‘Yoga is communion of body, mind & soul’

LUCKNOW: Yoga is the communion of body, mind and soul, as well as the art of action that makes one’s body healthy, mind still, and judgment sharp, said Himanshu Rai, professor at the Indian Institute of Management Lucknow, here on Wednesday.

The Lucknow Management Association organised a lecture by Prof Rai on ‘Yoga and Life’ on the International Yoga Day at LMA Conference Hall, Scientific Convention Centre here on Wednesday.

“The original sutras of Patanjali expound on the eight limbs of Yoga: Yama (ethical disciplines), Niyama (rules of conduct), Asana (postures), Pranayama (restraint or expansion of the breath), Pratyahara (withdrawal of the senses), Dharana (concentration), Dhyana (meditation) and Samadhi (absorption),” said Prof Rai.

“To prepare our body for Yoga, we need to start with the 5 Yamas that are the moral codes including non-violence, truthfulness, non-stealing, non-possessiveness, and conserving energy. The 5 Niyamas signify the rules and discipline that a Yogi needs to have and include physical and spiritual cleanliness, contentment, hard work, self-learning and connecting with the cosmic consciousness,” he said.

The third limb of Yoga, Asana, refers to the mastery over the body. Asana implies the ability to sit in a position (to be later used for pranayam and meditation) for extended periods, he said.

LUCKNOW MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION ORGANISED A LECTURE ON ‘YOGA AND LIFE’ ON THE OCCASION