The Gheranda Samhita - Part 2

by Suleiha Suguna

In my last article, I covered the first 3 lessons of the Gheranda Samhita. This treatise on Hatha Yoga is divided into 7 lessons or chapters. Today I will attempt to bring you through the remaining 4 lessons.

Pratyahara

Pratyahara is the restraining of the mind. Gheranda tells Chanda in the opening of this lesson, that the practice of Pratyahara destroys lower passions like lust. The method for restraining the mind as expounded by Gheranda, is to withdraw the "Chitta" or the thinking principle.

In order to be successful at Pratyahara, you have to withdraw your sense of:

1. Sight
2. Hearing
3. Smell
4. Taste

Details on performing Pratyahara can only be thought by a Guru.

Pranayama

Also known as restraint of breath, its practice elevates men to greatness. In this lesson, Gheranda is explicit on where, when and how pranayama should be praticed. He says that 4 things are necessary in the practice of pranayama:

1. A good place
2. A suitable time
3. Moderate food
4. Purification of the nadis or channels for the flow of energy.

There are 8 types of Pranayama that should be practiced. It is of little use to go into the details of the different pranayama practices in this post.

Dhyana

Dhyana yoga is contemplation. Gheranda says that there are 3 levels of contemplation. The 1st level is contemplation on form and it is known as Sthula or Gross Contemplation.

The 2nd level is contemplation on light. This is called Jyotish.

The 3rd level of contemplation is called Sukshama or Subtle Contemplation. This is contemplation without attaching any form to it.

Samadhi

Gheranda refers to Samadhi as great Yoga. Samadhi is a state of being where you are liberated from any form of attachment. The prerequisites to achieving Samadhi is:

1. Confidence in knowledge
2. Faith in your guru or teacher
3. Faith in yourself
4. A mind that is awakened to intelligence

Attaining samadhi will free you from excessive desire and passion.

Conclusion

The seven steps ascribed to Chanda Kapili, is meant to bring the average person through a journey of purification, physical fitness, contemplation and inner peace. It is a well-designed system for total wellness that engages the individual's mental and physical states.

Although the Gheranda Samhita is the most encyclopedic of the 3 sources on hatha Yoga, caution must be observed in trying to follow the book without the guidance of an expert teacher. The knowledge presented in this treatise is not complete. It is only complete when taught by an expert teacher.

To illustrate, read the translation below for the Fetus Posture (Guptasana):

"Hide two feet under the two knees, and place the anus on the feet. This is known as Guptasana"

You will realize that this explanation on Guptasana is open to interpretation by the average reader. How should you be breathing when performing this posture? What is meant by "hide two feet under the two knees"? This posture also requires that the forehead touches the floor but it is not stated in the Gheranda Samhita.

These blanks can only be filled in by an expert teacher who has learn from a proper guru who in turn has learned from a proper guru and so forth. In other words, the blanks are filled by knowledge that is passed down from teacher to teacher.

How will you know if you are learning Yoga from an expert teacher? The answer is simple. You will not experience any pain, discomfort or injury. The asanas or postures must be stirre and sukha or sturdy and comfortable.

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The Gheranda Samhita - Part 1

by Suleiha Suguna

My father, my Yoga guru, paid particular attention to the Gheranda Samhita in his journey as a Yogi. Consequently, my education in Yoga was based on the Gheranda Samhita. Today, Maya Yoga Samudraa's foundation is the Gheranda Samhita. Most readers will be curious as to what is the Gheranda Samhita as I have found that people are more familiar with the Patanjali Sutras when it comes to Yoga.

The Patanjali Sutras is widely regarded as the basis of yoga practice and philosophy. However, the many Yoga postures or asanas as practiced today can be traced to the Gheranda Samhita, the Hatha Yoga Pradipika and the Shiva Samhita. These 3 texts form the basis for the contemporary practice of Hatha Yoga. In covering asanas, Patanjali contended with a very general guideline - stirre, sukha asana. Literally translated, this means steady, comfortable posture. According to Patanjali, a steady, comfortable posture was necessary for contemplation and meditation.

