Stress Management Workshop at MES College of Engineering, Pune

I didn't schedule any events in the month of  March 15 as I was winding up my stay in Auroville. For the next year or so, Bangalore will be my place of living while getting the house constructed in Devlali, near Nasik, Maharastra. So, after winding up my stay in Auroville I spent a  couple of weeks finding my bearings and went to Nasik. I was facing some issues and needed the help and guidance of Cmde. Syam, who lives in Pune. That took me to Pune and I thought it was a good idea to meet Cdr. Chhabra, a good friend and my batch mate in the Navy and spend a day at with him at his home. When he was driving me to his home, he told me that he was helping the students of MES College of Engineering since 5 years and asked me whether I would like to give a lecture to the students. I grabbed the opportunity and the event happened next day afternoon.

My preference is always to do workshops as I believe that workshops could be experiential. The challenge was to compress what is normally done in more than 10 hours into one hour , make it useful and experiential. I enjoyed addressing the challenge and the event went very well, in my experience. 

What was remarkable was what followed the event. Cdr Chhabra shared the very innovative and noble work he is doing for the students. He is helping the students who are not placed and who fail in some subjects to reorient themselves to the world outside and be winners. He does this by offering them a free course at the end of the final year where they are given grounding in Systems Engineering, self-awareness, self-responsibility and soft skills. At the end of the program, he is willing to appoint them at a salary of Rs10,000 per month  and find their path in life. He finds mentors for some and many mentors absorb the students in regular jobs , even if they have not yet 'erased' their degree. He helps some people to find jobs. He gives work in his own company for others. I marvel at the ingenuity of the model and the positive impact it could have on the students in boosting their self esteem and inner transformation. I felt very touched, moved and inspired by what he is doing and feel privileged to have  a friend like him. I do wish that the model he started grows and creates a humane network that recognizes the intrinsic , unique potential of each student. I believe that lack of academic achievement should never be the barrier  for flowering of the individual in manifesting his or her own uniqueness. I salute the noble spirit in which Cdr Chhabra is helping the students to realize their true potential.   

Nine workshops and my epiphany on Mindful Pranayama

How can I blog about 9 workshops and retreats done over a  period of 3 months now? I better not attempt it but hope to share some of the things that I went through during this period.
I decided to relocate from Auroville (as  a place of living) to Bangalore by the first week of March 2015. I have been working on setting up an Optical Fiber Network in Auroville and the many, unexpected positive developments contributed to the project gathering lots of momentum. This added to the demands on my time and one of the things that I put on the back burner was my blog.
I am adding some pics of the events during this period.  I would not like to rebuild or recap on the specific events but would like to share that I enjoyed every moment of the workshops.
One important event happened on 8 Feb 2015, my wife's 60th Birthday. Sometime in the rally hours of the morning, I heard a clear voice tell me " You are doing mindful Pranayama. It is your Dharma to share it". It was a strange but thrilling experience for me and next day I did some research on the web. John Kabat Zinn started the fusion of Mindfulness and Hatha Yoga. Some web sites do talk about Mindfullness Pranayama.
When I think about it, an analogy comes to my mind -  driving a car. When I was a novice, I was overwhelmed by the demands of driving but as I had more and more hours of driving experience, it was easy to drive, hold conversations and enjoy the scenery -  being mindful. With years of practice and the repeated instructions I have been giving in several hundred workshop sessions, I am able to 'Be Mindful' during the practice of Pavan Mukthasana exercises, Pranayama and Yoga Nidra that make up my integral practice. An important aspect is to be joyful - Yoga is Union in with the Divine.Like driving, I do my practice while 'Being Mindful' of the effect of the practice on my body and mind.

 

I am not sure about the correlation between what I am doing and what others are doing. But, I am happy and grateful for the opportunity of sharing. My epiphany redoubled my enthusiasm to share the practices that have been so beneficial for me in my life.
I am sure that more of what I need to know about this will be revealed to me when needed.

