Yoga for schools in Pondicherry-by Amma

[Guest guest]

MINIMUM SCHOOL PROGRAMME ON YOGA AND MEDITATION

 

A Paper Prepared Especially For The National Council of Education Research and Training, Department Of Education, Psychology and Foundation Education,

Sri Aurobindo Marg, New Delhi 110 016

By :-Kalaimamani, Yogacharini Yogamani Smt. Meenakshi Devi Bhavanani

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Pondicherry is one of the most Yoga-literate States in India and perhaps, in the entire world. Hundreds of Yoga Schools exist in this relatively small town with a population of less than eight lakhs. Hundreds of Yoga teachers are working, in various schools, health centres, gyms, even in beauty shops. The Pondicherry Tourism Department is the only Government agency in the world to sponsor an Annual International Yoga Festival, January 4th to 7th each year, since 1993, attended by delegates from all over the world.

The main credit for this extensive and enthusiastic interest in classical Yoga goes to Yogamaharishi Dr. Swami Gitananda Giri, a medical Doctor who for seventy of his eighty-seven years was one of the great propagators of India’s Yogic heritage both here and abroad. Swami Gitananda codified the classical Ashtanga Yogic tradition, which he learned in nine-years of study in the Gurukula of his master Swami Kanakananda, a Bengali adept, who was also known as “The Sleepless Saint”. Swami Gitananda elaborated that system by structuring it in a scientific, rationale manner and giving medical explanations for all the practices.

A world acknowledged authority on Yoga, Swami Gitananda was called by many, “The Father of Scientific Yoga”. He had written more than thirty books on Yoga, but the jewel amongst them is the comprehensive YOGA : STEP BY STEP, which is a fifty-two lesson Correspondence Course. Swami Gitananda founded a world-wide organization Yoga Jivana Satsangha (International) in 1968 and established its head quarters in Pondicherry, India. There are now 120 centres of this style of Yoga known as “Rishi Culture Ashtanga Yoga” (Gitananda Yoga) in twenty-two countries. Swami Gitananda had trained Yoga teachers in this lineage in a Six Month Intensive Residential Course held from October 2 to March 25, every year without a break, since its inception in 1968. Swami Gitananda’s work is being carried on

by his son Yogacharya Dr. Ananda Balayogi Bhavanani, a trained medical doctor, as well as Swamiji’s chief disciple, Yogacharini Meenakshi Devi Bhavanani.

Swami Gitananda had a great and deep love for children. One of his most beloved projects was the establishment of a programme to train local children in the art of Yoga. He included in this programme Bharat Natyam and Carnatic Music, both vocal and instrumental. He considered these South Indian cultural arts as Yogic-disciplines. He began this work in 1970. This programme had become so expanded and developed; he formulated the Sri Kambliswamy Yoga and Cultural Arts Youth Programme in 1975. Nearly 1000 youth from Pondicherry and near-by villages participated in classes in Yoga, and the cultural arts on a weekly basis, also freely receiving food, medicine, educational aid and clothing. That programme continues even today, in an extended and refined form, under the name Yoganjali

Natyalayam. Hundreds of young people, many from impoverished backgrounds, are now professional Yoga teachers, Bharat Natyam artists and Carnatic classical musicians, both in Pondicherry and abroad. It can be safely said that nearly every native Pondicherrian practicing classical Yoga in Pondicherry today, has either been trained directly through the work of Swami Gitananda, or by those trained by him, or at-least, inspired to the practice of Yoga by his work and example. Such was his immense impact that even today ten years after his Mahasamadhi (December 29, 1993) his name is recalled with great gratitude even by our political leaders in the public stages. For the purpose of this paper, the proceeding background was necessary, for Swami Gitananda had evolved a very unique, enthralling method of presenting Yoga concepts to children, which made the ancient science not only highly enjoyable, but also immensely practical. Everything he taught was rooted in classical Yoga concepts

and principles, and buttressed by solid medical and psychological facts. Yet, the children loved their Yoga classes and flocked to them in hundreds, even thirty years ago, when the concepts of Yoga were still obscure for the average Indian.

