| | | | | asanas were conducted like a well choreographed |
| | | | | works of art. Though there are various methods of |
| | | | | Pranayam and Asanas, Swami had selected seven |
| Swami Ramdev can solely take the credit for | | | | methods of Pranayam that can be completed in about |
| changing the image of yoga and its practice. In other | | | | 20 minutes and a few highly useful Asanas, which |
| words, this is yoga, according to Swami Ramdev! He | | | | would give maximum benefit. His unique wonderful |
| is neither the front man of a Rock 'N' Roll band nor he | | | | sense of humour was evident at every session |
| is a magician or an actor, but he has the looks, | | | | through the week. |
| charisma, the body, movement and the capacity to | | | | The benefits are endless to those who complete |
| alight an entire stadium with his presence. He doesn't | | | | these chosen exercises. Manipulation of breathing |
| stalk the stage like a panther, but mostly he sits in | | | | pattern will improve transmission of impulses resulting in |
| Padmasana or Vajrasana, except when he is | | | | functional changes leading to an increase in immunity |
| worshipping the sun or walking on his hands! He does | | | | and finally an evolved state of eternal bliss. Various |
| magical things with his abdomen, but only with the use | | | | systems in the body improve maintaining good health |
| of fresh air and a bit of muscle power. | | | | and treatment of ailments to those who are in poor |
| He is a celestial being completely detached from | | | | health. Diseases like asthma, high blood pressure, |
| worldly pleasures and committed to serving the | | | | diabetes, high cholesterol, obesity, allergy and Hay |
| humanity; he has this great desire to change the world | | | | fever, migraine, diseases pertaining to lungs, heart and |
| into a 'healthy world' with no illness. And how does he | | | | brain are cured by doing Pranayam, at least 5 to 15 |
| plan to do this? Just with the aid of controlled breathing | | | | minutes, twice daily; improvement in Parkinsons |
| and fresh air, otherwise known as 'Pranayam'. Swami | | | | disease, eye sight and memory also are noted; hair |
| Ramdev, who brought Pranayam to the forefront, | | | | loss and premature graying are relieved by rubbing |
| believes in 75%of Pranayam and 25% Asanas to | | | | ones nails -- impulses are sent through the pressure |
| remain healthy and get rid of diseases, quite different | | | | points. |
| to the earlier concept of Asanas being the main | | | | There were many patients in the audience at each |
| component and thereby giving Pranayam a subsidiary | | | | venue who were completely cured of various ailments |
| role! Though Pranayam was known to be an essential | | | | such as asthma, hypertension, migraine, diabetes, high |
| part of Yoga practice, it was seldom given the pride of | | | | cholesterol, hay fever, fibroid uterus, crohn's disease, |
| place it deserved. | | | | skin conditions such as leucoderma, psoriasis, eczema, |
| He does not preach religion, but the divine power | | | | ovarian cysts, and improvement in nervous disorders. I |
| surrounds him like a halo and anyone who comes near | | | | was amazed at the revelations at the workshop I |
| him feels that power and draws on that infinite energy. | | | | attended; there were even consultant physicians, |
| In spite of all these attributes, this saint of a man, | | | | surgeons and GPs who were disclosing details of cure |
| almost celestial is very humble but has the power to | | | | among their relatives and patients. The unmistakable |
| hold an audience in the palm of his hands by doing just | | | | improvement in spinal ailments, paralysis and especially |
| a little Nouli! (For the un- initiated few, Nouli is the | | | | in PD (Parkinsons) was reassuring to many of the |
| magical massaging movement of ones 'stomach') | | | | sufferers who attended the venue. |
| If anyone is wondering if such a person exists, 'the | | | | It was overwhelming to witness the benefits of |
| saintly golden wonder from India', His Holiness Swami | | | | Pranayam in fibroid uterus, ovarian cysts, asthma, |
| Ramdev who has transformed India to wake up to a | | | | diabetes, hypertension, fibrosis of lungs, rheumatoid |
| healthy tomorrow, is the answer! Swami Ramdev was | | | | arthritis, frozen shoulder, migraine not responding to any |
| initiated in the ascetic order on the banks of the | | | | treatment, various malignancies. Etc, narrated by the |