Wellbeing Workshop at Savitri Bhavan, Auroville

I started doing this workshop as a seven session event in Auroville. Why? Because, many Yoga workshops and Pranayama workshops (that I attended) are seven session events. Without realizing, that gave me some kind of comfort. As the time went by, I started noticing that two thirds of the participants in each workshop are guests (not Aurovilians) and many of them don’t participate for more than 3 sessions as they come to Auroville for a short duration. So, it made sense to make it a 3 session workshop, though I still think that 5-7 practice sessions are required for an average participant (whatever that means) to be confident about practicing on his or her own. I have not collected any data but that is my ‘gut’ sense. At least, I don’t feel very confident that they would feel confident. So, here is a trade off. Do seven session workshops where many people do only half the sessions and don’t get a hang of how to practice because the workshop is designed to introduce various practices step-by-step over seven sessions OR alter the design to 3 session workshop so that more people actually get the full exposure they need, if they attend all the sessions. This is a tough decision to make but it gradually went in favour 3 session workshop due to (a) Aurovilians and long term guests/ visitors can attend (and are attending) the workshop again or part of the workshop to refresh (b) my commitments outside Auroville are increasing and it is becoming more and more difficult to schedule 7 session events. So, I took the step of reducing it to 5 sessions, which was in my ‘doable’ zone and now, after 3 years, did the first (regular) event in Savitri Bhavan. Of course, a critical issue is to train myself to do it in 3 sessions. My workshops in USA and Europe were very helpful in this respect because I had to make do with the available days and possible sessions.

It is an early and heavy monsoon in Auroville and it is green, cool and beautiful. Savitri Bhavan is one of the best maintained spaces in Auroville and I feel lucky and grateful to do the events in this wonderful space and the help from Suresh and Murugan makes it a pleasure to present the events here. Sharing Pranayama is a supreme Joy for me and I am happy and grateful that so many people are interested in Pranayama. House full on all three days. On the 3^rd day, two young boys (from Israel) joined and they brought with them an incredible pristine energy and lighted up the whole space. Their father told me that, as he was trying out the practice , they got interested and wanted to come. The younger boy was particularly spontaneous with a radiant smile that goes straight to the heart. He came running to me at the end of the session, gave me a big hug and said “you are so cute”. What a marvellous, precious, touching gift! I feel fortunate and blessed to receive it.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   

My sense is that the workshop did cover what I do in seven sessions and I think the objective is achieved – those who attend all the 3 sessions would be well introduced to Pranayama but the practice sessions were less. That doesn’t mean that they have inadequate exposure to practice but in my opinion, the ‘average’ participant would be better equipped to practice on their own if the sessions are more. As I do this workshop once in a month at Auroville (this is the 66^th workshop in 7 years), those who are staying longer in Auroville can always come back. Also, I am more comfortable taking this decision in Auroville as many people who live here and come here have some exposure to Yoga and they are aware of its nuances. As I am planning to take a break from Auroville in about 6-12 months, the shortened version is becoming more of a necessity and I am glad to have made a beginning - a good beginning in my opinion. This was reinforced by the feedback I gathered from some participants who attended my workshop for the first time. But some of those who attended the longer format didn’t agree. So, I let it be and let it rest for a while and allow it to unfold. 

IDL at Van Niwas Ashram, Nainital for students of IIM, Indore

What can I say about this program that I had the good luck to conduct five years in a row? That it is getting better year by year and I am enjoying it more and more very year. Somehow.

First, let me talk a bit about the program. It is a combination of outdoor adventure activities, Yoga/Pranayama, mindfulness and fun. The most important aspect is the venue- the serene Sri Aurobindo Ashram perched on a hillock in the lush verdure of the foot-hills of Himalayas. I believe that the immersive communion with nature for a week is highly transformative, for each individual in a unique way even though it may not be obvious. But, it happens. And, everyone goes back enriched and enlightened in some sense. Can I prove this? No. Can somebody disprove this? No. Therein lies the opportunity and mystery of this program, making it an enigma, a romance, a challenge and an indelible experience every time I conduct it. 

I have three primary passions at this juncture in my life: conducting workshops, travel and my own personal growth. I am lucky that almost every event that I do gives the opportunity in all these three dimensions. The interesting aspect of IDL is that it is the only program in which I am also enjoying the immersive, transformational communion with nature. So, in some sense, it offers more opportunity for my personal growth and that is the delightful aspect of this program for me. In the five consecutive years, the program is refined and fine-tuned to suit the participants and make the best use of the time and space. So, as time went by, the one week stay here is giving me more time and space as an opportunity for my personal growth. That is a blessing!

