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Yoga Maiyam

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Yoga Maiyam

Yoga Maiyam is founded by Dr.E.R.Gopalakrishnan.He is a former Director, KYM Institute of Yoga, Chennai.

A long time student of Late.T.K.V.Desikachar, has been teaching Yoga, Vedic Chanting and other scriptures in Desikachar -Krishnamacharya Tradition.

10/01/2025

DESIKACHAR - KYM
MY REFLECTIONS & MEMOIRS - 73
Being ' Assistant Editor ' - 9

The best thing that happened to me by this assignment was that I and my family became more closer to the editor Mr.A.V.Balasubramaniam and his family. That we lived in the same area and close to each other made it easier. Our families exchanged visits frequently. I used to drive his daughter along with my son and daughter in an old scooty for weekend children's group class and Summer Classes at Mandiram all the way from our place at Thiruvanmiyur to Raja Annamalai Puram.

Mr.A.V.Balasubramaniam is one of those who was associated with Mandiram during late 70's and early 80's. I think he is a Post-graduate in Chemistry. His NGO - The Centre for Indian Knowledge Systems (CIKS) is a leading and genuine organisation in disseminating ancient Indian wisdom. Some of their monographs on Ayurveda were quite unique capturing the essence of Ayurveda with out compromising on the authenticity.They used to conduct workshops and symposiums.I also attended one such on Ayurveda and Varma.

Mr.A.V.Balasubramaniam is an extremely unassuming person inspite of his extensive scholarship and in depth researches. He is proficiency in English,Tamil,Sanskrit and his deep understanding in Indian Philosophy must be the primary reason for 'SIR' to choose him as the editor besides his unflinching devotion to Sri.Krishnamacharya and 'SIR'. Literally simple in appearance, always wore pure Khadhi kurthas and pyjamas. He is the true example of ' Simple living and High thinking. He is 'Simply Simple'.His wife Dr.Vijayalakshmi is a Zoologist and known for her research on 'SPIDERS'. She also did her Diploma at KYM. I am a witness to their innate nature of high human values,integrity and compassion. Their genuine hospitality is a matter that I shall cherish all my life. I was never allowed to return to my house with out snacking or having a cup of tea.

Mr. A.V. Balasubramanyam was part of that wonderful group of brilliant young creative minds who worked very closely with 'SIR' and gave their time and energy to make the vision of 'SIR' come true by their unconditional devotion in preserving, sustaining and promoting the true spirit of Krishnamacharya's teachings. I will talk about them as my narrative progress.

Incidentally Mr.A.V.Balasubramaniam is the nephew of Sri.A.G.Mohan Sir.

05/09/2024

DESIKACHAR - KRISHNAMACHARYA YOGA MANDIRAM -
MY REFLECTIONS & MEMOIRS - 65
Being ' Assistant Editor '

In the early 90s probably around 1992 or 1993 'SIR' took a decision to have a magazine published from Mandiram. It seems it was also a long cherished desire of his father and teacher Sri.Krishnamacharya. Mr A.V. Bala Subramanyam a long time student of 'SIR' was the Editor and the Editorial board consisted of Professor.S. Swaminathan, 'SIR' and Miss.Sujaya (Sridhar) Isaac.

By then I was already a familiar face at Mandiram being a teacher for more than an year. Every day I used to be at Mandiram around 5 pm and stay till 8:00 pm. I used to have a minimum of three classes almost everyday. 'SIR' was allotting me atleast three new students in a week . The reasons I presume could be 1) that there were no negative feedbacks about me 2) that male teachers were very few and they could not come to Mandiram before 06.00 pm. As for as I was concerned
I made myself available at Mandiram by 05.00 pm after I return from my college around 4:00 pm. This in a way helped me to know more about Mandiram and me to 'Mandiram'.

I used to leave Mandiram as the last person along with Mr.Muthu Swami. On many occasions 'SIR' also walked back alongwith us. We would accompany 'SIR' upto 'SIR's house. I and Mr.Muthuswamy then used to take our route. This informal proximity to 'SIR' helped me to express about my worklife, family and my passion for fine arts etc., to 'SIR'.

It was during this time, one evening the front office incharge Miss.Kalpakam tapped the door of the room where I was taking a class and asked me to go to first floor meeting hall to meet 'SIR'.
I immediately rushed to the first floor anxiously. There 'SIR' was waiting. He was standing in front of Krishnamacharya's portrait along with Dr.Usha Raghavan. I was slightly nervous but 'SIR's smile made me feel relaxed. Then 'SIR' started telling me, ' ERG - I am giving you an additional responsibility of assisting
Mr. A.V.Balasubramaniam, Editor, 'Darsanam' Magazine'. After saying this 'SIR' pulled out a fountain pen from his shirt pocket and gave it to me. I received it after prostrating at his feet .Naturally I was extremely happy that I was slowly gaining 'SIR's trust.

