| Ancient Art Of Yoga Makes 'Corporate' Move |   | |
By Melati Mohd Ariff
KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 21 (Bernama) -- The ancient art of yoga, which has its origin dated as far back as the Indus Valley Civilization (about 3000 BC) is no longer limited to yoga practitioners or 'yogis'.
More and more people worldwide use this ancient physical and spiritual discipline for wellness (stress reduction, quality of life), health conditions as well as treatment for ailments like back or neck pain.
For 37-year-old Elanggovan Thanggavilo and his siblings - Selvajothi, Shanmugam, Guhasakthy and Vimala, their strong passion in yoga has taken them a step further with them venturing into "Corporate Yoga".
According to Elanggovan, for this purpose, the family had set up two companies -- Universe Awareness Centre (UAC) and Ancient Yoga Consulting (AYC).
ACTIVELY PROMOTING
"It took me about nine years to refine my knowledge and skills in yoga through in-depth reading and from my gurus, Paranjothi Subramaniam and Yoga Master Dr. Rajamanikam, before UAC was established.
"This company is basically involved in doing Research and Development (R&D) into the different yoga training modules," explained Elanggovan, who has been practising yoga since his early teens.
He said the various training programmes are then marketed by AYC. In an interview with Bernama recently, Elanggovan, who has his own business in Information Technology (IT) said AYC has been actively promoting "Corporate Yoga" since last year not only in Malaysia but to other countries. They include Singapore, Brunei, Indonesia, India, Cambodia, Rwanda and England.
POSITIVE EFFECTS OF YOGA
According to Elanggovan, the Corporate Yoga that his company, AYC is promoting is specially designed for the corporate world.
The Corporate Yoga programme, he said, offers Hatha Yoga/Asthanga Yoga (body postures) and Self Power Yoga Meditation for Corporate (also called Kundalini Yoga) that include among other things a range of yoga postures, therapy meditation, alternate breathing exercise besides chair yoga, office yoga and travel yoga.
The programme, he further explained is set to have a positive effect on employee commitment to work, staff turnover and recruitment and staff performance and productivity," he said.
"We conduct classes at clients' office besides providing yoga camps, workshops, seminars," he said, adding that AYC is also a member of Yoga Alliance International Organization India (YAI).
AYC also offers all Yoga Certified Course from YAI in Malaysia. "Currently we are seeking interested international strategic partner to market out International Yoga Camp and Corporate Yoga Interactive Workshops.
"Initially we plan to provide the workshops in Malaysia and from 2008 we plan to offer this programme globally," explained Elanggovan.
HOW YOGA WORKS?
Yoga uses postures (asanas) that focussed on specific body parts and breathing techniques (pranayam) to integrate the body with mind and mind with soul.
"Many of us are not sports minded or we really abhor the thought of jogging or even going to the gym. There are other forms of movement that can help us relax.
"Hatha yoga is one of them. Hatha yoga is a system of asanas or postures that when combined with proper breathing can help us disconnect from the world's stresses and allow us to relax the body," Elanggovan explained.
Yoga, he added offers physical exercise that can stretch and tone without adding more tension to an already stressed body. "Hatha yoga is especially suited for special physical needs because it is gentler and more meditative," he elaborated.
REGULATES AND CONTROL
According to Elanggovan, yoga works on the Central Nervous System (CNS) which has no regenerating power.
The CNS, he said, regulates emotional and physical response to our world.
"Whilst you cannot control what happens to you, you can control reactions," Elanggovan further explained.
Everyone, he said gets stressed once in a while and whilst there is a good stress that motivates, there is also stress that depletes your vitality.
Yoga, he said, teaches the body to return to balance and allow the mind to choose calm over stress.
"This would have amazing effects on health. Sixty percent of common physical ailments are stress-induced, from aches and pains to the common cold, to cancers. Yoga tones the body, boost the immune system and calms the mind.
"Most importantly, it unlocks your inner happiness, leaving you feeling light, energized and delighted with life," said Elanggovan who through his years training has earned him the title "Mahaguru" or master.
VARIOUS YOGA PROGRAMMES
Besides yoga camps that cover three days for local participants and five days for foreign participants, AYC also offers yoga workshops ranging from basic workshop (seven days) to higher level workshops (21 days).
According to Elanggovan, the basic workshop is opened to all including those who do not have any knowledge in yoga.
"This 7-day programme is unique because it is an interactive event that involves more of a group activities," he added.
For those who are keen to get more details on the yoga programmes offered by AYC, they can log to www.ancientyogaconsulting.com or send email to enquiry@ancientyogaconsulting.com or telephone 603-3329196.
Currently Elanggovan is being helped by his siblings who are also yoga instructors in all the classes they are conducting.
Besides local participants, he said he has received several calls from overseas including United Kingdom, Japan and Australia.
"We hope this would bring revenue to the country and in the process getting Malaysia to be recognised as our yoga home," he added.
FUTURE PLANS
Elanggovan said he was also planning to offer a diploma in yoga as one of his initiatives to produce more yoga instructors.
"Our students are increasing. For this diploma programme, our target is those form five school leavers or other individuals who are interested to gain knowledge or aspires to make yoga as their career or part time career," he said.
Elanggovan is also into writing and would be publishing two books soon. The first, planned to be published sometime in March titled "Live a Life to Leave" and the second, "Yoga Meditation is Sciences."
-- BERNAMA
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