Content

Of the 3 texts that provide details on Yoga postures, the Gheranda Samhita is regarded as the most encyclopedic. This Tantrika Sanskrit text, which is in the form of dialogue between Sage Gheranda and an enquirer, Chanda Kapili, teaches yoga in 350 verses and is divided into 7 chapters or steps as follows:

1. The purification of the body
2. Asanas or postures
3. Mudras (control of body through symbolic gestures)
4. Pratyahara (withdrawal of the senses)
5. Pranayama (control of breath)
6. Dhyana (meditation)
7. Samadhi (non-dualistic state of consciousness)

The Purification Process

Gheranda Samhita's first lesson is on the purification of the body. This purification process is aimed at flushing out the toxins accumulated in the body. Gheranda outlines 6 purification methods that must be practices by a student of Yoga:

1. Dhauti
2. Basti
3. Neti
4. Laukiki
5. Trataka
6. Kapalabathi

The Asanas

Gheranda said:

1. There are hundreds of thousands of Asanas. The postures are as many in numbers as there are species of living creatures in this universe.

2. Among them 84 are the best and among those 84, 32 have been found useful for mankind in this world.

My father emphasized mastery of these 32 asanas for maximum health benefits and I have made this a cornerstone of my teaching syllabus.

The Mudras

Mudras are symbolic gestures made with one's fingers and/or other parts of the body. The science behind the mudra is that you can control your involuntary muscles by positioning a controllable body part in a particular way. As amazing as it may sound, I have performed demonstrations with students who have been amazed by how their breathing capacity or lung capacity changes as they perform certain mudras.

Gheranda says that there are 25 mudras and the practice of these 25 mudras give great success to a yogi. In his dialogue with Chanda Kapili he points out that these mudras destroy all diseases and its practitioner will not have any fear of fire, water, and air. Cough, asthma and the enlargement of the spleen is negated.

I quote Gheranda here: "O Chanda, what more shall I tell thee. In short, there is nothing in this world like the mudras for giving quick success".

In Part 2 of the Gheranda Samhita, I will delve into the remaining 4 steps.

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Yoga and Religion

by Suleiha Suguna

During the course of my career as a Yoga Instructor, I have been asked by many people if Yoga is a religion, in particular, if Yoga is Hinduism. Although I have found it difficult, I will attempt to dispel the notion that Yoga is a religion. I would like to make a disclaimer here that whatever my thoughts on Yoga, it is ultimately YOU, the reader, that must decide if Yoga is a religion or if it is contrary to your belief system. I say this only because it is better to be committed to something fully than to be uncomfortable about it and because YOU have every right to choose what you believe.

Yoga And Hinduism

There are facts, there are fictions and there are gray areas on the origin of Yoga. I will try to stick to the facts. It must be noted that the term "Yoga" is a broad definition of a concept. Yoga literally means union. It is a concept that originated in India about 5,000 years ago. This concept is a combined system of philosophy, purification, health care, and morality. Due to its very encompassing nature, it is easy for this ancient art to become intertwined with the culture and belief system of the community from where it originated.

It must be noted here that Hinduism itself was not established by any single source or book. It is a collection of traditions originating from the Indian subcontinent. In fact, the term "Hindu" has its origins in the Delhi Sultanate which used it to describe any tradition that was native to India as opposed to Islam.

According to scholars, the term Hinduism, popularized during British rule in India, loosely encompasses the many traditions and belief systems of the Indian people. Therefore, it would have been very easy for any culture or practice in India to be absorbed by the concept of Hinduism.

Yoga As It Is Practiced Today

Depending on whom you ask, Yoga can be a the path to enlightenment or it can be the road to good health. This is the case with many eastern disciplines where spirituality is inevitably linked to daily life. But let us look at how it is practiced and if it meets the definition of a religion. For this, I would like to refer to the work of Swami Jnaneshvara Bharati where he correctly points out the following:

1. Yoga has no deity to worship
2. Yoga has no worship services to attend
3. Yoga has no rituals to perform
4. Yoga has no sacred icons
5. Yoga has no creed or formal statement of religious belief
6. Yoga has no requirement for a confession of faith
7. Yoga has no ordained clergy or priests to lead religious services
8. Yoga has no institutional structure, leader or group of overseers
9. Yoga has no membership procedure
10.Yoga has no congregation of followers
11.Yoga has no system of temples or churches

The vast majority of people practice Yoga today for the health benefits. Most Yoga instructors today come from diverse cultures and religious beliefs. A typical Yoga class today is made up of people in sweat clothes performing physical postures, a far cry from hindu priests sitting around a pyre and chanting mantras.

