Lessons in yoga and ayurveda for teachers at annual pace meet
NEW DELHI: Relax. Take a deep breath. Concentrate on your navel and imagine the breath travel in and out. Shut your eyes and imagine your drawing room… each and every object, artifact in the room…. Now shift your attention to your right hand, elbow, knee and feet. Repeat this with your left hand, elbow…feet. Focus on your breath. Rub your palms and place them on your eyes. Relax. Open your eyes.
Do you feel a difference? A collective ‘Yessss’, followed by an elongated applause filled the ballroom of Hotel Hyatt Regency where 600 teachers attended the HT-PACE (Partnerships for Action in Education) Annual Teachers’ Meet on Tuesday.
Stressing on the importance of yoga, expert Harish Mohan led the audience in performing basic exercises to treat stress that is common among teachers.
The highlight of the meet was a talk delivered by Dr Partap Chauhan, ayurvedic practitioner and founder of Jiva Ayurveda, a firm that offers online and traditional consultation.
Stating that every person is composed of the five elements of nature— namely earth, water, fire, air, sky — in varying ratios, he advised: “First understand your body type and then choose your diet, lifestyle and clothes accordingly. If the dominating element in your body is ‘pitta’ or fire - you should refrain from eating spicy food and wearing dark-coloured clothes, he said.
An interactive session that followed witnessed teachers raising a wide range of issues about Ayurveda.
Taking the theme further, Steven Rudolph, the India-based American educator, author, public speaker and director, JIVA Ayurveda, focused on the role that teachers should play. He also played the guitar and had the audience singing along to what he termed as a ‘rock ‘n’ roll’ rendition of ‘Sare jahan se accha, Hindustan humara’.
“Dr Chauhan’s session reminded me of a hyperactive student whose parents are unable to manage him. Now I realise that he is probably ruled by ‘pitta’ that aggravates his symptoms when he takes high calorie foods. I would definitely share this insight with the child’s parents,” said Sunando Maggo, a primary teacher from St Mary’s School, Dwarka. Maggo also won a gas stove sponsored by Fabiano Appliances, as part of a lucky draw. Other winners included Lubina from Somerville School, Seema Chauhan from APJ School, Pitampura; Vasudha Chopra from Heritage School, Vasant Kunj, and Charu Gupta from Bal Bharati Public School, Brij Vihar.
“This year, the response from teachers exceeded our expectations. I am happy that health and wellness through the ancient Indian traditions of Yoga and Ayurveda proved to be so popular,” said Annapoorna Sehgal, head education, HT Media Ltd, summing up her views on the event.