We had a new challenge in the form of rain. The cyclone in the Bay of Bengal that devastated Vishakhaptnam reached up to Nainital and no outdoor adventure activity was possible for one complete day. But we could actually address some of the planning and alignment issues in the morning and the students did go to Nainital town in the rain - an unorganized adventure. Some of them came back after a short time and many enjoyed Nainital by rain.

We went on the long trek next day and there was a pleasant surprise in the form of golden sun shine, more vivid colors of nature and unbelievable clear visibility. The combination was fabulous and fantastic! From the Snow View Point, we had an uninterrupted panoramic view of the snow clad mountains of Himalayas and that was an awesome sight I never experienced in any mountain range. I could see every peak and every valley with the naked eye and the glowing, snow white peaks and the dark green, lush verdure were a feast for the senses beyond the eyes. The silver clouds were lying low as if a veil has dropped down to reveal the eternal infiniteness of the Himalayas and the clouds added fascinating colours and an ethereal beauty to the already incredible beautiful scene. The ozone charged air, the smell of the rain soaked greenery and earth, the songs of birds were a feast to the senses and when I am typing this I am transported back to that magical experience. This had an unpredictable effect on me and I was drawn to keep going and going without a break and that took me far-enough ahead of the group that created an un-explainable, magically transformational experience of being alone in this immersive infiniteness. The vastness of the Himalayas appeared to be dominating and at first I felt small and insignificant, over-awed by this eternal and seemingly infinite and infinitely beautiful and life giving mountain range – the abode of the Gods. When I kept walking at some point this duality of big and small, infinite and infinitesimal, eternal and transient dissolved and I experienced a oneness with this beauty and vibrant energy in which I am immersed. I felt that blissful oneness and lost it when some of the earliest student groups caught up with me about 500m from form our destination. What would it take on my part to be in the conciseness of Oneness and Bliss when I am with people? Isn’t it the same conditioning which made me feel small and spate form the Mountains and the Nature? Aren’t the other people part of the Nature and I need not be separate from them to experience Oneness. Though I was not mindful about it in the moment I lost it, I appear to have an answer, at least intellectually. Filling the gap between the intellectual insight and experiential wisdom is the next step in my Yoga.

I was very fortunate that Mukesh, the Class Representative (CR) of the program was very effective in performing the difficult role of being a bridge between the faculty, students and the Ashram staff and administration. It is difficult because he has no authority over anyone; and quite often , there are conflicting perspectives and interests. These would require long meetings and almost endless discussions to bring coherence.  The fact that we did not have even  a single meeting with group leaders or Ashram staff or Ashram Administration - is a testimony to the effectiveness of the CR. He did the job excellently, ably supported by Priyalata, the CR for lady participants and the leaders of all the 10 groups of students. It would have been impossible for me to participate like I did in the long trek without the confidence in CRs and group leaders. I am grateful to them for giving me the time and specie to trek alone. Paragliding is an optional event that is growing in popularity and now close to 50% of the students opted to go for it. Deepak did a good job of managing it. Finally, I made new friends in Akshaya and Biswanath, the facility from IIMI.

One of the unexpected boons of conducting this program is the inspiration and joy I feel when I see the participants going beyond their perceived limits – bringing forth that bold, courageous hero (or heroine) that is in every one of us. This IDL was particularly rewarding in this direction. While there are many such heroic deeded, I would always remember some of them for the way I was moved and inspired.

It was pleasure to have met Ajay at Indore after the introduction to Himalaya Outbound Program, Nainital, when he expressed his interest and apprehensions to participate in the program. I responded positively but had no real idea about how he would participate and enjoy the program with his (near 100%) impaired vision. In the very first trek on day 1, I realized what a  privilege it is to witness how his indomitable spirit could overcome physical limitation. I read about people like Erik Weihenmayer but it was the first time ever that I saw someone actually transcend visual impairment.  Day after day, Ajay kept amazing me with his participation in Scrambling, Rappelling, River Crossing and all the treks in the difficult mountain terrain. He topped it up with a very enjoyable stand-up comedy act in the camp-fire program. There is a story about Helen Keller – someone asked her how difficult it was to have no sight. She said that the important this was vision and the real difficulty was if one had no vision. Ajay made me see this experientially. It was  a joy to witness the joy with which he participated in each and every event. It was an honour to award the “ The Most Inspiring Participant” as well as the “Best Individual Participant” prizes to Ajya. This is the first time in 5 years that the same person has won both the prizes.

