RAMDEV, SRI SRI TO RECLAIM YOGA
‘SYNTHETIC’ YOGA DOESN’T IMPRESS GURUS
Bollywood star Shilpa Shetty’s Quick Fix Yoga, Bikram Chaudhary’s Hot Yoga, Ana T Forrest- designed Forrest Yoga are few types of Yoga — an ancient form of breathing exercise – that have lakhs of takers worldwide. But this doesn’t impress top yoga gurus in India.
They have now joined hands to take on these new age promoters of “synthetic” Yoga. Baba Ramdev, Art of Living head Sri Sri Ravishankar and Shantikunj head Pranav Pandiya recently met in Haridwar and formed the Indian Yoga Association, headed by Ramdev.
“Some people have designed Hot Yoga, some have founded European Yoga…It is an Indian property and India should have right over it (Yoga)” said Pranav Pandiya of Shantikunj.
Yoga is believed to have emerged as a money minting industry worth between $30 -$50 million annually.
Besides India, hundreds of Yoga studios are being run across Europe, US and UK.
Interestingly, Ramdev, Sri Sri and Pranav Pandiya have branches in several countries. They intend to spread the word abroad via these branches.
Portugal based Yoga master, Amrta Suryananda Maharaj, is also collaborating with them. He recieved the Padma Shri in 2015.
The gurus said their objective is not only to promote “ancient” Yoga.
“Our aim is to spread Indian Yoga world over. The idea is also to bring uniformity in Yoga education so that we have trained Yoga professionals” said Ramdev. The gurus have formed a technical committee that will submit its report to central government before the next International Yoga Day in June.
Rishikesh is said to be the yoga capital of the country. A large number of foreigners around the year turn up in town to learn various forms of yoga.
Several ashrams and studios charge between $350-$400 or ₹24,000 - ₹27,600 for a week of training which includes meals.
Besides, Rishikesh, Haridwar also attracts Yoga learners. Ramdev’s Patanjali ashram offers meditation and Yoga.