Innovative Ideas to Impart Yoga (Collected Seminar Papers)

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"The purpose of yoga is to create strength, awareness and harmony in both the mind and body".

No, this quote is not from the Yogasutra, or the Hatha yoga pradipika, nor indeed from any millennia-old Yogic text. This quote is from the website of the American Osteopathic Association.

MD Anderson Cancer Center, under the University of Texas, utilizes various methods of relaxation like yoga, for cancer patients and for care-givers. It’s website states —

"A focus on the breath is critical for all of them, as well as gentle movements. Another reason they're so useful is that they can be practiced by anybody, at any level with any particular physical limitations."

yogo bhavati duhkhaha

(Yoga alleviates suffering)

Yes, the above quote is indeed from an ancient text to be specific, from the Bhagavad-gita (6.17), belonging to the 3rd Century BCE, the validity of which has been brought out by the previous two quotes.

Global awareness about the therapeutic and spiritual utility of yoga has increased exponentially in recent times. In India, yoga is now finding its rightful place in the mainstream academic set- up. Apart from the mushrooming yoga studios in every nook and corner, universities and departments of yoga are also coming up across the country to meet the increasing demand. The economic data points related to yoga are also very encouraging. However, in this era of burgeoning interest in yoga, where does the quality of yoga education stand? Has yoga been adapted to the changing needs of today’s aspirants? Has the yoga fraternity embraced modern technology to Its fullest advantage? These questions now loom large in the yoga arena.

To facilitate exchange of views in this regard, the Research Department of Krishnamacharya Yoga Mandiram organized a day-long seminar on "Innovative Ideas in Imparting Yoga" on the 29th of June, 2016 at its premises in Chennai, on the occasion Of international Day of Yoga. The seminar was conducted under the auspices of the AYUSH Ministry, Government of India.

The participants of the seminar included students of yoga from yoga institutions, Ph.D. scholars pursuing their research in yoga in various universities, researchers from medical research institutes, students and faculty from an Ayurveda college, and students from the Department of Sanskrit from various universities and colleges.

This book Is a collection of papers that were presented in the seminar. Topics touched upon some fundamental aspects of yoga education such as: innovating teaching methods based on the nature of the students, using latest technology in imparting yoga, and staying grounded in traditional wisdom while making innovation, among others.

This book contains the key note address, four papers/presentations and the transcript of the panel discussion. Resource persons, both from within KYM and from outside, shared their wisdom and expertise.

Two invited articles form part of the publication. Glimpses of the seminar are also presented through a few photographs taken during the proceedings.

The editors of this volume desire to place on record their gratitude to all the authors.

Our special thanks are due to the KYM administration for all the logistical support.

We place on record our sincere thanks to Ms. Nrithya Jagannathan for her valuable editorial review.

**Contents and Sample Pages**