A talk with Yoga Guru - Mukta Mathur

“Yoga is a beautiful journey of self with mind and body in balance”.

  

With this quote we wish you all happiness and good health on this “International Yoga Day”. Yoga has attained the international day just few years back but it is already well recognized all over the world since many decades.

On this “International Yoga Day”, celebrated on 21^st June of every calendar year we bring to you knowledge of Yoga and its insights by one of the renowned Yoga Guru, Mukta Mathur. Mukta Mathur, owner of Mohini Yog Sansthan is practicing and teaching yoga for more than a decade; she has a very positive and vibrant personality plus has an energetic aura. From past year she is organizing Free Yoga Camp in Jodhpur, Rajasthan to bring the awareness of Yoga and to diminish the hitch of Yoga. Many have benefitted from this camp and many people have inculcated Yoga after these sessions.

On my request she agreed to dispel the yoga secrets and its benefits, besides I got an opportunity to interview her. Here are few questions and her views are expressed in the answers. Read it to know what drove her to Yoga and how Yoga became her lifeline.

Q: When & Why you started Yoga?

A: Yoga came in to my life around 10 years ago, when I weighed around 90 kgs and this in turn made my asthmatic problem in severe stage. As all would do I also started walking to reduce my weight in nearby park. In my walk I used to see group of people doing exercises, even I thought to perform such exercises but was conscious to do in park and even at home would do exercises after completing all household chores in a room shutting the door. Gradually I came to know these exercises are majorly Yoga Asana’s. When I came to know that I was determined to gain knowledge in Yoga to improve my health.

Q : When did you take professional degree in Yoga and what where the stepping stones you crossed?

A : In the year 2010, I completed the Yoga Diploma from JNVU where only 30 seats are allotted. I was happy to join the college once again with enthusiasm, but managing home and college was difficult, which was made possible by the supportive family members. My father-in-law supported me to learn to drive a two-wheeler to college and my husband ensured that I did that perfectly. It is the support of the family that I run Mohani Yog Sanathan from decade; the Yoga center is named after my beloved mother-in-law who was close to our hearts.

Q : What was the motive to start your own Yoga center?

A : After gaining the knowledge of Yoga and practicing it for year I understood that this is the best practice a man can do for a healthy life. I did not to keep the entire knowledge to myself; I wanted to impart it to the people who wished for good health by keeping their body fit. Initially I started to share my sessions in the nearby park where my friends and neighbors used to wait for me eagerly and slowly many people started joining the session. Then I started my own Yoga Kendra and with the first month itself 60 -70 people enrolled, and till date I have hundred’s of students who have learnt Yoga and I am happy to share that Mohani Yoga Sansthan is now recognized by the government of India.

I also employ the students of Yoga to part time work in this center and learn the art of teaching the theory behind the Yoga. “Yog means binding, jodna aur judna” ( bind and bound).

Q: What importance does Yoga have in your life?

A: Yoga, it is in my blood (laughs). On serious note “My day starts and ends with Yoga”. Yoga is now an integral part of my life; I cannot imagine life without it. Yoga has made me fearless, I have courage to fight over mental or physical changes with a positive perspective. Yoga has solution to every problem in life because Yoga balances mind, soul and body.

Q: People feel they need to be flexible first to start yoga sessions. Is it true?

A: This is the biggest myth about Yoga. For an example a person plays badminton or cricket for half an hour with enthusiasm but after that feels little body pains, as muscles are not used to such physical activity. Similarly when a person starts Yoga sessions, body may respond with slight pain as one is making body more stretchable but don’t stop your activity, your body gets used to it in few days.

Yoga Sessions by Yoga Guru Mukta Mathur

Q: Can Yoga be performed with different kinds of pain?

A: Yoga has all kinds of asana keeping in mind of pain in the body. Like for people with back pain, we have special asana that doesn’t affect the back and slowly body respond in a progressive manner so that back also becomes flexible.

Q: Is meditation part of Yoga?

A :. One significant aspect of Yoga is contentment that can be achieved through meditation. To conquer our thoughts meditation helps us a lot. It helps us build higher concentration levels. For example if you have 10 thoughts flashing in a 1 minute of time frame but while meditating stay one thought that crosses your mind, try to stay with that one particular thought and slowly after days of practice the rate of thoughts slow down which means now you are more focused.

Maharshri Patanjali has broadly divided asana and pranayam and “Yam” & “Niyam” (Routine & Regularity) plays an important role in Yoga. The balance of mental and physical part is achieved through asana and breathing plays a vital role.

Q What is the best time & place to do Yoga?

A : The ideal time to perform Yoga is the Brahm Muhart, which is from 3:30 am till sunrise. The best time one can devote to Yoga is early morning time. If you are not that early person then a time before 9 am is best to do Yoga with empty stomach after taking bath.  If a person cannot take out time in morning then in evening 5 pm till sunset is good time to do Yoga.

Yoga is best when one does in open fresh air but if that is not possible then take Yoga sessions in airy well natural light room with doors and windows to be let open for fresh air.

And do Yoga on breathable yoga mats made with natural fibers over plastic yoga mats and keep it clean as Yoga is also about ‘Sharirik Shudhi’ (Cleansing Body)

Image shared by Yoga Guru

Q Are their any side effects when person stops doing Yoga?

A: There are no side effects when you stop doing Yoga, (chuckles) nobody leaves Yoga once they start.

Other form of exercises like gym and power yoga, hot yoga are fast form of exercise which gives you fast results but also body again rebounds to prior state as it was not done with proper format as Yoga is performed. Maharshi Patanjali directed the course in such a manner that every part of body gets rejuvenated. So start Yoga without hesitating.

Q What message you want to give to people who wish to have healthy life?

A: I have only one message to people who look out for healthy life. Stay focused towards your body and let your mind body and soul be in sync with Yoga.

Avoiding packed food, eating fresh fruits and vegetables and drinking water plentiful according to body are few pointers to keep in mind. Health cannot be bought it can only be maintained, so do your best towards it. “It is within you, take out and improve it, and Yoga helps to do this.”

She signs off giving blessing to my family and me.

After talking to Mukta Mathur, though I am naïve in my yoga sessions, I was enriched with her thoughts and her practical approach towards life. Hope we all understand our body and work towards betterment of our self. To know more about her you can reach her out at Facebook.

Let us all pledge for healthy life on this International Yoga Day 2019.

@Sonal