There are the meditation aspects of Yoga and this is not to be confused with prayer. Meditation is practiced to calm the mind and relieve stress. It does not require you to believe in any religion. Some people join meditation groups that perform chanting and have religious doctrines. Usually, such groups are not covert about this and you can chose to stay away. This is about the same as joining a book club. You could join a book club that discusses good novels or you could join a book club that discusses books on Christianity. The diversity of book clubs itself does not make it religious.

What You Can Do

If you are concerned about being exposed to religious elements not of your faith, there are a number of things that you can do to safeguard yourself.

Firstly, let common sense be your guide. Don't sign up for Yoga in places of worship or centers associated with religious establishments.

Secondly, before signing up for a Yoga class, ask to be allowed to observe a typical class. Most Yoga centers will be more than happy to oblige you.

Thirdly, speak to the students. You can do this after observing a typical class at a Yoga center. By talking to the students you will be able to gauge if the group is a aligned to your beliefs or not.

Lastly, listen to your heart. If you do not feel comfortable with a Yoga class, a Yoga Instructor or the Yoga Center, seek clarification. If you are not happy with the clarification or still feel uncomfortable, you may want to consider a change or stopping Yoga altogether.

In conclusion, Yoga does not possess the structure that religions are based on. Therefore, it does not meet the criteria of being a religion. However, Yoga can and is sometimes practiced with religion. This is a choice of preference and does not make Yoga a religion by default.

This can be illustrated with the example of schools. There are secular schools and religious schools. Both school types promote education. The secular schools separate god from science. The religious schools preach god and science. This does not make the concept of a school a religion.

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Pose Into Stillness

by Shahrean Merican

Have you ever wondered why after months or even years of practicing Yoga, you still don’t feel the mental serenity that every Yoga instructor / DVD / book promises? You are still stressed, feeling negative, unable to focus and mentally drained. If this is how you feel, then it’s time to re-assess your Yoga practice.

I have recently noticed an increase in students who struggle to hold an Asana (posture) for a minute, sit through Pranayama (breathing) or even lay for 5 minutes in Shavasana (relaxation). We have become a highly strung society governed by our adrenalin that taking the time to sit and be present with the moment is an arduous task. We want a class that will match our fast paced lifestyle by getting our heart rate up and exerting maximum energy. As a result, there is a growing trend of Yoga developed as an exercise routine that stretches and tones the body. While this way of practice increases flexibility and suppleness of the body, the lack of breath and body-mind awareness leads to a further disconnection from the self. It will not raise us above our current mental state.

If we were to take a look back at traditional Yoga teachings, the purpose of postures are very different from the reasons we practice Yoga today. Patanjali defines Yoga postures in the Yoga sutras as Stira Sukha Asanam which means Steady Comfortable Posture. Postures are to be held at ease with minimal movement and released in a smooth manner focusing on the breath. This is in preparation for higher aspects of Yoga such as contemplation and meditation that will help strengthen the mind and release negativity. However, Yoga postures are commonly practiced below our level of consciousness with a series of continuous thoughts and released in a quick and often jerky manner.

How does awareness of practice help change our mental outlook?

Practicing Yoga postures with attentiveness will reduce mental stress to a great extent by cultivating stillness of the body and mind. Stillness leads to calmness which in turn helps to release physical, emotional and psychological tension stored in the body. We begin to experience our body from within and develop a deep understanding of the ‘self’. We become more in tune with our body and mind and start nurturing them in a positive way. As a result, we strengthen our internal and external system; creating a harmoniously integrated unit of body, mind and spirit. This is the true purpose of Asana in Yoga.

So the next time you practice Yoga, pause for a moment, take a breath and be still. You will experience the peace and serenity that can only come when you consciously connect with your body, breath and mind!

