FPYK Yoga Newsletter of February 1, 2005 (Depricated)
"Time is the best healer."

M. S. Viswanatha, Yoga Master and Director of
Foundation of Pathanjala Yoga Kendra
Bengaluru (Bangalore), India

Masterji

The new year started with a serious and concerned mood. "Time is the best healer." We are only the observers. The Nature is all powerful and It acts according to Its own way. Instead of trying to and thinking of conquering Her, we should become patient and intelligent to understand and appreciate Her. We are only the followers. She is the leader and decider. We think that everything is under our control. We build and possess various things thinking that we are the boss boasting great of our achievements. But, we never think that we can do nothing without Her will. "Every thing, the events, our acquisition and possession etc all are predetermined. We are destined to have the experience which She has already decided." That is all.

Many had written to Master ji that they would be coming to his class. Only two of them turned up. Master ji hopes that all of them are safe and would contact him in the near future.

There was a good discussion during one of the satsanghs in the yoga shala, at Bangalore.

Jeanette asked Master ji: Ashtanga yoga practice, which is going on in this place is a tough and challenging practice. How to teach this to the beginners when they come to the class, for the first time?

Master ji:- Beginners should be encouraged to learn and practice Surya Namaskar and asanas in a simple way for a few weeks. When they are comfortable in the practice, the vinyasa may be taught.

Practicing the asanas with vinyasa is a higher and tougher level sadhana. Vinyasa is not a mere flow or jumping forward and backward. It has a deep meaning which can be understood only after a long practice and with the guidance of the guru.

Serge:- Can we teach the entire list of primary series of asanas to the beginners in the very first class?

Master ji:- It is always safe to teach a few asanas, in the beginning. You should tell the students to practice a few asanas in the first class and increase them gradually. The beginner should be encouraged to start the practice with a short duration, like 20 minutes or so.

Serge:- In our countries, when the students come to the class, they sign up for the classes of 60 minutes or 90 minutes duration. If we tell them to practice for 20 minutes, they argue that they have paid the money for a class or 60 or 90 minutes duration and they expect us engage them for that whole period of time.

Master ji:- This is unfortunate to know. Knowledge cannot be bought. Knowledge increases gradually. We cannot amass the knowledge in a short period. Knowledge is not a mere collection of information. Knowledge is called in Samskrit, "Jnana", which means the understanding and practice of the subject. This learning has a method and is a slow process.

The student should not insist for a full hour class if they are beginners. They should be patient and go slowly. Any new learning brings pressure and the new physical movements may give more pain to the body. This pain which is acquired due to haste practice, in the beginning, may stay for a few days and may discourage the further practice.

Serge:- This is a tough concept for the students in the west to understand.

Master ji:- "There is nothing like the east or the west. Every one, from all over the world, should understand that it is always safe to start the learning with a little practice or training."

"Practice under the guidance of the guru. Do not expect favorable results, immediately, or within a short period. If you do not feel comfortable or satisfied in the class, you are free to give up."

"Yoga is one of the six philosophies of Hindus. Yoga should be practiced as a way of life. Yoga is not a subject of fun or past- time. What ever instruction is given in the name of yoga, it should be based on the yoga philosophy."

Master ji will give a one week workshop from 26th March 2005, at Purple Valley Yoga Centre in Goa. The workshop is "ASHTANGA: Powerful,Rewarding and Good Fun" I request all those interested in this workshop to contact Annie Gurton, the Director of Purple Valley Yoga Centre. For details of the workshop: YogaGoa.com