| sacred River Ganga. He established Divya Yog Mandir | | | | patients themselves in most instances, showing |
| Trust in 1995 with the help of Muktanand Maharaj and | | | | benefits within 4-9-12 months. (Graves disease, |
| Acharya Balkrishen. His kindness, loving nature and | | | | carcinoma of prostate and bladder were among the |
| dedication to serve humanity have won him an | | | | cases disclosed) These patients had the test results |
| enormous following in India and all over the globe, just | | | | with them taken prior to starting Pranayam and during, |
| within a short span of 6-7 years! He is highly proficient | | | | at regular intervals. (Anulom Vilom, Kabhal bhati and |
| in Ayurved and Vedic philosophy, Sanskrit and yog | | | | Basthrika are most beneficial). Obesity showed |
| practice. | | | | remarkable improvement, loosing from 5- 11 kilograms |
| Yoga is an ancient Indian art that has been in practice | | | | and even up to 40 kilograms in a few, in 4-12 months! |
| for over 5000 years. But it was Saint Patanjali who | | | | These revelations are quite difficult to believe until one |
| compiled it so that the common man could understand | | | | has witnessed it and even I was skeptical in the |
| it and called it the Ashtanga yoga, the eight yogic | | | | beginning. His desire to meet all doctors attending the |
| practices, that brings about the positive way of thinking. | | | | workshop was highly commendable; the conference |
| Swami Ramdev follows in the footsteps of Maharshi | | | | was arranged where medico-legal points were |
| Patanjali and he brought it to the masses, in the form | | | | discussed and the need for evidence-based medicine |
| of simple Pranayam and Asanas. One must | | | | was stressed. Most doctors were of the opinion that |
| understand that 'Yog' is not a religion and the word | | | | publication of data from Swami Ramdev's clinical trials |
| 'Om' is not part of only the Hindu religion, but the | | | | is of paramount importance. |
| Buddhists and Gregorian Monks used it as the sacred | | | | The benefits and the real meaning of Kabhal Bhati |
| sound for chanting; Yog is oneness with the divine, a | | | | (glow on the fore head/ healthy glow) were quite |
| holistic approach to the art of living through | | | | evident on Swami Ramdev! I could not help thinking |
| commitment and understanding. | | | | that one does not need to go to a gym to get a |
| It is paramount that everyone understands the real | | | | perfect body, just one look at the 'treasure chest of |
| meaning of yoga and the practice of its various | | | | India' was enough to convince anyone that he is a living |
| techniques to correct the imbalance of prana (life | | | | advertisement for Pranayam, to achieve the 'perfect |
| force) and physique, which will then be reflected in the | | | | triangle' and the tummy to die for! (no disrespect to |
| body, mind and intellect. Therefore, the presence of | | | | Swami, of course). Swami Ramdev believes that |
| Swami Ramdev and his yog workshops in the UK | | | | spinal and joint injuries with the careless use of weights |
| was a blessing in deed. These workshops were of | | | | at a gym could be avoided among youngsters, by |
| colossal magnitude, attended by people of multinational | | | | practicing Asanas and Pranayam. His kindness and |
| origin. Language was no barrier as Swami Ramdev is | | | | empathy with each person at the venue was |
| beyond any language; his presence was enough | | | | unmistakable and the blessing he bestowed on each |
| motivation for the adoring crowd and they followed his | | | | of those who were suffering was ecstatic to witness. |
| every single word and magical move! | | | | His captivating mannerisms, his charisma and the way |
| Swami Ramdev was in total control of what went on | | | | his arm goes up in the air when he wants to stress a |
| at each session and he conducted it with such | | | | point, almost a 'Mercurial gesture', reminded me of the |
| grandeur that, three hours of music, asanas, Pranayam, | | | | Rock 'N' Roll legend with an inimitable voice! Swami's |
| Ayurved and teaching of philosophy looked like only a | | | | extensive and thorough knowledge of allopathic |
| few minutes! His wonderful sense of humour kept the | | | | medicine, acupressure and Ayurved only add to his |
| audience captivated and Bastrika, kabhal-bhati, Anulom | | | | greatness as a Yogic Master. |
| Vilom, Bahya Pranayam, Omkar japa, Bhramari and | | | | |