Yoga and Youth: The Millennium Era

Do you practice yoga? Does your family practice yoga?
Do you want to practice yoga? Do you think yoga is important for the development for a sound mind and healthy body? Do you think kids should start practicing yoga from childhood?
- See more at: http://www.aiducatenow.org/international-yoga-day-event/#sthash.R9xpEzmW.dpuf

Do you practice yoga? Does your family practice yoga?
Do you want to practice yoga? Do you think yoga is important for the development for a sound mind and healthy body? Do you think kids should start practicing yoga from childhood?
- See more at: http://www.aiducatenow.org/international-yoga-day-event/#sthash.R9xpEzmW.dpuf

Do you practice yoga? Does your family practice yoga?
Do you want to practice yoga? Do you think yoga is important for the development for a sound mind and healthy body? Do you think kids should start practicing yoga from childhood?
- See more at: http://www.aiducatenow.org/international-yoga-day-event/#sthash.R9xpEzmW.dpuMy friend f

My friend asked me to write for an event which she's conducting half way across the world. It's a pleasant feeling looking at the number of doors/ social platforms she is knocking on, to make this event a successful one. What event? How do we derive motivation for events like these?

We are LOC. We are different, but equally mesmerizing is the difference in the approach that the Millennium generation is showing towards life. Before I come to the actual topic of this article I would want to acknowledge that based on my readings of recent history I haven't seen a whole generation so motivated for the social good. I am in no way underestimating the great freedom struggles fought by millions in the past. This new wave of being part of a social movement comes close. Youngsters are turning down plum packages, even quitting their jobs to join these movements. The number of NGOs which are being run, managed or supported by young inspired minds has sky rocketed. The world needs it. We need all the positivity in the world and the outer world if we can get that too.

Our dependence on technology in the recent times has supposedly increased our efficiency. We are safe to assume that it has gone up rather than down when we look at all the development which is happening around us. The speed at which construction happens, speed of automobiles, internet all are up from what the world has ever seen. With that comes the challenge of our minds expanding its horizons and either soak up all it can, or focus on what it should. And surprise surprise... The answer lies in a practice which is thousands of years old. Yoga.

It’s a proud moment for India. And please pardon my switching between the topics of ‘youth’, ‘Yoga’, and ‘Young India’.

I am not sure how the world looks at Indian practices but in India, everything which is western has an enhanced intrinsic value attached to it. Indian youth over the years has been fascinated by the opportunities which globalization has opened for them. I can’t blame my own generation for that. We have seen ourselves struggling with what we had (our own practices) and have seen the chaotic output which is so prevalent all over the country and hence it’s natural for us to look out for solutions for our problems. This is where life comes back to complete a full cycle.

When we look at this cycle from business point of view, we realize that it makes mutual sense for both East and the West to support each other. Western culture and practices have captured our imaginations by doing everything they can. Everything we see around us, from the modern buildings, advertisements in all formats, music, news, talk shows, the way we run business, the way we plan our holiday trips, all in all the way we plan our lives, are all influenced by the West. 

That was the business point of view. From a more holistic view of mind, body and soul it’s the same cycle once again.

The wheels are turning. After a long time India has a leader who is truly leading us by treading a path for the youth of this country. He has every quality to become a world leader which is evident from the fact that when he proposed the idea of ‘World Yoga Day’ in the United Nations; it got an unprecedented acceptance from almost 200 countries. I certainly don’t want to mix politics with this topic but I guess there is no harm in giving someone credit for wherever it’s due.

Now let’s talk about to Yoga.

To me Yoga is a way of life. If I were to pick some fundamental ideas around it, they would be –

1.      Breathing,

2.      Meditation,

3.      Physical Fitness.

1.      Breathing.

What surprises me and I know it’s a cliché that we had this practice with us for so long now but we know so little about it. Breathing is the single most important activity which all living things do. But do we do it right?

If only we can focus on the way we breathe it is known to take care of a whole lot of common ailments out of the picture. And not just ailments; think about the moment when you were angry, sad, anxious, excited, grieved, hyper active – if only your brain can get more oxygen during these emotionally charged instants you would be surprised how much control you gain over yourself and your thought process.

That tip where people tell you to count to ten when you are angry is a way to let you breathe between the emotion of feeling anger and action you are about to take.

Needless to say that breathing helps in physical activities like nothing else does. With proper breathing you can run an extra mile, can do some extra push ups, can be more active and accurate in whatever sport you are playing.

Yoga is full of breathing exercises. It is inherent in any posture, position and ‘kriya’ as they call it. Next time you are following any asana in Yoga, focus on the way one is supposed to breathe during the whole activity.

 

2.   Meditation. This got to be the most difficult of all practices in Yoga. This is where you experience ‘nothingness’, or at least try to. 10 minutes of meditation when you either try to focus on ‘ONE’ thing or ‘nothingness’ is known to recharge your mind and soul for all the chaos the world has to offer to you. It helps you taking sound decisions, having deep and fulfilling relationships, derive happiness from almost everything around you and most importantly stay calm in difficult situations so that you can handle them well. 

Again all Yoga asanas in it's true form help you remove all other thoughts from your mind and focus on the activity at hand which becomes the starting point of meditation.

3. Physical Fitness. This is where the rubber meets the road. In the fast life that we live in where everything is instant Yoga asanas may seem like a simple stretching exercise. But don't be fooled by what it seems to be. Yoga has been known to be one of the most effective exercises when it comes to weight loss, strength building, stamina building and overall fitness exercises. Some of my favorite Yoga Asanas are - Surya Namaskar and Bikram Yoga.

Towards the end I would like to leave you with a simple thought that while we all have got just one life to live, let's live it fully and the only way to do it is to be healthy for the most of the duration we are here. 20 minutes of Yoga a day will go a long way in enriching your mind, body and soul like very few other things do.

Do you practice yoga? Does your family practice yoga?
Do you want to practice yoga? Do you think yoga is important for the development for a sound mind and healthy body? Do you think kids should start practicing yoga from childhood?
- See more at: http://www.aiducatenow.org/international-yoga-day-event/#sthash.R9xpEzmW.dpuf

Whatever is being written here are the personal views of the author and are subjected to agreement or disagreement. And a request to all members, Please share your views !!