The first day of the World Householders’ Yoga Convention at The Yoga Institute, Santacruz East, Mumbai, saw a very successful and enthusiastic turnout of visitors. Christmas Day was celebrated by many in learning something new about improving the mind and body.
Around 900 people visited the Institute on 25th December, the 94th Foundation Day of The Yoga Institute. Many more are expected on 26th December, 2012.
The event at The Yoga Institute was inaugurated at a press conference by Smt. Hansaji Jayadeva Yogendra (Director of The Yoga Institute, along with eminent personalities like Pandit Shivkumar Sharma (Renowned Santoor player), Mr. Anupam Kher (Renowned Actor) and Mr. Sukhwinder Singh (Renowned Singer).
From Left: Mr. Anupam Kher , Smt. Hansaji, Pandit Shivkumar Sharma (Renowned Santoor player), and Mr. Sukhwinder Singh.
“The whole Yogendra family has been working steadfastly to bring yoga to the common man. The purpose of this Institute is not to make money, it is to see that every human lives his life happily and healthily and does his duty.
We don’t need to do too many Asanas and Pranayamas. In fact, awareness, a balanced state of mind, concentration and mindfulness is what yoga is all about. We at The Yoga Institute have been functioning very quietly. But now we have seen that yoga today has become very gymnastic. Bring yoga into your relationships, in life and do your duties. That is our message. Through this event, we would like people to know that here is a place where they will get proper guidance,” shared Smt. Hansaji.
Mr. Anupam Kher shared his personal experience with yoga and said, “Yoga helps me concentrate. I want to live life in a way which makes me peaceful and compassionate towards others. Yoga cleans the system, the mind and the thought process. I have come to this place for the first time. The quiet, peaceful and spiritual feeling of this place should be taken with you everywhere.
Being original, kind and simple can also be cool. Whenever the Institute needs me, I will be very happy to help you spread the message of yoga to the world.”
Pandit Shivkumar Sharma, having been associated with The Yoga Institute since around 40 years narrated his story of coming to the Institute. He added, “Music and yoga have much in common. In a 100 Santoors I can make out if one is out of tune. It is the same thing with yoga. If Asanas are done wrongly, it can be harmful.
When I got married, my wife thought, coming to The Yoga Institute, I would become a Sadhu, so I asked her once to come visit with me. She came and became a disciple herself. She comes here more than me now.
The main point is that yoga is not gymnastic. It is about how you live your life. Most diseases are psychosomatic. If the mind is fine, all is okay. If you are stuck in a traffic jam, you can’t do anything about it. Don’t waste the time getting angry, use it in a Yogic way. That, I have learnt here. Although I may not practice Asanas every day, but I have learnt to apply yoga in the thought process.”
Mr. Sukhwinder Singh commented, “When I learnt yoga, I found it to be very romantic and even stylish. Music itself is yoga. I used to feel tired in the busy schedules and long hour flights, but now I just relax.”
The first day of the event included an extremely interesting and informative medical symposium on “Lifestyle Management and Yoga in Healthcare Management.” This was followed by a lively panel discussion on “Yoga for High Stress Professions.”