Swamiji used many devices to lure the minds and hearts of children to Yoga. He pioneered the concept of Yoga Asana Competitions. This gives incentive to the physical practice and helps develop stage confidence and poise. He encouraged the performance of Yoga Dramas and Yoga skits. He taught the youngsters how to create Yoga Asana tableaus, with several of them in different postures to create beautiful visual pictures with their bodies. These tableaus were used as featured presentations at Yoga lectures Yoga Conferences and social and religious events. He trained the young ones as Asana demonstrators, and thus gave them valuable personality training. He took the most talented amongst them all over India on pilgrimage and for programmes. He devised many kinds of “Yoga play” and “games” which taught Yoga concepts. His Ashram was

a beautiful natural oasis, filled with trees, animals, (a mini zoo) even a swimming pool in which children learned to dive and swim. He created the proper environment, first and foremost, in which Yoga could be and should be taught.

The word “Instruction” contains mostly the word “structure”, Hence, when one speaks of teaching Yoga, one must realize that a large part of the teaching involves creating a proper structure. The proper structure for learning Yoga is not in a gymnasium nor in a class room, but under a tree or in a natural setting. If Yoga is to be taught through the school system, the proper structure must first be created: a natural, clean, open, airy space, with plenty of trees, birds and fresh air and quietude. If this structure is not available, at least occasionally the students should be taken to parks, riversides, mountains, and the seaside to experience Yoga in a natural setting as practiced by our ancient Rishis. Yoga is first and foremost, a

science of living naturally.

Yoga is also the science of “educe-ment” – the ability of the teacher to “draw out latent potentialities” is the measure of the educationalist’s quality. Alas! Our modern educational system does the opposite! It “stuffs in” – useless facts, useless figures!, which most students are unable to digest, Yoga is the perfect medicine for this “educational indigestion”, if it is properly taught.

Swami Gitananda devised many unique methods by which young people were slowly and steadily led to proficiency in the classical Asanas and Pranayamas, with ever-expanding understanding of the true meaning of meditation and a spiritual meaningful life as they matured as human beings. These methods are still being used with success in the Institutes founded by him in Pondicherry, now headed by his son and successor, Yogacharya Dr. Ananda Balayogi Bhavanani.

In August 1998, Government of Pondicherry, Department of Education, commissioned Yogacharini Meenakshi Devi Bhavanani to train 100 Physical Education Teachers in Pondicherry Government schools. The one-month long Training Session was intense. It included Hatha Yoga Class: 6 AM to 8 AM. Pranayama, Relaxation and Concentration Practices 11 AM to 2 PM. Theory Classes from 4 PM to 6 PM. These sessions were held daily for one month, with only Sunday holiday. The teachers were given written and practical work during the course. Meenakshi Devi was pleasantly surprised at the interest and dedication she found amongst the physical education teachers, and felt that they were competent at the end of the training to teach basic Yoga practices in their schools. She, however, also felt that they would need ongoing training and refresher

courses periodically to upgrade their skills.

Following this training, most of the physical education teachers gave Yoga classes in their own schools on a regular basis. Some of them become quite active, and even now regularly enter their children in Yoga Asana competitions or give Yoga Tableau demonstrations at Annual Day or Republic Day Parades. Etc.

On January 1, 2000, Meenakshi Devi Bhavanani in cooperation with the Pondicherry Education in Department and the Tourism Department conducted a spectacular Millennium Sunrise Surya Namaskar Programme in which 3000 school children from 50 Government Schools performed Surya Namaskar in beautiful unison on the Bay of Bengal, as the sun rose, on the New Millennium on January 1, 2000 over the sea. All the Dignitaries of the State, including the Lt. Governor Dr. Rajini Rai witnessed the event. It was telecast nationally and internationally.

This event was possible because the 100 Physical Education Teachers trained by Meenakshi Devi each drilled 30 to 50 students in their own school. All were then bused to the beach side of the Bay of Bengal on December 31, 1999 evening and performed in mass the traditional Surya Namaskar as the millennium’s first sun rose!

In January 2001 the Secretary Education, Government of Pondicherry, asked Yogacharini Meenakshi Devi Bhavanani to design a full-time project for implementing Yoga in Government Schools. The project is still at present in the planning stage and is appended at the end of this paper as a suggested model for similar projects all over India.

This prologue has been written to provide an example for proceeding with the very laudable project before us, to Implement Value Education in our Nation’s Schools, using the techniques and concepts of our country’s greatest heritage – the Science of Yoga.

As any good educationalist knows, the very best teaching method is through example, for the example shows the possibility of the theory proposed. Hence, in this paper I present a model, which could be used as a prototype and adapted to various circumstances.

