Shreyas: A Boutique Yoga Retreat in Bangalore, India

Shreyas is a retreat for discerning guests to step away from the hectic demands of modern life and spend time in unwinding, reflection, rejuvenation and rediscovering the simple pleasures of life.

Spread over 25 acres of landscaped gardens, the architecture and interiors are a seamless confluence of traditional and the modern styles.

Extract from Guests’ comments:

Words cannot truly convey what a magical experience ‘Shreyas’ is. Coming … tired and stressed, I feel now fully recharged both physically & mentally and with a strong desire to want to continue along my own spiritual path... However, what makes this retreat truly special is the staff themselves. Never before have I experienced such loving, attentive and caring service, it elevates the whole experience from one that is pure ‘luxury’ to a whole different level in the realms of the spiritual & sacred.
Alexandara Miro, UK - March 2008

An unusual and unexpected island of serenity – a surprise for first time visits… Thank you for such impeccable consideration, flawless service and an ocean of calm.
Marie Brenner, USA - March 2008

Never have I been to a place and relaxed so thoroughly, so quickly. Tranquil bliss! Understated luxury coupled with wonderful staff and super food in a beautifully natural surrounding – what a combination! Must be good – I haven't missed wine & chocolate!
Cathy Bain, London- March 2008

Sadhana
Swami Rama

One object of the Sadhana of all believers in God is to be somewhat godlike. As God’s universe, which is both his garment and Self-expression, is not a dreary desert, the life and externals of a godlike person need not always be imitation of a desert.

As bare deserts are, how ever, a phase of God’s creation, asceticism may be a phase of God seeking and Self-realization, but not the whole of it. Genuine asceticism for finding one’s own soul and for the good of humanity is worthy of reverence. Equally worthy of reverence, if not more, is the treading of the fuller and more difficult path of Sadhana of those who are in the world, but remain above it.

The lotus is often used as a symbol in Indian culture and mythology because the lotus grows in the mud, yet remains above, untouched and unaffected by the mud and water. You can live in the world and yet be spiritual. It is not necessary for you to renounce the world. Wherever you are, stay there. Simply follow two formulas. One formula is for living in the external world.

All the things of the world that are given to me are given to me by the Lord. They are meant for me and I have the right to use them, but I don’t have the right to posses them, for they are not mine. All things will become means in life if you have this attitude, instead of “This is mine, this is mine.” You are afraid of losing what you have; you are afraid it will decay and go to decomposition. You should learn to use the things of the world without being possessive. As St. Bernard said, “Love the Lord alone. Use the things of the world as your means.” In addition, you should do your actions selflessly, lovingly, and skillfully. Nothing

more than that is needed-one formula for the external world.

What to do for the Inner self? God is everywhere. The Lord is in me; I am his shrine. As a shrine is kept neat and clean, I will try my best to keep my body, breath, and mind pure and orderly.

For a person of wisdom who knows the Truth, internal and external are one and the same. Inner freedom is born of self-sacrifice, self-purification, and self-control. This freedom releases the spirit and gives it wings to soar to the boundless sphere of the unfathomable levels of being. Freedom is Truth. Why then do we live in a cage with no sky beyond it-in a closed world of hard facts? We are like seeds with hard outer coverings, crying from within for liberation. Millions of people die like seeds that have lost the urge for generation.

The resources for living and being successful on the earth that are offered by Mother Earth for her children are immense, but those who are not aware of the real and limitless resources lying dormant within human life are deprived, and this self-deprivation is the cause of suffering.

Will there be a day when the consciousness of the large multitude will be illumined? Only then will human beings and society understand the profound meaning of the Reality that offers us love and emancipation. The joys received through prayer, meditation and contemplation are the highest of all joys. I am one living witness who confirms that the highest of joys cannot be given by the world. All the joys in the world give you but a taste. That taste can ever be satisfied. A momentary joy is called vishaya ananda. It is ananda (bliss), but it lasts only for a short time.

Continued in page 2 column 1

Sadhana (contd…)

Sages say there is another ananda paramananda that is something higher, something everlasting, something that can never be snatched, and that is liberating and emancipating. What is unique in the human being is the awareness of consciousness. The burning desire to attain immortality, the perfect, and the eternal, makes the human being superior to all creatures.

Sadhana is prescribed for the attainment of a happy life on the earth, in heaven thereafter, and at length, liberation. Spiritual practices lead the aspirant toward divinity or inner experiences that further help to attain the final goal of life.

You ask, “Is it possible for me to know God? Is it possible for me to be a spiritual person? Is it possible for me to do this? Patanjali, the codifier of yoga science, says, “Oh, aspirant, learn to practice until the last breath of your life.”

Let the heavens shower all the blessings upon you, so that you can grow and unfold yourself, and accomplish the purpose of life. My prayers are always with you.

With all my love and blessings

Swami Niranjanananda answers:
(from YOGA magazine – Mar ‘92)
When the mind is restless what yoga practices are recommended?

For immediate relief from the restless mind, the practices of pranayama are very beneficial and they are advised. It is not necessary, if your mind becomes disturbed at the market, to sit down right there and start closing your nose. Practise psychic pranayama, mental imagination, observing the breath, awareness of the breath flowing in through one nostril and out through the other. You do not even have to close your eyes. For the practice of bhramari pranayama, you don't have to plug the ears, but you just start humming as if you are humming a tune - mmmmmmm. This will help very much to instantaneously break the state of restlessness and anxiety. And if the condition persists, then of course back home you can do other practices of yoga-nidra, antar mouna and mantra meditation to untie yourself. All the practices of dharana and pratyahara will assist you in this process.
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Bow Pose (Dhanurasana)

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Moving into the Pose

Come to Makarasana. Stretch the arms over head and bring the legs together, (figure -1) with tailbone pressing down.
Inhaling, bend the knees and hold the ankles, keep the arms straight. Keep the legs, especially the knees together. (figure -2)
Exhaling, pull the ankles, thighs & the chest upwards. (figure -3)
Look upwards or in front.

