Note: This post is part of a series of articles to introduce you to Maya Yoga Samudraa’s mentor, Yogacharya H.A Rao, and our yogic heritage.

(reproduced from the Sunday Mail, November 4 1984, by Ng Peng Seng)

Guru H.A Rao warns of the misuse of yoga meditation (Raja Yoga), the stage after physical yoga (Hatha Yoga).

He says yoga aims for both a healthy body and a healthy mind, but should one delve deeply into Raja Yoga, he should seek a competent instructor to guide.

Raja Yoga is so potent that should one deviate from its benign and noble aim, it could prove futile and even disastrous.

Disappear

However, he says, if Raja Yoga is done in the right way, one can have a healthy and fulfilling life without illnesses and hang-ups.

He concedes that there have been reports of paranormal occurrences, such as telepathy, clairvoyance, and precognition in certain states of meditation.

There have also been cases of the student who told his master that deep in meditation, he saw a great white light.

Guru Rao says when the meditator falls into the trap of  sidetracks such as the search for visions of flashing lights or for extra-sensory phenomena, or for high ecstatic states, he should ignore them and get on with the process of producing inner development by concentrating on the breathing.

He spoke of how certain deviants meditated and perfected the art of levitation.

“It is  of no use and is just a side effect of the process to enlightenment. If a person dwells on such side effects, he will not be able to progress further in his mental development. Eventually, he may end up at the side show to make money and finally the special powers will disappear altogether.

“Anyway, such cases are rare and on the whole, Hatha Yoga and Raja Yoga together will certainly lead one to a happy, healthy, and fulfilling life.”

Last week I was introduced to a very interesting article in the New York Times (thank you Wei Ming) titled “How Yoga Can Wreck Your Body.” If you’ve not read it, you should. It addresses a very relevant issue that does not get much limelight – injury from yoga. Enough people are getting injured from yoga to warrant some inquiry and the article by the New York Times is timely indeed.

Just a few months ago, Shahrean, one of our vice-principals, was introduced to 2 young ladies who stopped yoga due to injuries and don’t intend to do it anymore. They complained of very bad neck pains that took quite some time to heal. I personally suffered a minor sprain in my neck while doing Halasana or the Plough Pose a few years ago. It healed very fast though. 4 days to be exact and here’s the clincher – I did yoga to recover.

I attribute my injury to the fact that I tried to “throw” myself into the posture instead of gently going into it. Fortunately, I was learning under the tutelage of my mother, Sue, who is an excellent guru. She was very quick to prescribe remedial yoga techniques and a lot of the pain was gone by the second day. The point I’m trying to make here is 3 fold:

• Injury in yoga can occur with bad practice or improper guidance
• Yoga has remedial procedures
• A good instructor is of utmost importance

While I am admitting that injuries can (and do) occur while performing yoga postures, I disagree with Glenn Black that yoga can do more harm than good to “the vast majority of people”. Not only is this counter-intuitive to yogic science, it is also a gross generalization that has no factual basis.  In fact, the New York Times article I refer to is peppered with many instances of assumed causality.

For instance, the author tells the story of a male college student who decided to intensify his practice by performing Vajrasana for hours a day, chanting for world peace. This student soon experienced difficulties walking and doctors found that a peripheral branch of his sciatic nerve had become dead. The author makes no inquiry as to whether the student learned from a qualified instructor or was self-taught. Was he guided when he decided to intensify his practice? Did he do the Vajrasana correctly? These questions are left unanswered.

In another example, the author writes about a 25-year old man who had difficulty swallowing and controlling the left side of his body. There were signs of neck trauma and doctors found blockages in his left vertebral artery which prevented blood from going to the brain. This was attributed to his practice of the shoulder stand for over a year.  Whether this was the real cause is left glaringly unanswered. Was bad practice ruled out? Improper guidance?

Learn from a good guru and you’ll find that most yoga postures have counter-postures to balance and negate any untoward stress that the posture may cause on your body. The counter-posture to the shoulder stand is Mastyendrasana or the Fish Pose. Not everyone is taught this.

If you put anything under the spotlight and look hard enough for reasons to vilify it, you will find those reasons. Misinterpret cause and effect and you can easily come to wrong conclusions. Often even experts makes these mistakes. One can even conclude that walking is extremely dangerous in this way. After all, people have literally walked to their deaths in the past.

The health benefits of yoga is too great to be cast away by wrong conclusions. I have seen many, many people recover from illness through diligent practice of yoga. I’ve seen people cure themselves of asthma, sinus, and migraines. I’ve seen people suffering from arthritis live better lives through yoga. I know people who have rid themselves of back problems by practicing yoga regularly. Yoga has the potential to help people live better lives, free from pain and disease. A blanket statement that yoga will wreck your body is an oversimplification of a problem.