It is not the point of this paper to describe in detail the various methods and techniques which number in hundreds, which Yogamaharishi Dr Swami Gitananda Giri used to impart the practices and theories of Yoga to youngsters. This could be done, however, if need arose, and in fact, one student of this Parampara has embarked on that rather ambitious project. It has been my brief, instead, to point out the success of a particular style of Yoga teaching to children at a community level.

 

Some challenges must be met if a national programme is to be devised

to implement value education through Yoga in schools

 

1. There are many different styles of Yoga, different lineages and Paramparyas being expounded in the world today. Some of the Yoga Schools advocate highly contradictory theories and methods. There is no real uniformity in practice and approach. An expert committee would have to be set up to hammer out an accepted syllabus, and perhaps, a text book-cum-workbook could be written which could be translated in all our country’s languages and followed in all the schools.

2. There is a dire shortage of well-trained, intelligent Yoga teachers. Through our own experience, we found the Physical Education Teachers of Pondicherry capable of teaching Yoga once they were given an intense training. Not all of them, of course, were suitable for such work, perhaps about 50% or 50 out of 100. Training centres could be set up in each state and physical education teachers sent to those centres for training. Because such teachers already have some level of fitness and physical awareness as well as experience

in teaching, they could be capable of teaching Yoga. Many also have an interest in Yoga. Or, alternatively, well-established Yoga schools could be identified in each state and asked to undertake the project of training Yoga teachers and setting syllabus for their own state.

3. In Pondicherry, we found our Physical Education Teachers complained they had no proper environment for teaching Yoga, not even a room with sufficient space and ventilation.

4. Motivation is a key problem, for the practice of Yoga techniques often meets with stuff resistance, unless the teacher is very skillful.

5. Yoga is a distillation of all that is best in Sanathana Dharma Culture, (The Hindu Culture). The concepts of Yoga are found mainly in the Hindu scriptures. Some may object to this. However, this objection may be overcome, by undertaking comparative studies of Bible, Koran, Buddhist and Jain Scriptures. Local language scriptures like the Tirukkural in Tamilnadu and the Granth Sahib in North India may be studied for Yogic content, since it is often said that Yoga is the distillation of the essence of all religions. Yogic

Ideas are the basis of all the world’s religions, and the older children could be much benefited by this comparative religion study.

Thus I have presented a model of Yoga teaching for youth, which has been proven to work. I have also sketched a few problems this project may face. I would like to conclude the paper with inclusion of the sketch of the Millennium Yoga Project 2000 which was submitted by myself one year back and which is still under consideration by the Government of Pondicherry. It provides a practical working model of constructing similar projects in all the states of our country. In my experience, such training has little value before the age of ten or eleven. Hence, we have commenced the syllabus from Grade Six. Many of the actual practices suggested are unique to the lineage of Yogamaharishi Dr. Swami Gitananda, but many others are commonly known. The Physical Education Teachers trained by us in

the one-month full time intensive training would be capable of imparting this syllabus, only if they attended regular refresher seminars, camps etc.

There are three sections to the Millennium Yoga Project:

Section I Motivation

Section II Actual Syllabus

Section III Additional Concepts

 

In Section II, a general syllabus is given from Grade Six to Grade Twelve. The practices found in the syllabus are (most of them) well described in the excellent correspondence course YOGA: STEP-BY-STEP written by Yogamaharishi Dr. Swami Gitananda Giri. This YOGA STEP-BY-STEP 52 lesson series is the basic for all instruction during the Six Month International Yoga Teachers Training Course offered each year from October 2 to March 25 at the International Centre for Yoga Education and Research, Kottakuppam, (Via Pondicherry) Tamilnadu.

 

 

PROJECT OVERVIEW

MILLENNIUM YOGA PROJECT-2000

PONDICHERRY GOVERNMENT SCHOOLS

 

ORGANISTIONAL STRUCTURE

 

Structure : ADMINISTRATION AND TEACHERS

 

Project Coordinator : Yogacharini MEENAKSHI DEVI BHAVANANI

Director

INTERNATIONAL CENTRE FOR

YOGA EDUCATION AND RESEARCH

Kottakuppam, Tamil Nadu – 605 105.

 

Project Consultant : Yogacharya Dr. ANANDA BALAYOGI BHAVANANI,

M.B.B.S., A.D.Y., D.S.M., D.P.C., PGDFH.,

Senior Research Fellow,

JIPMER Central Government Hospital,

Pondicherry – 605 006.

