The Yoga Institute: The Trendsetter of Yogic Studies in the World!

The Yoga Institute
The Yoga Institute

“I know not how nature disclosed her secrets to me, but I found knowledge pouring in rapid continuity like a waterfall. My hands were too small to contain it, and I feared. I found some scattered drops; my palm is again empty, for I give them. And still, it is my satisfaction that instead of passing my life in the jungle, obscure and lonely, by some certain inspiration, I have been directed to reveal to the public what I felt in the truth about this science. I have found that it is not a philosophy dry with empty theories, but on the contrary, it is full of richness with vivid practices for the attainment of self-realization.

It is neither a new science of anyone’s single fancy nor is it undemonstrated. It was the pride of India, the past glory of spiritualism ‘an old attempt’ of some five thousand years ago. The ancient Yogis realized it, and various Yogis wrote about their experiences with the same. Thence came the Yoga literature in existence after Patanjali.

The great Yogic life, both sublime and simple with nature as a great help in attaining the desired perfection of their souls. The chief joy of a Yogi’s life is not in the world around him and hence he does not go hankering after material efforts, but he realizes that it is in him in his real Self.”

– Shri Yogendra, Founder of The Yoga Institute

With this incredible essence of leading a healthy, pure and life worth living, Shri Yogendra, the Founder of The Yoga Institute, laid the genesis of the World’s Old Yoga Institute.

Today, the oldest yogic institute in the world is home to some of the best healers and yoga gurus in the world. Rather than a healthcare institute, the yoga institute is a life school where one learns how to live. With the materialist worries left behind and leading the ideal human life without worries.

Located in the lush greenery of Santa Cruz East, Mumbai, the institute today stands tall as a monument of happiness and purity. The institute today is headed by Dr Hansaji Jayadeva Yogendra, along with carrying forward the legacy of Shri Yogendra, the founder of The Yoga Institute; she also carries a 100-year-old legacy of the institute of internal bliss, peace, freedom and Divinity.

Torchbearer of a 100- Year-Old-Legacy!

Being a prominent healthcare institution in the world, The Yoga Institute is rather known to common people as the life school. It is on the mission to educate people on leading a healthy Physical, Mental and Spiritual life, with Caring, Mindfulness and Discipline being the bedrock of the institution’s strong foundation.

The institute’s vision and the objective of the life school courses offered are to cut ties with the materialist world and lead an ideal and happy life. With that vision, all the activities include interpersonal relationships in classrooms and administrative offices for spiritual awareness.

From learning the Yoga Sutra to adding a sattvic experience, the school inculcates the values of homeostatic balance and treatment of diseases. The schools aim to pass on the legacy and teach the men and women of the world to live well again.

Yoga Guru Smt. Hansaji Yogendra: Carrying the Yogic Legacy Forward

Yoga Guru Smt. Hansaji Yogendra is the director of The Yoga Institute, Mumbai, the world’s oldest yoga institute. Being a prominent Yoga Guru in the world, she is also the Chairperson of the Yoga Certification Committee for the Quality Council of India. She is also the ‘First Lady of Yoga’ and shared the stage alongside-Honourable Prime Minister of India-Shri Narendra Modiji, at the ‘First International Yoga Day’.

Apart from being one of the finest practitioners of Yoga in the world, she is also a profound healer. She holds some of the highest positions in the field of health sciences, including President of the International Board of Yoga and Senior Vice President of the International Association of Yoga Therapists (IAYT).

Being an influential member of the legendary Yogendra family, her contribution to the field of yoga education, research, experiential learning, healthcare enhancement and standardization of Yoga practices have been widely recognized by the world.

Her Key Contributions to the Field of Yoga are:

  • An Influential Teacher of Yoga.
  • Revolutionary Changes in the institute for emphasizing the spread of yoga education and the expansion of the ladies’ wing at the institute.
  • Co-chairperson of 3 Technical Sessions of International Yoga Conference – Yoga for Body and Beyond.

