When was the last time you went running on a ground since you started working?’ the question caught me off guard, and I thought hard before muttering, somewhat
ashamed, “Not even once.” That is the case with most of us today, isn’t it? Caught in the ‘I have no time’ bubble, exercise or physical activity of any kind figures last on our list of ‘things to do’ for the day.
But Vishwas Shende has a simple solution to this conundrum. “I understand that people are busy. Unless you are in the race, you won’t get ahead. If you don’t have time to exercise, all you need to do is a few rounds of Suryanamaskar every morning. Rest assured that you will feel energetic and positive throughout the day,” explains Shende, founder-president of the International Academy of Suryanamaskar, who is actively involved in promoting Suryanamaskar as a sport.
A physical training instructor by profession, Shende has been practising Suryanamaskar for 20-odd years. “I have experienced its benefits at the physical, mental and spiritual levels. It is disturbing to see children with poor eyesight, obesity, girls lining up at the gynaecologist and young women suffering miscarriages. It has become so common now. Have we thought about why there has been a rise in such conditions over the last few years?” he asks. The main culprits of this trend are inactivity and warped food choices. “We are living like machines, not human beings,” he says.
However, Shende is confident that regular practice of Suryanamaskar can keep most lifestyle diseases at bay. “I would say it is very effective for those suffering from diabetes, hypertension etc. There is a science behind the exact benefits of every position of Suryanamaskar. We hold many workshops and lectures to apprise people of these aspects,” he explains.
What is suryanamaskar?
The literal meaning of Suryanamaskar is salutation to the sun. It comprises 12 ‘sthitis’ (positions) that are aimed at increasing your flexibility, agility, strength and stamina. “It is ideal if you can practise Suryanamaskar on your terrace early in the morning; you will get your dose of Vit D,” says Shende, adding, “Strive to do 13 rounds of Suryanamaskar every day, and if possible in 20 minutes.” Being a foundation exercise, you can club it with any other activity like walking, cycling, trekking, swimming as per your liking. “The only aspect that you can say is missing in Suryanamaskar is side bending, which you can add on your own. Otherwise, it is a complete exercise,” he says further.
How does it help?
‘Suryanamaskar, a fantastic sport’
Alongside making people aware of the benefits of Suryanamaskar, Shende has taken another huge task upon himself — of forming the Suryanamaskar Association of Pune District (PMC and PMC) with a few other passionate followers of this exercise form. “The primary reason for this is to promote Suryanamaskar as a sport. As all of us know, even judo and cycling were not considered sports at one point. But they are now. Suryanamaskar can also test your speed and endurance, and it is a fantastic sports activity. You can perform Suryanamaskar solo or in a group, with formations and on music. There are so many ways it can be done,” he says.
Not wanting to stop at the district level, Shende is working on forming a network of such associations across the state and eventually the country. “In the next two-three years, we will work towards this objective going zone-wise — east, west, north and south in the state,” he explains.
Another reason he wants to popularise Suryanamaskar is to do away with the unnecessary religious connotation it has acquired. “There needs to be no such angle to this exercise form. If someone has an objection to the first ‘sthiti’ in which you fold your hands in salutation, you can very well change that and raise your arms above your head instead, following it up with the backward bend and stretch,” says Shende, who sincerely hopes people look at the myriad benefits of this exercise rather than what the positions appear to imply!
“The reason I am trying hard to make Suryanamaskar mandatory in schools, colleges and workplaces is because we are ruining our health. Schools have no grounds, so children don’t get an opportunity to exercise. The best part about Suryanamaskar is that it can be performed in very little space and requires no equipment. So, a quick five-six rounds of it before school or work can do wonders to people’s health,” says Shende. They have succeeded in making it compulsory in 310 schools of the PMC. “But there is a long way to go,” he says. Those who are helping Shende in this endeavour include Dr Milind Modak, Sanatan Vinod and Dr Salima Khan who are advisors of the International Academy of Suryanamaskar.
ashamed, “Not even once.” That is the case with most of us today, isn’t it? Caught in the ‘I have no time’ bubble, exercise or physical activity of any kind figures last on our list of ‘things to do’ for the day.
