Just like the west has been experimenting with the 'OM' industry and related businesses like yoga wear, mats and equipment, yoga studios and therapy vacations, the east is also delving into new paths and thinking a step higher for emotional fulfilment of an individual's life. The two distinct schools of ideologies and philosophy are running parallelly for everyone who desires to break out of usual the routine.
As an average, common man lives most of his life amidst a mental hurricane with a thoughts, worries and agonies so unsettling that we can only manage to have a concentration span of only six seconds! Meeting harmony of mind, body, emotions and spirits seems like a far-fetched dream but with upcoming spiritual schools of philosophy, we can at least think of getting back on track.
One such community has formally come into being, known as the 'School of Life'. With about eight centers in Delhi/NCR already functioning and three in making, it is a community organization dedicated to build inner as well as outer calm into one's life. With the guidance of their celestial friend and mentor whom they fondly call "Shree" they are catering to the urban modern man. A person who works and struggles to be healthy apart from living in peace, they have designed programs which aim at holistic life-coaching.
Zinnia Pasricha, an MBA from RIT, US running her own investment firm in Delhi has been engaged with the 'School of Life' for few months now, shared her experience and the joy of performing yoga, not merely physical exercise, but as the beginning of a spiritual path.
She along with her fellow volunteers Ramandeep and Diksha in a conversation with Businessworld said, "We are associated with School of Life as it helps build a network of like-minded people, to distress and strike a work life balance. With scientific yoga like hatha yoga, patanjali and samadhi, we also get a chance to mix and match dancing and singing (as a part of Bhakti yoga)."
"Most of the time our tensions, conflicts go unheard. All of that excess energy needs a vent out which can help us feel lighter. In School of Life, we incorporate several such methods like gibberishing, catharsis, laughing which are natural and interactive," says Ramandeep, a senior advisor at Dell.
Also, they recently started community organization holds interesting public events to widen its reach like 'Jivan Mahotsav', a two-day-event and a half-day theme based event 'Meditation-Godly door' on subjects like Natraj, Dancing and Meditation, Vipasna, Shunya Path and Kundalini. Last but not the least, they also organize meditation carnivals where even the first time yoga enthusiasts can join.
Another volunteer of School of Life, Deeksha Chugh, MBA from IIM Bangalore shared her journey, "I have joined Standard Charted Bank in August and I volunteer regularly. I have discovered great possibilities by freeing up the body and progressively feel more connected to myself."
Their four pillars of teaching at School life are uniquely formulated. It includes Meditation, Wisdom, Creativity and Celebration. The feedback from participants that they have been receiving from the past 8-9 months, since their foundation has increasingly been overwhelming. People come here to actually practice eight kinds of yoga but what they get is much more.
If yoga appeals you at all, a good teacher can help you practice correctly and thrive. No chapter or book on yoga can replace personal coaching and the basic understanding of your basic nature. Everyone needs to practice yoga based on your distinct nature. Yoga meditation is just the beginning and the process of discovering higher consciousness does not have a limit.
The community also runs their own website i.e. schooloflife.co.in and a common ground as volunteer's blog known as hellospirituality.com.
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Soumya is a young writer and journalist, with bachelors in Multimedia and Mass Communication. She is an alumini of the Asian College of Journalism, and finds politics and sustainability intriguing beats to work with.