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Yoga - A Psychological Perspective

by Shahrean Merican, Instructor, Maya Yoga Samudraa

“Yoga is the composed Mind”
- Vyasa

We live in a world that is undergoing rapid social change. As we develop and become modernized, a growing number of us are experiencing mental disturbances of varying depth and intensity. Mental illness has been on a steady increase in the past 10 years and continues to rise. Since this illness is still perceived as a stigma, most people suffer silently not knowing how to deal with their problem and who to turn to. Although the initial causes of mental disturbances can be unclear, it is often sustained or enhanced by emotional stress, bio-chemical imbalance, deterioration of brain cells, substance abuse, and environmental or social factors. The good news is that more often than not, these mental problems can be cured or reduced in intensity.

So what does Yoga have to do with mental health? I am sure you have heard of the saying –A Healthy Body – A Healthy Mind. This can be applied either way around, as one cannot be fully achieved without the other. The most common understanding on Yoga is that it is a physical exercise that helps to keep a person healthy, flexible and relieve stress. While all of these are true about Yoga, the mental benefits that can be achieved through this ancient art are very rarely explained or practiced. Yoga strives to create a dynamic balance between the body, mind and spirit. While acknowledging the interdependence between the body and mind, Yoga holds that the mind has a greater influence on the body. Hence mental exercises form an integral part of Yoga. Using the 8 fold path as described in Patanjali's Yoga Sutra, the following practices can help achieve mental health:


Moral behaviour (Yama and Niyama)

The first mental exercise, Yama and Niyama, make up the moral foundation for the practice of Yoga. They are ethical guidelines on how to behave toward ourselves and our environment. Yama is good social conduct between the individual and their surroundings which consists of harmlessness, truthfulness, abstinence from theft, sense control and non-possessiveness. Niyama, on the other hand, is about how we treat ourselves which are cleanliness, contentment, purity, self-inquiry and surrender. The main purpose of these moral principles is to eliminate all mental and emotional turmoil which characterises the lives of individuals today. The practice of Yama and Niyama improves mental steadiness by creating a positive social and psychological environment within a person and also their surroundings. Although this may seem easy, it takes a lot of self-discipline to constantly act in a positive manner without giving into vices such as jealousy, hatred, anger, etc. It is important to note that the practice of Yoga is not completely fruitful unless a person practices the moral attributes summed up in Yama and Niyama. So be good, do good and you will feel great!


Postures (Asana)

Today the most common illnesses are not caused by physiological or environmental factors but are psychosomatic. Psychosomatic illnesses are disorders that show up as physical symptoms but are actually caused by mental or emotional disturbance. Stress, anxiety and unpleasant emotions can cause great bodily changes and muscular tension such as headaches, back pain, indigestion, irritable bowel syndrome and abdominal pain. Most often, visits to doctors caused by psychosomatic problems are treated with medication that will only help to manage the illness but not completely cure it. Unfortunately, emotional stress is not easily vanquished by common prescriptions.

Yoga, on the other hand, is a holistic system of self-healing. It is simultaneously a curative as well as a preventive system that deals with physiological and psychosomatic disorders. Yoga is perhaps the only form of exercise that massages and stimulates the internal organs in our body causing them to function efficiently. The pressure placed on the organs whilst performing a posture, encourages a natural healing process to occur, which then provides a sense of well being. The gentle stretches in Yoga also releases muscle tension from the body. The most significant benefit is the stimulation provided to the brain as it is supplied with rich amounts of oxygen from the bloodstream. This helps to rejuvenate the mind and increase the level of endorphins, which helps to produce a feeling of euphoria.


Breathing (Pranayama)

“When the breath wonders the mind also is unsteady. But when the breath is calmed the mind too will be still, and the Yogi achieves long life. Therefore, one should learn to control the breath”
Svatmarama, Hatha Yoga Pradipika

Breath is directly linked to the mind. This is evident from our body’s physiological response to stress and anxiety which almost often, results in increased heart rate and shallow breathing. It is caused by the natural chemical reactions of our body’s nervous system, also known as the “fight or flight” response. While this reaction serves an important function when we are in harmful or dangerous situations, being in a constant state of tension leads to emotional fatigue and depression. As a result, our flow of breath can have an influence on our state of mind.

