Every year, on the occasion of the International Day of Yoga, I find myself contemplating its significance. Interestingly, on my home bookshelf, I have a dedicated corner to Yoga, although I’m unsure why. It houses books that delve into the profound Hindu philosophical traditions encompassing physical, mental, and spiritual disciplines. Additionally, there’s an exquisite limestone statue of a Yogi in a meditative Padmasana posture, a memento whose origin I can no longer recall. Despite these elements, I must confess that I am not actively involved in practicing Yoga.
I do have one notable connection to Yoga, which was a rare interview I conducted with the renowned Yogacharya B. K. S. Iyengar at his esteemed institute in Pune, during the early 2000s. It was a time when Atal Bihari Vajpayee held the position of Prime Minister, and Sachin Tendulkar reigned as the world’s greatest batsman. Interestingly, neither Vajpayee nor Tendulkar were regular students of Iyengar; instead, they sought his expertise for recurring health issues.
Iyengar, an ascetic by nature, treated Vajpayee’s ailing knees and Tendulkar’s persistent back pain. People with various ailments, including heart disease, spinal problems, digestive disorders, epilepsy, and diabetes, sought solace in his Yoga practice. According to Iyengar, he could discern their issues by simply observing how they performed the asanas, as it was a science of the eye—an instinctive ability honed through experience.
To my both disappointment and relief, Iyengar found nothing amiss with my physical condition. I passed his assessment, indicating that Yoga wasn’t a necessary pursuit for me. This leads me to ponder why I acquired those Do-It-Yourself Yoga books in the first place. Was it a result of an impulsive eagerness to practice Yoga independently at home? Nonetheless, I have yet to make an attempt. Perhaps I fear the possibility of contorting myself into knots if I were to venture into the practice without proper guidance.
About Mark Manuel
The above thoughts/content has been proudly copied from the wall of Sir Mark Manuel. Being interviewing almost every role model of this country and going stronger each day. Mark Manuel is a respected Mumbai editor, writer, and columnist.
With over three decades of journalism in leading publications. This includes the Free Press Journal, Times, Dainik Bhaskar, Mid-Day, and Afternoon. He is famous for his brilliant pen interviews. He himself is a TEDx speaker.
Further
His interviews have been featured in several leading media houses. They include the Hindustan Times, Huffington Post, BBC, and Network 18. Almost every famous person has been interviewed by him in the country from Mother Teresa to Muhammad Ali. His first book is just out. It’s titled Moryaa Re! It is a crime thriller that is perhaps the country’s first police procedural. He began his career covering crime. And in a tribute to his experience and knowledge of this beat.
Several distinguished officers of the Mumbai Police and its Crime Branch collaborated with him to make this book possible. Amitabh Bachchan wrote the forward in a statement of friendship for Mark Manuel and admiration for his work.
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