My association with yoga goes back to 25 years ago. We had a guruji coming home to teach me the ancient art of body, mind and spirit. It did not take long for me to understand the enormous power of yoga that seemed to be the panacea for all common ailments .
Today, I lead a teetotaller’s life abstaining not just from alcoholic beverages, but also from tea and coffee, thanks to yoga that has infused a discipline in me. Difficult one may find it to believe, but my weight has remained constant at 72.5 kg and waist 34 inches for last 25 years. Some of my old friends who are beyond recognition now, owing to their expanding body contours, wonder as to how I managed to maintain such low body fat over all these years.
My day starts with Suryanamaskaram (sun salutation) followed by asanas like Vajrasan, Bhujangasan and Shavasan daily for an hour. I have a few soaked almonds and lesser known seasonal ‘village’ fruits like regu pallu (berries), munjulu (tender palm fruit), tegalu (tender palm shoots), eetha pandu (wild date fruit) and seema chintakaya (monkeypods or Madras thorn) in my breakfast and supplement them with papaya or watermelon. I eat simple and live simple and I detest wastage of food.
Health is a state of complete harmony of the body, mind and spirit and yoga is a sure-fire means to achieve it. When you are free from physical ailments and mental distractions, you are in a state which helps to connect with your inner self.
Yoga is not just an excellent mode of relaxation it also brings that rare flexibility in your body besides imparting a soothing effect on mind and soul. Besides being the president elect of Andhra Chamber of Commerce and Industry, I am actively associated with a host of other organisations and need to focus on a myriad roles to ensure justice to these posts of responsibility. Regular practice of asanas helps me prepare for the day ahead.
It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that collective practice of yoga by many people at many places can make this world a better place to live. Positive thinking is one important aspect yoga promotes, thereby helping people develop the right attitude.
Muthavarapu Murali Krishna
(The writer is president elect, Andhra Chamber of Commerce and Industry and a prominent industrialist in city)
