Chandana Bhowmick

I have been practicing asanas for almost ten years, trained in artistic, classical and ashtanga yoga . Graduated from The Yoga Institute Mumbai, the world’s oldest yoga school in April 2011. In the three months of my teacher training I learned the limitations and power of the human mind. The path that I choose to inculcate Yoga in my life was by practicing swadhaya. Thereby increasing awareness about self and also my surrounding. I truly believe in the ‘Eight Fold Path’ that states that yoga starts by controlling our mental limitations in terms of attitude and behavior and this is followed with asanas and pranayamas. My goal is to put all my Tapa, that is physical effort, with asanas andpranayamas to balance my mind. A well-balanced mind leads to a tranquil, happy and balanced life.

Along with yoga I have completed my certificate course in nutrition from Ashworth College, USA. Being an ardent dance lover, I have been practicing jazz, contemporary and ballet and have attended various workshops at Broadway Dance Center, NYC and New York City Ballet.

Yoga, the “yuj” of mind, body and soul. Initially one has to train the gross part of ourselves, that is our body. Asanas help in inculcating discipline in our body. In order to go inward, we need to manage our “prana”, bio energy by controlling our breath with pranayama.

With a disciplined body and controlled prana it is easier to control the mind, the monkey that is always distracted. Thus Yoga is “CittavrittiNirodhah”modification of the mind (Patanjali Yoga Sutra). With the mind in control one controls all the negative behavior, attitude and habits thereby leading to metamorphosis of the soul into a full blooming and free butterfly. Thus “as the mind, so the man”.