 

Assistant : Yogacharini DEVASENA BHAVANANI,

BPA., M.A., A.D.Y.,

 

Yoga Teachers : Ten Yoga Teachers Trained by

MEENAKSHI DEVI BHAVANANI at ICYER

 

Physical Education Teachers from Pondicherry

Government Schools who under went one month

Intensive Yoga Training in August 1998.

 

Note : Teachers from Physical Education Department should undergo at least three months of week-end refresher training one day per week, i.e. Sunday afternoon or Saturday afternoon.

Venue : Schools within the town limits of Pondicherry. Ten or fifteen Schools could be started as a Pilot Project and the working structure set up. The number of schools could be extended gradually as the system is regularized.

Note : Teachers who are selected from the Government Schools should receive some sort of incentive in form of Financial Bonus or overtime pay or promotional advantages. Otherwise they will not have sufficient motivation to make this project a success. Teachers are already overburdened with work and will not take kindly to extra work and study unless there is something to motivate them.

Project Coordinator Meenakshi Devi Bhavanani will undertake work and training on Honorary Voluntary Basis. However, all other project workers must have Financial Recompense for their time and trouble.

Suggested honorarium for non-government teachers : Rs. 200 per hour. (Each class will be one hour long). This is necessary for the traveling time to and from the school, the class arrangements before etc. will make the actual time expenditure from two to three hours.

Consultant : Dr. Ananda Balayogi Bhavanani is presently Senior Research Fellow at JIPMER. His services can be used to conduct research on the project, overall supervision of project, spot checks on classes, organizing Yoga Asana competition etc.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION I :

MOTIVATION

 

Motivation is essential for Yoga implementation to succeed. Following are some suggestions that will help motivate the students to take up the study of Yoga with seriousness, enthusiasm and interest.

 

1. Each target school should conduct at least one Yoga Asana competition yearly, open to all Pondicherry Students.

2. Pondicherry State Government should conduct one annual State Yoga Asana Competition for all Government Schools. The winners from each school would be sent to this Competition. This is already being done in the field of Bharat Natyam, Music and Sports. A Separate Competition could be held for Yoga Asanas.

3. Each target school would have to hold at least three Yoga Demonstrations in some form each year. These forums could be the School’s Annual Day, Parents Day, Children’s Day etc. Photographic proof of the Yoga demonstrations and reports could be elicited from the teacher-in-charge.

4. Seats in professional courses such as engineering and medicine should have at least one seat reserved for Yoga Asana Champions. This reservation of professional seats for Yoga Asana champions is already being done in Karnataka State and in Bengal. In Chennai, some seats are also reserved in medical colleges for Yoga Asana champions. Other criteria like a mark score cut off etc. could also be there.

5. All schools should be required to send a Yoga Asana team for competition in the Annual Pondicherry Tourism’s YOGA FESTIVAL Asana Competition which is held each year from January 4th to 7th here in Pondicherry.

6. Scholarships for excellence in Yoga Asanas should also be awarded on the same basis as they are now being awarded to sportsmen, chess champions and dance and music categories.

7. Each school should have in its library, or under the control of the Yoga teacher, at least 25 books on the subject of Yoga, both in English and Tamil. These books can be lent to the students to encourage interest.

8. Each school should, at least three times per year, call in a Yoga Expert to give Yoga Asana demonstration and lectures.

 

These are a few suggestions to whet the interest of the young students in Yoga. There are many, many more possibilities.

 

SECTION II : SYLLABUS

 

 

GRADE SIX THROUGH TWELVE

 

GRADE SIX :

1. General concepts of Yoga including the eight limbs of Patanjali’s Yoga, namely: Yama, Niyama, Asana, Pranayama, Pratyahara, Dharana, Dhyana and Samadhi.

2. Jattis (movements which are used to loosen up the body and stimulate blood circulation); Kriyas, (structured movements) including Aruna Surya Namaskar, Part I and Part II.

3. Elementary Pranayamas like Kukriya Pranayama, Mukha Bhastrika, Nasarga Mukha Bhastrika and Sukha Pranayama.

4. Basic Standing Positions: Padangushta Asana, Pada Hasta Asana, Trikona Asana, Veerya Asana, Part I; Veerya Asana Part II. Vriksha Asana.

5. Sitting postures: Vajra Asana, Dharmika Asana, Supta Vajrasana, Vajra Veerya Asana, Sukha Asana, Padma Asana, Baddha Kona Asana.