Bridging the Process of Natural Healing

Yoga, along with a healthy lifestyle, brings diversity and to build the fundamental principles of the system, a few objectives of the institute were remodelled according to the needs of the modern world by Dr Jayadeva.

Explaining the changes brought into the healthcare system and institute by Dr Jayadeva, the institute management explains, “Since the conceptual background and operational nature of the indigenous system of medicine, Yoga and Homeopathy are basically different from that of physical sciences and allopathic system of medicine on the one hand and have several common links with life sciences (particularly psychology) on the other, it is vital to the success of this very basic activities that the objectives, the research methodology, the organizational structure, the personnel and procedures be initiated and followed on the lines most appropriate to suit the purpose of this Central Council of Research in Indigenous Medicine and Homeopathy.”

Also, explaining the challenges that posed administrative difficulties in research on Yoga, the following chart was put forth by the Yoga Guru Jayadeva Yogendra.

All unorthodox systems generally believe in a life force that heals. Allopathic system is largely affected by materialistic bent of mind; it believes widely in the germ theory of disease.
Most indigenous systems believe in 2. concepts like the individual person, mind, and even higher psychic factors. The terrain is more important than the microbe. The concept of terrain is rejected as vague and imponderable. Some causes are accepted as permissive only. However, a person like Guirdham has said that increase in incidence of psychosomatic diseases is a result of the disintegration of spiritual certainty.
Unorthodox systems rely much on intuition. They regard mechanical appliances of investigation a hindrance in their art. They have a standard of normal, which does not fit pathological studies. Modern medical the practitioner works on the basis of elimination of different possibilities mostly with the help of mechanical means until he is left with the correct answer. There is much reliance on pathological and biochemical tests.
Treatment is based in the Indian systems of medicine on intuitive knowledge like in similia the similitude of homoeopathy, signature doctrine of Ayurveda and medical discipline and way of life of Yoga. Usually, chemical procedures to kill germs, use of optimum dose irrespective of individual differences; total disbelief in micro doses are some of the beliefs of modern medicine. on pathological and biochemical tests.
Indigenous systems work on their own assumptions, and on their own concept of the norm. Norms fixed by statistics have been found defective in biological sciences because of poor randomization but are still the guidelines on pathological and biochemical tests.

 

Preparing for the Future

Yoga is a vast field that allows humans to rediscover mental and physical depths realizing that the 100-year-old institute allows the students to maintain optimum health through various means.

Explaining how the institute prepares its students for the future, Yoga Guru Hansaji says “Research has shown that doing 150-minutes of moderate intensity activity every week is required for maintaining optimum health. There is nothing better to I’ll those minutes with than Yoga and meditation. Yoga makes your body more flexible while boosting your overall immunity. Asanas and breathing techniques help remove accumulated toxins from the body and boost the nervous system.”

“Practicing meditation can help overcome negative emotions, destress, focus, and will equip you to deal with your day-to-day problems in a much more efficient manner,” she further adds. The Yoga Institute’s specially designed courses aim to give all these benefits covering all the significant and important aspects such as-

  • Asanas
  • Pranayama’s
  • Kriyas
  • Diet recommendation
  • Introduction to a yogic lifestyle.

Some of the most popular and specially designed programs are:

  • Certificate Yoga Therapy Course.
  • Certificate Program on Yoga for Cancer.
  • Certificate Program on Yoga for Lung Cancer Online.
  • Certificate Course on Advanced Pranayama Techniques.
  • Certificate Course on Yoga Sutra – Online.

The World’s Oldest Global Yoga Institute

It is often said that Yoga is India’s gift to the world. Also, being the trendsetters in the industry, The Yoga Institutes has curated a learning program that provides its students with a complete global healthcare sector.

Continuing the Growth of a Conscious and Healthy Life 

Envisioning the future of the institute, Yoga Guru Hansaji says, “The Yoga Institute, Santacruz, Mumbai, India has continued research in the fields of Indology, Therapy and Education etc., and much of this has been published in National and International Journals. We still continue the journey and envision reaching every household with the founder’s message of Yoga as the growth of consciousness for a healthier and fuller life.”