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Family Bonding with Family Yoga

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Family Bonding with Family Yoga

Do you believe that family bonding is an important key for success and happiness at all levels?

Many people go through life not knowing where they belong and this can affect their self esteem which plays a major role in a person’s ability to succeed in life. Through consistent effort to communicate with family members, we can strengthen family love, respect for each other and the sense of belonging. Isn’t the best feeling in the world being able to go to a place where you call home where your loved ones are?

One of the best advices to cultivate healthy family relations is to participate in activities where the whole family can bond together and spend special moments together where everyone can feel close, experience acceptance and unconditional love from the people who mean the most in their lives. Such activities would ideally provide spontaneous opportunities for all members of the family to express affection towards each other, recognise positively in each other the special qualities (including the quirkiness), praise or encourage each other, share ideas and listen to each other with full attention. This kind of environment can bring about a lot of healing for the whole family. And even as families grow and change over time, they would have nurtured the skills to keep family relationships happy and healthy.

A parent, Sheila Devi shares with Yoga Mail readers her experience in Family Bonding with Family Yoga.

Meet Sheila’s boys: Arjun Kumaran (9 yrs), Kishin Kumar Kumaran (7 yrs), Praveein Kumaran (4yrs)

Sheila: “It made good sense to enrol in Family Yoga at Super Yoga Kids (SYK) since Arjun was already attending the Super Yoga Kids regular class and his younger brothers wanted to join in too. As for me, it’s the best of both worlds as I get to learn yoga while spending meaningful time together with my children. This is especially advantageous for me as a working parent and time is precious.

During the Family Yoga sessions parents and children are fully involved and help us to develop our relationship. Usually when parents send their children for extra-curricular classes, parents are not involved and they may only observe on the side line. Or during typical Malaysian family time like watching movies together, we are not having any interactions with each other until after the movie.

But in Family Yoga this is not the case. Parents get an opportunity to be role models for the kids. Like when I attempt to do a yoga pose, my children will say “Hey, look! Mum is doing it.” (Maybe they think, “Mum’s cool…”) and they feel even more motivated to follow and learn. This gives children another perspective of their parents as they are really taking an interest in learning and doing what they are learning too.”

Sheila’s favourite part of Family Yoga: “We especially love the blanket massage game as it has fostered so much better relations for all of us especially between Arjun and Kishen (somehow they tend to have more disagreements with each other). I would also play with them this game when we are at home together and it really brings us all closer to each other in terms of expressing our affections unconditionally. It’s a lot of fun. There are also many other games that we have learned which we now include in our family play time at home.”

Sheila’s observation of positive changes: “Arjun is rather timid by nature and the Family Yoga sessions really give him a chance to come out of his shell, unlike other classes where other children are involved and he tends to retreat. He has learned to speak up more and can open up better during activities.”

Fringe benefits: “We are all more aware of our health and how to take care of it from the yoga perspective. Recently I even participated in the yogic full intestinal cleansing here at Yoga Franchise which has helped improve my sinus condition, and I have not suffered any gastric pains since. Even my husband commented that my immune system has improved greatly as I am usually the first in the family to succumb to a bug if there is one. He has even encouraged me to do the cleansing again in the future.”

Family Yoga sessions at Super Yoga Kids are conducted by certified instructors!

This article was featured in YogaMail Oct-Dec 2011 issue.

Recharge Your Body & Mind

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Recharge Your Body & Mind

The new generation of school-going children are now noticeably busier than some working adults. School, tuitions, enrichment classes, extra co-curricular activities, homeworks and revisions — these are just among the endless list of a child’s typical weekly routine. Even though they are often referred to as little balls of energy, they do sometimes ‘burn out’ and as a result, their level of concentration and attention span decreases, and the focus on tasks at hand diminishes. And when this happens, no matter how long they sit in front of their books, nothing seems to register. Most children find this excruciating and parents find it a nightmare as they can only watch in vain when their children are in a state of lethargy.

Let’s face it. We all know that that the brain is not the only thing we need when we study. The physical and mental systems need to be in top condition to remain in synchronisation which each other. So, what are the simple ways that we can use to recharge the mind and the body? Let’s try out some of the many asanas (physical postures) that can help in boosting the energy level. Try these before starting your revisions and feel the difference!

