Yoga and Modern life

While many people debate and discuss over Yoga, there is one indisputable truth is - no previous Indian government took effort to preserve or promote yoga in anyway, which is one of the richest Indian legacy and a gift to the world. Actually, yoga should have been a part of our early education to build the correct attitude towards healthy lifestyle. However, prior to late 90s, the knowledge of yoga in India was available to exclusive few. 

Baba Ramdev and Sri Sri's made huge contributions by bringing people from all the backgrounds into yoga fold...they easily made it available to the commoners during last decade. PM Modi took this to the next level and got UN / global recognition creating a bigger appeal among common citizens across the globe, especially developing and poor countries. (pls check out the pictures from Malaysia, Indonesia, Kazakistan, Afghanistan, Egypt and so on)...

Most of us would have been shocked if we new how people in small towns in USA practically knew yoga and made it as a part of their fitness regime decades ago....and today we are still debating over yoga - right or wrong, secular or communal, good or bad....what is wrong with us?

Sharing my personal experience.... My elder sister and I were first introduced to yoga through a proper 20 days yoga camp during our high school days where the Mr Iyangar, the yoga guru taught us following 4 limbs of Yoga (Yamas, Niyama, Asana and Pranayama). 

When we attended the camp, we didn't realise how much impact that camp would make in our lives...but it indirectly kept us away from unhealthy lifestyle, because along with yoga, life-style change was big part of teaching. All that helped us build the attitude towards creating a balanced life.

BTW, the yoga, we learned was much closer to the original form and is different from what we understand from media and modern gurus in a gym as the yoga taught these days is sort of commercial and Americanised, may be for creating a wider appeal.

For example, PM Modi's video on 'Shavasana' had only physical activity (lying down and relax) but missed the mind relaxation process that is integral part of 'Shavasana'.

But, at least, we have started somewhere...Hope we take it to the next level by introducing it into the schools to build the right attitude towards life...

#Yoga #modern #healthy #life #sandhya, #sandhya jane #patanjali yoga sutra #balanced #positive lifestyle #Vedic Knowledge #vedic #gyan

Indian culture: Why don't we refer elders by 'first name'?

There is an unspoken sociocultural norm in Indian society of not referring elders (at home or outside) by their first name, which was obvious until the last decade.

Instead, we defined the relationship and referred to a person accordingly, for example, didi for elder sister, bhabhi (Ji) for an elder sister-in-law, aunty (Ji)...and the same followed outside the home. “Sir,” “Mr.,” “ma’am,” or “Mrs.” were used in professional circle. However, these things slowly started fading, especially in the professional environment. Elders suddenly started feeling “young” or “modern” with the new mantra “Please call me by ‘my first name’ or ‘oh, don’t call me ‘bhabi’”, or “oh, it is so old fashioned.” On other hand, youngsters felt it was “cool.” Well, instead of asking for person's comfort, most assumed new norms are acceptable and conveniently started ignoring the old customs.

As a matter of fact, our culture had lots of scientific reasons behind most of the practices that are followed. In modern terms, there is “a relationship science” behind it that actually facilitates speakers to sync their “thinking,” “feelings,” and “speech” based on the relationship (“Didi” is closer to “bhabi.”). This way, it results in creating the required “harmony,” “respect,” and “love” in the relationship. Until the eighties, most would follow and insist the same for their kids. Now, “modern” parents neither prefer to follow nor teach the same, and later, we expect them to respect the elderly. Is this possible?

Wouldn’t it be nicer if we, as parents, set an example by not referring to elders by their first names, unless the person insists otherwise? Ladies and gents, “getting old” is a privilege; do it gracefully by accepting the respect from youngsters and reciprocate the same with your love. Youngsters, please remember that respecting others will not diminish your “self-respect,” but surely increase it in some way.

This is not primitive thinking but already mentioned in some of the modern psychological and behavioral theories. It is also a lightly mentioned transaction analysis in “social ego” by the well-known American psychiatrist Eric Berne and elsewhere in other forms.

#India #IndianCulture #Hindu #Hinduism #SandhyaJane