Artistic yoga for a body-mind workout

 

It is an innovative system of yoga that combines ancient yogic techniques like asanas, pranayam, bandhas, kriyas and mudras with modern cardiovascular training and partner-stretches into a unique approach that works on the individual at every level — the physical level, where flexibility, strength and endurance are the primary goal, to the mental and spiritual levels, where awareness of the body, alertness and meditation help bring about a complete transformation.

Artistic yoga incorporates many new aspects that are very different from the traditional yoga. "While traditional schools of yoga repeat the same asanas every class, artistic yoga classes are unique each day and focus on only two body parts in a class, thereby achieving dramatic results in body-toning and weight loss (for those who need it). Overall, you will experience a tremendous sense of physical well-being! At the mental and spiritual levels, it works with breath ( pranayam ) and meditation ( dhyaan ), ensuring that you leave each class feeling energised, yet calmer and more peaceful within," says Bharat Thakur, who has founded the artistic yoga.

"Yoga means togetherness of awareness and body. It is a practical science aiming at the realisation of the ultimate — moksha . My purpose is to remove the misconception that yoga is for the elderly and the sick. The practice of yoga should ideally be commenced in early childhood when the body is by nature loose and flexible. Beginning early brings truth to the old adage 'prevention is better than cure'," adds Thakur.

Yoga is not only a science that can be used as a curative to relax and de-stress you, but one that aids in understanding life, and can be used by a logical mind to go beyond logic. And artistic yoga is meant for the body, mind and spirit. People of all age groups and all levels of fitness practice this yoga.