“The mind is prepared to face challenges” – Vyasah Kalyanasunderam
The tradition of yoga has been in existence for thousands of years. The practice of it will enrich your mind, body and soul. It has often been described as a spiritual journey, as it invites you to merge your own consciousness with the consciousness of the universe. Vyasah Kalyanasunderam, the chief Yoga Instructor at Astanka Yoga Mandir and Institute of Human Excellence, and also the chief Yoga trainer and lecturer at the Indian Cultural Centre (Cultural Unit of the Indian High Commission) in Colombo reveals details of his own unique relationship with yoga.
The Astanka Yoga Mandir was founded by Vyasah’s mother, the late Mrs. Selvam Kalyanasunderam, a barrister and educator by profession. In addition, she had a deep and extensive knowledge on the scriptures. “The great yoga master H.H.Dr.Swami Sivananda Saraswathi had 12 disciples. His first female disciple was from Sri Lanka. She established a yoga centre in Trincomalee and my mother became her disciple and successor” he explains.
Defying society’s conventional expectations, Selvam Kalyanasunderam was embarking on becoming a visionary. Tracing his lineage, Vyasah narrates, “My mother was an English Literature, and a Drama and Theatre Teacher at Ramanadan Academy that is attached to the University of Jaffna. During holidays she would take her students on excursions.
It is then, when she met the revered Swami Sivananda Satchidananta Mathaji in Tricomalee, that my mother started to learn yoga and spirituality from her holiness”. Having completed her learning, Selvam Kalyanasunderam wished to provide her teacher with a gift or guru darshana. “My mother asked her holiness what she could get her, and the guru requested my mother to complete her barristers and qualifications in journalism; and that it would be a sufficient gift for her holiness” he reveals.
Returning to Sri Lanka from U.K, Selvam Kalyanasunderam with support from India took to establishing yoga centres around the country. However, in 1983, due to the precarious situation in the country, all activities had to cease. It was only in 1987 that operations resumed and the roots of the Astanka Yoga Mandir in Bambalapitiya started to form. Vyasah says, “Focusing on Colombo, my mother continued her work. She started the first yoga knowledge centre. Then there were the meditation classes...”
Presumably, Vyasah started practising yoga at a very young age. “I got involved with yoga when I was around 5 and that is of course because of my parents. When I was small, there was a devout yogi based in Kataragama. He used to stay with us when he was in Colombo. He used to make me do Surya Namaskar at 4 a.m! And I used to hate it!” he explains with a laugh.
Fortunately, the holistic lifestyle grew on him and Vyasah Kalayanasunderam took to carrying on his mother’s legacy. In 2009, he completely moved in to the field of yoga.
Defining yoga as simply as possible, he replies, “Yoga is an energy building and energy enhancing technique. You see, some people use Asana, some use breathing, and some use meditation as a tool to enhance their energy. The yoga scriptures were created to bring out the best in you. The fact is when you have a lot of energy, your performance will be great”. The form of energy he speaks of is not only a physical one, but emotionally derived as well.
It is common knowledge that yoga benefits a person in numerous ways, which Vyasah acknowledges and says one must have genuine interest for it. “We don’t force yoga on a person. It is a choice to make. Some people come here as a last option for therapy. We tell them to try a few classes, try it for a few months continuously and then decide”. He continues, “Sleeping is a method of resting. But it isn’t enough. Students tell us that watching TV relaxes them. But it actually doesn’t because your neurons are still working. We do a yogic health assessment, where a person is able to explore within themselves for any imbalances. Even the slightest misalignment can have an impact. We check both body alignment and breath alignment. They would have to decide for themselves after that”.
For those who have understood yoga as an activity for the young, or are concerned about weight and size, Vyasah proceeds to set the record straight. “It isn’t about how big or small you are.
Anyone above 5 years can do the yoga practice. Very senior citizens can do chair yoga. The oldest student we have is 88 years old. The Yoga Championships last year had had serious participants well in their sixties” he says confidently.
Over the years, Vyasah has seen the outcome yoga has had and how it has changed people for the better. “We have long standing students and I can see that each one has experienced an individual impact.
Yoga is a complete life science. It focuses on life, soul and emotions. Weight management is only a side effect of this choice. But yoga isn’t only about that” he declares. Nevertheless, as a teacher with the changing times he has had to face challenges. He says thoughtfully, “It takes a little time. People today are looking for instant results. We tell them to give it time. Some students want to do advanced yoga immediately. They want to achieve a whole lot within a quick time span”.
Many tend to misinterpret yoga and its wisdom to be hostile to their own religious beliefs. “People think it might be against their religion. Here at the Yoga Mandir, we explain that yoga is spiritual. We use ancient Sanskrit chants at selected times, for example, when we start a practice and when we end it. However if a student is not comfortable saying it, we don’t force the student to say it” he clarifies.
Possessing a vast experience and certified knowledge on wellness, Vyasah advices readers, “Sleep on time. Eat on time and of course do some form of exercise on a regular basis. Also appreciate nature. This will regularize things for you”. As the lead trainer of the yoga instructor course at the Mandir, he ensues to counsel upcoming instructors. “If as an instructor you are driven by money, then the complete program will be challenging for you. Yoga has to be done with passion, then you can start enjoying teaching. You also need to have a constant learning habit and to expand your knowledge”.
Reverting to encourage those who seek to become more mindful of themselves and their surroundings, Vyasah analyses the core benefits of yoga. He confirms with certainty, “You will see your whole biological system getting balanced. You also strengthen your mind.
The mind is prepared to face challenges. Your problems won’t change, people aren’t going to change but you elevate yourself to see things differently”.