The proliferation of yoga has brought about much good as well as problems. It is important to remember though, that historically yoga was always taught in this context: A qualified guru would teach a group of disciples.

Yoga gurus would spend years learning under the tutelage of other gurus as disciples. A guru would decide when a disciple was ready to teach based on individual abilities and aptitudes. It was a process that could take years. It was not a 200-hour or 500-hour training program that was concluded in a few months. It was also never designed to be self-learned or taught in a jam-packed class of 100 people.

Yoga injury is a problem that must be addressed but this must be done objectively. Would you dispose all the knives in your kitchen because knives have caused tremendous amount of injury and deaths in the last 100 years? Reason and common sense must prevail when studying causality. I believe that we need to look into the actual causes of yoga related injuries and address them appropriately if we are to arrive at any real solution.

If you’re sitting on the fence because you want more information, here is a detailed itinerary of the retreat…

What You’ll Be Doing In This Retreat

Day 01:

You will arrive at the Yangon International Airport via Malaysian Airlines flight MH 740 at around 11:15 am. You’ll be welcomed by a local tour guide and brought to Hotel Sedona, an award winning hotel in Yangon.

After checking in and lunch, there will be an ice-breaking session and a lecture. You’ll then be taken to visit  the 2500 year old Shwedagon Pagoda – a world famous Golden Stupa that rises 98 meters above its base. This beautiful Stupa has a richly layered exterior covered with 60 tons of pure gold.

There will be a Tranquil yoga session in the evening ambiance of this site followed by dinner at local restaurant.

Day 02:

You’ll begin the day early with group Sun Salutation practice outdoors. After breakfast at the hotel, we check out of Hotel Sedona and you’ll be taken with the rest of the group to the airport for your flight to Heho. Transfer from Heho airport to Inle Lake is by coach.

You’ll be taken on a 1 hour scenic drive to Nyaung Shwe, the gateway to the magical Inle Lake, 1,328 meters above sea level. The Lake itself is about 22KM by 11KM in size. Upon arrival at Inle Lake, you’ll be taken to your accommodations at Golden Island Cottage, by boat. Lunch is at hotel restaurant.

The rest of the day will be a series of informative and refreshing yoga lectures and practical outdoor sessions. You will be well fed with refreshments and dinner at the hotel.

Day 03:

The 3rd day is an intense day of outdoor yoga practices, yoga lectures, and more outdoor yoga sessions. Sessions will be lively and fun. As usual, we will see to it that you are well fed throughout the day. Be prepared for a load of insight and perspective into yoga and yourself. Contemplation and introspect is the theme of the day.

Day 04:

Wake up feeling rejuvenated, and brand new. You’ll start the morning early with Sun Salutation in the serenity of the beautiful lake.

After breakfast, you’ll tour the famous Inle Lake by boat on Lake Inle. This half-day tour includes visits to the Phaungdawoo Pagoda and the weaving village of Inpawkhon. Lunch is at the hotel followed by more mind-blowing yoga presentations.

Dinner in the evening is followed by Yoga Nidra at night. Yoga Nidra is a powerful method of affirmations.

Day 05:

Welcome sunrise with the morning yoga and the sun salutation. After breakfast, you’ll check out and leave Inle Lake for Heho by coach and then transfer to Yangon by flight.

Lunch is at a local restaurant in Yangon. Then tour Bogyoke Market (also known as Scott Market) to browse and bargain freely among the hundreds of stalls for great souvenirs. Savor bargain delights and the thrill of shopping among the many stalls.

You’ll then be taken to the Yangong airport to return to Kuala Lumpur LCCT via Air Asia flight AK 851 departing at 5:15 pm and arriving in Kuala Lumpur at 9:30 pm.

The Retreat Summary

Awakening The Mind’s Eye Retreat is  a contemplative and introspective retreat that aims to connect you with yourself. The serene natural setting, next to a large body of fresh water, and high above sea-level is very conducive for this purpose.

The daily motion of responsibilities, work, and stress, compounded by an increasingly demanding urban lifestyle, very often creates a disconnect within. This disconnect results in mood swings, depression, anxiety, and a general feeling of hollowness. Awakening the Mind’s Eye Retreat will reset this disharmony within.

The retreat is spread over 5 days and promises a good mix of yoga, presentations, lectures, discourses, sight-seeing, and shopping. All of this promises to be restorative, informative, and therapeutic (including the shopping!).

Still Can’t Make Up Your Mind?

Benjamin Franklin had a very useful method for making decisions. The founding father of the U.S would draw 2 columns on a piece of paper. He would label one side “For” and the other side “Against” and list as many reasons as he could in each column. He would decide with whichever column had the most reasons.

