The Yoga of Caring

We were all standing on the front lawn waiting for the airline limousine that would bring Dr. Jayadeva Yogendra, Director of The Yoga Institute, Santa Cruz, India and Hansaji, Dean of The Institute to our home in Ottawa. As it pulled up, there was a feeling of excitement and joy that after all the months of planning, they had finally arrived. We had prepared garlands in the tradition of India and presented them with Namaste. It was July 3, 1994, another step in the on going journey of The Yoga Institute which was founder in 1918 by Shri Yogendraji.

Dr. Jayadeva and Hansaji, following in Founder's footsteps, travelled to Britain and then to North America, just as Founder did in 1919. In their one and a half month tour of Britain, Canada, USA, and Germany they conducted lectures, workshops and seminars that were organized by their students. Their aim was to inspire and support their students who teaching the Classical Yoga tradition of The Institute, as well to let the world know more about their work in India.

Dr. Jayadeva and Hansaji were accompanied by Captain Saudamini Deshmukh, a student and close friend of Hansaji. She organized all their travel arrangements, looked after their personal needs, did all the food preparation and generally took care of their every need. They stayed in our home with Gail, Gita, myself and or dog Cinnamon. It was a wonderful experience of living and working together.

The Classical Yoga Community, being the Sadhakas living in the Ottawa area and their students, organized a full schedule of activities during their 12-day stay.

Their visit inspired further learning, a reaffirming of commitment and a feeling of care and openness, as Dr. Jayadeva and Hansaji spoke so fully on how Yoga can be of benefit to our lives and that of society. They introduced a new concept that put a more personal perspective on their teachings. They called it the "Yoga of Caring". They emphasized that an attitude of caring while performing our practices, doing our duties and having recreational time, would allow a greater balance and more positive states of mind. It was a reminder to function with more "heart", more positive feelings, more dedication and commitment.

It is this "Yoga of Caring" that allowed their whole trip to happen. Dr. Jayadeva and Hansaji's care and sense of duty led them to visit their students many thousands of miles away, in their respective countries, offering their support and teachings. The Sadhakas and students in the various countries fully devoted themselves to helping make their trip possible.

Dr. Jayadeva's and Hansaji's visit has been such a blessing. It has been one of opening our hearts and our minds to a more spiritual outlook on life; and it has brought us again the challenge of integrating Yoga more into our day to day lives, to deepen in our experience.

This compilation of their talks is dedicated to all those who continue to take up this challenge.

-CHRIS LAIDLER
Ottawa, Canada

About the Author:

Smt. Hansaji Jayadeva Yogendra is the Dean of The Yoga Institute and the wife of Dr. Jayadeva Yogendra. She was bon in 8th October 1947. She was educated in Bombay where she attended St. Xavier's High School (primary section) then Nanavati Girls High School a Gujarati School. Where education was based on Gandhian principles. She did her B.Sc. in Chemistry from the Mithibai College and her L. L. B.(G) from the Government Law College. Marriage was a turning point in Hansaji's life. With her innate charm and capacity she brought about dramatic changes in the Institute. The ladies wing was expanded and she enthused a dynamism and radiance to all the activities. She brings a special energy where ever she goes and is a popular orator throughout the country. She has authored several Yoga books in English and Gujarati. The television serial Yoga for Better Living has been aired three times on the National network and is very well appreciated. She together with her illustrious husband has travelled widely and shares her knowledge with all self lessly and with grace At present she is the President of International Board of Yoga.

Dr. Jayadeva Yogendra was the first born child of Shri Yogendra and Smt. Sita Devi Yogendra. He was born in Bombay on 27th April 1929. He commenced his education at a Hindi primary school in Bombay, followed by an English Parsi school and Garde College in Gujarat. Then he went to Wilson College in Bombay from where he completed his M. A. in Sanskrit and Prakrut. (Ardhamagai), He stood first in the University (Honors) and received the Bhagwandas Purshotamdas Prize for Sanskrit. He was also awarded the Hargobin das scholarship for Ph.D (Doctor of Philosophy) which was conferred upon him in 1955 and since then he is referred to as Dr. Jayadeva. After completing his Ph.D. to B.A. students for about one year at the Khalsa College Bombay. After that he has worked ceaselessly at The Yoga Institute Santacruz which was founded by his father Shri Yogendraji. In 1958 he was appointed Principal of The Yoga Institute when the Government of Maharashtra gave special recognition to the Institute as a special Teachers Training Institute of Yoga and Yoga Research. He was master-minded many educational and therapeutic programmes and the National Centre of Educational Research and Training took his assistance in devising the national Yoga syllabus for schools. Dr. Jayadeva was appointed by the Government of India as the Governing Body member of the Central Council for Medical Research in Indian Medicine and Homeopathy. He was also member of the Scientific Advisory Board of Yoga which funded a research project highlighting the advantage of Yoga techniques in the treatment of disease.

Dr. Jayadeva is a prolific writer and has authored several books and edited the mammoth Yoga Encyclopaedia series. He editedYoga Today Yoga in Modern Life, Yoga Therapy in Asthma Diabetes and Heart Disease etc. He is at present the Editor of the journal Yoga and Total Health which was founded in 1933. He is the present Director of The Yoga Institute and past President of the International Board of Yoga. He has endeared himself to thousands of his students. Most of all he inspires all by his purity of life in which he practices what he preaches.

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