Suresh Nigam, chairman of MetJet, one of the leading trainers of computer hardware engineers in India, not only practices yoga but also preaches it at his 35 centers. So what is it about yoga and why is Suresh doing it? At the heart of it is something, which translates as the stoppage of mind modification. For example, when we hear music we get distracted. We must stay aware and conscious but not get distracted from our goal.

How then does yoga, an ancient, essentially private practice, help in the work environment? Suresh believes that the collective is an entity, just as much as an individual is. If individuals are happy, calm and alert, then the collective consciousness is harmonious and dynamic and will produce better results. If people are tense and unhappy, it will reflect in their reduced productivity.

At MetJet all managers and employees are sent to the Yoga Institute at Santa Cruz (in Mumbai) which was founded in 1989. During the training, the managers are shown a path, how to be in control of your mind and not to run after sensual pleasures. You also learn not to run away from your responsibilities. The root cause of pain and suffering is generally ignorance which leads to a grandiose sense of self-importance and misunderstanding. We love and hate in extremes. By being aware, by getting up and finding out what is actually happening, we reduce stress. Once you are aware of what is going on, you have already won half the battle. And that is why some employers think it’s so important to make their staff aware of the yoga principles and harmony and have a work environment which promotes healthy employee morale.

The origins of Hatha Yoga go back to as early as 15th century. It started in India as an exercise to purify the body along with the mind. Hatha Yoga is based on a principle that a strong balance has to be achieved among mental, emotional, physical and spiritual states. Basically, it emphasizes that these states should be in harmony with sun, moon, earth and water.

The key aspects on which Hatha Yoga is based are listed below:

• Prayanamas – the focus controls the energy levels, a crucial element of Hatha Yoga.  

• Asana – is about various postures that are in a way similar to the poses of Tai Chi. 

• Chakras – are the energy centers. 

• Mudras – are symbols similar to the ones used in Tai Chi. 

• Shakti – a strong, sacred force. 

• Nadis – are the channels. 

Asanas, which are also referred to as “sun signs”, are comprised of movements that are practiced and performed, with the emphasis on focus and concentration, so the practitioner can get the most out of it. Since Hath Yoga practitioners use the asanas consistently in their practice, they tend to find a new sense of strength and a high level of physical balance.

One can derive a number of benefits from Hatha Yoga, including an improvement in the overall health and sense of being complete. When the body and the mind are at ease and balanced through the practice of Hatha Yoga, a feeling of wholeness arises from within, bringing an individual to peace with himself, resulting in lower levels of stress.

Meditation also happens to be one of the earliest forms of self-realization. Looking deep within our subconscious we can uncover vast amounts of knowledge and inspiring ideas, which are often wiped away by the conscious mind. The solution to this is to bring the mind to state of calmness and appropriately posture your body to achieve the best results. This is what Hatha Yoga preaches and teaches, and this is what forms the core of the whole exercise.

For most adults, being a kid seems a very easy role, where there are no complications and when you can just follow what others tell you to do. However, it is not easy for us to relate to the kind of stress children are going through trying to succeed in the competitive world of kids. Whether its extreme pressure from the peers or the burdening education system, our children have learnt to accept this as a part of regular life.

Even the family structure is changing drastically, with many children living in a household run by single parent. All this has a major negative impact and has become a hard to digest truth for children who want to grow up with a complete family, devoid of any emotional pain and emptiness.

In this situation, what step can a loving, caring parent take? There are many answers to this question, but one effective way is Kids Yoga. That is right, Yoga classes specifically targeted towards children, which offer them a positive retreat from the hustle and bustle outside the Yoga center. It’s very important for a child to find his/her lost childhood and Yoga makes this possible by helping them laugh, relax, meditate, stretch muscles, deep breathe and play peaceful games and become calm and relaxed.

Kids Yoga makes it easier for a child to overcome the burden and stress each day brings. Just by being part of the small Yoga class, a child enters a magical world of happiness leaving behind the stress and all negativity. The children attending a Yoga class have something in common, and that is a parent or parents who know their responsibility and care about the overall well-being of their child.

At school, more emphasis is placed on manners, physical education, and recess and less on socializing. A Yoga class helps a child revive social skills and allows children to spend time with each other and bond, learn, and enhance their own lives with a new set of skills.

Last but not the least, Yoga is not gender specific and offers numerous benefits for both boys and girls. The knowledge that they acquire will propel them further when it comes to applying it to sports, hobbies and other activities.

So, if you care for your child, take a step towards their stress-free life – sign them up for a yoga class.