It is an excellent decision making tool. One that you could apply right now. Go ahead and draw 2 columns on a piece of paper. On one side, list all your reasons for going on this retreat…

*I’ll unlock the potential within my mind
*I will learn the healing and restorative practice of contemplation
*I will fill myself with positive affirmations in  a guided setting
*I will learn how to change the way I think and react, thereby drastically changing outcomes
*I will learn to be in harmony with myself and as a result achieve more
*I will also learn to be in harmony with my partner and enjoy a more satisfying relationship

Now list your reasons against. What do you think the wise Benjamin Franklin would do?

We’re taking bookings now.

Awakening The Mind’s Eye is priced at:

• RM 3139.00 (USD 951.00) per person for Twin Sharing accomodation
• RM 3599.00 (USD 1,090.00) per person for Single accomodation

An RM 1,000 deposit is required when you book your place and the balance will have to be paid by 29th February 2012.

Call us at +60 3 7713 3797 to book your place now or speak to us when you come in for your next class.

Whatever you do, decide fast if you want to take advantage of cheaper air fares. More details on the retreat can be read in this post.

Membership, Registration, Class Packages & Rates

1. Only members are entitled to all class packages and therapies at the rates listed below.
2. A RM 70.00 registration fee is applicable to all first-time registrations which includes lifetime membership.
3. All available class packages are listed below and must be redeemed within the stipulated validity period from commencement of the 1st class. Payments are non-refundable and classes are non-transferable.
• Single Class / Drop-In: RM 50.00 Validity: 1-Day
• 4 Class Pass: RM 170.00 Validity: 1-Month (RM 42.50/class)
• 10 Class Pass: RM 290.00 Validity: 1-Month (RM 29.00/class)
• 20 Class Pass: RM 490.00 Validity: 2-Month (RM 24.50/class)
• Family Unlimited: RM 261.00 per person (Minimum 2 adults + 1 child over 12) Validity: 1-Month
• Partner Class (4 Passes): RM 250.00 Validity: 1-Month
• Private Class (4 Passes): RM 300.00 Validity 1-Month
• Kids Learn For Free – Children below 12 learn for free! Child must be accompanied by 1 parent in the class and this is not applicable to Private or Partner sessions.

Validity Periods, Cancellations, & Extensions

1. Validity periods for all packages will be strictly enforced.
2. It is your responsibility, as a member, to redeem all your classes and therapy session withing the stipulated validity periods.
3. A member may temporarily suspend his/her account for a maximum period of 2 weeks in the event that he/she cannot come for classes and reschedule those classes within the validity period.
4. A temporary suspension will “freeze” the validity of the package and resume again after the period of suspension.
5. Only ONE (1) temporary suspension is allowed per package.
6. Temporary suspensions must be given in writing (email, letter, SMS) or verbally (during operating hours) at least 24-hours before your next scheduled class.
7. Cancellation of any class or therapy session must be done 24-hours before your next scheduled class. Late cancellations will be charged as if you did attend the class.
8. Classes will not be replaced or refunded if sufficient notice is not provided.
9. Maya Yoga Samudraa reserves the right to cancel classes due to events beyond our control. Every effort will be made to provide sufficient notice where possible.

Online Class Bookings

1. The preferred booking method for classes, appointments, and therapies is via our online booking system at https://clients.mindbodyonline.com/ASP/adm/home.asp?studioid=23319.
2. All class bookings will be on a first-come, first-serve basis. It is your responsibility to plan your schedule and book your classes early to ensure you get your preferred slot.
3. Payments need to be updated and current to book classes online.
4. All group classes have a wait-list of up to 3 people. If you are wait-listed for a class due to full booking, you will be notified and automatically reserved into the slot if it becomes available.

Instructors

1. Only Instructors certified by Maya Yoga Samudraa are allowed to teach yoga classes. Yoga therapists will be additionally certified.
2. Maya Yoga Samudraa will not be responsible for any injuries suffered by a 3rd party or parties as a result of unsanctioned yoga training by unauthorized person or persons.
3. In the event a yoga instructor is unable to teach, a replacement yoga instructor may be provided without prior notice.

Information and Privacy

1. Information provided during registration and in the online profile are considered true with regards to current personal information and medical history. Based on the information provided, Maya Yoga Samudraa may require that you obtain a medical clearance from a doctor prior to commencement of classes or therapies.
2. At any time, if you have concerns about your health or injuries, you should seek medical clearance before attending classes. Any relevant findings must be communicated to Maya Yoga Samudraa.
3. Maya Yoga Samudraa respects your privacy and will never sell or share any of your information to 3rd parties.

Disclaimers

1. Maya Yoga Samudraa will not be held responsible for any injury sustained through practice of yoga outside the supervision of its instructors and premises.
2. Maya Yoga Samudraa will not be held responsible for injuries sustained during classes as a result of withholding or providing false information.
3. Maya Yoga Samudraa will not be held responsible for any injury or grievance that may occur from yoga classes that are conducted outside of its premises.

Note: This post is part of a series of articles to introduce you to Maya Yoga Samudraa’s mentor, Yogacharya H.A Rao, and our yogic heritage.

