YOGA AND STRESS MANAGEMENT LECTURE-DEMONSTRATION

October 25, 2004

A Report on Yoga and Stress Management lecture-demonstration

presented by Yogacharya R. Maythili Sharan at the 2-day seminar

entitled " Palliative Care and You " (October 19-20th, 2004) organized

by Dean Foundation, Chennai, India.

After having spent a year in ICYER, here I am back in the " concrete

jungle. " I am still in the process of readjusting to life in

the " outer world, " I wonder if the process of readjustment would ever

stop. " Looking back, I miss the quietude of the Ashram, I miss the

joy of peace, I miss the rhythm of daily living that I had set into,

I miss the greenery and the purity, and most of all I miss

the " breathing space. " My life in the Ashram was relatively

more " orderly " and my day-to-day tasks were more or less chalked

out. Now that I'm on my own, there's some uncertainty about what

direction I should take. I have had to do some stock-taking, and yes

I am learning and growing every day.

A few days back, I gave a call to Yogacharya Pradeep's mother and she

happily invited me to give a lecture cum demonstration on Yoga and

Stress Management in a seminar that was being organized by her

organization, Dean Foundation. The word " Dean " is an acronym that

stands for " to dignify and empower the ailing and the needy. " The

institution was conceived to be an oasis, a place of refuge for the

suffering. Dean Foundation is a medical charitable trust located in

Chennai, India. It employs and trains doctors, nurses and social

workers to give physical and emotional care to dying people of all

ages and diseases. Dean Foundation had organized a two-day seminar

with interactive sessions entitled, " Palliative Care and You " on Oct

19-20, 2004. The participants of the seminar were post-graduate

students of nursing and social work from different institutions in

Chennai, India. There were a total of 70 participants.

The seminar was unique in many respects. The objective of the

seminar was to create an awareness of Palliative Medicine and the

Philosophy of the Modern Hospice Movement. Palliative Care is the

care of those suffering from terminal, irreversible, progressive and

incurable diseases. The workshop focused on palliative care and the

health of nurses and social workers. The multidisciplinary nature of

the specialization makes Palliative Care a team effort, where the

role of the nurse is considered to be very vital. Therefore, the

nurses present were informed of the importance of their roles in

Palliative care. The basic requirement of the caregivers taking care

of themselves was highlighted as the demands of the profession can

cause significant stress and burnout. The seminar also shed light on

various techniques in complementary therapy.

Yoga was one of the important topics included in the seminar, for

which I

was invited to conduct a one-hour interactive session on Yoga and

Stress Management. I was also asked to prepare an article for the

seminar kit. My talk and article on Yoga and Stress Management was

based on the Stress Management module created by Dr. Ananda Balayogi

Bhavanani. Since I was the last speaker of the first day, I decided

to " get the group moving. " The participants had been sitting for

most part of the day, a change in the formal seating arrangements was

effected and the participants were encouraged to move and explore the

space around them. I started my talk with a formal Namaskaram and

explained the significance of greeting one another in this manner. I

also highlighted the importance of smiling. The participants were

also encouraged to greet and smile at one another as they moved

around, which in turn helped them to loosen up and leave the security

of their own groups and meet new people.

Thereafter, I began talking about the significance of Yoga in modern

day living, the meaning of stress and the importance of overcoming

stress. I discussed the concept of Yoga as a " Way of Life " and how

it helps to reduce the levels of physical, mental and emotional

stress. I had to confine my session to teaching only a few Jattis,

because of the paucity of time. I explained how these simple

movements could be used to release tension and stress. I also

discussed the significance of Yoga as the science of right-use-ness

of body, emotions and mind, and the interconnectedness of these

three, and how one affects the other. In addition to this, I touched

upon the concept of Yoga being four fold awareness, besides stressing

upon Amma's very own fifth awareness - " awareness of how unaware we

are. "

Overall, the group responded very positively. Some of the

participants felt that their institutions would be interested in

considering the prospect of ongoing Yoga classes.

It was heartening to read the feedback of the participants on the

Yoga session at the end of the two-day seminar. In their feedback

forms, some participants wrote about how they enjoyed the Yoga

session and cited the need for incorporating a daily practice of Yoga

in their life. Some mentioned that the session had taught them

to " get their mind and body free from stress and change their

emotions. " Some felt that the " topic of Yoga therapy should be a

vital part of future seminars also. " Some felt that " Yoga and the

holistic approach was a new concept. " Some were " impressed by the

day to day practices of Yoga. "

As for me, I have made a new beginning in imparting Yoga concepts to

the world outside the Ashram. It has indeed been a heartwarming and

fulfilling experience. Way to go, lots to see, may the Guru be with

me!

