Yoga in bangalore. Review on Yoga Teacher - Mumbai

This review was promised to somebody so ''Der se hee sahi....(although late....)''

Also, could not find a section for Bangalore hence put here... Kindly bear till I can move it over... Thanks/

There have been staunch YOGA supporters at home and around since my childhood but as careless I am, never paid any heed. By the time I was in Intermediate first year(11th Std), my sister was well versed in Yoga and used to explain importance of Vajrasana & Shavasana, that too casually as she knew if she were to go more deep, we(brothers) will make fun of her and her Yoga. But the more sincere she was, she completed her basic and advanced Yoga courses and was ready to teach. But then I left for Engg where came across the 10 day Vipassana meditation courses. In spite of lot of convincing from friends and seniors(they were pretty sure that I needed one), I could not buy the argument of self control by not talking to anybody for 10 days at a stretch unlike many who did.

Even when working in private companies in Pune, Hyd and Delhi, I made sure that I join some sports club or have some activity for recreation till I landed in Bangalore.

Although a pensioner's paradise (of course that was long long ago), Bangalore is slowly becoming a hazardous place especially when you talk in terms of healthy mind and healthy body. For that matter, most of the cities in India.

With the sort of traffic in Bangalore, by the time you are home from work, especially if your office is on Airport Road, you either want to hit the bed or just lay down wherever you are. Not for me though. I tried many ways of keeping myself hale and hearty all the time by either making a group of friends to visit places in and around Bangalore or by joining a GYM. Somehow, I never enjoyed doing anaerobic exercises. I was constantly in the mood of aerobic exercises.Even tried with Karnataka Badminton Association for my first love in sports, badminton, every evening for an hour and a half. Travelling all the way from Indira Nagar to KBA became a big headache and costly affair with Bangalore petrol being the costliest in the country(5 rupees difference from Delhi in my earlier days) and bicycle riding even costlier, even on footpaths. ;-(

Thats when my brother had visited me from Mumbai and suggested me to go for Yoga classes as that would cost much less than what I am spending on the alternatives and will be more beneficial especially me being from the IT. He being an orthopedaecian had seen so many silly patients from software(his own words), ''just because the company pays for your health insurance you cannot risk your life by having lazy lifestyle'' was his philosophy. Now as I grew more older, admittedly relented and started searching for good Yoga teacher in Bangalore.

The thumb rule in Bangalore for everything and anything right from buying property worth of crores to a second hand radio is to grab a copy of free-ads or Ad-Mag. Same with me, bought a copy of Ad mag for 10 bucks and in one of the ads, came across this guy from Malleswaram, who claimed to be an expert Yoga Exponent and teacher. Contacted him and the next weekend visited him to find out more details and check his credentials. My first visit to this guy impressed me so much that I just paid him 300/- per month for a 3 month course the next day itself and began my course. The course included teaching 15 basic Asanas at his home on the terrace in Malleswaram for a month, 15 Advanced Asanas in India Habitat Center in Koramangala(closer to my house) for another month and 5 pranayamas and meditation for another one month. This included the explanation of importance of each Asana alongwith its benefits. Not a bad deal considering that I used to pay KBA 1500/- plus shuttles plus petrol plus late evening stays and what not. This was the least offering for Yoga in Bangalore in 2003.

Some things that could help before you can look out for a Reliable Yoga Teacher.

• Request him/her to allow you to spend 2-3 days attending his/her classes before you are convinced to pay him/her the full amount. He/She will agree for sure and I can assure you on this as my sister herself a Yoga teacher never takes money before the student is convinced of her abilities.

  
  




• Every Yoga teacher has a Yoga certificate from a well known institute. Make sure to inquire when you get a chance.

  
  




• Those 2-3 days will give you a lot of time to understand how much of time he/she himself/herself spent doing the Asanas as flexible as he/she performs.

  
  




• Make sure that the classes are either in the morning between 5-7 or in the evening between 5-7 as that is supposed to be the ideal times for Yogas preferably in places with open air.

  
  




• Pay heed to the explanations he/she gives on the background of the Asanas.

  
  




• If he/she doesnot explain what a particular Asana helps for and in what way, make sure you pose the question and listen carefully to see if his response makes sense.

  
  




• Make sure that before performing/explaining each Asana, the teacher does not forget to tell who should and who should not be performing that particular Asana.

  
  




• Every Asana serves to cure one or the other disease. Be sure he/she knows what disease does that Asana cure.

  
  




• Look for the passion for Yoga and not teaching Asanas only in the teacher because each Asana in Yoga has many versions which very few would be aware of. Only a passionate teacher tries out newer and more difficult versions. You can also have your own. If thats unique, you can always patent it over.

  
  




• Please remember that Asanas in Yoga just like other old age Vidyas, are never supposed to be shared without being taught from a Guru for a long time. So get to know your Guru when you get a chance, just in case you want to take it up further.

  
  




• Suryanamaskaras go hand in hand with Yogasanas, try to get proper understanding of them if you are not aware.

  
  




• Most importantly try to ask the teacher for the sequence of Asanas that he/she teaches to be performed on regular basis.

  
  




• A good Yoga teacher is supposed to have a good knowledge of the diet that his students should adhere to when he finds that his/her student is not able to perform a particular Asana properly. Watch out.

  
  




• Of all, it is better if the teacher is able to communicate/explain in a common language like English.

  
  

Coming to Asanas.... The Asanas in Yoga if performed properly are as complicated and stetching as like any other physical activity or more than that. Each Asana is derived from nature and animals and their way of adjusting to the extreme conditions which helps us Humans to adapt to such conditions although Yoga in general is more of a discipline of the senses of mind, which is most required for the India today as put by Baba Ramdev.

Some facts:

• Famous BKS Iyengar learnt Yoga out of necessity. He learnt Yoga to survive more days without the need to have food.

  
  




• It is proven that there are particular Asanas which help pregnant women to have a safe and relaxed, less strenous pre-delivery days.

  
  




• Yoga Nidras are one of the most satisfying moments of your life if one does not start snoring.

  
  




• Pranayamas are the best ways of self realisation and mind control through the use of breath control.

  
  

..... and the list can go on and on..

If you are not happy with the lackadaiscal lifestyle of yours, go for Yoga. Nothing to lose except for a few 100 bucks.

As one Yoga teacher said, Before you've practiced, the theory is useless. After you've practiced, the theory is obvious.

Enjoy Yoga and if you care, spread it.

@Sarvesh.

Yesterday is history, tomorrow is mystery, today is a gift, that's why they call it present...