6. Hand Balancing Postures: Kaka Asana, Baka Asana.

7. From knees: Ushtra Asana with Nasarga Mukha Bhastrika, Danda Kriya.

8. Malla Kriya with eight hand variations.

9. Shava Asana: for relaxation. With deep Sukha Pranayama.

10. Concept of sitting quietly without moving, and concentrating on the breath.

11. Children should learn to draw stick figures of all postures.

 

 

GRADE SEVEN :

1. Review of general concepts of Yoga. Discussions on the morality and ethics of Yoga, Yama and Niyama. Yoga as a life style that includes the way we eat and personal hygiene. Yoga as a way of life. Introduction of Patanjali’s definition of Yoga as YOGA CHITTA VRITTI NIRODHA or “ Yoga is the stilling of the whirlpools of the mind”. Also introduction of the concept of Yoga from the BHAGAVAD GITA: YOGA KARMASU KHAUSHALAM: “Yoga is skill in

action”.

2. Writing of short essays on meaning of Yoga.

3. Review of all practices from Grade Six.

4. Add: Ardha Chandra Asana, Nataraja Asana and Charioteer Asana.

5. Matsya Asana, Padma Asana and Yoga Mudra.

6. Dhanur Asana; Ardha Dhanur Asana, Nava Asana, Nava Kriya, Dhanur Kriya, Sarpa Kriya, Bhujangini Mudra, Bhujanga Asana; Keeta Kriya.

7. Meru Asana with Nasarga Mukha Bhastrika.

8. Shava Asana relaxation with deep breathing.

9. Sitting quietly and concentrating on breath.

 

 

GRADE EIGHT :

1. Expand concepts of Yoga. Emphasis on Yoga as stillness of body, mind and emotions. The scientific aspect of Yoga. Assign some Yoga Research Projects. Short essays on Yoga. Various great Yogic personalities. History of Yoga. Leading proponents of Yoga. Assigned reading on Yoga.

2. Review of all practices from Grade Six and Seven.

3. Padottana Asana, Prasarita Uttana Asana, Eka Pada Asana.

4. Rishikesh Surya Namaskar.

5. Eka Pada Uttana Asana, Dwi Pada Uttana Asana, Shirsha Uttana Asana, Uttana Asana, Danda Asana, Hala Sarvanga Asana and Paschimottana Asana. Pratipa Hala Asana.

6. Attempt Padma Mayur Asana and Mayur Asana.

7. Parvat Asana.

8. Introduction of Hathenas.

9. Bharatwaja Asana.

10. Sitting quietly in Padma Asana and concentrating on the breath. Constructive thinking. Constructing positive thoughts while sitting quietly.

11. Shava Asana with deep relaxation.

12. Dridha Kriya and Tala Kriya from Shava Asana.

13. Makara Asana and Unmukha Asana.

14. Ardha Shalaba Asana and Shalaba Asana.

 

 

GRADE NINE :

1. Discussions on some ancient scriptures dealing with Yoga. Yoga Sutras, Bhagavad Gita, Hatha Yoga Pradipika, Gheranda Samhita and Goraksha Paddathi. Extension of meaning of Yoga.

2. Review of all postures learned.

3. Concentration on teaching of Hathenas. (There are 15 poses in this series).

4. Concentration on teaching of Vibhaga Pranayama and Mahat Yoga Pranayama.

5. Concentration on teaching Mudras associated with the Pranayamas.

6. Relaxation. Kaya Kriya.

 

 

GRADE TEN :

1. Discussion on Yoga as way of life. How a Yogi lives and how it is different from ordinary lives. Importance of physical, mental and emotional control. Assign essays, research reading and hold discussion groups.

2. Review of all practices.

3. Introduction of Savitri Pranayama.

4. Introduction of Loma Viloma group in its entirety.

5. Practice some difficult Asanas.

6. Chakra Asana, Sethu Asana.

7. Variations on Sarvanga Asana and Hala Asana and Paschimottana Asana.

8. Sitting for longer periods of time in Padma Asana or other sitting poses, concentrating on deep breathing.

9. Learning to construct positive thought forms.

10. Relaxation in Shava Asana with different kinds of visualizations.

 

 

GRADE ELEVEN :

1. Discussions, research projects, extra reading. Scientific aspects of Yoga. Yoga for Health, Yoga for Happiness, Yoga for Peace of Mind. Yoga as a way to learn to control emotions. Practical aspects of Yoga.

