The Newsletter of Kaivalyadhama Institute and SADT Gupta Yogic Hospital & Healthcare Centre
Volume 5, Issue 13 July/August 2009
WORLD
Kdham
KAIVALYADHAMA
Yoga for the World
Sri O. P. Tiwari in China Ireland and USA
RNI NO. MAHENG08413/13/1/2001-TC
Focus on
Yoga College
See Centre Pages
Great Things Happening
to Yoga in India
See News Items
We have long being debating the need for enhanced efforts towards promoting the activities of the Institute and publica- tions are one of the areas to which our attention has been drawn. I must admit that we have been very concerned with our research journal, Yoga Mimamsa in terms of the backlog of work needing completion. At this juncture, the Managerial Board decided to give the responsibility of solving the problem to Dr B. R. Sharma, Assistant Director of our Philosophico- Literary Research Department. Although having a background in Sanskrit and Philosophy, Dr Sharma rose magnificently to the challenge and, with the excellent help of his team, has ensured that issues are up to date; what’s more many interesting articles have been incorporated. We admire and appreciate these efforts.
On an allied matter, one of our well-wishers, Mr Nigol, had been very helpful in making Kaivalyadhama’s books available on websites such as AMAZON and ABE BOOKS. It was through his consistent pressure (positively) that we took action. We needed to have help to initiate the complex process (once you start approaching the maze of registration on the Internet you realize just how complicated it is) of putting the books on the site, registering and dealing with other formalities. We looked to our past student Ms Radhika for help. She not only carried out all this for us but also went to each and every book store in Mumbai to ensure that the Institute’s publications were displayed for sale. Further, the task of mobilizing the Institute’s alumni has been taken over by her. Words of praise go to her for
her devoted efforts. I hope others also will join in.
It is rightly said that an individual in pursuit of excellence in the field of knowledge goes beyond the boundaries of the individual self and braces the concept of oneness or unity, that all the world and universe is one. This concept was clearly visible to us through the help provided by Dr Shirley Tellis in the process of streamlining our Research Department and other activities at Kaivalyadhama and also by the organization of a highly meticulous training programme for researchers from various research institutes in Yoga. She has been helping us as an individual devoted to the cause of research in Yoga. We offer her our sincere appreciation for the guidance and assistance she has given.
The face of this Newsletter and many of our publications have gone through a transformation, both in looks and content. The changes have been widely appreciated, be it the bold headlines in the Newsletter or the cover designs of the publications or the splendid brochures of the Institute and the departments. The credit for all this goes to Dr Stuart Rose. He spent over a year at Kaivalyadhama while studying VEDANTA, and during that time we asked him to help us out. Once started, the momentum has kept growing for better. We express our heartfelt thanks for his contribution, help and guidance.
The progress of the Institute lies in strong bonding and great teamwork. Apart from staff members, people who are busy in their own field have come forward to help the Institute and, in so doing, the cause of Yoga. I am sure we are to see some dramatic results of this endeavour.
- Subodh Tiwari Administrator
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KAIV KAIVAL AL AL ALY AL Y Y Y YADHAMA ADHAMA ADHAMA ADHAMA ADHAMA’S ADMINISTRA ’S ADMINISTRA ’S ADMINISTRA ’S ADMINISTRATOR ’S ADMINISTRA TOR TOR TOR TOR
As we know, there is urgent need to orient and train school- teachers in the art and science of Yoga. For this purpose, the Ministry of HRD has a scheme for Promotion of Yoga in Schools, which has been dis- cussed in length in last few is- sues of KdhamWORLD.
To expand the spread of this scheme, Kaivalyadhama has now visited the State of Himachal Pradesh and the Union Territory of Chandigarh. A meeting was held with the Principal Secretary of Educa- tion, Mr P. C. Dhiman, which was very fruitful.
Mr Dhiman was keen to es- tablish a working relationship with the Institute to promote Yoga in the State schools.
Sri Ram Niwas, Secretary at Chandigarh, was also very re- ceptive to the idea and appreci- ated the efforts being made in Maharastra schools.
EXTENDING YOGA’S BOUNDRIES
We invited medical and AYUSH professionals from the region to the Institute to partici- pate in an Orientation Programme for six days, sched- uled between 12 July and 2 Au- gust 2009. Through this work- shop the medical professionals will be made aware of the ad- vances of scientific research into Yoga and also its therapeutic applications. All these training programmes incur no financial burden on the participants since
the Government of India meets all expenses.
