The words ‘peaceful’ and ‘easy-going’ seem to be fast
depleting from the Goan vocabulary. Stressed-out on all levels seems more the
order of the day. Health consequences are inevitable. Could there be a return
to the ‘susegad’ or peaceful way of life? As people look around for alternative
medicines, the age old science of yoga seems to have caught their attention.
One clear indication of this fact is that droves of people
from all strata of society have been descending upon the recently inaugurated
kripafoundation Iyengar Yoga centre (KFIY) at St Inez, Panjim. “Our lives are
so stressful, we are heading for the inevitable meltdown,” agrees business
executive Eva Miranda, who has chosen yoga to bring back the balance into her
life. For those who seek alternative medicine, like herself, yoga has proved to
be the best choice. It is, as so many testify, proving to be the ‘healthy’
alternative. “I am just 28 and a mother of one, but I already have some serious
health issues. Medicines were just counter-effective. Yoga not only gave me an
alternative, but a whole new attitude to life,” reveals graphic designer Rashmi
Narvekar.
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“I initially attended the yoga classes at St Inez because I
had heard so much about Fr Joe and his yoga, but when I actually started
practicing, I felt the benefits almost immediately. Besides taking care of my
back and knee pains, it has brought about a marvellous change in my well
being,” avers senior citizen Mario Cruz, who found the prop-aided asanas easy
to practise.
Increasing awareness about yoga’s holistic approach to
health has been a major contributing factor. “What I noticed is that people
earlier had no clue about yoga and they only approached it when they had a
medical problem. Thanks to increasing awareness today, they understand the
holistic approach of yoga,” explains long-time Iyengar Yoga practitioner,
Ebrahim Haroon, who helped set up the KFIY in Panjim. Finding the right yoga
and correct practitioner, he points out, are equally vital to feel the full
benefits of it.
