Swami Ramdev (born in 1965), also known as Baba Ramdev, is a Yog Guru. Yog is something not new, but its essence somehow got lost in the mists of time. People knew about it but very few were practicing is emphatically. Almost a decade ago Swami Ramdev reanimated the scope of yog and ayurveda. He has scientifically evolved prananyaam as well as yog, which were previously comprehended by Patanjali and many other well versed gurus.
Early life
Ramdev was born as Ramkishan Yadav in Alipur, in the Mahendragarh district of Indian state of Haryana. He attended school through the eight grade in Shahjadpur. Thereafter, he joined a yogic monastery (gurukul) in Khanpur village to study Sanskrit and Yog. Eventually, he renounced worldly life and entered into Sanyas (monastic living) - taking the name Swami Ramdev. Then he went to Jind district and joined the Kalva gurukul and offered free Yog training to villagers across Haryana. It is said that he travelled the Himalayas for several years before he settled in Haridwar. He discovered several medicinal plants in the Himalayas which he uses in treating his patients. Ramdev started relentless efforts to popularise Yog in 1995 with the establishment of Divya Yog Mandir Trust along with Acharya Karamveer.
Life
In 1995, Ramdev joined the order of swamis after being initiated into the ascetic order by Swami Shankerdevji Maharaj. While training to be a Swami, Ramdev spent many years undertaking an intense and thorough study of ancient Indian scriptures. At the same time, he also practiced intense self-discipline and meditation. He teaches that God resides in every human being and that the body is God's temple. He is a firm believer in the concept of Vasudaiv Kutambakam (the whole World is one family) and decries practices that discriminate on the basis of caste, creed or gender. His fundamental belief is that expressions of love, affection and compassion towards all living things are the true worship of the Creator.
Work and Teaching
Ramdev has taught several aspects of traditional Indian scriptures such as Ashtadhyayee, Mahabhashya and Upanishads along with six systems of Indian Philosophy in various Gurukuls (traditional Indian systems of education). He has helped establish Gurukuls in Kishangarh, Ghashera, and Mahendragarh in India. He has also founded the Patanjali Yogpeeth Trust which has built several institutions. In addition to helping people learn about Yog and spirituality, these institutions also provide a comprehensive facility that promotes the practice of Ayurveda - the traditional system of holistic medicine developed in India. He teaches Pranayama which is a series of techniques for breath control that were developed as a part of the ancient Indian system of Yog. Heretofore, these techniques were often thought of as being esoteric and complex and portrayed as being unsuitable for lay people. Consequently, their use was often limited to advanced practitioners of Yog and undertaken only under the strict supervision of an experienced teacher. Ramdev has worked to break these barriers and help make the practice of Pranayama achievable by the ordinary layperson. His educational show is broadcast on Indian national TV (AASTHA channel) from morning 6-8 am and evening 8-9 pm (IST) several times a week and he also has dedicated shows such as Total Tandurusti airing on Zee network, a show on Sahara One at 9:00 am, Yog Science on IndiaTV at 7:30 am & 1:30 pm [2]. Total viewership is in millions. According to the synopsis that is available to Sky Digital viewers, Ramdev " was a paralytic" prior to taking up Yog. He has been conducting Yog Science camps regularly all over the country, and sometimes abroad as well. In 2006, the Ramdev spent almost a month in London teaching Pranayam and Yog. Total attendance in these camps exceeds tens of thousands. Viewers of the TV show and attendees at the camp have reported significant improvements in their health - citing relief from many illnesses such as Diabetes, Heart Disease, and Hypertension.
Pranayama
The Pranayama programme as taught by Swami Ramdev consists of the following seven key breathing exercises (in sequence):
Ramdev was born as Ramkishan Yadav in Alipur, in the Mahendragarh district of Indian state of Haryana. He attended school through the eight grade in Shahjadpur. Thereafter, he joined a yogic monastery (gurukul) in Khanpur village to study Sanskrit and Yog. Eventually, he renounced worldly life and entered into Sanyas (monastic living) - taking the name Swami Ramdev. Then he went to Jind district and joined the Kalva gurukul and offered free Yog training to villagers across Haryana. It is said that he travelled the Himalayas for several years before he settled in Haridwar. He discovered several medicinal plants in the Himalayas which he uses in treating his patients. Ramdev started relentless efforts to popularise Yog in 1995 with the establishment of Divya Yog Mandir Trust along with Acharya Karamveer.
Life
In 1995, Ramdev joined the order of swamis after being initiated into the ascetic order by Swami Shankerdevji Maharaj. While training to be a Swami, Ramdev spent many years undertaking an intense and thorough study of ancient Indian scriptures. At the same time, he also practiced intense self-discipline and meditation. He teaches that God resides in every human being and that the body is God's temple. He is a firm believer in the concept of Vasudaiv Kutambakam (the whole World is one family) and decries practices that discriminate on the basis of caste, creed or gender. His fundamental belief is that expressions of love, affection and compassion towards all living things are the true worship of the Creator.
Work and Teaching
Ramdev has taught several aspects of traditional Indian scriptures such as Ashtadhyayee, Mahabhashya and Upanishads along with six systems of Indian Philosophy in various Gurukuls (traditional Indian systems of education). He has helped establish Gurukuls in Kishangarh, Ghashera, and Mahendragarh in India. He has also founded the Patanjali Yogpeeth Trust which has built several institutions. In addition to helping people learn about Yog and spirituality, these institutions also provide a comprehensive facility that promotes the practice of Ayurveda - the traditional system of holistic medicine developed in India. He teaches Pranayama which is a series of techniques for breath control that were developed as a part of the ancient Indian system of Yog. Heretofore, these techniques were often thought of as being esoteric and complex and portrayed as being unsuitable for lay people. Consequently, their use was often limited to advanced practitioners of Yog and undertaken only under the strict supervision of an experienced teacher. Ramdev has worked to break these barriers and help make the practice of Pranayama achievable by the ordinary layperson. His educational show is broadcast on Indian national TV (AASTHA channel) from morning 6-8 am and evening 8-9 pm (IST) several times a week and he also has dedicated shows such as Total Tandurusti airing on Zee network, a show on Sahara One at 9:00 am, Yog Science on IndiaTV at 7:30 am & 1:30 pm [2]. Total viewership is in millions. According to the synopsis that is available to Sky Digital viewers, Ramdev " was a paralytic" prior to taking up Yog. He has been conducting Yog Science camps regularly all over the country, and sometimes abroad as well. In 2006, the Ramdev spent almost a month in London teaching Pranayam and Yog. Total attendance in these camps exceeds tens of thousands. Viewers of the TV show and attendees at the camp have reported significant improvements in their health - citing relief from many illnesses such as Diabetes, Heart Disease, and Hypertension.
Pranayama
The Pranayama programme as taught by Swami Ramdev consists of the following seven key breathing exercises (in sequence):
- Bhastrika Pranayam
- Kapal Bhati Pranayam
- Bahaya Pranayam
- Anulom Vilom Pranayama
- Bhramri Pranayam
- Udgeeth Pranayam
- Pranab Dwani