During this visit we also called upon Her Excellency Smt Prabha Rau, the State Governor, and appraised her of our efforts. We also requested her to accept our invitation to be Kaivalyadhama’s Chief Guest at the Valedictory Function of the 6th International Conference on Yoga: Research and Cultural Synthesis in December 2009.
With many things at Kaivalyadhama now changing for better, it was the turn of the Naturecure’s consulting room to be upgraded. This area was renovated to keep in mind the need for patient privacy and the aesthet- ics that would create a positive in-
fluence to the working environment. Sri B. C. Khatua, IAS and Chair- man of the Forward Market Com- mission, Government of India, inau- gurated the renovated section in a simple ceremony.
Many more
certificated
2009’s second Certifi- cate Course in Yoga started 2 May 2009 for six weeks duration and over 80 students enrolled in the course. The Course is de- signed to introduce Yoga to the youngsters in its philosophical and practical form. The valedictory func- tion was held on 12 June 2009.
NATUROPATHY GETS ITS OWN THERAPY
It has been Kaivalyadhama’s effort for some time to build collaboration with other institu- tions of excellence in field of Yoga training and research and this now will happen with the 25-year-old Pravara Medical University. Pravara is a unique Institution based in Loni (near Ahmednagar) which teaches under and postgraduate courses in medicine. The university also has colleges of pharmacy and nursing.
Pravara collaborates with many international institutes, including Linkoping University, Sweden. The University has also been working with many UN and NGO agencies includ- ing WHO and UNICEF, bilat- eral agencies such as DFID (British Commission) and Glo- bal Forum for Health Research (GFHR) in the co-sponsorship of international symposia which is partly supported by Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA). Also there is collaboration with University of Milano (Italy), Greifswald Uni-
Developing Collaborations
versity (Germany), Network- TUFH Project (Netherlands), Hungarian Club Doctors and Rural Health Association, and others.
Pravara University has been accepting foreign and NRI stu- dents for elective training since 1992. Students from the univer- sities of Limburg, Maastricht, (The Netherlands), Lund (Swe- den), Michigan, Iowa and Georgetown (USA), and Linkoping (Sweden) have un- dergone training here.
Now Kaivalyadhama and Pravara Medical University will sign a Memorandum of Under- standing to collaborate for train- ing and research. The institutes will conduct a postgraduate Di- In times of large-scale depletion
of natural resources resulting in scarce electricity and rising fuel costs, it gives immense satisfac- tion that Kaivalyadhama is re- ducing its consumption of con- ventional energy.
After three years effort, the hybrid system of windmill and solar has been installed to gen- erate 10 KVA of electricity through renewable sources. The
Institute thanks the Maharashtra Energy Development Agency’s guidance for the project and the Ministry of New and Renew- able Energy for their grant to- wards total costs.
This new hybrid system adds to other energy reductions. Con- sumption of cooking gas has reduced by 65% since a smoke- less chulha was installed, more than 5,000 litres of water are
SUSTAINABLE YOGA!
heated daily through solar heat- ers, and our biogas plant sup- plies four hours of cooking gas each day. Plus, 100 trees (50 mangoes and 50 jamb trees) have been planted to halt soil degradation in areas where their survival will be ensured through drip-water irrigation. Now we plan to plant 1,000 trees on our hills.
ploma in Yoga Therapy Course jointly and the diploma will be issued under a combined seal. This will be the first time a Di- ploma in Yoga Therapy Course will have been conducted under the auspices of both a medical university and an institute of excellence in Yoga. It will give the right exposure and atmo- sphere for students to achieve the best combination of Yoga and its therapeutic applications. The two institutes will also initiate research projects with special emphasis on the effects of Yoga on certain conditions among rural populations. We are sure these collaborations will go a long way in strengthening fu- ture ties between the institutes.
Maharashtra State has realized the gravity of the current situation in Yoga education and decided to create a Regulatory Council for Yoga. The first step was a meeting on 17 June 2009 where the process of providing input for the new Act was initiated.
Prominent Yoga institutes such as Santacruz, Yoga Vidya Dham, Yoga Vidya Niketan, Ghantali Mitra Mandal, Kaivalyadhama and others were involved. It is thought that Maharastra will be the first Indian State to systematize Yoga institutes and regulate standards of Yoga teachers. This idea has been talked about and discussed for a long time. Mushrooming Yoga institutes and increasing numbers of unqualified Yoga teachers has necessitated the process whereby a
TIGHTENING UP STATE YOGA TEACHING
Regulatory Council would set a standard and system through
which the institutes and Yoga teachers could be certified.
