• Table of Contents
  • Yoga and Buddhism by Swami Veda
  • 3 Prime Conditionings by Swami Rama
  • Anniversary Celebration in Pune By Dr. Shirin Venkat
  • Online Seminar in May by Sofia Foteina
  • The Noose of Time by Shirin Venkat
  • HYT-TTP Virtual Workshop
  • Dear Yoga Mentor, My Question Is
  • 2021 Events and Beyond
  • Full Moon Meditation Dates
  • Location of our SRSG ashram
• AHYMSIN Newsletter Archive

Anniversary Celebration in Pune

By Dr. Shirin Venkat

Swami Rama Yoga and Meditation Center Pune, India

29 March 2021

Jai Gurudev!

Celebrating our anniversary of the pranayama and meditation classes through lockdown today. It is also Holi today and Rang Panchami follows. The festival of Holi is ever so inspiring. It reminds us of the victory of divine qualities over demoniacal ones. It ushers in a new year and heralds the summer season with its myriad colours. It is the festival of colour and a dance of joy. The Grace of the Guru permeates every pore, and we feel profound gratitude.

To have sincerely completed one full year of pranayama and meditation classes, five days a week all through the lockdown and this challenging year, can only be His Grace. We feel blessed to have been so inspired.

The entire effort began with Dr. Leela George asking for such classes online, and from then on, we had Dr. Neela Desai and Dr. Rashmi Madan joining soon after. Dr. Venkat, of course, has been there from day one. Later a whole big jing bang of jolly souls like Pratibha and Harish Durgeshwari and Balachander, Vinita Mohoni and Rama, Raag Agarwal, Yogesh and Nathan also joined. Some participants were regularly regular and others regularly irregular and still others irregularly irregular. All in the fitness of things.

The past year has been a challenge to saythe least and many of us have experiencedthe loss of one or more dear ones resulting from the pandemic. We say a fervent prayer, for God to guide their souls.We the fortunate ones have been able to utilise our time by practise. At the weekends when we did not have class, we actually missed meeting. Each of us has benefited enormously. To my own practice a new dimension has got added and the depth of understanding increased.

The significant observation made by us all was that this practice has helped boost our immunity and increase our vital capacity. So far we have all been safe from Covid.

Mrs. Durgeshwari expressed her feelings.

Dr. Neela Desai had even prepared a beautiful PPT on her visit to the Swami Rama Sadhaka Grama (SRSG) and our activities in the past year.

Pranayama Class Anniversary 29 March 2021 - Neela Desai:

It is a pleasure to celebrate the completion of one year of on-line pranayama/yoga classes with Shirin Venkat. It all started in March 2020, as a small group of friends learning to meditate with help of scientific pranayama techniques, taught in the tradition of Himalayan Gurus.

Pandemic has been ‘life changing’ experience for all of us, me included…. Professional life started taking a back seat… and inquisitive mind wanting to explore all that has been elusive so far…

• Pandemic striking and lock-down was stressful enough.
• The time was available (made) for me to utilise for me…and me alone.
• Systematic and scientific understanding of ‘Pranayama’ has been appealing
• Had experienced and loved the Ashram life way back in 2017
• May be the age was ripe… and right too…
• I have been practising random pranayama techniques, which now I know were useless
• Advantage – online social platforms, thanks to ZOOM, WhatsApp, Duo… for everyday meeting friends…
• Yoga class leading to Gita class… a step towards profound knowledge and understanding
• Interaction with like-minded friends is addicting
• Slowly and steadily, I can feel (may be others too) the change in my attitude towards life
• Practising pranayama and meditation must’ve influenced the outlook and ‘in-look’

I remain eternally grateful to Shirin for introducing and guiding me in this beautiful experience of peaceful meditation. Thanks a ton, Shirin.

Experience in the SRSG Tradition as an Initiate - Durgeshwari Balachander

I first visited the ashram in October 2015 and took Initiation later in March 2016. Ever since, life has been progressive at the gross level in my various practices, at the level of food, Hatha Yoga, Meditation. There is a definite and more systematic approach to life, beginning the day as per the Ashram guide lines. Subtle differences have come about at the mental level too. Now with the coming of the Pandemic, I cannot but see life as a message of Yoga, making the life more inward, simplifying the lifestyle in terms of food and daily need and keeping things very basic. Thus, bringing about more time for more meaningful things. Like joining the Pranayama Classes or listening to the various Spiritual Discourses.

After having got into the practice of daily Meditation, the evening classes conducted by Dr. Shirin Venkat were most welcome because it was a good time during the day to once more regroup and center myself with the help of Pranayama and Meditation done in the class.

Our Guru Swami Veda used to always suggest doing short mediations several times a day when switching from one activity to another. But this was not happening before. So this one hour class now keeps me more focused, centered and re-energised.  Doing the same as a Group enhances the mind field.

It is very difficult to quantify the intangibles which accrue from being a Sadhaka. Only the people around me may be able to perceive the subtle transformation that may have taken place.

Overall, this tradition has brought about major changes in my life at all levels, and I feel really blessed.

My Lockdown Yoga Journey - Dr. Leela George

With pleasure and humility, I should thank my friend Dr. Shirin who willingly agreed to conduct this beautiful journey of mine in pranayama and meditation. I was a complete novice and apprehensive about whether I will be able to continue. But the patience and love showered on us by Shirin has made me a very obedient and disciplined student.

Now how has all this affected me? I learned a lot from this one hour of pranayama and meditation. First, we learn discipline to be present Monday to Friday at 5 pm; not an easy task but I looked forward to this. Now with pranayama i learned the most important thing, and that is diaphragmatic breathing. Different pranayama gives you a different perspective, good concentration and a lot of focus on different types of breathing. At the end of it, I feel rejuvenated, calmness and satisfaction.

Now coming to meditation, I was a little confused, how to go about it. Discussing with Shirin has taught me that I can do it. The beautiful part is that when you get into meditation you learn to relax not only your whole body but your mind also. Once relaxed then one breathes diaphragmatically, and it is not an effort. Then slowly you get deeper into meditation, and there you are with your one thought of mantra. This is what I like the most when by his word, God is speaking to me and then it is one and him only.

All this gives me peace of mind and I am ready to face this disruptive world with calmness, love and wisdom of oneness. This is a small thanksgiving to God without Whom this whole year session would not have been possible.

Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His praises! Give thanks to Him, bless His name. For the Lord is good and His steadfast love endure forever and His faithfulness to all generations. Psalm 100: 4-5.