Jain Center Los Angeles CA 2008 09 Pratishta Souvenior

Author(s): Jain Center So CA Los Angeles
Publisher: USA Jain Center Southern California

Page 141

Jagruti Shah
The Art of Living - Yoga-Style
Iyengar once said, "The body is your temple. Keep it pure and clean for the soul to reside in." Many individuals throughout the nation practice the science of meditation and yoga to bring peace and calmness to their spiritual lives. Fortunately, we
have been blessed with an opportunity to learn such techniques from one of the best spiritual disciples - Rukhmaniji. Every Sunday morning for the last two years, Rukhmaniji, a student of Swami Ramdevji, has taught a successful yoga class at the Jain Center of Southern California (JCSC). Doctors Shishir and Malini Shah, a husband and wife team, convinced Rukhmaniji to teach yoga at JCSC. As a certified teacher by Swami Ramdevji, Rukhmaniji offers free and voluntary services at a wide variety of places including Jain Center and the Norwalk/La Mirada School Districts. What is truly amazing is the fact that her Sunday classes are filled with multicultural individuals ranging from Jain adults, community children, and Asian-Americans who have benefitted from her asanas.
Dr. Shishir Shah, Dr. Malini Shah and I assist Rukhmaniji in teaching yoga techniques and in Rukmaniji, an alumni of Swami Ramdev til
Ramde particular, helping the participants and newcomers who need individual attention. Dr. Shishir and Dr. Malini also take time to explain the scientific and medical aspects of various yoga techniques and how and why they benefit us. They also teach specific asanas and help the students to practice yoga. Recently, Daxaben, an experienced teacher who learned the art of yoga in India, has joined the team. Yoga classes offered at JCSC are free and every member is encouraged to attend. Newcomers can join the classes anytime and receive individual attention to come up to speed with the rest of the class.
On a go-forward basis, I have volunteered to teach yoga to the young ICSC Pathshala children in the Mommy and Me class. A healthy start should begin at a young age. Yoga will benefit these youngsters, and I hope that they will continue the practice for the rest of their lives.
The weekly classes at JCSC cover two specific areas - pranayaym and asanas. "Pran," meaning "life," gives us our energy. Doing pranayam regularly also purifies the life energy by increasing the oxygen content in the body. The ultimate benefits of pranayam are ridding the body of any negative thinking and aiding in reducing oxygen deficiency. Pranayam regulates the movement of breath, increases the resistance power of the body, balances all the hormones and keeps you healthy. Peace of mind ensures a happy start for anyone's day. Swami Ramdev teaches that the seven simple steps of pranayam supply oxygen to the body and it is Sanjivin, a life saver, for life.
In addition, asana is defined as "posture;" its literal meaning is "seat." Asanas make the mind strong. They generally rely on holding muscle tension for a short period of time. Asanas can be done both in the morning and in the evening. Asanas are best done if you are in an open area where the oxygen supply is adequate. Another important aspect is to have comfortable clothing. This helps in performing the asanas in a relaxed posture. These exercises can be done by everybody from 10 years of age and up. However, pregnant women should not attempt to do those exercises that are difficult for them. On July 11, 2008, Swami Ramdev visited JCSC to give a lecture on his yoga and exercise techniques, and their significant benefits. Over 600 participants from the Jain and non-Jain communities took advantage of his visit. Swami Ramdev met with medical professionals at the Jain Center the following day. Organized by the Anekant Community Center, the event brought together some of California's leading medical luminaries. The art of yoga has become widely popular within the last few decades. It has proved over and over again to save lives. Many children and adults have been motivated to try this type of medicine. Yoga's extra benefits include learning how to listen to your body and establishing an ultimate peace of mind. We can all learn to live a happier and healthier life. In summary, yoga helps us to: (a) stay healthy, (b) think clearly, (c) revitalize the body, (d) relieve stress, (e) improve flexibility, (f) reach our optimum weight, and (g) look and feel youthful. Jagruti Shah is a yoga teacher at the Jain Center of Southern California. She can be reached at jv6050@yahoo.com.
We young Jains are actually lucky that we have an opportunity to learn in this enormous and beautiful temple.
Aakash Shah, 15