But Vishwas Shende has a simple solution to this conundrum. “I understand that people are busy. Unless you are in the race, you won’t get ahead. If you don’t have time to exercise, all you need to do is a few rounds of Suryanamaskar every morning. Rest assured that you will feel energetic and positive throughout the day,” explains Shende, founder-president of the International Academy of Suryanamaskar, who is actively involved in promoting Suryanamaskar as a sport.
A physical training instructor by profession, Shende has been practising Suryanamaskar for 20-odd years. “I have experienced its benefits at the physical, mental and spiritual levels. It is disturbing to see children with poor eyesight, obesity, girls lining up at the gynaecologist and young women suffering miscarriages. It has become so common now. Have we thought about why there has been a rise in such conditions over the last few years?” he asks. The main culprits of this trend are inactivity and warped food choices. “We are living like machines, not human beings,” he says.
However, Shende is confident that regular practice of Suryanamaskar can keep most lifestyle diseases at bay. “I would say it is very effective for those suffering from diabetes, hypertension etc. There is a science behind the exact benefits of every position of Suryanamaskar. We hold many workshops and lectures to apprise people of these aspects,” he explains.
What is suryanamaskar?
The literal meaning of Suryanamaskar is salutation to the sun. It comprises 12 ‘sthitis’ (positions) that are aimed at increasing your flexibility, agility, strength and stamina. “It is ideal if you can practise Suryanamaskar on your terrace early in the morning; you will get your dose of Vit D,” says Shende, adding, “Strive to do 13 rounds of Suryanamaskar every day, and if possible in 20 minutes.” Being a foundation exercise, you can club it with any other activity like walking, cycling, trekking, swimming as per your liking. “The only aspect that you can say is missing in Suryanamaskar is side bending, which you can add on your own. Otherwise, it is a complete exercise,” he says further.
How does it help?
- Maintains health and strengthens the body
- Ensures efficient running of body systems — circulatory, respiratory, excretory, neuroendocrine
- Effective in staving off early spondylitis, arthritis, joint pain etc
- Boosts core strength, especially beneficial for sportspersons
- Improves metabolism and rejuvenates the body, increasing vigour and vitality
- Increases flexibility due to stretching of muscles
- Calms the mind, improves memory
- Rhythmic inhaling and exhaling enhances sense of well-being
‘Suryanamaskar, a fantastic sport’
Alongside making people aware of the benefits of Suryanamaskar, Shende has taken another huge task upon himself — of forming the Suryanamaskar Association of Pune District (PMC and PMC) with a few other passionate followers of this exercise form. “The primary reason for this is to promote Suryanamaskar as a sport. As all of us know, even judo and cycling were not considered sports at one point. But they are now. Suryanamaskar can also test your speed and endurance, and it is a fantastic sports activity. You can perform Suryanamaskar solo or in a group, with formations and on music. There are so many ways it can be done,” he says.
Not wanting to stop at the district level, Shende is working on forming a network of such associations across the state and eventually the country. “In the next two-three years, we will work towards this objective going zone-wise — east, west, north and south in the state,” he explains.
Another reason he wants to popularise Suryanamaskar is to do away with the unnecessary religious connotation it has acquired. “There needs to be no such angle to this exercise form. If someone has an objection to the first ‘sthiti’ in which you fold your hands in salutation, you can very well change that and raise your arms above your head instead, following it up with the backward bend and stretch,” says Shende, who sincerely hopes people look at the myriad benefits of this exercise rather than what the positions appear to imply!
“The reason I am trying hard to make Suryanamaskar mandatory in schools, colleges and workplaces is because we are ruining our health. Schools have no grounds, so children don’t get an opportunity to exercise. The best part about Suryanamaskar is that it can be performed in very little space and requires no equipment. So, a quick five-six rounds of it before school or work can do wonders to people’s health,” says Shende. They have succeeded in making it compulsory in 310 schools of the PMC. “But there is a long way to go,” he says. Those who are helping Shende in this endeavour include Dr Milind Modak, Sanatan Vinod and Dr Salima Khan who are advisors of the International Academy of Suryanamaskar.
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