"Yoga is a science that should not to be connected with Hinduism," says Yoga guru Dr H R Nagendra

Yoga offers a path to achieve pure consciousness and infinite freedom. Dr H R Nagendra, Chancellor of Swami Vivekananda Yoga Anusandhana Samsthanam (VAYU) and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'yoga guru', has followed a journey that has been fascinating one. After completing his education as a Mechanical engineer, Dr Nagendra was deeply influenced to impart yogic knowledge to the world and inveterately practiced it in real life.

After completing his doctorate, Dr Nagendra spent more than a year working as a scientist in NASA. As against the common trend followed by most Indians who want to settle in the west, Dr Nagendra who was so inspired by Swami Vivekananda that he preferred to return to his roots in India.

As a pioneer in spreading Yoga, Dr Nagendra was successful in taking it to common people by motivating the Modi led government to initiate first 'International Yoga Day', which was a global success, held recently on June 21^st, 2015.

With his vast knowledge on the subject of yoga and spiritualism, he along with the Ministry of Ayush, chalked out the first-of-its-kind syllabus for yoga teachers. The new syllabus for yoga teacher unveiled by HRD Minister Smriti Irani, will help in imparting extensive yoga training. The syllabus approved by the National Council for Teachers in English (NCTE) will be imparted to as many as 28 lakh teachers involved in the pre-primary schools.

Dr Nagendra has combined Yoga with scientific backing, he points at the research paper on 'cure for Bronchitis through Yoga' published recently in the British Medical Journal got wide recognition. During his recent visit to Asian Voice at the Karma Yoga House, Dr Nagendra expressed his surprise over people associating Yoga with religion, protesting against it and calling it a 'Hindu practice'.

“ Yoga is a science that should not be connected with Hinduism. This is a process which has no association with religion,” asserts Dr Nagendra. He has a valid explanation for the same. “Newton's Law of Motion is the most widely followed scientific practice. Newton made the discovery in Britain, but, can we call it a Christian theory? Is it correct to associate science with religion?” questions Dr Nagendra.

Yoga needs right direction and right dimension, which requires participation from people at large. At his institute in Bangalore, Yoga is combined with several other medical practices including Homeopathy, Naturopathy and Ayurveda.

Hailed as Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi 'yoga guru', he recalls how Mr Modi has been a regular visitor of Yoga centre for the last 20-25 years. It was widely reported that Arvind Kejriwal, Delhi Chief Minister had visited his Dr Nagendra's centre to find a cure for his chronic cough, on the recommendation of Mr Modi.

“He has been a follower and a strong promoter of the ancient science. He (Mr Modi) believes that Yoga will strengthen the country and make the youngsters mentally and physically stronger,” said Dr Nagendra.

Starting out at the age of 9, Dr Nagendra realized the power of Yoga, which he believes gives mastery over mind. The yoga pattern followed by him imbibes Jnana Yoga, Raja Yoga, Karma Yoga and Bhakthi Yoga.

It all began in 1975, when Dr Nagendra along with a group of like-minded people in Arunachal Pradesh initiated Yoga education for school children from year 1-10. Children from all religious faith, particularly those following Christianity responded well to Yoga education. “We wanted to develop their personalities by offering them educational, psychological and spiritual power,” he said. “We introduced eyesight improvement program, which was the key to make their mind and body stronger,” said Dr Nagendra.

After receiving a mammoth response in the US, where Yoga as a subject was seriously followed by parents and children, Dr Nagendra has ambitious plans to start a school in association with the mainstream educational curriculum to impart perfect knowledge of Yoga for the Brit-Indian youngsters.