(reproduced from the Sunday Mail, November 4 1984, by Ng Peng Seng)

Veteran yoga Guru H.A Rao, 74, says smokers should get a closer look at yoga which has several exercises that can cleanse the lungs and body system.

A smoker can benefit through bastrika, says Guru Rao from Mysore, India, who has practiced yoga for more than 60 years, including having spent a long period in the Himalayas.

His recommendation consists of a yoga posture where the left hand is raised and the right nostril is covered. Fast rhythmic inhaling and exhaling then follows for about 12 repetitions, this being sufficient to flush out the left lung.

The same can be repeated on the right side with the right arm raised and left nostril closed.

The guru says a smoker should practice this every morning, afternoon, and evening to get the best effect.

“This procedure of internal flushing will keep his lungs fresh and lessen the chances of cancer or other diseases developing.”

There is another yoga posture called asana that should be practiced by the heavy smoker, says the guru. It consists of a slightly couched position with the hands on the thighs and rolling the stomach muscles.

It will result in the cleansing of whatever nicotine or other substances that cigarette smoking may introduce into the body system.

There are about 120 postures in yoga and doing a few everyday will keep a smoker from getting sick if he just cannot give up smoking, says the guru.

He, however, cautions that to do this in the right way, it is best to seek the help of a qualified yoga instructor.

“In fact, if a smoker takes up yoga on a long-term basis, he will find that his urge to smoke gradually reduces until he considers smoking an interference to his goal of pursuing inner peace and tranquility through Raja Yoga, the meditation stage of yoga.”

Yoga is broken down into 2 steps, he explains. The first being “Hatha” yoga, or physical, and the second step is “Raja” or mental yoga.

Even at the stage of “Hatha” yoga, apart from cigarette smoking, certain chronic diseases can be cured, he claims.

Healing

“Through practicing selected postures, diabetes, for example, can be cured without the use of drugs, but through the natural bodily processes,” he says.

“By flushing the internal system with regulated intake of water, and practicing the postures for some months, a cure can be effected.”

He is said to have cured many people of diabetes, asthma, rheumatism, and other ailments, including smoking and drug taking.

Another simple posture of sitting cross-legged and binding the stomach with one’s hands and concentrating the energy there will cure constipation and diarrhea, says the guru.

Over the period of 60 years in practicing yoga, he has acquired a method of healing called “pranic healing.”

He explained that prana is the life force which is dormant in our bodies but experienced yogis are able to control this force for healing by transferring it to a sick person.

He started to practice yoga at age 12. When he was 37, he went to study under a renowned teacher, Mahesh Raja Yogi, in the Himalayan mountains for five years and found a wealth of techniques, many of which he would not reveal as they could cause serious harm should they be misused.

Sponsored

Guru Rao was here visiting his daughter while enroute to Australia where a group has sponsored him to teach them the finer art and techniques of yoga.

When asked about the possibility of being sponsored by Pemadam or other authorities to train yoga teachers to rehabilitate drug addicts, he says he will welcome it and happily put his life-long experience to good use.

His daughter, Mrs Suleiha Merican, can be contacted at 03-443181.

This retreat is called Awakening The Mind’s Eye because it focuses on opening your mind and strengthening your powers of perception through:

• The practice of gratitude,
• pranayama,
• yoga postures, and
• awareness

But our retreats always promise more than just introspect.

So, your senses will also be assailed with beautiful sights, historical monuments, and a unique shopping experience.

If you work hard, get little rest, and have a mountain of pressure to cope with, life can be a roller-coaster ride; ups that are wasted anticipating the downs, and downs that have 2 times the impact of the ups.

It’s not hard to notice that nearly everyone these days are on a roller-coaster ride. You see the pent-up frustrations, you hear the constant complaints, you feel the animosity, and sometimes you can almost smell and taste the bitter sweet flavor of urban life. Thank god for retreats!

Yes, sometimes the solution is as simple as unplugging and changing environments for a brief period.

It works wonders and if you do this purposefully, miracles happen.

He who returns from a journey is not the same as he who left – Chinese Proverb

Let’s give you a brief outline of what’s in store for you in the Awakening The Mind’s Eye Retreat.

• The retreat is a 5 day, 4 night getaway (9th March 2012 – 13th March 2012).
• You will arrive in Yangon on Day 1 and after checking into your hotel, go on a historical tour.
• Day 2 starts with morning yoga and then a short flight to Heho and coach transfer to Inle Lake.
• Day 2 to Day 4 will be full of yoga philosophy lectures, yoga practice, and fun.
• On Day 5, you’ll be brought back to Yangon and taken to the Bogyoke Market (a shopping delight).