Pranayama is the art of regulating the breath. It teaches us to take deeper and longer breaths in and out. This provides copious amounts of oxygen to the brain. The brain requires more oxygen than any other organ in the body and lack of this results in mental lethargy, negativity, irritability and depression. Learning to consciously focus on deep breathing relaxes the body and calms the mind making a person less reactive to stressful events. It provides mental and emotional equilibrium by directing the positive flow of energy throughout the body and mind. Therefore, by consciously controlling your breath you are also able to relax the mind. As the saying goes, “When in stress, take a deep breath!”


Withdrawal of the senses (Pratyahara)

Yoga holds that, much of the sorrow in this world is caused by our search for happiness outside, rather than within. We set up goals for ourselves such as to own a big house, drive a fancy car, marry the person of our dreams and live the life of a fairytale. We work so hard to achieve some perfect ending with no end, then feel completely devastated that life doesn’t work the way we had hoped. We then start to feel worried, anxious and discontented due to the enormous discrepancy between our dreams and realities. According to the late psychologist, Carl Rogers, this state of being is called ‘incongruity’, whereby a person’s true ability and their ‘ideal’ self are not harmonious.

We experience life through our senses. The way we develop our sense of touch, sight, smell, hearing and taste are largely influenced by our external environment and social conditioning. Hence the reason why we constantly feel the need to associate our happiness externally - to fulfil the senses. If we can control our senses and turn our focus inwards, we will achieve inner peace and tranquillity. The practice of withdrawing the senses helps you to detach yourself from your surroundings long enough to no longer feel constantly and closely identified with everything that happens around you. You will gain strength within to be your self and when things don’t work the way you had anticipated, you will let it be.


Concentration (Dharana)

The mind loves to wonder and rarely ever knows rest except when in sleep. Couple this with anxiety or tension, and you will find your thoughts to be constantly fluctuating making the mind extremely unsteady. Lack of concentration is one of the effects of suffering from mental stress whether mild or severe. A basic exercise in concentration can help to break the habit of incessant thinking until we have learned to stay with the thought that we have chosen. Concentration is the key to developing deep awareness of yourself as you are able to direct your flow of thoughts to a single activity. Dharana is similar to the saying “being in the now”.
So how does concentration help with mental health? When a person experiences any form of mental pressure, they find themselves hounded with negative thoughts. Feelings of worry, anxiousness or restlessness can become quite intense as our emotions get associated with our thoughts. In concentration, the continuous activity of the mind is restricted. We are able to stop all these unwanted thoughts in our head by focusing on something else. The practice of concentration can include focusing the mind on the breath, a flame, affirmations or even prayer. An established dharana technique will help to free you from the unwanted mental and emotional thoughts, leaving you feeling mentally rejuvenated.


Meditation (Dhyana)

Let’s try to stop our thoughts for a just minute and empty the mind. It is almost impossible! What we can do instead, is observe the mind. When we observe our mind, our thought processes start to slow down. This is meditation; the art of quietening the mind. This method allows us to go into self-inquiry and start to understand the causes that motivate our thoughts, emotions and actions. These thoughts, if negative, can then be replaced with positive ones.

Similarly, psychologists are now using Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) as a method to help individuals with mental stress. It has been especially proven effective with individuals suffering from depression and is preferred as an alternative to medication. CBT is based on the idea that our thoughts cause our feelings and behaviour and if we are able to change the way we think, we will feel better. Meditation does exactly the same.

Meditation is one of the most researched practices in Yoga due to its healing benefits to the body and mind. If practiced correctly, meditation can produce a deep state of relaxation and a serene mind. It gives you a sense of calm, peace and emotional stability. The effects of meditation don’t just end once you finish the practice. Meditation can have an enduring effect on your emotional and physical well being. The best part about meditation is that it is inexpensive and doesn’t require any special equipment. It can be practiced anywhere with just a few minutes a day to achieve the benefits.


Conclusion

Most of us experience mental disturbances of one type or another in some point of our lives. We have to deal with stress, conflicts and the intensity of modern living which can make us unhappy and depressed. Sometimes, the pressure gets too much to handle and we fall into a spiral of despair. The severity of our mental illness determines if we require medical intervention. Unfortunately, the hardest part of this is admitting that we have a problem and dealing with it appropriately.

