YOGA INTRODUCTORY CLASS

                                 YOGA CLASSES IN MY SCHOOL DAYS

Introduction:

In my early school days at an urban school which was not so developed but discipline-wise, I must say, were unparalleled during those days. Teachers were very careful about every student and were very punctual. Every period of the school hours was not so interesting for every student. I was interested in our last period of the school hour which was marked for NCC and YOGA.  I and almost nine other classmates were interested in the Yoga Class. This period was for forty-five minutes, sometimes it extended up to one hour. Some of my colleagues leave the class before completion of the class on some plea but I did never leave the class before completion. The class started with a Prayer song by Guru Vandana. Then we sat on the ground, on Jute Sacs provided by the school. The Teacher sits in front of us so that we can see him in front of us to show us, how he is posing. We were first taught HOW TO SIT.

HOW TO SIT:

We were taught six sets of Asanas in a week. First, we were taught how to sit on the floor. The position was taught was “how to sit with the legs outstretched on the ground and the palms of the hands placed behind buttocks and on the floor. The back, neck, and head were to be kept in a straight line with the straight elbow.” This position was to be practiced for five minutes and then for relaxing, leaning the body slightly by taking support of the arms and then closing the eyes for relaxation. This position was taught as “Praramvik Sthiti”

HOW TO PRACTICE TOE BENDING:

The second lesson, so far, I can recollect, was how to bend the toes. We were sat on the base position as told in Prarambhik Sthiti with the legs outstretched and the feet kept slightly apart. Placed the palms behind the buttock. Leaned our bodies slightly back. And now rotate the toes of both legs slowly backward and forward keeping the feet straight on the ground. For relaxation keep the ankles relaxed and motionless. Sat in this position for some time for relaxation.

HOW TO ROTATE THE ANKLES:

We were taught to sit in the base position separate the legs a little and keep them straight keeping the heels on the ground during the entire period of practice. Now, we started slowly rotating the right foot first in a clockwise manner 10 times and repeated the process in anti-clockwise 10 times. In this similar manner the left foot also. Now, both the legs together rotate both the legs clockwise and anti-clockwise for 10 times. This will help to keep the ankles soft.

HOW TO CRANK THE ANKLES:

In the above similar process, we were taught to sit on the base position and advised to bend the right knee and bring the foot towards the buttock. Turned the knee out to the side place the foot on the left thigh for the right leg and rotate the ankles 10 times. For the left leg, the process is similar to the right leg.

In the last, the Teacher used to say that it is just for preparatory practice since it opens all the major joints and relaxes the muscles of the body. The body should be healthy so that you can concentrate on your studies and every work.

In today’s conclusion, I must say that Yoga enhances physical health by promoting flexibility, strength, and balance to reduce stress during student life for boost concentration in studies.  Yoga enhances mental clarity, supporting a harmonious connection between the body and mind.