There has been argument against this process by some schools of thought, which insist that the experiential part of Yoga cannot be standardized as it is a gurukul system. However, it has to be realized that the process being standardized is for
institutes which impart Yoga education through courses and teach practices for health and rejuvenation only. Those institutes which look at Yoga as a spiritual experience will still be able to pursue their goals under the auspices of gurus and suchlike teachers without hindrance.
The Yoga Education Fund was created in memory of Sri Rameshvar Prasad Nevitia by his children donating to a corpus for the fund. The fund was created with the view that more popular publications of the Institute can be printed so that the message of Yoga reaches a wider audience.
A function marking incep- tion of this fund was held on 7 June 2009 with wellwishers of the Nevetia family together with that of the Institute members at-
Yoga Education Fund
tending. A brief report on work done through the fund was given by Sri Subodh Tiwari. Two books, “Yoga for Seniors” by Sri Ravi Dixit and “Yoga modules for Institutions for
Higher Learning” edited by Sri G. S. Sahay and Subodh Tiwari were released by the Chief Guests, Mr Subhash Avate, Ad- ditional Director General of Po- lice and Smt Tanuja Mukerjee, renowned actress.
Sri Sitaram Shah, coordina- tor of the fund, expressed his heartfelt thanks to those attend- ing. It has also been proposed that an annual lecture under this fund be started to enable us to get people together, explain the utilization of this fund and to in- crease interest in various aspects of Yoga.
Sri K. Pattabhi Jois was born at Kowshika, Karnataka, on Guru Purnima day in 1915. Twelve years later he first met his guru, Sri T. Krishnamacharya, who instigated his lifelong journey in the field of Yoga. Aged 15, Pattabhi Jois started to study Sanskrit in Mysore and in 1937 was appointed by the Maharaja of Mysore to teach Yoga at The Sanskrit College. Marriage, three children and family responsibilities came. Over the years, he taught Yoga to thousands of students and, from the early 1970s, an increasing number of foreigners. He remained faithful to his guru’s teachings and this clear- minded approach eventually influenced the entire modern Yoga movement. These teachings were taught daily from his Yoga shala in Mysore. His
Obituary
Sri K. Pattabhi Jois July 16, 1915 – May 18, 2009
classical approach can be found taught in practically every country of the world today. He always maintained that time and dedication could not be short cut in Yoga practice and that following the tradition through the correct methods brought the best result.
Sri Jois was a joyful man and never wavered in his approach to life. He was able to open the path of yoga to many aspiring and faithful students as a result. His son Manju and daughter Saraswati continue to teach as he did. His grandson Sharath Rangaswamy follows in his footsteps to carry on the teachings. His family and thousands of loving students miss him. God bless his soul.
New
Books
Asana and Pranayama by Swami Kuvalyananda translated into Chinese. Yoga for Seniors by Shri.Ravi Dixit. Yoga Module for Institutions of Higher Learning edited by Sri G. S. Sahay and Sri Subodh Tiwari.
talking Yoga, learning Yoga p
Ever since 1924,
Kaivalyadhama has been
teaching people to teach Yoga.
Thousands and thousands of
Yoga teachers are indebted to
Swami Kuvalayananda (1883-
1966), pictured right, the
Institute's founder and
visionary, for the skills and
insights received during
training.
The first building of the
stand-alone GS College of
Yoga and Cultural Synthesis
was opened in 1951. Now the
College occupies many
buildings on the extensive
Kaivalyadhama campus, which
is the oldest Yoga Institute in India and the world.
The Hatha Yoga taught is not just asanas, it's a comprehensive practical,
philosophical and scientific in duction to the art so giving its graduates all
the necessary skills to build their own practice or to become successful
instructors in schools, businesses or industry.
Kaivalyadhama is comprised of four divisions-the College plus the
The Gordhandas Sekseria Colleg
at Kaivalyadhama is the pione
practising Yoga, living Yoga
Philosophico-Literary Research, Scientific
Research, and Yogic Hospital Divisions-
which all work together to create fully
educated graduates ready to meet the world.
Swami Kuvalayananda was the first
College Principal. Today the principal is Sri
Ranjit S. Bhogal MA who leads the team
of full and part-time teachers which is
supplemented by specialist professional
experts such as physicians and academics.
