Yoga today is perceived as synonymous with postures or asanas. Some who understand a little more will add Pranayama or breathing exercises to it but the premise of Yoga is much vast. It is derived from a Sanskrit word "Yuj" which means to join. Join with what, with whom?.... The Supreme Soul. The basic aim of yoga is the basic aim, considered to be, of human life "to unite with the Supreme Soul- the God" or the union of Jeevatma (the individual self) with Paramatma (the universal self). Yes, if we follow the path we will unite with the Lord, our purpose on earth will be fulfilled, but it's not that easy. Moreover how many of us, today, are interested in this union? Very few. We have goals but the goals are linked to career and financial status or at the most health. Very few concentrate on holistic development of mind, body, and soul but those who aim, achieve. Yoga has become only a means - to keep fit and look young. Believe me, this is just a by-product
Now, this blog is for all those who are 50 plus and thinking of retirement. Today many 50+ are living an energetic and healthy life. Meet Vandana Mehra, the modern Yogini. She started yoga some seven years back when someone advised her to do Pranayama for her ever-increasing Asthmatic problem. She was already forty plus and was averse to yoga yet she thought of giving it a try. Within a year, she stopped using her inhaler and even found a remarkable change in her attitude. An angry young woman had changed into an amiable, positive personality. She was unable to understand this dramatic change. Later, as she read, she comprehended that it happened because of pranayama. After some time, her yoga instructor, who was coming from South Delhi, couldn't continue and her search for a new yoga teacher started. This led her to join Amritam Yoga where she fell in love with yoga and later joined a Yoga Teacher's Training course after some three years of practical yoga classes. Today she i