You will have to arrange your flight to Yangon on your own. Once you’re there, we’ll take care of almost everything including:

• Hotel accommodation
• Daily meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner)
• Refreshments
• Tours and entrance fees where applicable
• Domestic air travel in Myanmar
• Awakening your mind’s eye

We strongly suggest that you book your flights via MAS & Air Asia as follows:

• 9th March 2012 – Flight MH 740 departing from KLIA at 10.05am and arriving in Yangon at 11.15am
• 13th March 2012 – Flight AK 851 departing from Yangon at 5.15pm and arriving in KL LCCT at 9.30pm

Air Asia’s ticket prices are tier based and you are adviced to book early to get the cheapest rates.

The value you’ll get from this retreat is disproportionate to how much we’re charging.

For the entire 5 days and 4 nights of this retreat we’re going to provide you with almost everything you need and that includes accommodation at an award-winning hotel in Yangon and at a beautiful floating hotel in Inle, coach transfers, meals, refreshments, domestic (Myanmar) air travel and airport taxes, tour guides, tips, entrance fees, boat rides, and awesome yoga sessions. We can’t cover your shopping but we’re sure you understand.

What’s the cost of this retreat?

Awakening The Mind’s Eye is priced at:

• RM 3139.00 (USD 951.00) per person for Twin Sharing accomodation
• RM 3599.00 (USD 1,090.00) per person for Single accomodation

An RM 1,000 deposit is required when you book your place and the balance will have to be paid by 29th February 2012.

Call us at +60 3 7713 3797 to book your place now or speak to us when you come in for your next class.

More information will be provided in the coming weeks. If you would like to be the first to know all the updates for this retreat, you may visit the retreat page here and register your interest.

Here’s a clip from that scene:

In this triumphant display of man over machine, the upgrades are no match for Neo.

In 2012, you’ll notice something different about us too. We’re upgrading our services, and fortunately these upgrades (unlike the upgrades in the Matrix) will make a difference. If you are a member of Maya Yoga Samudraa, you will now receive an even higher level of service. We’re integrating our operations with MindBody, a top notch system that takes customer relationship management to new levels.

In 2012, you’ll be able to:

• Book yourself into classes online or via your mobile phone
• View all our class schedules on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis
• Receive SMS reminders of your classes
• Join any Energize, Intense, or Tranquil class according to your busy schedule
• Enjoy more fluid private and therapy class schedules

In 2012, we’re taking personalization up one notch. We’ll be able to track your birthdays, special needs, likes & dislikes, and a host of other personalized information to serve you better. Don’t worry, none of this is intended to infringe on your privacy and we’ll only ever have information that you allow us to have. We have the highest respect for your privacy.

In 2012, you’ll be part of an entity with a renewed commitment to the community. We’re going to drastically reduce paper usage. Registration forms will be electronic and receipts will be emailed. There will be more free outdoor yoga sessions and stronger community work to spread health and wellness. Your continued support will help us to build more momentum in this area.

In 2012, there will be some changes to our fees and packages. We’ll explain the changes below but first, why are we upgrading?

The simple answer: to serve you better.

We’ve been listening to our loyal members. We understand that many of you have very busy schedules and cannot always come to classes at fixed monthly time slots. We’ve put a lot of thought between balancing your schedule and ensuring that you are always in a class that is the right fit. You will find this provided to you from 2012 onwards in just the right mix.

We also understand that you can achieve more consistency in your practice if you can schedule your classes around your work. You can do this easily now.

We’ve always been zealous about personalized attention. With our upgrades, you’ll receive even more attention from us.

The Class Scheduling Change

Effective 1st of January 2012, these are the classes that we’ll be offering:

• Samudraa Energize – if you want to learn and understand the foundations of hatha yoga
• Samudraa Intense – if you want a more advance and intense hatha yoga workout
• Samudraa Tranquil – if you would like to focus on your inner well-being
• Advanced Athletic Conditioning – if you want to go beyond intense and really tone-up

Each of these classes will be offered a few times a week. You can choose the type of classes that you would like to attend and book yourself into them online according to the schedule that suits you best.

For example, if you would like to do some serious toning-up, you could fix a schedule like this:

• Mon 6:30pm – 7:30pm: Intense Class
• Wed 8:00pm – 9:00pm: Energize
• Sat 11:00am – 12 noon: Advanced Athletic Conditioning

The above is just an example.

You can also make recurring appointments i.e every Saturday 10:00am. For private classes, you can change your appointments online and choose any available time slot or have a recurring time slot.

There will be a 24-hour cancellation policy. The class schedules will be online by 30th December 2011.