The methods discussed above are not exhaustive and is in no way meant to be an alternative for medical treatment. Yoga, being an ancient art, has its own way of dealing with inner turmoil and can compliment medical treatment by reducing the intensity of mental stress and also alleviate unwanted side effects of medication. It is 100% natural and drug free with enduring benefits. However, it is important to note that Yoga has to be learnt under the guidance of a qualified instructor to ensure safe techniques are maintained. If unsure, seek medical advice before starting Yoga.

The benefits of Yoga on mental health:

1. Reduces the intake of medication and harmful side effects
2. Releases negative energy from the body
3. Promotes positive thinking
4. Strengthens the mind allowing a person more control over their thoughts
5. Increases concentration
6. Focus within- detachment of the external
7. Releases endorphins in the brain that increases feeling of well-being
8. Relieves stress and relaxes the body
9. Calms the flow of breath and quiets the mind
10. Massages organs and glands in the body producing a healing chemical balance
11. Improves the nervous systems

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A Breath of Fresh Air

by Dr. Marium Murad - Maya Yoga Samudraa Student

“Half a breath, half a life”.

Modern science regards food as the source of energy for the body and has formulated a caloric theory, which is based on nutrition and state of the body to explain our daily food requirements.

In Yogic belief, the energy (prana) required for the human existence is acquired through the air we breathe. Although a lesser quantity of energy is still obtained from the absorption of food and water. Principally, energy is absorbed through exposed nerve endings in the nostrils from the inhaled air that passes over them and through the nerve endings in the mouth and the back of the throat. The skin also absorbs energy directly from the environment. Breathing should be slow and relaxed to allow sufficient time for energy absorption. Food should be well chewed and water sipped slowly and allowed to remain in the mouth for a few seconds so that the energy gets absorbed from it.

Rarely does anyone stop to notice his or her style of breathing. In today’s hectic and busy lifestyle we routinely see our fellow friends chew and speak at the same time, while gulping down large quantities of air from the mouth for breathing. Plus a quick sip of liquid to help the large, relatively unchewed morsel of our on-the-go meal to flush down while carrying on a friendly lunch conversation at the same time. The result of our meal is relatively unchewed large chunks of food, diluted with cold beverage or hot tea/coffee. Only adding more strain to the digestive system. Our working style not any better, as most spend long hours hunched over our computers, greatly restricting our lungs to expand fully and compressing the heart at the same time.

If, for a moment, we put our index finger immediately below our nostril, do we become aware of the fact that we predominantly breathe from one nostril. Truly amazing how this can be when physically both nostrils are wide open. More astonishingly the predominant nostril we breathe from can change during the course of 24 hours. Why and how does it change? I haven’t got a cold or a nasal defect! The more I learn about Yoga, the more I get interested in finding out the amazing facts of this fast spreading phenomenon.

Energy, just like electric energy, has positive and negative force. The positive energy force, “pingala”, flows in through the right nostril to the right part of the nervous system, while the negative force, “ida nadi”, flows through the left nostril into the left side of the nervous system. The positive energy feeds the major organs, while the negative feeds the muscles, bones and tissues. The art of Yoga teaches us to strike a balance in the flow of these two energies. Through different terminologies focusing on the same concept, Yoga states that the right side is the hot (solar), male side, while the left side is considered to be cooling (lunar), female side.

According to yogic science, the act of respiration is four- fold:

1. inhalation
2. an inhalatory pause
3. expiration
4. an expiratory pause

During inhalation and exhalation, the body energy is in a state of speed and expansion, during the pause the inner energy is in a natural state of contraction or rest. When the breathing is fast and irregular, the body energy is in a state of activity with short pause periods. As a result, the perception is unclear and mind disturbed. When the breathing is slow, deep and regular, the pause periods are longer. The body energy is calm and the power of receptivity and concentration of the mind increases. If you notice, anxiety patients are shallow, rapid breathers. Anxiety and breathing are interlinked, that helping one improves the other.

Breathing is a natural, involuntary, physiological phenomenon. So why regulate or control breathing? The regulation of breath is called Pranayama. In Sanskrit “prana” means breath and “ayama” means control, therefore a control in the movement of breath. Pranayama is one of the eight limbs of Yoga. It is the link between the body and the mind, regulating and conditioning both. Pranayama restores the harmonious functioning of the different systems working in the human body by exercising or massaging the internal organs through the movement of the diaphragm and intercostal muscles. In Yoga, the breath and the body are inseparable. Each movement is connected to each breath, likewise the breath is connected to each movement. All Yoga postures coordinate with the breath.