October 25, 2004

Well Done Sharan!!!

"Yogacharya Dr.Ananda Balayogi Bhavanani" <yognat2001 wrote: A Report on Yoga and Stress Management lecture-demonstration presented by Yogacharya R. Maythili Sharan at the 2-day seminar entitled "Palliative Care and You" (October 19-20th, 2004) organized by Dean Foundation, Chennai, India.After having spent a year in ICYER, here I am back in the "concrete jungle." I am still in the process of readjusting to life in the "outer world," I wonder if the process of readjustment would ever stop." Looking back, I miss the quietude of the Ashram, I miss the joy of peace, I miss the rhythm of daily living that I had set into, I miss the greenery and the purity, and most of all I miss the "breathing space." My life in the Ashram was relatively more "orderly" and my day-to-day tasks were more or less chalked out. Now that I'm on my own, there's some uncertainty about

what direction I should take. I have had to do some stock-taking, and yes I am learning and growing every day. A few days back, I gave a call to Yogacharya Pradeep's mother and she happily invited me to give a lecture cum demonstration on Yoga and Stress Management in a seminar that was being organized by her organization, Dean Foundation. The word "Dean" is an acronym that stands for "to dignify and empower the ailing and the needy." The institution was conceived to be an oasis, a place of refuge for the suffering. Dean Foundation is a medical charitable trust located in Chennai, India. It employs and trains doctors, nurses and social workers to give physical and emotional care to dying people of all ages and diseases. Dean Foundation had organized a two-day seminar with interactive sessions entitled, "Palliative Care and You" on Oct 19-20, 2004. The participants of the seminar were

post-graduate students of nursing and social work from different institutions in Chennai, India. There were a total of 70 participants. The seminar was unique in many respects. The objective of the seminar was to create an awareness of Palliative Medicine and the Philosophy of the Modern Hospice Movement. Palliative Care is the care of those suffering from terminal, irreversible, progressive and incurable diseases. The workshop focused on palliative care and the health of nurses and social workers. The multidisciplinary nature of the specialization makes Palliative Care a team effort, where the role of the nurse is considered to be very vital. Therefore, the nurses present were informed of the importance of their roles in Palliative care. The basic requirement of the caregivers taking care of themselves was highlighted as the demands of the profession can cause significant stress and

burnout. The seminar also shed light on various techniques in complementary therapy.Yoga was one of the important topics included in the seminar, for which Iwas invited to conduct a one-hour interactive session on Yoga and Stress Management. I was also asked to prepare an article for the seminar kit. My talk and article on Yoga and Stress Management was based on the Stress Management module created by Dr. Ananda Balayogi Bhavanani. Since I was the last speaker of the first day, I decided to "get the group moving." The participants had been sitting for most part of the day, a change in the formal seating arrangements was effected and the participants were encouraged to move and explore the space around them. I started my talk with a formal Namaskaram and explained the significance of greeting one another in this manner. I also highlighted the importance of smiling. The participants

were also encouraged to greet and smile at one another as they moved around, which in turn helped them to loosen up and leave the security of their own groups and meet new people.Thereafter, I began talking about the significance of Yoga in modern day living, the meaning of stress and the importance of overcoming stress. I discussed the concept of Yoga as a "Way of Life" and how it helps to reduce the levels of physical, mental and emotional stress. I had to confine my session to teaching only a few Jattis, because of the paucity of time. I explained how these simple movements could be used to release tension and stress. I also discussed the significance of Yoga as the science of right-use-ness of body, emotions and mind, and the interconnectedness of these three, and how one affects the other. In addition to this, I touched upon the concept of Yoga being four fold awareness, besides stressing

upon Amma's very own fifth awareness - "awareness of how unaware we are." Overall, the group responded very positively. Some of the participants felt that their institutions would be interested in considering the prospect of ongoing Yoga classes. It was heartening to read the feedback of the participants on the Yoga session at the end of the two-day seminar. In their feedback forms, some participants wrote about how they enjoyed the Yoga session and cited the need for incorporating a daily practice of Yoga in their life. Some mentioned that the session had taught them to "get their mind and body free from stress and change their emotions." Some felt that the "topic of Yoga therapy should be a vital part of future seminars also." Some felt that "Yoga and the holistic approach was a new concept." Some were "impressed by the day to day practices of Yoga." As for me, I

have made a new beginning in imparting Yoga concepts to the world outside the Ashram. It has indeed been a heartwarming and fulfilling experience. Way to go, lots to see, may the Guru be with me!"Health and Happiness are your birthright, claim them through Rishiculture Ashtanga Yoga" -Yogamaharishi Dr Swami Gitananda Giri YOGACHARYA GOWRISHANKARANANDA