Humans are physical, mental and spiritual beings and yoga not only keeps the physical fitness level high, it promotes a balanced development of all three.
Take N Dhaneshkumar (35), a weightlifter, who became a constable in the Tamil Nadu Special Police in 2003. He could not withstand the job stress for long. A severe low back pain and mental stress added to his woes. He turned to yoga and practised it at Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centre in 2008. It proved to be a life changer as he resigned from his job and began teaching yoga at the same institution.
“So high was my mental stress that I often wondered if it would be better if I just took my own life. At first, I tried meditation techniques to relieve stress. But I could not sit and meditate for long due to severe pain in my back, so I took up yoga. I cannot express the transformation in words — it can only be experienced,” said Dhaneshkumar.
Asked about his current health status, he said, “Earlier, when I would have pain in my lower back, I would have to rest an entire day to feel better. Now, I can stand for hours and walk several kilometres with ease.”
Dhaneshkumar said that being a policeman or an advocate was extremely strenuous, as the person had to deal with crimes and disputes all day long. “My aim is to teach them yoga,” he quipped.
P K Saravanan (43) was an operations manager at a mutual fund company for 10 years. A short-tempered man, quarrelling with people was part of his daily routine. Eventually, this lead to high blood pressure, which is when he turned to yoga. His practise at the Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centre made him a more harmonious person. “Earlier, I would go to the gym and exercise. While it nurtured the body, it did not do much to help the mind. Practising yoga has changed my personality. Realising the benefits of this incredible system, I decided to devote my life to it,” he said.
