Yoga Bharati
Feb 12th, 2011
Yoga Bharati, USA concluded their annual six weeks Suryanamaskar
yagna (Sun Salutations Marathon) today. More than 1000 people all over
America participated in the yagna and performed close to 100,000
Suryanamaskars. About 250 individuals submitted their logs for a
healthy competition. Yoga Bharati teachers made Suryanamaskars as the
focus of their free public classes at various centers in different chapters
such as SF Bay Area, Detroit, Los
Angeles, San Diego and Atlanta.
Yoga Bharati Bay Area chapter arranged a concluding program at the
Sunnyvale temple where more than 50 people gathered to perform Suryanamaskars
in a synchronous group practice. The program began with a chanting of
Aditya Hrudayam by Sharat Joshi. This was followed by a talk by Ashwini Surpur
on the background, philosophy and significance of Sun worship by different
cultures around the world. She explained the significance of Ratha Saptami and
of practicing Suryanamaskars, how Suryanamaskar practice works at the body
level through various asanas, at the prana level when breathing is synchronized
with body movements, and at the mind level when mantras are chanted and their
vibrations contemplated upon. Finally she said, with a yagna like this,
the entire society comes together to celebrate health and harmony of the
society and it becomes a festival for the entire society.
This talk was followed by yoga practice session by Binta Patel.
After the initial demonstration and corrections, thirteen rounds of
Suryanamaskars were performed with music giving them a sense of synergy and
enthusiasm. Binta conducted a deep relaxation session, the yoga nidra, followed
by pranayama and meditation. Then was the session where Suryanamaskar
statistics were read out and the names of the leading people in different
categories such as men, women and children were announced. During the feedback
session that followed, people expressed their benefits and how this practice
helped them.
Sharat Joshi, who performed an average of 100 Suryanamaskars for
the last six weeks said his energy level was very high and he was very
efficient at work. 'When I went for a ski trip with a group at work, everyone
else was tired the next day, but I was totally fine', he said. Prajwala Darog who
performed an average of 40 Surayanamaskars per day said she felt healthy and
happy throughout the six weeks and most importantly, she felt calm and peaceful
within. Anil Surpur said with Suryanamaskars, he can do his marathons without
trouble and he has increased his mile time. Another regular Saturday
public class attendee who participated in the yagna said, her planter fascias
was much better now.
The program concluded with Shanti Mantra and people enjoyed
healthy snacks provided by Yoga Bharati volunteers.
About Yoga Bharati: Yoga
Bharati is a non-profit, voluntary organization with a vision of enhancing
Health (physical), Happiness (mental), Knowledge (intellectual) & Peace
(Spiritual) in life through a holistic approach to yoga.
Yoga Bharati hosts free public classes at various locations
in USA and therapy-based workshops and free public classes around the SFO Bay
Area.
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