Student life is packed full and the care the
College gives is happy, exhaustive and
exemplorary (pictured left is a group of the
very first students relaxing, and some of
today's students).
All courses are given in both Hindi and
English, and students take advantage of
studying an researching
in the world's largest specialist Yoga library, which holds more than 25,000
items and full broadband Internet facilities.
Course fees are modest as Indian nationals' fees are subsidized by the
Government, which graciously supports Kaivalayadhama as a whole. Foreign
students are most welcome.
ege of Yoga & Cultural Synthesis
eer of Yoga education in India
DIPLOMA
IN YOGA EDUCATION
CERTIFICATE
COURSE IN YOGA
Three courses yearly : starting January, May and November
ENTRY
No previous Yoga experience
HSC or equivalent
Under 40 (except foreign nationals)
Affordable fees
Residential for six weeks
RESULT
Increased self-knowledge
Certified to hold basicYoga workshops
ENTRY
University Graduate (above 45% aggregate) Up to 35 years of age (except foreign nationals)
Affordable fees
Residential for nine months from each July RESULT
Qualification to teach Yoga in every situation Full philosophical, anatomical and physiologic knowledge
Expansion of self-understanding
Sort-after, valuable accomplishment for career building
Human beings anywhere in the world aspire for two things in life: health and happiness. In spite of all advances in every field, including medical facilities, one can say with certainty that we are no closer to attaining health and happiness than in the past – both still alluring us. The World Health Organization initially had an ambitious plan of attaining health for all by the year 2000. This was later extended to 2005. Now we are in 2009 and you will agree that we are a long way away from reaching this target. Having not made much headway in attaining health through modern medicine people are now turning more towards alternative medicine.
ROLE OF YOGA IN HEALTH
It is here one can appreciate the great vision of Swami Kuvalayananda, founder director of Kaivalyadhama, who could foresee the immense scope for the application of Yoga in all spheres of modern life. He emphasized that Yoga has a complete message for humanity: a message for the body, for the mind and also for the soul. Now there is a general consensus among people all over the world that Yoga has a beneficial effect on health; however, people are looking towards Yoga as panacea, a cure for all ailments, which is far from true.
Research to establish the beneficial effects of Yoga is being carried out in many leading institutions in India and worldwide. This research is mainly carried out to study the beneficial effects of Yoga practice on biochemical parameters as well as on the autonomic nervous and other system functions and compares these results with a control group who don’t practice Yoga. This work has its limitation as
Understanding Yoga as a Self-Experiential Science
Lt Col Dr D. R. Vaze AMC (Retd)
Former Medical Officer at SADT Yogic Hospital at Kaivalyadhama
the benefits of Yoga depend on the regularity of practice. When individuals with health problems perform these practices, the results depend on the flexibility of the spine and other joints as well as on other restrictions which their health problems bring to the fore while performing Yoga practices.
In summary, the important point to make is that Yoga is really a self-experiential science and its effects judged by objective studies are not correct. India’s progress during the Vedic period lies in its system of education which, as the Mundaka Upanishad states, are constituted of Para (Brahma Vidya) and Apara (four Vedas and six Vedangas). Yoga, being one of the six Darshanas in Indian philosophy, forms a branch of Para Vidya. It differs from other Darshanas as it guides Yoga sadhaks in ways to modify body, mind and intellect thereby enabling experience of the energy behind the functioning of the universe.
In the past, students (sadhaks) used to stay in a Gurukul for nearly 12 years after the sacred thread ceremony and were under direct observation of their Guru who assessed every sadhak on learning capacity as well as guiding the selection, vocation or profession for their future life. A sadhak received special guidance from the Guru according to the physical, mental, emotional, social and spiritual grasp and the ‘relationship’ gave the opportunity for developing Gyana Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Karma Yoga, Hatha Yoga and Laya Yoga. The final aim, however, was to evolve the sadhak to realize the energy within while by studying Apara Vidya (material sciences), the sadhak became a useful member of society.
Mailing Address: Editor : Sri Subodh Tiwari
Assisted by : Dr Stuart Rose Kaivalyadhama,
S.A.D.T. Gupta Yogic Hospital & Health Care Centre, Swami Kuvalyananda Marg, Lonavla - 410403, India
• PHONE : 02114-273039 / 273001 • FAX : 02114-277402 / 271983
• EMAIL : [email protected] • www.kdham.com
(To be continued in next issue)
