The Art of Competition –The Yogic Way By Yogacharini Meenakshi Devi Bhavanani

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The Art of Competition –The Yogic Way

By

Yogacharini Meenakshi Devi Bhavanani

President, Pondicherry Yogasana Assocition

 

“The Child may be the father of the Man,” but, in truth, who in our society really cares to develop the potential of India’s greatest resource – its children? Children’s Days come and go, but the burden on our nation’s youth simply grows heavier and heavier year-by-year. “Child Labour” occurs not just in the under-privileged families where tiny tots struggle to make a few rupees to add to the family’s income by working in hotels, or as scavengers, or in match factories. “Child Labour” also exists in the upper classes where the heavy burden of excessive school work, tuitions and examinations is turning the youngsters into physical, mental and emotional wrecks. Where is the “time to stand and stare “for our youngsters? Where is the time to play, to laze about, to develop unique talents?

 

Therefore, it was a breath of fresh air to have witnessed the immense fun, frolic, and enthusiasm combined with a practical, healthy development of body, mind and spirit offered on Children’s Day, November 14th, at the 19th Annual Pondicherry State and First Annual Tamil Nadu Yoga Asana Championships held in Pondicherry November 12th, 13th and 14th. The event, in which 600 contestants from Pondy and all over Tamil Nadu, competed for 750 medals and 1000 merit certificates, was an exercise in body, mind and emotional control for all involved. Masterfully organised by Yogacharya Dr. Ananda Balayogi Bhavanani, General Secretary, Pondicherry Yogasana Association, the competition drew competitors as young as three years and as old as 55.

 

Children who have practically no access to any kind of sport or physical education have a “level playing field” in Yoga Sports (Yoga Asana Competitions). They need no costly equipment. They need no big Olympic standard swimming pools or huge stadiums. They do not even need uniforms. All they need is a small space the size of their own bodies and a strong will, determination, strength, endurance and good guidance from a dedicated teacher. This, judging from the astounding quality of Asanas performed, is available in abundance in our nation’s youth.

 

Yoga Sports is one of the innumerable branches of the mighty tree of the ancient Yoga Science. Yogis have always pitted their bodies and their wills against the elements, against each other and even against the negative qualities in their very own selves. In ancient times Yogic scholars held debates, with high stakes, great rewards for the winner, sometimes even death to the loser. The Rishis met periodically to discuss and debate Yogic Theories and to compare the power of their Tapasya. Such “friendly competition” brought out the best in all.

 

Life is basically competition for survival. In every walk of life, from the school to the college to competitive exams to career to business to politics to artistic endeavours, all facets of life are competitive. No one can deny this reality. The Bhagavad Gita, termed by many as The Bible of Yoga, records the teachings of Lord Krishna within the most competitive structure of them all – violent warfare and conflict onto the death on the battlefield. Krishna does not tell Arjuna to sit in a corner and meditate. He says, “Arjuna, you are a warrior. Go out and fight!” He tempers this by counseling, “Carry out your duties to the best of your ability and do not be attached to the rewards of your action”. The whole message of the Yogic teaching could be summarized in these seven words, “Do Your Best and Leave the

Rest.”

 

Another motto, which is set forth as an ideal in Yoga Asana Competitions is this: “If you win, you win, and if you lose, you also win because you learn.” Thus, Yoga Asana competitions, when viewed in this perspective, actually teach youngsters the proper attitudes to be cultivated in all their life activities. Competition is not bad. It is only “the thinking” which makes it so. Viewed thus, Yoga Asana competitions are a legitimate “branch” of the Yoga Science, every bit as much as “Yoga Therapy,” or academic study of Yoga in University structures, Examinations in Yoga, Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees in Yoga etc.

 

One of the heart-warming sights at the massive competition organised by the Pondicherry Yoga Association under the dynamic leadership of Dr. Ananda Balayogi Bhavanani was the Yoga Asana demonstration presented by nine mentally challenged students of SADAY. The joy and enthusiasm these children showed brought tears to everyone’s eyes. Where else they could receive such a forum, except in events like this? Where else could people understand the effort they made and the satisfaction it brought them? Their innocent childish joy as the organisers presented each of them a “bronze medal” knew no bounds.

 

Sixteen Yoga Teacher Trainees of the 36th Annual Six Month Residential International Yoga Teachers Training Course at the International Centre for Yoga Education and Research (ICYER), Chinnamudaliarchavady, Kottakuppam, Pondicherry, representing eleven countries including Canada, Switzerland, Italy, Germany, Spain, England, Australia, USA, Czech Republic, Holland and India acted as observers of the event and awarded prizes. Highly impressed by the joy, skill and poise of even the youngest contestants, the foreign observers expressed the view that such competitions fostered personality development. Dr. Nalini Devi, of Ibiza, Spain: said, “What a wonderful structure to channel the natural competitiveness of children in a higher direction.”

