மலேசியாவில் அனைத்து மதத்தினரும் பின்பற்றும் யோகா

மலேசியாவில் ப்லோரன்ஸ் தாமஸ் என்ற யோகா ஆசிரியர் எல்லா மத்த்தினரிடமும் யோகாவை பரப்பி வருகிறார்.

யோகா இந்து ஆன்மீக வழி என்பதையும் அவர் உணர்ந்து அதன் உள்ளுறை மாறாமல் கற்றுத்தருகிறார்.

வாழ்த்துக்கள்.

Yoga for life

BY S. INDRAMALAR

It’s easy to practise and you don’t need any tool.

POP icon Madonna does it and so does Latin singer Ricky Martin. Gwyneth Paltrow can’t get enough of it while singer Sting says his life (notably his sex life) has improved tremendously since he started it.

What am I talking about? Yoga, of course.

Call it a fashion statement or a trendy fad, yoga mania has struck not only the who’s who ofHollywood, but urbanites all over the world. It’s a trend among Malaysians, too. Yoga classes are available everywhere and studios are sprouting faster than weeds in your backyard.


Dedicated practitioners: Yogacharini Florence Thomas (centre) with some of her students at her yoga centre in Kuala Lumpur.

For 57-year-old instructor Florence Thomas, however, yoga has been a way of life for her for more than 30 years. Formerly a physical education teacher at an international school in Kuala Lumpur, Thomas only got into yoga after becoming a mother.

“I was always an active person, but after having children, I realised that I could not be running around fields ... I wanted to find something that I could do indoors.

“That’s how I got into yoga. It is easy, does not require any equipment and makes me feel energised,” says Thomas who is known as Yogacharini (yoga practitioner) Florence.

She studied under her guru, Yogamaharishi Dr Swami Gitananda Giri Guru Maharaj, in Pondicherry, India.

“I tried several places, but was not satisfied because I wanted something more authentic. Then I chanced upon an article about Yogamaharishi Swami Gitananda. I went to Pondicherry for a six-month course,” she says.

Thomas now holds a Yoga Teachers Certificate and Yoga Therapy of Ashtanga Yoga certification from the Ananda Ashram in Pondicherry. Having benefited from doing yoga herself, she was encouraged by her students and family to write a book, Yoga is Yoga, to share how it can help one’s well-being.



Yoga advocates: Florence Thomas and her son Rueben.

“Yoga is centuries old. Rishis (sages) practised it for mental, physiological and spiritual reasons. There are specific ‘health poses’ that can keep our bodies well and healthy. These, if practised regularly, really help,” says Thomas, who adds that she has several doctors among her students who can attest to the health benefits of yoga.

“The rishis of India claim that by practising yoga faithfully, one can achieve a high level of physical, psychic and spiritual development. The asanas (postures), pranayama (breathing techniques) and dhyana (meditation) work hand in hand to condition the mind and body,” she explains.

Yoga is an ancient Hindu discipline that originated in India some 5,000 years ago. Indian sage Patanjali, widely regarded as the “father of yoga”, laid down its eight limbs, or Ashtanga Yoga. These are yama (moral restraint), niyama (ethical observances), asanas (body control), pranayama (breath control), pratyahara (sensory withdrawal), dharana (concentration), dhyana (meditation) and samadhi (cosmic consciousness).

According to Patanjali, all eight have to be practised in unison, to reap the full benefits of yoga.

Thomas candidly observes, however, that most people take up yoga for obvious reasons; they want to see results. “Today, if you tell people that yoga can benefit you spiritually, they may be wary. But if you say it can improve your health, many will be interested.”

Some practise yoga for weight management; some to ease body aches and pains; some for stress relief. Some people with health problems want to try an alternative treatment first, before opting for pharmaceuticals, for fear of harmful side-effects.

How exactly does yoga help improve one’s health?

“Yoga loosens and lengthens our muscles and improves blood flow through the muscles, which helps in healing and increasing strength. When our muscles are tense, blood flow is affected and that weakens the muscles,” she explains.

Thomas herself is living proof of how yoga can help heal.

A couple of years ago, she fractured and dislocated her right arm after a fall. Doctors suggested surgery and told her that it might take up to a year to heal.

She was not keen on having an operation, so she opted for alternative treatment instead. She watched her diet, went for ayurvedic massages that used herbal oils and hot-salt treatment and practised specific yoga postures to strengthen her arm.

Six weeks after her fall, Thomas no longer needed her sling. An X-ray confirmed that her fracture had healed.

“I did not need surgery and now my arm is as good as new. My doctor was amazed and told me that if all patients were like me, doctors might soon go out of business!” says Thomas, laughing.

However, she advises readers not to assume that yoga can cure all ailments or replace western medicine.

“I believe it is always good to combine western and eastern science. When I fractured my arm, I made sure I saw a doctor first to find out how bad my injury was.”

Although yoga is good for everyone, certain postures could be harmful to those with certain medical conditions.

“As with any sport, you must take into account your physical condition before you begin yoga. If you are taking classes, you must tell your instructor about your health conditions.

“For example, if you are suffering from high blood pressure, you should not do postures like the shoulder stand. Those with back problems should avoid certain postures.”

Although you don’t have to be super-fit to practise yoga, some level of fitness is required.

“If you are really unfit and have not done any exercise in a long time, take it slow,” she adds.