Utthita Lolasana – Swinging the Upper Body

Method:

  1. Stand with legs wide apart.
  2. While inhaling, raise both arms above the head and allow the wrists to relax so tht the hands drop forwards.
  3. Then while exhaling, bend the upper body forward and swing the trunk down from the hips, allowing the arms and legs to swing through between the legs.
  4. Repeat the raising and swinging of the upper body 5 times

Benefits:

  • Helps remove tiredness by stimulating the circulation and toning the spinal nerves, thus energising the whole body.

Paschimottanasana – Back Stretching Pose

Method:

  1. Sit on the floor with legs outstretched and palms on the floor by sides of the hips and inhale
  2. While exhaling, bend forward and hold the big toes with corresponding hands, and keep the face on the knees.
  3. Take a few normal breaths.
  4. Now, inhale and come up to starting position

Repeat 5 times.

Benefits:

  • Tones up the abdominal organs and keeps them free from sluggishness.
  • Stimulates circulation to the nerves and muscles of the spine.

Bhumi Pada Mastakasana – Half Headstand

Method:

  1. Starting with Marjari asana (cat pose), turn the toes under, place the crown of the head on the floor between the hands.
  2. Straighten the knees and raise the buttocks, balancing on the head and feet.
  3. Bring the heels together and separate the toes. Raise the arms and clasp the hand beside the buttocks.
  4. Slowly return to Marjari asana (cat pose)and then lower to Shashankasana (moon pose) for a few moments.

Benefits:

  • Strengthen the neck muscles and brings a rich supply of blood to the brain.

This article was featured in YogaMail Jul-Sept 2011 issue.

Aparigraha – Unselfishness

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Aparigraha – Unselfishness

Aparigraha is the fifth Yama. Aparigraha means not to grasp or clutch onto things. One should not be greedy and should learn to live with few possessions.

Once upon a time there lived a farmer in a village with his wife and two children. They were indeed quite well-off. They had a beautiful hen which laid an egg everyday. It was not an ordinary egg, rather, a golden egg. But the man was not satisfied with what he used to get daily. He was a get rich-trice kind of a person.

The man wanted to get all the golden eggs from his hen at one single go. So, one day he thought hard and at last clicked upon a plan. He decided to kill the hen and get all the eggs together.

So, the next day when the hen laid a golden egg, the man caught hold of it, took a sharp knife, chopped off its neck and cut its body open.

There was nothing but blood all around & no trace of any egg at all. He was highly grieved because now he would not get even one single egg.

His life was going on smoothly with one egg a day but now, he himself made his life miserable. The outcome of his greed was that he started becoming poorer & poorer day by day and ultimately became a pauper. He was a foolish farmer. So, the moral of the story is- one who desires more, looses all. One should remain satisfied with what one gets.

This article was featured in YogaMail Jul-Sept 2010 issue.

Brahmacharya – Purity

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Brahmacharya – Purity

Brahmacharya is purity in thought, word and deed. Practice of Brahmacharya will give you good health, inner strength, peace of mind, happiness and success.

Honesty & Purity

A king in ancient times, by the name of Mahendra, was famous for his wisdom and righteousness. People in his kingdom were very happy because their great king ruled justly, and looked after the needs of his subjects.

King Mahendra was also subject to the law of the opposites. The king had one regret. He had no children. The question about the successor to the throne was worrying the king. His ministers were becoming anxious because the king was advancing into old age and his subjects were also becoming unsure about their own future.

To solve the question about the successor to the throne, King Mahendra thought of looking for a person with good character. He announced throughout his kingdom that people were invited to the palace grounds and from amongst the people present a successor to the throne may be chosen.

People flocked to the palace on the appointed day. King Mahendra addressed the people and told them that he would hand out seeds to each person present. The seeds were to be planted and whoever brought back the best-grown and most colourful flowers would be chosen as the crown prince. A person that can take care of plants and make them prosper can also make the kingdom prosper.

The people took the seeds and went back home.