If all this is too confusing for you, don’t worry, we’ll do recurring bookings for you and you can still make or cancel appointments by phone. We’ll make this awfully simple for you

Package and Fee Changes

Effective from 1st January 2012, our package and fees will be as follows:

1. Single Class / Drop-In: RM 50.00 Validity: 1-Day
2. 4 Class Pass: RM 170.00 Validity: 1-Month (RM 42.50/class)
3. 10 Class Pass: RM 290.00 Validity: 1-Month (RM 29.00/class)
4. 20 Class Pass: RM 490.00 Validity: 2-Month (RM 24.50/class)
5. Family Unlimited: RM 261.00 per person (Minimum 2 adults + 1 child over 12) Validity: 1-Month
6. Partner Class (4 Passes): RM 250.00 Validity: 1-Month
7. Private Class (4 Passes): RM 300.00 Validity 1-Month
8. Kids Learn For Free – Children below 12 learn for free! Child must be accompanied by 1 parent in the class and this is not applicable to Private or Partner sessions.

Note: All current packages and classes that have been paid for will be honored even if it extends into the early part of 2012.

One thing does not change. We’re still keeping to a maximum of 7 people per class.

We’re dedicated to providing you with a premium that few other studios can compare with including:

• highly personalized attention
• authentic yoga solutions
• real dedication to your health
• preventive and corrective remedies

Our upgrades will only continue to ensure that your experience with us is priceless.

Some of you may find all these changes very confusing. Again, don’t worry. We’re here to help you and clarify any questions you may have. Call us, speak to your instructor, or drop your questions in the comments section below.

Note: This post is part of a series of articles to introduce you to Maya Yoga Samudraa’s mentor, Yogacharya H.A Rao, and our yogic heritage.

(reproduced from the Lifestyle section of the New Straits Times, June 13 1995, by Kamrul Idris)

At some point in the course of his 85 years, H.A Rao must have found the closest thing to an elixir of life.

Where alchemy tried to invent a magic formula to cheat death – a quest that continues to a greater extent than might be expected in this day and age – Rao offers proof that the secret of longevity lies well within the miracle of the human body itself.

All anyone has to do, according to him, is to reach forth and get it, ideally while meditating in the lotus position. The serene octogenarian is a walking, talking advertisement for the virtues of yoga.

He looks 20 years younger, and could easily pass for half his age if not for the snowy wispiness of his hair.

Rao is one of those rare exceptions to George Orwell’s rule that at 50, everyone has the face he deserves. He hasn’t aged enough to leave the mileage of a half-century of life’s ups and downs engraved on his countenance.

Still he has journeyed far from his birthplace in the Indian state of Karnataka in his life’s mission. The path to enlightenment has taken him beyond the vedic cloisters of Bangalore and Madras – he has toured the world, mostly by invitation and sponsorship, to instruct learners and novitiates.

Yoga has gained wide acceptance, particularly in the west whose once-sceptical medical establishment has now recognized its health-giving benefits in reducing stress. For most people, this is most likely to be the largest contributor to the truth of Orwell’s statement.

At the same time, however, it is also getting harder to distinguish the real thin from the propaganda of its popularizers.

Rao, however is no aspiring maharishi or self-proclaimed twelfth avatar of Vishnu. No glad rags of a radically alternative lifestyle here – just grandpappy-normal ex-Raj officer style, in white shirt and gray slacks.

He exudes the quiet confidence of the genuine article, and carries the humility of a time-worn bhakti (devotion to God) on his plumb-line perfect posture.

Humble, that is, but for two things: his health and how he got it. He can afford an equally healthy disdain for the medical profession, whose complex science is so appallingly obtuse next to the pure logic of his faith, and whose obstinate disbelief continues to frustrate him.

“I have never been to a doctor,’ he says matter-of-factly, without a trace of vainglory. Yoga is a built-in self healing process, which the practiced adept subconsciously directs in the course of his regime. With Rao, disease control is on perpetual autopilot. A person so consistently at the peak of health can never be familiar enough with illness to take measures against it.

Rao claims mastery of his ancient art of conjuring up the forces that not only drive back the years and resist the self-destructive consequences of loose living but much else besides.

Such claims have confounded medical science for years; the amazing feats of mind over matter by sadhus, dervishes, fakirs, and others – such as the bed of nails, walking on hot coals and levitation – have become hackneyed in popular lore.

Nevertheless, bona fide yogis do have astonishing ability to control their involuntary musculature – such as the intestinal tract, heart, main arteries – which they employ to regulate their bodily functions and offset the natural burnout of age.

The genteel calisthenics of yoga center on the harnessing and control of prahna, an elemental factor in the scheme of cosmic energy affecting the human body. Prahna is the rationale for breathing; and its intake must be both physically and spiritually maximized in order to fuel the body’s powers of conservation.

“I can direct prahna to any part of the body at will, without having to think about it,” he adds, so artlessly that it cannot be held against him.

Breathing, in its intake of this primal energy, sustains life in all its dimensions – from one heartbeat to the next, one year to another, one plane of consciousness to the one above. To Rao this significance is blindingly obvious.

‘When you go to sleep, you become unconscious of everything around you. Yet you keep…,” he exhales to make the point and inhales deeply to drive it home. “Yes! You breathe!”