2. Review of all practices to this level.

3. Maha Souriya Surya Namaskar.

4. Practice of Sama Stithi Group of Asanas as complete set.

5. Practice of Loma Viloma Group as complete set.

6. Practice of Hathenas as complete set.

7. Savitri Pranayama using higher counts.

8. Sukha Purvaka Pranayama using counts of about 4:4:4:4 or 5:5:5:5.

9. Loma Viloma Pranayama: Alternate Nostril Breathing.

10. Practice of difficult selected acrobatic Asanas. Each student can choose one Asana they would like to perfect by end of term and work on it at home as a home project.

11. Shava Asana relaxation. Using Savitri Pranayama.

12. Quiet sitting in Padma Asana, using creative visualizations.

 

 

 

GRADE TWELVE :

1. Assign long essays. Hold discussion groups and submit reports on various Yogic topics. Encourage painting and drawing of Yogic concepts. Stick figure drawings of all Asanas learned. Different students can be assigned to investigate one of the Yoga scriptures and write a report. Reports on Yoga personalities. Interviews with Yoga exponents.

2. Review of all practices.

3. Consolidation of knowledge of :

i) Various Surya Namaskars

ii) Sama Stithi Group of Asanas.

iii) Hathena Group.

iv) Loma Viloma Group.

v) Sarvanga Asana Group and Chakra Asana Group.

vi) Vibhaga Pranayama.

vii) Mahat Yoga Pranayama.

viii) Savitri Pranayama.

ix) Sukha Purvaka Pranayama.

 

4. Introduction of Head Stand, Shirsha Asana and its complementary poses.

5. Development of some difficult acrobatic poses.

6. Intensification of ability to sit quietly focusing on the breath. Intensification of creative visualization work.

 

 

 

 

SECTION III : ADDITIONAL CONCEPTS

 

1. At all levels discussion groups should be instituted at least once monthly on the topic of Yoga with reports assigned.

2. Essays should be assigned, especially in ninth, tenth, eleventh and twelfth standards. To encourage creative thinking and expression of Yoga concepts, Essay Contests could be held.

3. Practical exams should be given. Theoretical exams also should be given. The students will then take things seriously.

4. Regular inspection of classes should be made by Project Coordinator, Assistant Coordinator or Project Consultant. These should be surprise checks as well as scheduled inspections.

5. Students should be motivated to participate in Asana competitions, essay writing competitions, elocution competition on Yoga etc. There are many competitions at state, regional and national level. These could be sponsored by local benefactors.

6. Students should be asked to make stick drawings of all Asanas learned from the sixth standard itself. This will help them remember and serve as reference. They should keep a Yoga notebook which should also be available for inspection on request. Students should be guided to keep a Yoga diary which records daily personal practices.

7. Students could be taken on field trips to visit local Yoga centres and see classes in progress.

8. Classes should be of a minimum of one hour each. Less than that nothing can be accomplished. Classes could be held twice a week, after school, from 4:30 to 5:30 pm. Or, if circumstances permit, before the regular classes 7:00 to 8:00 am.

9. The project should start with a limited number of schools so its feasibility can be assessed and any problems identified and resolved.

10. Motivation of both the teachers and the students is of prime importance. Motivational aids have been listed in section I. Drawing contests with Yoga as its subject can be held also on school and state level. Such a contest is also an annual part of the Yoga Festival in January. Speech contests and essay competitions on Yoga are important motivational devices.

11. Visits to the school of good Yoga Asana Demonstrators is also an important part of the motivation and training. Seeing is learning Yoga Charts, photos of Yoga Asanas, etc. should adorn the walls of the Yoga class room. If possible the school should have a room set aside solely for practice of Yoga. It would be highly desirable if each school could set aside a room for meditation for the children which they could visit whenever they wanted to sit quietly.

12. Students can be given in addition to the syllabus, extra work in the form of more difficult Asanas which they could work on as projects in their homes. These Asanas could be used for demonstrations, conducting Yoga tableaus, Yogic dramas, Yoga competitions etc.

 

Yours in Yoga,

Puduvai Kalaimamani, Yogacharini

Yogamani Smt. Meenakshi Devi Bhavanani, ICYER (Ananda Ashram) Pondicherry

Dr.Ananda Balayogi Bhavanani25,2nd cross,Iyyanar NagarPondicherry-605 013tel;0413 622902/241561abb,yognat2001Website: www.icyer.com

 

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