FEATURE STORY

How Yoga Can Become a Lifesaver in Times Like These

This month, as we celebrate the International Day of Yoga, Sadhguru talks about how Yoga takes on an even more profound significance in these challenging times – it could be a deciding factor between life and death. Read on to learn about some simple Yogic practices, some research studies around them, and what you can do to save lives.

Simha Kriya

Sadhguru: I have been talking to various scientists and many important doctors in the world. From what I gather – which is also common sense – the virus pandemic most probably will not be over this or next year. Very easily, it could go on for four to six years before the pandemic becomes an epidemic – that too, only if the world invests enough and we are fortunate enough to come up with a very efficient treatment protocol. Until that happens, this pandemic can keep coming back in waves.

As you see, from the first wave to the second wave, the virus has become much more equipped to harm us. This 2021 virus may be doubly or triply effective in causing harm to human beings. Last year, we had an assurance that young people will not be affected. But it is no more so; unfortunately, so many people in their twenties and thirties have lost their lives. So, the virus may get better and better. We also have to get better.

Simha Kriya enhances your immune system, improves your lung capacity, and alters the way oxygen distribution happens in the system.

Now when the pandemic is on, the first concern is how to perk up the immune system. Studies have been done in Harvard Medical School that show how the simple process of Simha Kriya enhances your immune system, improves your lung capacity, and alters the way oxygen distribution happens in the system. Maintaining your oxygen levels and keeping your immune system up are the two most important things you need to do right now.

Some say that whatever you may do, the infection will pass through your body sooner or later. Whether it will pass through you with severe symptoms or asymptomatically, is the question. For it to be asymptomatic, your immune system must be super strong.

Life-Saving Yogic Practices

As Isha meditators, in times like these, it is very important for you to understand the significance of the practices that have been taught to you. Maybe you thought these Yogic practices will spiritually enhance you, take away your backache or headache, improve your performance in day-to-day life, and a variety of other things. But you might never have looked at them as life-saving devices, but that is exactly what they can be. If your practices have been regular, and you are keeping them on all the time, your body will definitely take the ravaging that the virus may cause much better than most other people.

Being in touch with the earth and the other elements, along with the Yogic practices, could make a huge difference. Those of you who know the benefits of it, must keep up the practices. Every one of you must spend at least 90–120 minutes per day doing some practices, such as Surya Kriya, Shakti Chalana Kriya, and Shambhavi, or, if not anything else, at least Simha Kriya, Sashtanga, and Makarasana. Especially for those of you who are practicing Shakti Chalana Kriya, there will be a massive difference in the very way your system arranges itself.

Offering Yogic Tools to the World

The International Day of Yoga is coming up. This year, it rises to a completely different significance altogether. The importance of Yogic practices is growing significantly in the world, so we will be offering Yoga Veera training processes online. I want thousands of you to go through this and make sure the practices are offered to as many people as possible.

This is the time where “I am well” is not good enough, because when everyone around us is ill, it means, one way or the other, they will give it to us. It is important that everyone around us is also well. To make this happen, all of you should take up the simple food and practice tips for immunity that we have given out, and spread them to as many people as possible. That is most needed now.

Do the Right Thing

Your individuality is a myth that you have created. There is a universal nature to life. The virus is teaching it in a very virulent way, unfortunately. This is the time to learn how connected life is. So, spend a certain amount of time and spread these tools to at least three to five people per day. If you have more capacity, please use it.

You are not just teaching a simple practice – you could be saving people’s lives.

It is very important that all of you become instruments, because you are not just teaching a simple practice – you could be saving people’s lives. Please make this happen for yourself and everyone around you.

This is the time to stand up and show what kind of human beings we are, what we are made of. This is not a time for frustration, depression, or despair. This is a time to stay calm, stay equanimous, and do the right thing.