Q: Could you first introduce us about your experience in this ancient practical art form which is believed to have helped to manage and improve the respiratory system and stress factors during the present pandemic period?
I have been a yoga practitioner, teacher and mentor and I have conducted several yoga and stress management workshops for teachers, students, corporate professionals, jail inmates, the Police, Navy, youth and for patients during the past 20 years. I am also conducting yoga protocol for primary and post Covid -19 pandemic stress management.
My personal yoga education has spanned across different yoga kendras across India where I have spent a considerable time in learning the practices. This includes my spiritual practice and meditation in Vedanta in New Tehri, Himalayas and also in Ujjain. I have attended teacher training classes, pursued my Master’s degree in Yogashastra from Kavi Kulguru Kalidas Sanskrit Vidyapeeth (Ramtek, Nagpur) and the journey of learning still continues for me every day with Covid care for patients as part of a Government initiative.
To me, yoga is a journey that takes me to myself. It is an unshakeable island within us where we can find strength, peace and wisdom. It is not about simply doing some asana or breathing practices. Those are the simple tools and techniques in the yogic art to improve our mental and overall physical conditions.
Q: What are the concrete measures that you have taken during this pandemic period?
I have conducted online practical yoga sessions on COAD, (Chronic Obstructive Airways Disease) COPD, (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) and voice culture extra.
At a professional level, I have conducted over 1,000 stress management and other workshops in yoga for a variety of settings, some of which includes Arthur road jail inmates and jail staff in Mumbai, Mumbai Police, Department of student welfare, University of Mumbai for Sanskar Sinchan, Maharashtra State Board of Technical education, NSS Department of Mumbai University, Maharashtra State Council for Teacher Training and Education (part of Sanskar Sinchan project) Pune, Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan’s Health and Yoga training – organised by the Education Inspector’s office, Mumbai Region.
Q: What are the benefits of yoga at the present untold suffering of the pandemic?
At present, the people are pressed and stressed with untold difficulties in economic, social and health spheres. Even after this period those who have been affected by the pandemic who has lost their loved ones will be affected psychologically.
Yoga helps us to bring mental peace, calm and systematic approach to life. Even after this period, ultimately it promotes physical stability, moral and spiritual strength among others.
Q: To whom do you think it is more suitable at this pandemic period?
For all the frontline workers, public officials and all the active age groups who are involved in the general public, and those who are engaged in public and private sectors, irrespective of their posts and positions. For them yoga induces their immunity within themselves and develops clarity, calmness and compassion.
Q: How do we keep our energy level and enthusiasm high?
Throughout the pandemic, yoga has helped many people to regain physical health, vitality, inner peace, balancing mental health, and overall well-being. There are some special asanas which help the organs to function efficiently, especially as they help the lungs, heart and other organs to function well.
The breathing practices help us to strengthen the respiratory system. Yogic breathing techniques are well known to reduce stress and anxiety.
Meditation helps in bringing a sense of abiding peace and calm. Regular practices of yogic asanas help to increase the self-reliance and self-confidence.
Yoga brings overall calmness which strengthens the physical and mental health together.
The mind and body are strongly linked to each other.
Most of the diseases are caused due to mental and emotional stress. Yoga helps to reduce the stress on hormones, and allow the body to acquire a relaxed state.
Q: What are the measures taken by you to manage the pandemic conditions?
As part of my service, I conducted several workshops for the frontline workers and doctors so they could effectively manage stress and perform their roles effectively. We also conducted sessions to manage Covid positive patients’ overall health.
The systematic and carefully selected pranayama program of certain asanas, (physical mode of stances)
(the practices of breath control in yoga) and dhyana ( meditation) have brought relief to many during this pandemic. I continuously design programs that help to increase a sense of wellness and well-being at emotional, psychological, physical, mental and spiritual levels. I have designed programs for the medical fraternity as I am aware of the high levels of stress they endure.
Q: Do you think that employees are affected due to the work at home without going out?
People get used to the routine of life of going out and working at their work places. Actually they are not aware of nature and nature’s powers. I also conducted full moon meditations during this time. They are forgetting that nature and natural forces like the sun and the moon have tremendous healing powers. So, when we extend a conscious respect to the natural forces, we are aligning our energies with the divine forces.
I am working round the clock to serve humanity to develop their immune and respiratory systems.
People can contact me via E-mail [email protected].
Website: http://yogavision.co.in