Day6 Workshop5

The final discourse was very impressive. Swamiji did a presentation on the eight limbs of yoga-asthanga, with the help of power point slides. This kept the pace crisp and the visual aids were excellent. There are various texts on the internet and in books about Patanjali's yoga sutra written almost 4,000 years ago. I will not go into all the aspects but certainly am transcribing the text for texts for friends who have asked for it. It was interesting to not that the entire yoga sutra was written in aphorisms which he explained are like mathematical formulas and need interpreters to read and explain it in depth. Suffice it to say that he established yoga is not about sculpting and toning the body (lines we used in the debate against commercialization) but a series of steps that gives us guidelines on how to live our daily life and following the eight steps attain samadhi or awareness.

The exercises consisted mainly of the all important Surya-namaskar, the ten step sun salute. Performing which one can tone each and every part of the body, overcome lethargy and make our body flexible and supple. The Suryanamsakar is a complete exercise in itself. This was followed by Shavasn, the dead body, a complete mind body relaxation technique from which the participants emerge completely relaxed and rejuvenated. Finally a demonstration of 'tratak' a very powerful technique to improve, the eye-sight, concentration, ability to meditate and even improves personal magnetism it is said.