Brahmacharya Yoga

Anuradha G., a yoga instructor for over 10 years has used her experience and knowledge to transform the lives of those who have had the good fortune of being under her tutelage. Her keen sense of observation, sensitivity and compassion has helped her delve deep into the psyche of each student and devise a regime to cater to individual needs.

She began her career as a teacher of yoga in Petit School, initiating 4-6 year olds to the benefits of yoga. She also taught yoga at Rishikul, MET and to Citi Bank employees, BKC. Through her varied experiences with schools and corporates, she realized the need for formulating workouts to suit individual needs. Inspired, she began her journey of personal training.

In today's technology-driven world, our quest for material success has in most cases taken its toll on our physical and mental well-being. Life style diseases like Diabetes, hypertension and PCOD (Poly Cystic Ovarian Disorder) in case of women, have become common.

While you may not want to give up your quest for success, you need to effectively manage these lifestyle diseases as your health is your responsibility and if you do not keep some time aside to maintain good health, the consequences can be devastating.

Maintenance and restoration of health is an art and a science. In today's world, the most important commodity is Time; hence people tend to seek short cuts or become total shirkers.

One of the best methods to combat these maladies is Yoga. Yoga teaches us to lead a healthy and happy life. One of the many definitions of yoga is 'Awareness'. The expression 'Forewarned is Forearmed' is apt; with awareness, one can arrest any problem in its nascent stage before it begins to fester.

There are four main stages of life:

1. Brahmacharya (birth-25yrs) 2. Grihastha (25-50yrs) 3. Vanaprastha (50-75yrs) 4. Sanyasa (75 +) The stage of Brahmacharya is from Birth to Adulthood. Swami Satyanand Saraswati said, 'The destiny of the whole world depends upon children.' They are the future and it is only citizens who are physically, mentally and spiritually fit that can create a developed, progressive nation. These are the formative years which bestow this stage its significance. The impressions that are made during this period influence one's personality throughout one's life.

In the present era, children experience as much stress as adults do. The competitive environment, demands from schools, parents, peers and puberty have taken a toll on children. The practice of yoga has a positive impact on the body as well as the systems that support it. For example, the Respiratory, Digestive and Nervous systems. It helps mould one's behaviour by stabilizing the mind and enhancing creativity.

Just as a farmer tills the soil before sowing, yoga prepares the mind by making us aware and receptive; it improves memory and helps you to absorb and retain information for longer periods. Hence, it is an empowering gift to everyone who practices it.