A REPORT ON YOGNAT’S SUMMER COURSES 2006

June 29, 2006

A REPORT ON YOGNAT’S SUMMER COURSES 2006 It can be safely said that Pujya Swamiji Gitananda Giri Guru Maharaj and Amma, Kalaimamani Yogacharini Meenakshi

Devi Bhavanani have tried ‘Every trick in the book’ in their unceasing attempts towards generating interest for the art and science of Yoga amongst the children and youth of Pondicherry. One of the major success stories has been the idea of Yoga Youth Camps that are held during the summer holidays. Such camps were held every year at Ananda Ashram in Thattanchavady under the banner of the Sri Kambaliswamy Yoga Youth and Fine arts programme from 1975 to 1985. This novel concept of mixing education with fun filled activities such as swimming, games and campfires has been continued at Yoganjali Natyalayam since 1996 and this year we celebrated the tenth annual camp in a grand manner at ICYER on the Pondicherry Sea Shore. Yognat has also conducted an Annual Summer Intensive Yoga and Bharat Natyam Course for the entire duration of the month of May every year for the past ten years and the children and youth receive intensive training in various aspects of Yoga and the Indian cultural arts for nearly 4 hours, three days a week in addition to their regular classes on Fridays and Saturdays. This year, the Tenth Annual Summer Intensive Yoga and Bharat Natyam Course was held from May 1st to 31st 2006 with more than 120 students participating in the Yoga classes in addition to the Bharatanatyam and Shlokam recitation classes that went on for nearly four hours on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons.

Tremendous changes were witnessed in the children as the intensive gave them an opportunity to work closely with Amma and Dr Ananda and thus manifest their inherent potential. Under the guidance of Smt Meena Ramanathan students learnt the Hanuman Chalisa, a powerful chant of 40 verses in praise of Lord Hanuman who is said to embody all eight Siddhis. They also learnt and revised numerous Yoga theory concepts, three basic groups of Hatha Yoga practices (Samastithi group, Loma Viloma group and Hathenas) as well as the practice of difficult Asanas for self-development. A special valedictory function was organised at the end of the month where the students displayed their newly acquired and polished skills for an appreciative audience of eager parents, friends and relatives. Dance students performed the items learned specially during the intensive that included those dedicated to Lord Krishna and Lord Shiva. A new Pushpanjali composed by Dr Ananda was also taught to the

students who lapped up all their teachings in an eager manner. S Ghayathri and S Namratha received the Best Students of the Intensive Award 2006 respectively for their excellent all round performance and tremendous Yogic and cultural growth during the month. The May intensive culminated in the much‑eagerly anticipated 10th Annual Summer Residential Camp at ICYER campus, on ECR near Kottakuppam, on the Bay of Bengal. 65 students participated in the camp conducted from the 27th through the 29th May and numerous activities such as Yoga individual and team games, beach classes, bonfire on the beach, screening of the new Yognat DVDs and many other holistic activities to broaden the young minds were on offer. The students particularly appreciated the introduction of Karma Yoga time and the collage work with waste materials on the beach that promoted a healthy and clean civic consciousness in the young minds. A Mohan and R Ram Prasanth

were selected “Best Boys of the Camp” while S Manju Priya and S Geetha Kala were selected “Best Girls of the Camp” in recognition of their Yogic talents and behaviour. Samiksha Kapoor and R Lalitha Kumari received special prizes for Karma Yoga. Faculty for the summer courses included Amma Kalaimamani Meenakshi Devi Bhavanani, Yogacharya Dr. Ananda Balayogi Bhavanani, Yogacharini Devasena Bhavanani, Yogachemmal Shri C. Shanmugam, Yogachemmal Smt Lalitha Shanmugam, Yogachemmal Shri E. Gajendiran, Smt Meena Ramanathan, Selvi V. Renukadevi, Selvi U. Gokila, Selvi G. Kanimozhi, Shri G. Murthy, Shri G. Dayanidhi and Shri R. Chandrasekar. The office management was conducted ably by Shri S. Sendil Coumar and Shri C. Kulandaivelu who coordinated many of the

activities during the intensive and camp in an efficient manner. Shri S. Sendil Coumar also took most of the excellent photos that appear in this month’s Yoga Life. Please view some of the excellent photos of the camp at http://www.geocities.com/yognat2001/camp_2006 Yogacharya Dr.Ananda Balayogi Bhavanani Chairman : Yoganjali Natyalayam and ICYER Hon General Secretary, Pondicherry Yogasana Association 25, 2nd Cross,Iyyanar Nagar, Pondicherry, South India-605 013 Tel: +91-413 - 2622902 / +91-413 -3203314/+91-413 -2241561 Website: www.icyer.com www.geocities.com/yognat2001/ananda

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