Kristin Barnhurst
24 YOGA AND TOTAL HEALTH • August 2016
The course has helped me to see the situations
objectively with a witness like attitude. I
have become more mindful and aware about
myself and my surroundings. Also, the
public speaking talks have helped me be
more confident while facing the audience.
Just like one needs to water the plants
daily, yoga requires constant and dedicated
practice. This journey, right from making a
decision to do the course, to convincing the
family and finally the course has been the
best time of my life and all the struggles
prior to coming here were worth it.
- Rasika Kshirsagar
As is often mentioned at the Institute, we
must respond and not react, I have started
to implement this concept in my daily life. I
am also trying to be non-judgmental about
people and things. My aim of coming to the
Institute has been fulfilled as I feel that I
have found a path to walk on.
- Alan William Brown
For me, yoga was set of Asanas and physical
postures to be performed regularly, but after
this course, I now go back with a different
and more complete understanding of yoga.
I have learned the importance of Bhavas
and the various meditative postures. I have
learned to live in the moment and be positive
in my outlook towards life. And above all, I
know that each obstacle I face is to help me
learn and grow in my spiritual journey.
- Rosaleen Veilleux
The various techniques for conscious
relaxation have helped me improve my
sleeping pattern and also helped me to
learn how to relax my body and mind. The
course has reaffirmed my faith in the higher
reality - Ishvarapranidhana, we say. I would
like to thank the course coordinators for the
motivational words on the first day of the
course which re-affirmed my faith that this
is the right course for me.
- Mallika Poswal Sharma
YOGA AND TOTAL HEALTH • August 2016
The Thinker
We depend on yoga to take charge
of us, but the unfortunate thing
is that we don’t allow yoga to take
charge. We are not ready to forget
everything else and concentratedly
do what has been told. We sit down
to do an Asana, but the mind goes
to the problems at home or office
or wherever. We want to do some
thinking on that also. We just can’t
say ‘stop that’. We don’t even want
to say that, we don’t know how to
say that. So apparently, we come to
learn yoga, but we are not mentally
ready for it. This is our situation.
We don’t come to learn yoga with
the intention of gaining complete
control over the mind. We want
answers to some of our questions:
“Why have I put on a lot of weight
on my tummy, or why do I have a
headache?”, only things like that.
Instructions are given - sit down,
don’t have any thoughts, watch the
breathing, but those instructions
are forgotten.
We go to the
old pattern of
thinking.
Now, what
is the solution?
Whether yoga
will take charge
of us and make
us quiet and
steady, or who
will take the
initiative?
Do send us your views at
yogatotalhealth@
theyogainstitute.org
25
 Minati Shah

Shri Yogendraji (Founder of The Yoga Institute) once took a small interview of
an aspiring yoga student.
Founder: What is the aim of your life?
Student: I want to study for my master’s degree.
Founder: What after getting the degree?
Student: I want to look for the job.
Founder: What after getting the job?
Student: May be I will get married.
Founder: But all are your desires! The aim of life should last as long as life does!

The Guru creates a larger background for one to have an aim and direction in life.
One can manage it with the help of yoga.

To maintain hygiene and for management of health in the rainy season, Charak
Samhita recommends the use of honey, old rice, old wheat, Moongdal and old barley.
Corn Handavo Method

Ingredients • Soak Rawa and Dal for five hours.

• 2 cups Idli Rawa
• 1/2 cup yellow Moong Dal
• 1/4 cup barley flour
• 5 corn cobs grated and well cooked
• 2 teaspoons ginger paste
• 2 teaspoons chopped coriander leaves
• 1/2 teaspoons turmeric powder
• 3 tablespoons oil
• 2 tablespoons jaggery
• 1 cup sour curd
• 1/2 teaspoon mustard seeds
• 1/2 teaspoon sesame seeds
• Salt to taste
• Grind to dropping consistency.
•Mix barley flour, ginger paste, turmeric
powder, 1tablespoon oil, jaggery, curd
and salt to taste.
• Allow batter to rise for five hours (if
it does not rise, mix ½ teaspoon soda bi
carb and ½ teaspoon lemon juice).
• Mix cooked corn and coriander leaves.
• Heat a non-stick pan on medium flame;
apply little oil on it and pour the batter.
• In a small frying pan, add the rest
of the oil. When the oil gets heated,
add mustard seeds. Once mustard
seeds stop popping, add sesame
seeds and pour it on the batter.
• Cover and cook till the bottom side
turns brown. Then carefully turn
it upside down and cook uncovered
till the other side is well cooked.
• Serve hot with ketchup or Indian pickle.

26 YOGA AND TOTAL HEALTH • August 2016

 Thoughts on the Gita
Smt. Hansaji

tq t+ a'l4;+of]u+
net] kf}j{b]lxsd\ .
ott] r ttf] e"oM
;++l;4f} s'?gGbg ..^–$#..

There he comes to be united

with the knowledge acquired
in his former body and he
strives more than before for
perfection, O son of the
Kurus.

Persons because of their earlier evolutions are born differently. For the ordinary
kind of an individual, it will take more than a lifetime to gain a spiritual urge. Most
of us are not even able to create a real interest in a better life than what they are
leading. Eat, drink and be merry, that is the philosophy. However, with the individual
who has worked hard in the previous birth by reading scriptures or by perfect teacher
or by certain spiritual effort, the case is different. They have already acquired deep
spiritual insight, though they may not be able to achieve anything spiritually. Any
spiritual experience and they are immediately put in the direction. With this kind
of strong inclination, they begin their sincere efforts. The efforts at this stage are
very strong and sustain. Then they are able to atain the highest. So one can say that
a very deep urge helps in early spiritual realisation. In the Yoga Sutra, the word
“Samvega” is used for a student who with strong urge succeeds easily.