Then there was Ranbir, who had club-foot and other difficulties. I remember that a couple of times people with such difficulties came to the program but quit after a day or two saying that they were getting bored. But here was Ranbir, who invented his way into participating and enjoying despite his limitations. That spirit is awesome.

The heroine of the program was Ankita. She slipped and fell at the end of the first day and twisted her ankle in the process. She was in two minds about the night trek on the second day but mustered the courage to boldly go for it. I was walking with her on the way back and could connect with the pain she was experiencing and the courage she was generating. It was during this time she learnt and used a self healing process while walking and actually healed herself. She was the lone lady participant to climb Niana peak. She is bundle of positive energy and her enthusiasm is infectious and it was wonderful to watch her transcending her real and imaginary limits again and again.

I would also remember the two teams from the Mumbai campus of IIM, Indore for their extraordinary participation and jointly winning the best team prize. Their level of participation, enthusiasm and bonding as a team committed to take the best possible value from the program were a cut above the rest. Charu was also the joint (along with Ajay) winner of the “best individual participant’. I feel privileged to witness that spirit; more so as the instructor. The most interesting aspect is that the two teams form Mumbai are so close in performance and so much above the rest that we were compelled to declare them as joint winners(for the first time in 5 years!). It was inspiring to see that spirit and attitude of giving 100%. After all, that is the opportunity of being alive- choosing what you do with your whole being- mindfulness.

The team prize last year was also won by the lone Mumbai Team. I do wish and hope that the Mumbai campus would nurture the attitude and culture which is at the source of this because it is precious and fundamental to excellence in groups and teams.

One of the bonus aspects for  the IDL is the campfire programs put up by the students. I enjoyed this  year as well and enjoyed them immensely. Sometimes, I wonder if some of the students I see have  missed their true calling in fine arts and entertainment. 

Another bonus is to meet Sri Nalin Ji and watch Jayanto and his team. My respect for this team increases every year and I do hope that we can do a case study of the Ashram.

I am adding some pictures here.  The complete set of pictures I took (when my camera was working and I remembered to carry it with me and take pictures) could be seen at

View JV Avadhanulu's Gallery

When I am concluding this post, I feel a deep gratitude to everyone who made this possible and contributed to my personal growth. 

Good health and Wellbeing workshops at IIM, Indore.

 I love to go to the beautiful campus of IIM, Indore. There is something in the air and the wonderful view from this abode of learning perched on a hillock. The lush greenery nurtured by the recent rains added to the beauty and the fact that much of the construction work in the core area is complete has contributed to the scenic splendor – a delightful blend of man-made structures and natural beauty. 

The venue for the Pranayama sessions is shifted to first floor hall in the new sports complex. It is a beautiful, well ventilated hall, ideally suited for Pranayama  with a lovely view of the Olympic size swimming pool to the east and the infinite green view on the west. The workshop went very well and I think this is my best even experience ever at IIMI, as I felt very happy and satisfied with the participation of ten students. Almost all of them bought Yoga mats which declares the intention of practicing. They were in-time for all the sessions and were quite focused and highly participative. I enjoyed their responses and was delighted with their questions. As this is a workshop with 2 credits, I conduct a quiz and the mean score in this workshop is higher by 14%. That correlates with my subjective opinion. The class representative has done an excellent job and this helped me a lot. I was inspired by their resolutions and the personal plans they made to enjoy a  higher level of good health and well being. This is one of the best-ever workshop experiences for me. Thank you, dear students, for the wonderful opportunity and I look forward to meeting many of you at Nainital next month and would be happy if you choose to participate in the Stress Management workshop in VI Term.  I am also thinking of offering a "Being Happier" workshop in the VI Term.

Apart from the workshop for the students, I was very fortunate to be given the opportunity to do a 5 session workshop for the faculty/staff and families. This was real gift for me because many of my friends attended and I had an opportunity to meet their family members. I could also connect more closely with many others with whom I interacted and who helped me in my work. I also made new friends. The gorgeous view of the setting sun in the western sky was an added bonus!

I am grateful to The Director, The Dean, PGP Chair and PGP Office for the opportunity. I am grateful to each and everyone who participated in the workshops and gave me the opportunity to share Pranayama and take another step in walking the path of the purpose of my life.