Some weeks later, people started bringing flowerpots with some amazing results. There were happy plants all over the palace grounds and the plants were displaying their bright smiles through their colourful flowers of great variety. Each pot plant was bearing the name of the owner written in big bold letters on a tag that was attached to the plant. Some of the ministers even appointed a team of judges to help select the winner on the appointed day.

One man, however, had not succeeded in growing any plant in his flowerpot. There was just the soil and not even a tiny plant in his flowerpot. When he brought his empty flowerpot to the palace grounds, people stared at him in disbelief. Some even ridiculed him. His flowerpot with no plant in it was drowned in a sea of colourful flowers. There was no plant to which he can fasten his nametag. He simply attached the tag to the side of the flowerpot.

The king asked the ministers to brief him about the efforts of the people and the ministers told the king about the incredible variety of flowers that were brought back by the people. One minister announced to the people that his majesty had decided to walk amongst the plants to savour the wafting scents of the flowers and to behold the beauty of the colourful flowers.

The king started to address the people. In a sombre tone, king Mahendra enquired about one failed entry where the flowerpot had only soil in it and asked its owner to come forward and explain to him. A man right at the back of the huge crowd raised his hand and started making his way towards the royal pavilion. He could hear people making caustic remarks about him. His ears were getting full with sarcasm and stinging words that were being tossed about by the people. An expression of timidity began to creep upon his countenance as he came face to face with his majesty, king Mahendra.

The king requested an explanation as to why his flowerpot had no plant. The man answered that he had tried his best, even adding more fertilizer and carefully watering the seeds, but that he was disappointed and sorry that he could not grow anything. The king stood up and told the people present that he had chosen his successor. It was none else than the man whose effort at growing flowering plant from the seeds that were given to him by the king was a total failure.

The people were incredulous and the ministers and the judges were dumbfounded. With a look full of puzzle on their faces, they awaited an explanation from the king. King Mahendra placed his hand upon the shoulder of the man that was chosen as his successor and spoke to the people.

The king said: I was looking for a man with character and I have found him. I had all the seeds roasted before I gave them out. This fact was kept a secret. It was not possible for any seeds to germinate. People who received the seeds from me bought other seeds for their flowerpots when they did not see any plants growing in their flowerpots. I was on the lookout for that honest person who would produce the correct results and when I saw that one flowerpot without any plant, at that moment I knew that I had found that honest man. The man with the strength of character displaying   purity of heart, fearlessness, straightforwardness, truthfulness, absence of crookedness.

The king, who was learned and full of wisdom, concluded his address by saying that he was searching for a man, who possessed the Divine Wealth to become his successor.

Fearlessness, purity of heart, steadfastness in knowledge and Yoga, almsgiving, control of the senses, sacrifice, study of scriptures, austerity and straightforwardness.

This article was featured in YogaMail Apr-Jun 2010 issue.

Asteya – Sharing

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Asteya – Sharing

The Joy of Sharing

Rama never accepted expensive gifts from anyone. He was blessed with the wealth of contentment. He adjusted to every circumstance with a smile of contentment.  He was never unhappy.

Once, King Asoka sent Rama some expensive utensils. Rama was not present in his cottage so his mother received them. When he came back, his mother told him that King Asoka had sent some very beautiful utensils. She also said that she had kept them in the cottage and distributed the old earthenware ones.

Rama said. “That is all right. Now we shall distribute the new utensils as well.”

And, carrying the basket of utensils on his head, he went out to distribute them. He was very happy after distributing them. The people of his village came to know that Rama had distributed all his utensils so they gave him new earthenwares.

The moral of the story is:

Whatever we have, belongs to everyone. How nice if everybody can use it! That was the way Rama thought.

Dear children, try to think like him and translate his thoughts into your behaviour and actions. Feel happy, like Rama, to find your things are being utilised by others. May you understand what the joy of sharing is!

More examples of sharing:

  1. Sometimes it’s letting your little brother sleep in bed with you.
  2. Sharing half your cookie with your friend – even if it’s your favourite, chocolate chips.
  3. Sharing is telling your dad and mum about your school trip to the petting zoo.
  4. Your friend forgot to bring his pencil case, you may share some of your pencils with him.
  5. When your classmate doesn’t understand how to solve a math problem, you share with him the method to solve it.