Thoughts on the Gita

Chapter VI – 43

YOGA AND TOTAL HEALTH • August 2016 27

 Yoga News
A. N. Desai

On 17th July 2016, a special Satsang was held to commemorate the 41st Birth
Anniversary of Dr. Patanjali Jayadeva Yogendra, the young and son of Dr. Jayadeva
and Smt. Hansaji Yogendra, who met with an untimely death on 24th July 2012.
Singers Shri Iqbal Mehmood, Shri Shailesh Mavinkurve and Kum. Divya Naithani
presented a special musical tribute to Dr. Patanjali by singing his favourite songs.
Smt. Hansaji’s speech about Dr. Patanjali, sharing some very interesting aspects of
his personality was very touching.

50 children from Euro Kids, along
with their mothers came to The Yoga
Institute on 23rd July 2016, to celebrate
Mother’s Day. A large number of
volunteers looked after them very well.
The children made a special presentaion
to Smt. Hansaji and thanked her for
having such a beautiful Institute,
expressing their wish to come again.
20 Students from the Terence Lewis
Dance Academy attended a 1 day camp
at The Yoga Institute on 28th July
2016. They found Smt. Hansaji’s talk
to be the best and said that she solved
almost all their problems. Smt. Hansaji
was very amused and appreciated their
unique and creative style of doing
Namaskar.

28 YOGA AND TOTAL HEALTH • August 2016

 The auspicious occasion of Guru Poornima was observed on Sunday 24th July,
2016 with a special Satsang entitled Guru Shishya.

The skit on Guru Shishya Smt. Hansaji and Shri Hrishiji admiring
the Rangoli depicting the Satsang topic

Sadhakas waiting in queue to receive blessings from Dr. Jayadeva and Smt. Hansaji

YOGA AND TOTAL HEALTH • August 2016 29

 • 21 - day Better Living Course starts on the first
Sunday of every month.
• Teacher Training Course starts on the 1st of
every month.
Health Camps Year 2016
AUGUST SEPTEMBER
2016 2016
7 Day Health Camp (English) 27th - 2nd Sept 24th - 30th Sept
7 Day Health Camp (Hindi) - 10th -16th Sept
Meditation Camp 20th 17th
Cardiac + Hypertension - 4th
Diabetes 7th -
Orthopaedic 28th 25th
Stress Management - 11th
Pregnancy Ante and Post Natal 15th - 16th 17th - 18th
Respiratory 13th -
Weight Management 6th 3rd
Life Management (Personality Development) 21th -
Women’s Camp - 10th
The Yoga Institute, Shri Yogendra Marg, Prabhat Colony, Santacruz East,
Mumbai 400 055. Join us at the BOOK CLUB
Email: info@theyogainstitute.org Every Sunday, just after Satsang
Website: www.yogainstitute.org Book under discussion:
Phone: 2611 0506 / 2612 2185 Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras
SUBSCRIBE NOW ! to Yoga and Total Health
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30 YOGA
YOGAAND
ANDTOTAL
TOTALHEALTH
HEALTH• August 2016
• July 2016
 A Bouquet of Scriptural Tales
The World is a Mirror (Mahabharata)
(In this section, for the coming year, we will delve into the ancient treasury of tales from
the Indian Scriptures, which teach us to lead a virtuous and a spiritual life.)

The Sacred Scriptures, from all religions in the world, have a reservoir of stories
which hold within them spiritual truths and pearls of wisdom. They inspire us to
walk the Path of Righteousness, which takes us forward in our spiritual journey.

‘Mahabharata’ is considered to be one of the national epics of India and is believed

to have been narrated by Sage Veda Vyasa and written by Lord Ganesha. This national
epic of India contains the sacred ‘Bhagavad Gita’. It is a storehouse of knowledge
about various aspects of human nature. It describes the war of Kurukshetra which
was between the two large armies of the cousins - the 5 Pandavas and the 100
Kauravas, depicting the victory of righteousness (Dharma) over unrighteousness
(Adharma).

Once, the disciples of Guru Dronacharya wanted to know why Yudhishthira

(the eldest Pandava brother) is recognized as an embodiment of virtue and why
Duryodhana (the eldest Kaurava brother) is regarded as the wicked man. So Guru
Dronacharya demonstrated that the reputation assigned to the two cousins was not
without foundation.

Guru Dronacharya called Duryodhana, and told him to go and find a virtuous man.
Duryodhana travelled far and wide for many days and finally when he came back, he
told his Guru that he could not find a single virtuous man. Then, Guru Dronacharya
told Yudhishthira to go and find a wicked man. Yudhishthira too, travelled far and
wide for a long time, and on coming back he told his Guru that he was not able to
find even a single wicked man. All the disciples of Guru Dronacharya were surprised
at these two contrary outcomes and turned to their Guru for an explanation.

Guru Dronacharya then said that, the world is only a reflection of one’s own
mind. Therefore to Yudhishthira who was a virtuous
man, the whole world appeared to be full of
virtuous men; and to Duryodhana who was
a wicked man, the whole world appeared
to be abounding in evil. And thus Guru
Dronacharya explained that, ‘As is
the mind so is the vision of the
world’. Our personal perception of
the world will help us to recognize
our own mental makeup, which in
turn can help to bring about positive
changes within ourselves.

YOGA AND TOTAL HEALTH • August 2016 31