Celebration of Yoga Utsav as per the Common Yoga Protocol with Special Lecture and Yoga Demonstration 14th May 2022

As part of the RGNIYD’s Yoga Utsav to launch various activities centred on Yoga and the Common Yoga Protocol (CYP) to commemorate the countdown to International Day of Yoga 2022, The Centre for Training, Orientation and Capacity Building (CTO&CB), RGNIYD organised a special lecture and yoga demonstration 14th May 2022 (Saturday) through online mode for the Faculty, Staff and Students of RGNIYD. 

Dr. Vasanthi Rajendran, Professor and Head, CTO&CB provided a background about the International Day of Yoga and the Prime Minister’s initiatives for organising various Yoga centric events for 75 days to mark the countdown to International Day of Yoga 2022 during the 75th year of India’s independence (as the nation is commemorating the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav). 
 
She mentioned that the International Day of Yoga is celebrated every year on 21 June to raise awareness worldwide about the benefits of Yoga in daily life. 21st June was recognised as the International Day of Yoga (IDY) by the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in December 2014 at the initiative of our Honourable Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi. 

She said that the word ‘yoga’ is derived from Sanskrit and means ‘to join’/to unite’. Yoga is originated in India and is the oldest physical discipline. Yoga is an ancient practice that brings together physical, mental disciplines to achieve a peaceful body and mind. Yoga is a form of exercise that is performed through diet, breathing, and physical posture. Yoga brings balance between body, soul, and mind. It helps us to understand the purpose of life and how to survive in the changing environment. Yoga is an invaluable gift from our ancient tradition. Yoga embodies unity of mind and body, thought and action... a holistic approach that is valuable to our health and our well-being. Yoga is not just about exercise; it is a way to discover the sense of oneness with oneself, the world and the nature.

Following the introduction about Yoga, Ms.Saikrupa, Senior Faculty, Krishnamacharya Yoga Mandiram, Chennai delivered a special lecture on “Yoga for Well-being”. During her lecture she explained about the concept of Well – being. She said that wellbeing refers to absence of stress is wellbeing; and anything that poses a challenge or a threat to our well-being is a stress. Two things needed for stress to manifest include Stressor - from outside and Stress reaction – internal.

Explaining about the concept of stress, she mentioned that stress affects all layers of the human system – body, breath, mind, personality and emotions which include Annamaya Kosha; Pranamaya Kosha; Manomaya Kosha; Vignanamaya Kosha; and Anandamaya Kosha. 

While explaining the manifestations of stress she detailed that stress can be dormant or active, in mild form stress is desirable, when it increases problem starts and stress is very subjective.

She provided an understanding of stress from the Yoga Perspective that there is an ancient Indian Saying from the Smriti-s

    “Manaeva manushyanam karanam bandhamoksayoh”

The Yogasutra of Sage Patanjali also bases its entire philosophy on the idea that the mind is both the source of and the solution to our problems (duhkha) she mentioned. 

Delving on the key principles of the Stress management, the individual is viewed as whole - body, breath, mind, emotions and personality and no two individuals are alike. An individual’s practice is evolved keeping in mind: 
kala – time 
desa – place 
vayah – age
vrtti – occupation 
sakti – capacity 
Iccha – interest 

Breath is a key tool in integrating body, breath and mind. She explained Vinyasa as a stepwise progression towards a goal, incorporating preparation, counter-pose and rest while the emphasis is on sthiram (stability without tension) and sukham (comfort). 

She further mentioned about the strategies for evolving a Yoga Practice based on an Individual’s stage of Life which include Siksana karma; Raksana karma; Adhyatmika karma; and Cikitsa karma. 

While speaking on the benefits of Yoga-based Interventional Strategies, she mentioned Asana as an external discipline that brings alignment physiologically and therefore alters psychology as well. The Practice of Pranayama involves regulation of energy through the breath while meditation and visualization are powerful ways of altering the state of mind. 
The vibrationary power of chanting can alter one’s internal and external environment. She mentioned about the specific benefits of Yoga-based Interventional Strategies as follows:

•    Ahara Niyama - Discipline in Diet and Lifestyle 
•    Tapas: Undertaking a sustained practice that focuses on eliminating toxins at all levels of the body (tapas)
•    Svadhyaya - Introspection, reflection 
•    Isvara Pranidhana - Cultivating an attitude of acceptance and letting go
•    Leading to Samatvam - Developing equanimity in all situations

After her lecture, she demonstrated the important Yoga Sutras (poses) as per the Common Yoga Protocol (CYP). This was followed by question and answer session wherein, the students and faculty members interacted with the resource person and got their doubts clarified relating to practice of Yoga. 
 

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