The inaugural course of yoga instructors in Orlando, Florida, with two dozen students, concluded last month-end with the fresh batch graduating and ready for spreading this ancient art and science of all-round healing of the body and mind.

Renowned yoga teachers, N.V.Raghuram and Vijaya Kumar, assisted by Veena Vijaya Lakshmi, all from Bangalore (India)-based internationally famous Swami Vivekananda Yoga Anusandhana Samsthana (SVYASA) gave intensive and wide-ranging training to the future yoga teachers. With lessons in both theory and practice, healing power and physical/mental wellness imparted with dedication, the course was a welcome addition to the activities of the Hindu University of America.

All students were given certificates on the completion of the course. Many of the newly certified teachers have already started taking classes in different counties of the state of Florida.

Vijaya Kumar is a former Mechanical engineer, like his older brother Rama Rao, who just left Houston after nine years to take up International Coordinator's post with SVYASA.

Back to Houston after the Florida course, Vijay Kumar narrated his interesting experience with the trainees. He said of the student groups there were two doctors, a few software personnel and some business people. Every one showed keen interest not only in learning about the various aspects of yoga theory and practice but also expressed their desire to take up Yoga Therapy courses starting in September.

The theory classes were held at the Sanathana temple and the practicals at HUA premises. The inaugural course was impressive and well liked and will be the foundation for all future courses

Hindu University of America (HUA) and Swami Vivekananda Yoga Anusandhana Samsthana (SVYASA) have given a significant fillip to the popularization of Yoga and its healing powers with their affiliation and the starting of Yoga teachers training course in Orlando, Florida.

Initiated by the Vice Chancellor of SVYASA, Dr. H.R. Nagendra, an internationally acclaimed Yoga promoter who was in Houston recently, and HUA leaders the teachers training courses will be managed and run by yoga teachers from India. This year in January the Board had elected Dr. Nagendra as President. He plans to lead HUA in the direction of Yoga sciences for a holistic life on a larger scale and international recognition.

After the first batch of yoga teachers passing out a large number of people have shown interest in yoga and teaching the ancient Hindu art and science of physical and mental well-being. A number of new students are being enrolled for subsequent course.

Dr. Nagendra, while in Houston, had outlined ambitious plans to make HUA an important center of Yogic exercises and yogic healing on the lines of SVYASA, the pioneering institution.

Vijaya Kumar, who served as Mechanical Engineer in the Middle East for a dozen years, is now a devoted Yoga teacher/therapist for as many years with SVYASA. He said what he saw and experienced in 1998 in Bangalore, changed his life. He is on a six-month assignment in Houston area but was sent by Dr. Nagendra to start and conduct the training course in Florida.

Vijay Kumar has been conducting group teaching as well as one-one-one personal therapy. He said Yoga and Pranayam are universally beneficial but individual cases are treated differently and exercises and therapeutic Yoga prescribed for them.

He said seven out of 10 people don't breathe correctly; right breathing can solve 50% of general health problems. His normal exercise routine includes correct breathing, loosening up of all joints and caring for the backbone. Abdominal care and correction is an important basis for good health, he said.

The sprawling 100-acre deemed-to-be-university SVYASA is now fully collaborating with HUA in extending Yoga education and therapy and Vedic/Hindu culture.

According to Lynn Vannucci, Students Affairs Administrator, Hindu University of America was founded about 20 years back. It's also affiliated with several education and social institution in the US, such as Florida International University, American Council of Vedic Astrology, Ayurvedic Academy, American Vedic Institute, Schiller International University, Valencia Community College, Sri Sathya Sai Veda Pratishthan, Indian Council for Vedic Astrology, International Association for Scientific Spiritualism, European Institute of Vedic Studies, Yogi Hari's Ashram, Amrit Yoga Institute, SACAR with Sri Aurobindo studies and others.

The HUA is committed to a comprehensive and liberal education with a broad curriculum at Masters and Doctoral levels in various areas related to Hindu religion, philosophy, language and culture providing the students with a practical base for their spiritual growth.

Hindu University of America was incorporated in Orlando in 1989 by the State of Florida. As a non-profit organization, the University holds a 501(c) (3) tax exempt status. A unique dimension of Hindu thought and traditions, the University is open to all people of all races, religions, beliefs and national origin. The word "Hindu" used in the name of the University includes all the Dharmic (religious) traditions and beliefs originating in India, and Hindu University strives to promote all of these.
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[Yatindra Bhatnagar, a prolific writer-author and poet, is a former Chief Editor of India Post and currently Editor-in-Chief of Internationalopinion.com, a website devoted to world affairs, focusing on India, Indo-American relations and the US. He can be reached at yatasha@hotmail.com]