'SIR' during those days was using fountain pens oly that too 'PILOT' brand. The pen needed filling with ink when exhausted. Most of the time 'SIR' himself would fill the ink. He would not let anyone handle his pen. That way 'SIR' presenting the PEN he was using meant a lot to me.

Though I received the PEN from 'SIR',
I hardly used it but still preserve it as a 'memoralia'.

23/08/2024

DESIKACHAR - KRISHNAMACHARYA YOGA MANDIRAM -
MY REFLECTIONS & MEMOIRS - 63
Weekly Reviews

In my previous posting I was narrating that the students were taught only simple postures. The reasons being
1) most of their problems needed simple intervention
2) students were not flexible enough to learn difficult postures
3) it was enough to teach according to their capacity (yatha sakthi)
4) and of course, not that all teachers had the skill to demonstrate difficult postures to students if need be though it was not required by a teacher to demonstrate every time. It is also practically not possible. It was also a fact that not all teachers were flexible enough to do difficult postures.The vinyasas and flows were mostly in the blackboard and in the flow charts.

The limitations of teachers got revealed only during our review meetings. Review meetings used to happen every Saturday at 09.00 AM after the Yoga Sutra lecture of 'SIR' scheduled between 7:30 to 8:30. It was open to public though not publicized. After finishing Yoga Sutra lecture 'SIR' would go to his office in the ground floor and would get updated about the 'workings' of the mandiram including the aberrations that may disturb the 'culture' of the Mandiram.

After finishing this routine 'SIR' would come back to lecture hall where all of us would be waiting. Most of the teachers would be present irrespective of their seniority. The presence of Smt.Menaka Desikachar was a classic example. We all would be seated in circle leaving space for 'SIR'. I think he also used to sit on the floor.

Then 'SIR' would begin his conversation in a casual way touching upon general things before taking up course sheets of individuals. It's not that course sheets of all teachers would be reviewed. Some sheets randomly. Mostly of teachers new to this 'circle'. After picking up one 'SIR' would ask it to be shared with others in the circle for their observations about the sheet. This perhaps was the testing time for every one including seniors. There would be lot hesitation in coming out. Nobody would want to make comments that might reveal their (mis) understanding.

After hearing individual's opinions 'SIR' would make us know the areas of improving. In this process 'SIR' would use some of us for demonstrating the asanas. That was when I knew that most of the teachers were too stiff that modified versions alone were their routine. Smt.Menaka Desikachar was extremely flexible. On many occasions 'SIR' commissioned her to do.

In our group difficult asanas were demonstrated mostly by Mr.Anand and occasionally by me.Few difficult postures
I could do thankfully because of my trainings at Yoga Brotherhood and Vivekananda Kendra.

08/08/2024

DESIKACHAR - KRISHNAMACHARYA YOGA MANDIRAM -
MY REFLECTIONS & MEMOIRS - 62
My Colleagues

I (ERG), alongside my classmates Dr.N.Chandrasekhar (NC), Mr. D.V.Sridhar (DVS) , Mrs.Viji Vasu, Mrs.Shaheedha Murthy got inducted as teachers more or less during the same period. The other two Mrs.Geetha and Mr.Anand were already teaching even before they got enrolled for PG Diploma. Inclusive of seniors, I think we were around 15 - 20 persons teaching at Mandiram at that time. Only very few seniors were taking classes in the evening along with us.

During the period after our induction to teaching
I noticed that,

1) Contrary to my presumption that Diploma was a prerequisite for taking classes at Mandiram, I found a few were with out 'Diploma Tag'.
(This doesn't mean that Diploma holders were better than others. As a matter of fact it is other way around)

2) Most of the teachers were part timers ie., Yoga is not their primary occupation
(this includes me)

3) All therapy programs revolved around maximum 15 - 20 asanas. Even this number is a rarity.

4) Asanas taught were mostly modified or improvised versions. Very rarely we taught textbook Vinyasa Krama .

The Asanas needing good flexibility and strength were confined to Children's classes on weekends and during Summer Workshops.

Address

I-D, 9/5, I Main Road, Kasturibai Nagar, , Adyar
Chennai

Telephone

+919789533182

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Authentic learning - Dedicated teaching

ERG is a well known Yoga teacher, therapist, speaker, author and researcher.

He is a former Director, KYM Institute of Yoga Studies, Chennai and was closely associated with Krishnamacharya Yoga tradition for nearly eight years under the personal care and guidance of world renowned Yoga Master late Sri.T.K.V.Desikachar.

He has been teaching Yoga for nearly 25 years in India and abroad for people from all walks of life. Knowledge of Ayurvedic principles of food and nutrition coupled with his skill in the application of sounds and Veda Mantras enable him to offer holistic solutions for healthy living.

He is a multi-faceted personality- was an academic by employment in tertiary education as professor of business studies and as Principal, also known for his skills in Theatre arts as an actor and director besides his expertise in chanting of Veda Mantras. His consistent exploits in expanding the application of Yoga beyond the domains it is traditionally associated with, makes him unique.