Trying to rationalize yoga on the basis of conventional understanding is impossible. But its most ardent practitioners insist that its virtues are plainly self-evident. So plainly evident that colossal ignorance is needed to deny its power.

Rao dares to measure up to any scientific testing and is ready to prove that his mastery is not just a load of blarney. “Yoga is a complete message for humanity; I want to try to put it on a scientific plane,” he says.

Yoga’s supreme achievement is the ability to invoke a “serpent power” (called Kundalini, which lies dormant at the base of the spine) to rise through the body and bring about spiritual release. Even Rao is inclined to concede that yoga’s transformation into a science has some way still to go.

Just as the corrosion of age involves a good deal of ignorance and neglect, so the yogic path needs learning and attentiveness. The higher up the road to ageless perfection, the greater the knowledge and concentration required.

At Rao’s transcendent level, the wisdom and mindfulness involved is literally out of this world.

“Yoga opens up hidden knowledge. We want bliss and we want to get out of the yoke of karma. Yoga gets the individual soul to merge with the universal soul… like all rivers merge with the sea.”

By concentrating on progressively more abstract concepts yogis achieve higher and higher meditative states, until they reach a a content-less trance that constitutes liberation.

Liberation, that is, from the endless cycle of rebirth at the center of Hindu metaphysics. This cycle or karma, which leaves one burdened with with the weight of the sins of one’s past incarnations, is the cause of all ill-health and human decrepitude, and is the cosmic mechanism on which the medical profession has owed its existence from Hippocrates onwards.

Beginning with pure moral attitudes, and proceeding through practices of breath control and postures designed to aid and focus concentration, health through yoga soon acquires the order of magnitude of a full-time occupation.

(The pink of health is no mean feat. Its single-minded pursuit leaves its most dedicated practitioner with time for little else. It also centers on the avoidance of the unhealthy, that is zero indulgence. Little wonder the healthiest yogis are mendicants and the most elevated once claimed to survive without food and water.)

Rao speaks rather forbiddingly of his twelve-year pupillage in his elevation to “raja yoga” – the loftiest stage in yoga’s eight-fold path. Even this has been merely the culminating bit of a life-long search for the Holy Grail of physical and spiritual contentment.

It all began when a village boy in the district of Udupi in South India was taken in by the wisdom of his elders. In 1933, the 22-year old Rao took the confirmatory step of his life-long vocation and emigrated to Madras, where he found the fellow travelers, kindred souls and gurus he was looking for.

He was married five years later, and after the outbreak of the Second World War, allowed himself to be pressed into service when the British levied a colonial army to do their fighting for them.

He did not have too much trouble reconciling the military with his avowed principles of non-violence and respect for all forms of life. Rao simply joined the Quartermaster’s Department and a quality control inspector.

Rao’s war was never fought with bullets; it was served by checking the sundry items that go to keep the soldiers fed, clothed, and in reasonable fighting fitness.

Spirituality, morality, and near-starvation abstemiousness are so central to yoga that it is often conceived to imply a withdrawal from the world. Rao, in his unassuming normality, proves otherwise.

Still, the mental balance required to maintain a near absolute peace of mind demands some sort of aloofness from a world that is running riot. “So many terrible things are happening…,” he laments, “I haven’t picked up a newspaper in two years.”

Yoga is designated to curb the constant changes brought on by involvement in the perceived world, and its progress is so dependent on the avoidance of all that is coarse and corrupting that plenty of material sacrifice is called for.

Rao believes in “moderation” but he himself is “100 percent vegetarian” and severely spartan in his appetites. Coarsest and most corrupting of all, however, is money, upon which he is particularly unforgiving.

“What for, money?” he asks. “It is too limiting. Money is like prostitute, and can be made to crawl to your feet.”

The good news is that a little bit of Rao’s achievement is available to all, according to him, for a small investment of a as little 20 minutes a day. All it takes is for a foot in the door of the yogic way is a few calm exercises, some concentration, and no more self-discipline than is required to sit still for several minutes at a stretch.

For most of the uninitiated, the thing about yoga is that it seems too much of a spiritual commitment to those who happen to be non-Hindus. But Rao says hatha yoga is concerned entirely with the exercises in yoga that have to do with health.

Even the connotations of the lotus position may be avoided – any restful posture with a ruler-straight back and upturned palms can suffice. Although naturally a devout Hindu, Rao is exceptionally liberal in matters of faith, finding equivalents among all religions in reference to the practice of Yoga.

Surely such pacific tolerance alone is validation enough. “I am… as peaceful as old age tonight,” wrote the poet Robert Browning. Whatever the scientists say, only poetry is equipped to express the beauty of Rao’s accomplishment.