Learning the art of correct breathing requires the guidance of a qualified and experienced teacher. This is of great importance to be able to gain the maximum benefits of Pranayama. I am extremely fortunate to have found an invaluable Yoga teacher coming from a family lineage of classic Yoga teachers from India. Sue explains and talks in such a unique style because she’s got Yoga in her genes and circulating in her blood. Sue taught me how to do Yoga breathing to “vacuum out” the lungs. Giving me scientific facts and health tips along the way.

Breathing can be practiced by anyone from children, young adults, adults to the elderly. It also helps with individuals suffering from various ailments, smokers, drug addicts, alcoholics, on medications, anxiety, nervousness, dizziness and headaches.

The benefits of Pranayama are numerous:

1. Ensures better supply of oxygen to the blood and elimination of carbon dioxide.
2. Pranayama is the only exercise that can indirectly massage the heart and tone it.
3. The nerves and endocrine glands are made healthier by a more liberal supply of pure blood.
4. The brain and spinal nerves are massaged by internal pressure and by the supply of pure blood.
5. Decreases life stresses and calms the mind.
6. Improves focus, concentration and memory.

Breathing is so essential to our existence that life begins with our first inspiration and our final farewell is our last expiration.

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An Introduction to the Principal - Datin Siti Suleiha Suguna

Datin Siti Suleiha Suguna, is a 6th generation yoga trainer and has 40 years of experience teaching yoga. Her yogic journey began at the tender age of 7 under the tutelage and guidance of her father, Professor H.A. Rao, a renowned yogi.

It was her father’s vision to bring yoga to a wider audience and she traveled with her father on many international tours promoting and establishing yoga institutions globally, especially in Japan where he was responsible for establishing almost 2000 yoga centers.
Her father, as a yoga ambassador, demonstrated how yoga therapies can cure illness, disease and various medical conditions. As a result, a particular forte of Datin Suleiha is Yoga Therapy where she has been able to help relieve and/or cure illnesses such as back and neck pain, constipation and skin disorders.

Datin Suleiha has been featured in newspapers and numerous women, health and lifestyle magazines. She has travelled extensively conducting courses and seminars for organizations and associations both locally and internationally.

Her milestones include:

1. The opening of Maya Yoga Studio, in Mac 2006. In October 2008, Maya Yoga Studio opened in Melbourne, Australia. From Feb 2009, Maya Yoga Studio in Kuala Lumpur and Melbourne operate under the name Maya Yoga Samudraa.


2. Organised and conducted Yoga Retreats focusing on various aspects of Yoga:
   Mac 2009 - Yoga Retreat on “Breath …. The Vehicle to Inner Journey” in Bali, Indonesia.
   Mac 2008 – Yoga Retreat on “The Unfolding of the Consciousness” in Chiang Mai. Thailand.
   July 2006 – Yoga Retreat on “The Science of Prana” in Cameron Highlands, Malaysia.
   Mac 2006 – Yoga Retreat on “Yoga: The True Art” in Lucky Valley, Rompin, Malaysia.


3. Talk on “Balanced Living through Yoga” at the Rotary Club of Subang in Oct 2007.
   Conducted a workshop on Pranayama at Maya Yoga Studio in May 2007.


4. Speaker on “Yoga for Managing Menopause and Preventing Osteoporosis” at the 1st International Conference and Exhibition on Women’s Health and Asian Traditional Medicine (WHAT) organised by the World Health Organisation (WHO) in 2005.


5. Conducted a series of seminars and lectures for the Singapore Ladies Club and Rotary Club in 1994.


6. Produced and launched the first Yoga Video series in 1992 at the Cannes Film Festival. She became the first Malaysian woman to venture into such a project.


7. Talk on “Complete Yoga” organized by the Malaysian Australian New Zealand Association (MANZA) in 1982.


8. Conducted stress management courses for Petronas in 1980.She is also the first woman to hold Yoga classes at the Royal Lake Club Kuala Lumpur from 1980 to 1985.

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