Warm Houston Welcome for Swami Ramdev
By Kalyani Giri
Last Updated: July 18, 2008
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HOUSTON: A sea of colorful yoga mats covered the floors of a cavernous hall at the George R. Brown Convention Center (GRBCC) early Wednesday morning in preparation for the arrival of the yoga enthusiasts attending the Yog Camp to be conducted by the internationally renowned superstar Yog savant, Swami Ramdev, of Haridwar, India. A veritable rainbow nation of a culturally diverse crowd of over 2000 from the local communities and surrounding areas made their bright and chipper appearances even before the dawn broke. As the visiting yogi entered the hall, video cameras tracked his progress as he smilingly wended his way to the stage with folded palms, his image projected onto large screens flanking the massive stage tastefully decorated with white flower garlands. The capacity audience who had for months eagerly awaited his arrival in this city, rose in unison and accorded the Swami a standing ovation. Also in attendance to welcome the sage were spiritual leaders and religious clergy from various denominations in this city. Over the next two hours, Swami Ramdev showed his inimitable mettle as a Yog guru extraordinaire as he put Yog enthusiasts through the oftentimes-rigorous paces of asanas and breathing exercises with continuous instruction, an infectious smile, and gentle humor.
Swami Ramdev is presently on an international tour of selected cities within the USA and Canada by popular demand from a legion of followers excited and enjoying the healthful benefits of practicing his particular brand of Yog.
Popularized on the cable health channel Aastha Television, the yogi reaches the masses with messages of wellness, health, and humanity. His doctrine that it is the birthright of every human being to have a healthy body has become a well-known catch phrase in circles where Yog has become a lifestyle practice. Knowledgeable in the Vedic sciences, the Swami places more emphasis on pranayama, an ancient breathing technique. If performed correctly, contends the Swami, the lungs draw in ten times more oxygen inundating the blood and cells with rich rejuvenating oxygen to promote a disease-free life. Many practicing the breathing techniques methodically and regularly have found a dramatic improvement in their health. Many with chronic health ailments such as diabetes, hypertension, asthma, migraine, and arthritis, have found the debilitating symptoms miraculously disappear.
In 1995, Swami Ramdev established the Divya Yog Mandir Trust and established the Patanjali Yog Peeth in Haridwar, India. Patanjali Yog Peeth is fast gaining repute as a formidable research institute committed to eradicating disease through yoga and traditional herbs. His vision is to free the world of modern-day diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, arthritis, Parkinsons disease, and cancer by conducting core research into the knowledge base of the great saints and sages such as Patanjali, Charak, and Sushurut. Swami Ramdev’s vision includes forming an integrated system of treatment primarily using the techniques of yoga as well as ayurveda and acupressure. Houston’s Fort Bend County will soon be home to the only other Patanjali Yog Peeth outside of India. The Peeth project, headed by visionary/sponsor local businessman Ramesh Bhutada, with support from the local community, and spearheaded by Yog activist Shekhar Agrawal, will be the first research and wellness center of its kind in North America. The Bhoomi Pooja will be held this week with the blessings of Swami Ramdev.
Earlier in the week, Swami Ramdev was ceremonially welcomed at the BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir in Stafford by the resident priest and a large gathering from the local community. Following his speech deferentially delivered in the Gujarati language, the Swami met with community leaders and media. He outlined his own vision for the Patanjali Yog Peeth to be constructed here, and asked that leaders unite in making the project successful. He stressed that the Yog Peeth would be non-denominational and open to all, regardless of race or religion. Yog and good health are god-bestowed benefits to be enjoyed by all, he added. Wednesday afternoon, Swami Ramdev reiterated his message of unity at the India House premises on West Bellfort where he urged the community to lend a helping hand to the villages of India where medicines and medical help are not always available. Hailing from a village himself, the Swami told of his own efforts in teaching yoga to people in rural areas to propagate a healthier lifestyle.
On July 17, at 7.00pm, Swami Ramdev will speak at the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center. The session is already fully booked by physicians and health care professionals eager to hear his theories.
Swami Ramdev’s concern for youth and children are well documented. In India, he has famously convinced young people to quit imbibing soft drinks. He is perturbed by the high rate of childhood obesity in the US and wants to help communities become more proactive in this issue. Yoga, maintains the Swami, can cure all ills. On Saturday, July 19, Swami Ramdev will conduct a yoga class free of cost to youth and children at the GRBCC at 5.00pm.
To accommodate many adults who could not attend the camp, he has extended the hours to include weekend sessions on the mornings of July 19-20. The adult sessions will not be free of cost; registration for the course is $100 - $250. The Yog Camp, coordinated by a team of dedicated volunteers ensured the smooth execution of the first day of the camp; undoubtedly, the monumental enterprise required much logistical forethought and long hours of hard work. Kudos to the indefatigable group of volunteers.
For more information, visit www.YogCampHouston.com or call Shekhar Agrawal (281) 242 5000, Ramesh Shah (281) 933 6169, Indira Singhal (281) 537 0018 or Vijay Pallod (281) 568 4995.
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