Important Actions

Spine moves into the back to open the chest
Tailbone is pressed down
Toes, ankles and thighs are stretched upwards
Shoulders are pulled back and down.

Holding the Pose

Maintain the posture with deep breathing. With each breath, become aware of the changes.
Hold the posture for 5 breaths.

Completing the Pose

Inhale, and while exhaling release the ankles and come back to Makarasana. Relax.

Benefits

Dhanurasana strengthens the thighs, back, shoulders and the neck.
It exercises the lungs to the fullest.
It has a massaging effect on the internal abdominal organs.
Dhanurasana tones the waist, abdomen and thighs.
The functioning of the digestive and the reproductive systems improve.
It is extremely beneficial for ailments like asthma.

Precautions
Avoid this posture, if suffering from heart ailments, high blood pressure, hernia, colitis, ulcers and spondylosis.

Beginner's Tip
For beginners, rolled blanket under the thighs helps in lifting the thighs upwards.

To deepen the Pose
The intensity of the pose can be increased by keeping thighs, calves and inner feet close.

Preparatory Asanas
Bhujangasana, Salabhasana, Supta Virasana and Urdhva Mukha Svanasana

Follow-Up Asanas
Matsyasana, Urdhva Mukha Svanasana and Ustrasana

(Inputs: Bharat Kumar Patra
Editor: Rucha Sukhramani
Demo: Ramakant Kar)

Spiritual Practice and Family Life
Swami Satyasangananda

Continued from Jan / Feb ’08 issue

It can be difficult and tiresome to confront antagonism and ridicule within the family. Very often the husband wishes to be a spiritual aspirant and practice yoga regularly, but the wife does not, or vice versa. Sometimes the child yearns to become a spiritual aspirant, but the parents are appalled at the idea, and this creates conflicts, tension and unhappiness in the family. If you are subjected to such a situation, you have to learn how to handle it without trying to escape from the problem. There is no point in abandoning your family.

First of all, do not impose your views on the other family members. Try not to develop a superior attitude towards them saying, “What do you know anyway?” This should not happen. Whatever the situation may be, learn to adjust. If earlier you had retorted and rebuked them for their lack of understanding, now you must learn to adapt and adjust to their views and level of thinking. If your partner wants to watch television while you would rather be meditating or reading a yogic text, cooperate with them. Do not preach about the benefits of yoga and the dangers of watching too much television. You must control your tendency to be pompous and righteous about your beliefs.

Instead, try to teach by setting an example. Let the family observe that you are becoming a better person, more congenial, compatible, calm and one-pointed. Be firm but tolerant and kind. Harshness and enforcement of your views will only cause more damage in the long run. But by silently showing how much good this way of life has done you, gradually they will be won over. Moreover, if you are living in a trying situation at home, you will have to regard it as a part of your sadhana and learn from it. If you have learned to live with happiness, you must learn to live with unhappiness also. If life were always pleasant, then you would become dull and complacent. It is the trying situations which create new strength. They enable one to develop an ability to cope with all situations in life.

Everyone wants happiness all the time. Have you ever heard anyone welcome unhappiness all the time? Have you ever heard anyone welcome unhappiness, misery and pain? The person, who has the confidence and strength to do so, is not mad, but one who knows and recognizes the value of pain. Only such a one can become a Buddha, a Christ or a Mahavir. These great souls inflicted pain on themselves in order to transmute their lower awareness into the state of supreme bliss. With pain and misery comes a higher awareness, a much greater sensitivity to one self, to others and to life in general.

Pain and suffering make you strong and resolute, while habituation to joy and pleasantness makes you weak, dull and complacent. If you do not agree, then experiment for yourself and see how you feel in both situations. In order to grow and evolve, you require a dose of both pain and pleasure. Just as a pendulum swings first to one side and then the other, in the same way you must learn to face both the pleasant and unpleasant.

Anyone can survive happiness, but those who can survive unhappiness have tempered themselves and learned a lesson from life.

From childhood you are pampered and spoiled, brainwashed into believing that you should shun pain and unpleasantness, and if such situations arise you become insecure, nervous and frightened. You must learn that everything in life cannot, and should not, be the way you want it. You may wish to become a spiritual aspirant, practice yoga and visit the ashram, but your family members may not. They may prefer to go on holiday, watch television, or attend night clubs and parties. What are you going to do then?

Are you going to rant and rave and get into fights and arguments through which nothing is resolved, or are you going to learn to adapt and adjust to their needs, giving them the assurance that you are with them and love them, no matter what they think or do? This in itself is a sadhana and if you can accomplish it, you will have increased your strength and will power. You family, too, will begin to respond to your needs. They are sure to realize that you are sincere and dedicated to them in spite of your difference in outlook, and they are bound to reciprocate.

Adapting and adjusting to the wants and needs of others brings out a very important aspect of your personality, which is the quality of sacrifice. To sacrifice your interests for others is a sign of strength and not weakness. It will give you greater joy and create less conflict and tension in family life while helping you in your spiritual quest.

Where there is love there is sacrifice, and where there is no love there is rigidity. Learn to be open to your family’s feelings and needs. Ti is only then that they will reciprocate and accept your beliefs, views and decisions. In order to get something you must be prepared to give more than you hope to receive. Remember, the sadhana of a spiritual aspirant begins right in his or her home!