Sharing makes others feel good, and it makes you feel good too.

Sharing is the giving of yourself to others. Sharing is a good thing to do!

Can you think of other ways to share?

This article was featured in YogaMail Jan-Mac 2010 issue.

Satya – Being Truthful

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Satya – Being Truthful

Here is a story on Being Truthful or “Satya” (Sanskrit) – The 2nd Yama

Being Truthful All the Time

satya

Once there was a shepherd boy who had to look after a flock of sheep. One day, he felt very free and decided to play a trick on the villagers. He shouted,” Help! Wolf! Wolf!” The villagers heard his cries and rushed out of the village to help the shepherd boy. When they reached him, they asked, “Where is the wolf?”

The shepherd boy laughed loudly, “Ha, ha, ha! I fooled all of you. I was only playing a trick on you.”

A few days later, the shepherd boy played the same trick again.

Again he cried,” Help! Help! Wolf! Wolf!” Again, the villagers rushed up the hill to help him and again they found that the boy had tricked them. They were very angry with him for being so naughty.

Then, one night he dreamt , a wolf went into the field. The wolf attacked one sheep, and then another and another. The shepherd boy ran towards the village shouting,” Help! Help! Wolf! Help! somebody!”

The villagers heard his cries but they laughed because they thought it was another trick.  He woke up from his sleep and first thing in the morning he went to a for forgiveness from the villagers for being untruthful to all of them and he regretted what he had done. He promised them he would never lie again. All the villagers forgave him and were proud of him for admitting his mistakes.

After sometime a wolf went into the field and started to attack the sheep. The shepherd boy shouted “Help! Wolf! Wolf!” The villagers heard his cries and rushed out to help. They managed to chase the wolf and saved all his sheep. The shepherd boy was very happy that his sheep were saved because of his truthfulness.

The moral of the story is:

Thus you see, there is great harm by being untruthful. We have to admit our faults so that we become bold, have a pure and clear heart. All will admire and love us.

Always speak the truth in words and thoughts. Saying what is beneficial with honesty in a pleasant way is truthfulness.

This article was featured in YogaMail Oct-Dec 2009 issue.

Ahimsa – Being Kind

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Ahimsa – Being Kind

Kindness Brings Its Own Rewards

ahimsa

Once a master used to treat his slave, name Androcles, very badly. He beats him with a whip for the slightest fault. Moreover, he was half-starved. The slave was so tired of his life that one day he ran away into the jungle.

He heard a painful cry from some behind the bushes. He went towards it and there, he saw a lion groaning in pain. The lion was holding up and showing him his paw. A big thorn had pierced his paw. Androcles went near and took the thorn out. He then bound the wound with a piece of cloth. The lion felt relief. He lay at Androcles’ feet, began to wag his tail and lick his hands like a pet dog. They became friends and began to live together in the same cave.

A few months later, Androcles was caught by his master’s men. He was taken before the king who ordered that the slave be thrown before a hungry lion. The day was fixed. Thousands of people came to see the slave, Androcles. Poor Androcles was put in an enclosure. A hungry lion was let in. the lion roared loudly and rushed towards him. But upon reaching Androcles, the lion recognised the man who was his old friend. The lion at once fell down at his feet, licked his hand and wagged its tail. At his strange sight, the king and all his courtiers were filled with astonishment.

The king called Androcles to him. Androcles related the story of their friendship. Hearing it the king was so pleased that he set both Androcles and the lion free.

The moral of the story is:

“Kindness brings its own rewards”. Conduct is one’s personal behaviour towards others in daily life. The sum total of one’s virtues forms one’s character. It is character that gives real force and power to man. They say, “Knowledge is Power” but the wise man says, “Character is Power”. Without character the attainment of knowledge is impossible. A man of character is expected to be kind, merciful, truthful, forgiving and tolerant.

-by Swami Satyananda

This article was featured in YogaMail Jul-Sept 2009 issue.