 

At both the Inaugural and the Valedictory Functions, the youth displayed their talents in music, dance and Yoga Asana tableaus and demonstrations. The atmosphere was electric with appreciation.

 

Dr. Ananda Balayogi Bhavanani, the World Cultural Ambassador for India as appointed by the International Yoga Federation, South America, guided all events with balance, and skill. Judgments were monitored and fairness assured at all levels.

 

The event was supported by luminous dignitaries in all fields. At the Valedictory Function The Honorable Minister for Education Shri K. Lakshminarayanan distributed the Championship Awards to eight competitors. Below 16 years Female Championship went to T Mrithika of Pondicherry and K Mariyayee of Karur while awards for the male category went to M Swaroup Ramanan of Pondicherry and S Santhosh of Kanchipuram. In the above 16 years category, G Dayanidy of Pondicherry and A Kumar of Karur bagged the Male Championship award while the female awards went to G Saranya of Pondicherry and J Thamarai Selvi of Kanchipuram. Also present on the dais was Yogasana Chakravathy Dr Asana R Andiappan, President of the Tamil Nadu State Yogasana Association, Chennai. Yogi T A Krishnan, Vice

President TNSYA, Chennai also graced the occasion and honoured Yogacharini Meenakshi Devi Bhavanani. Dr S Viswanathan, Coordinator, Centre for Yoga Studies at Annamalai University, Chidambaram praised Meenakshi Devi Bhavanani and Dr Ananda for organizing the event and welcomed the Yoga students to take up the university level Yoga studies and develop themselves further. Dr Govindarajulu, Head, Dept of Sports, Pondicherry University, remembered the selfless service of Dr Swami Gitananda Giri for the cause of Yoga Sport and requested the Government of Pondicherry to give financial support to such Yoga sport events. Shri CK Manoharun, Vice President, Pondicherry Yogasana Association, presented prizes to numerous winners of various events on the occasion.

 

The Inauguration on November 12th was graced with the presence of Shri Neela Gangadharan, Chairman PT & TDC, who inaugurated the championship with a call to the youth to take up Yoga and develop themselves through this wonderful treasure of India. He praised the work of Yogamaharishi Dr Swami Gitananda Giri Guru Maharaj and Yogacharini Meenakshi Devi in taking Yoga to all sections of the Indian society in the past 35 years as well as to all parts of the globe. Shri AM Krishnamurthy, MLA Reddiyarpalayam constituency and Shri R Siva, MLA Orleanpet constituency complimented the PYA office bearers for their activities and assured them of all necessary support for Yoga Sport. Shri R Venkatraman, Managing Director of the popular Tamil daily DINA MALAR, Yogacharini Dr Nalini Devi of

Spanish Gitananda Yoga Centre, Ibiza, Spain; Yogacharini Maitreyi of the Arkaya Awareness Centre, at Chennai and Yogacharya Hariharan of the Swiss Gitananda Yoga Centre near Geneva felicitated the PYA on organizing this event for the benefit of all Yoga enthusiasts. Coordinator of the Centre for Yoga Studies at Pondicherry University, Dr D Sakthignanavel reiterated the necessity of Yoga education at University level. Shri V Anbazhagan, President, Puduchery Yoga & Naturopathy Association congratulated Dr Ananda Balayogi Bhavanani on being named International Cultural Yoga Ambassador and presented a commendation on the occasion. Dr M Madhavan of the Vivekananda Institute of Yoga Therapy, Karur, Sri A Annadurai, Coordinator (Yoga), Pondicherry University Community College and Shri S Arikrishnan, President, Pondicherry Yoga Teachers Association also spoke.

The Yoga Sports competition was a “family affair” as whole families turned out not only to witness, but also to participate in the event. Husband-wife teams, with children also competing in various events, were common. In some cases, father, mother and children all participated as competitors. In other instances, the entire family was there to offer moral support to the member who was competing on the stage. Young and old alike enjoyed the excitement, pointing out the good points and bad points of each Asana, learning by watching.

The festive, joyous atmosphere was “proof of the pudding”. All who attended returned home refreshed, enlightened, stimulated to undertake even more intensive Yoga Sadhana in their own personal lives. The Yoga Sports competitions was an event which inspired, educated and stimulated positive action - a rare event in the normally “dog-eat-dog” ethos of modern day life!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yogacharya Dr.Ananda Balayogi Bhavanani

Chairman : Yoganjali Natyalayam and ICYER

25,2nd Cross,Iyyanar Nagar, Pondicherry-605 013

Tel: 0413 - 2622902 / 0413 -2241561

Website: www.icyer.com

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