Mainstream pop yoga celebrates athletic bodies, gravity-defying postures, and beautiful instructors. Gravitating around this culture is a constellation of chic brands and a multimillion dollar auxiliary industry. All this has definitely helped promote yoga, even earning it celebrity endorsements. However, it has also blinded many yogis. It has fueled the notion that mastery of all known yoga asanas (postures) is the ultimate goal.

There is a slight problem with this; asanas make up only 1 out of 7 steps in the Gheranda Samhita, one of the most encyclopedic treatise on yoga. The 7 steps are as follows:

1. Shatkarma (the 6 purification techniques)
2. Asanas (postures of the body)
3. Mudras (techniques for controlling the involuntary organs)
4. Pratyahara (control of the mind through the sensory organs)
5. Pranayama (process of oxidation)
6. Dhyana (meditation)
7. Samadhi (uniting the mind with absolute consciousness)

So, in reality, mastery of all the 7 steps put you on the path towards perfection in yoga. Mastery of asanas alone, does not complete your journey in yoga.

The Implication

It is perfectly fine to master your asanas and focus solely on this goal. This by itself will improve your health by leaps and bounds. However, if mastery of your body and mind is important, you should go beyond the asanas. Here are further reasons why you should:

1. Your health will be in amazing condition. Think “disease-free” in absolute terms. Seriously.
2. You will have strength of mind. Stress, anxiety, worry, low self-esteem and hundreds of other mental problems evaporate.
3. You will achieve steadfastness. Your achievements will skyrocket and you’ll live a fuller life when you are steadfast.
4. Develop strong patience. Patience helps you persevere and ultimately culminates with success in anything you do.
5. Your level of perception increases. Your intuition, gut feel, instinct, and foresight increase dramatically.

Read the 5 partial benefits above one more time. Do you realize it implies near super-human capabilities? Achieving this is within your grasp if you broaden your yoga practice.

How Does This Apply To You?

Mastery of the 7 steps is all good and proper if you want to become a hermit in the Himalayas. But if you are like the vast majority of people out there, this is the last thing in your mind. In fact, it could be the reason why you may never want to advance in yoga.

But what if you wanted to become like Warren Buffet? Is this closer to what you’d like to aspire to? How about Oprah Winfrey? Or Stephen Hawkings?

Think about it. All the people just mentioned and nearly every other great persona have the following:

1. Amazing mental strength
2. Unshakable steadfastness
3. Great patience
4. Superior levels of perception (Warren Buffet is called the “Oracle of Oklahoma)

When you give it real thought, you’ll realize that the only difference between a great sage and the likes of Warren Buffet is the area they choose to be successful in. Otherwise, they share nearly all the same traits.

If you think that it’s time to go beyond asanas in your yoga practice, explore the more advanced options with us

To get to your ideal weight, you should incorporate regular exercise into your life and eat well. Eating well involves both the quality of what you eat and the quantity of what you eat too.

So how does chewing your food properly help you eat less?

The Lag Between Being Full And Knowing That You’re Full

It takes anywhere between 10 – 20 minutes before your brain starts to register that you’re getting full. It’s a long lag considering that you’re likely to finish a meal in under 10 minutes. The implication? You’re very vulnerable to over-eating.

This problem is exacerbated by the typical modern lifestyle. We’re always in a rush to do everything. Including eating. Not good.

Chewing your food properly will ensure that you not only enjoy your food but allow sufficient time for your brain to register your actual hunger level. This act alone will drastically reduce the amount of food you consume.

Savouring The Food

When you dump food into your stomach, you cease to savour your food and enjoy it properly through your full senses. Food has texture, it has aroma, it has visual appeal, it has sound, and yes it has tatse too (but you already knew that).

Eating without chewing is like watching a play with your back. You’ll never feel like you watched it. When you chew your food slowly and fully, you consume it in its entirety. All your senses become fully involved in a fulfilling way. You will enjoy your meal and feel satisfied thereby greatly reducing how much you eat.

Chewing Your Food Is Also Healthy

Besides reducing the quantity of food you consume, you will find that chewing your food will yield health benefits.

A significant portion of digestion takes place in your mouth. Digestion can be divided into 2 parts; mechanical and chemical. Your mouth is responsible for most of the mechanical digestion and a portion of the chemical digestion. In fact, chewing your food properly triggers the whole digestive process.

Allowing your food to be broken down into smaller molecules and giving enough time for the saliva to break it down further is therefore very important.

When you swallow your food without chewing it properly, you’re forcing your stomach and intestines to do the work of your teeth. This overload is very unhealthy and is the cause of many gastrointestinal problems.

How long should you chew?

Generally, until the food becomes tasteles and pasty in your mouth. This should take between 30 – 60 seconds. You may find this hard to do at first if you’re a fast eater. You will be yearning to swallow in a reflex like manner. Ressist the temptation and chew. Enjoy your food. Savour it. Feel gratitude as you eat. It does not take copious amounts of will power to do this.