India Tribune

By J.V. Lakshmana Rao

Chicago:  Among many gifts that India has given to the world, yoga and meditation have become very popular in the Western world in the recent years.

Yoga and meditation are twin subjects — while yoga is mostly related to physical, meditation deals with mind. Together they are great stress relievers, leading to a healthy and happy life with eternal bliss. Surya Namaskar is a simple yoga exercise.  To popularize it, Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh USA, a not-for-profit service organization, has taken up to conduct a project called Surya Namaskar Yagnya (SNY) workshop on a voluntary basis for the benefit of those who are interested in it.

For the first time, Hoffman Estates, a village in the Chicagoland area, agreed to have a SNY workshop for its employees and the public, and organized it at the village hall on January 16. Interestingly,  Hoffman Estates Mayor William D. McLeod, accompanied by his wife, Joane McLeod, participated in the workshop.

The workshop included an extensive demonstration lecture with a slide show followed by a session of practical training in Surya Namaskar, breathing exercise and meditation conducted by Prakash Saunshi. It was a visual treat to see a hall-full of yoga enthusiasts - men, women and children -- simultaneously participating in the group exercises lead by Prakash Saunshi and demonstrated by two experienced yoga practitioners.

The lecture began with a practical explanation with the help of a chart of  10 postures of Surya Namaskar.  He explained step by step the process of Surya Namaskar and the benefit that one could derive from each posture.

Explaining with the help of a slide show, Prakash Saunshi said this simple Surya Namaskar exercise which literally meant salutation to the Sun, the planet of abundant energy source to the whole universe, could be practiced by all. It should be done twice a day — as the Sun rises in the morning and as the Sun sets in the evening. The 10 postures would give exercise to both external limbs and internal organs and activate them for their optimum function. After Surya Namaskar, one could practice breathing exercise —Pranayama. The breathing exercise was necessary because in normal daily life, one used only 30 percent of one’s lung capacity.  To keep the 100 percent working condition of lungs, one should practice breathing exercise, which had two parts — one stomach breathing and the second chest breathing. Together, these two breathing exercises would enable the fresh air to reach every part of the lung, thus oxidizing the blood.  Oxidized blood provided extra energy to body organs for their optimum working.

He said that after Surya Namaskar and breathing exercise, one should practice meditation, by sitting in a squatting position (padmasana) or  in any other convenient posture, keeping the eyes closed and trying to remember the most blissful moments one experienced.  “While the random thoughts need not have to be blocked, a conscious effort must be made to keep the mind calm and enjoy those most blissful moments one experienced in life.  Occasionally one can also smile for oneself that would give exercise to facial muscles,” he added.

He also explained how “Om” should be chanted before starting the meditation.  He said that one should place the left thumb in the left ear and the right thumb in the right ear, and the right fingers on the right eye and the left fingers on the left eye and chant “Om” by synchronizing inhalation and exhalation in a rhythmic pattern. While doing so, one could hear bee like sound that would vibrate the membranes of the throat and activating the thyroid gland.

After practicing Surya Namaskar, breathing exercise, and meditation, one should conclude the session with a cool-down exercise called Sarvangasana, by lying down on one’s back with eyes closed.  In this posture, one should just relax by lying down on one’s back, keeping the hands by the side of the body and stretching the legs apart. Before getting up, one should turn on to one’s right side by placing the right palm under one’s head and keeping the left palm flat on the ground in front of the chest.  One should get up slowly, still eyes closed. Before opening the eyes, one should rub both the palms vigorously and place them on the eyes with a feel of warmth and open the eyes slowly.

He emphasized that one should practice the whole process daily, instead of postponing it to the weekends.  Initially, the whole process might take a longer time, but by practice one could complete the whole exercise in 10 minutes. 

Speaking about its benefits, he said that yoga was an exercise that dealt with mind, body, emotion and spirituality.  He also cautioned the practitioners by saying that spirituality did not have anything to do with a religion. Quoting Patanjali, an ancient Indian sage, who developed yoga techniques and wrote elaborate volumes on the subject, he said that yoga integrated eight stages beginning from self-regulated life with discipline — yama — to reaching ultimate goal of identifying of oneself with the supreme — samadhi. 

Mohan Sundr, another coordinator, said that the HSS had launched the fourth annual “Health for Humanity Yogathon.” “It involves a unique, nationwide effort by the HSS to create awareness about yoga and its advantages in achieving a healthy body, mind and spirit.  During the two-week yogathon that started from January 16, the HSS would encourage its members at its 140 centers and others across the country to perform one million repetitions of the yoga routine of Surya Namaskar,” he added. He said that volunteers would be glad to conduct free yoga classes, meditation sessions and workshops if a request was made to the HSS.

Speaking to India Tribune, the Hoffman Estates Mayor said that it was a first time experience for him and his wife, and they enjoyed it the most.  “It is a great exercise.  We have already experienced the benefit. It needs to be popularized. My wife and I will practice it,” he added.

The same sentiments were expressed by his three young women colleagues — Linda Scheck, tourism and business retention official,  Kim Rittler and Angel Avery, sportswomen and slaughter dancers.

For more information about HSS,   yoga classes and yoga workshops, please call Shridhar Damle at 630-617-1632, send an e-mail at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or visit the Web site http://www.hssus.org/sny.