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CEO
and Manager: Thomas Koovalloor ERYT-500
Sicily Koovalloor, RN, MS, HN, ERYT-500
Anjali Mathew, LMSW
Joseph Koovalloor
Mathew C. Abraham, MBA
George Kurian MPS ( Master in Health Care Administration,
Long Island University).
Mr. John Felix
Indo-American Yoga Institute is a long cherished ambition
of it's founder Thomas Koovalloor, who started practicing
Yoga at the age of 7, he is 60 years old now.Thomas Koovalloor
has many yoga students in the U.S. and abroad. He is actively
involved in community activities at present. He is the author
of " Importance of Yoga in the Modern World" which
was published in two languages. According to him "Yoga
is a gift given by God to the human beings, which, if practiced
in a disciplined manner, will help us to attain confidence,
peace of mind, flexibility, concentration,self
realization, and finally which will lead to conscious enlightenment."
The Indian Sages ( Gurus) first developed the idea of Yoga
to attain spiritual enlightenment which required a systamatic
approach. They believed that by training physical body they
could tame the mind, and there by improve the concentration
and find their inner self or soul.
Hatha Yoga relates to the practice of special postures called
ASANAS. These Asanas have evolved to work all parts of the
body. They fall into families of postures , including forward
bends, backward bends, standing poses, seated poses, twists,
side-bending postures, balances, and inverted postures.
According to Patanjali's Sutras " Postures bring about
stability, of the body and poise of the mind".
The practice of physical postures ( Asanas) improves
a variety of ailments, strengthens and tones muscles and develops
flexibility. Various movements in the postures result in blood
saturating, nourishing and cleaning the remotest parts of
the body.
Practicing Asanas improves flexibility, vitality, and health,
and activates the organs ( Hearts, lungs, kidneys, liver,
spleen and pancreas). The true importance of postures is the
connection between body and mind, so the two become interwoven,
intiating the path from physical to spiritual awareness.
Pranayama
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According to Patanjali pranayama
should be practiced only after a firm foundation in Asanas
has been established. Practicing Pranayama releases tension
in the body, calms the nervous system and keeps the mind tranquil.
The speciality of IAYI is that our method of teaching Yogasanas
can be practiced by any one, as the asanas do not require
any equipment, or much space. We teach according to a Guide
prepared by our own experts for the teaching of Yogasanas
which may be useful not only to the teachers for whom it is
meant, but also to others who may wish to learn how to practice
some common Yogasanas.
Meaning of Yoga
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"Yoga" comes from the
Sanskrit word "Yuj" meaning to join or unite. Yoga
is a practical philosophy, not a religion, and requires no
allegiance to any particular system of belief. It is actually
a traditional Indian philosophy that involves the integration
of the physical and spiritual in order to achieve a sense
of well-being.
In practicing yoga, the body is linked to the movements, mind
and breath to bring about a feeling of balance, relaxation
and harmony.
Yoga is basically a much wider science the powers of which
the modern scientists could not even imagine. Think about
the ancient Maharshis (Yogis), they could sit in a single
pose (Asana) for many days. But in this modern world even
the energetic youth could not sit more than four hours in
a single pose,they become restless, and they changes the position
after a while, take rest, some times when they become restless
they go for smoking, etc. the new generation is restless.
Even Nurses, Nurses Aides, people work in any field, become
tired when they work more than 8 hours. There are so many
reasons why they become monotonous and restless, and if they
could tame their body through Yoga in an early age, they could
do may hoursof work without any physical strain.
Our aim is to build up a stronger generation who will have
a strong body and mind with more self confidence,
and self control.
We also have a mission to make a bridge between the East and
the West by combining and bringing together, so that we can
feel the harmony and happiness through endurance. East has
the contents and West has the power to explain and market.
Language barrier can be solved through West by interpreting
Master's gifts. In our Institute we teach students to respect
their masters and teachers by greeting them "Namaste"!
We don't poke funs to the weaker sections ( those who don't
have talents), we always encourage them by different means.
In our institution we will identify the best talented ones
and encourage them by giving promotions, and will try to give
them intensive training to become Masters
of Yoga.
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