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Video is increasingly being used as a medium of education and training. This trend has caught on with Yoga also. If we recall some of the very important events that took place and went unrecorded, we can understand the importance of video recording.
Such an important event took place in the USA, in the year 1893. That was when Swami Vivekananda addressed the Parliament of Religions, with his world famous, “Brothers and Sisters of America”. It would have been a million dollar video recording. Humanity would have the humanity to watch an unknown entity becoming world-famous overnight!
Was it the way he spoke? It was much more than that. His Yogic prowess shone through his speech. Since there is no video recording of the event, we have to be satisfied with only press reports, which appeared then, and a few photographs. We missed the video recording of the event.
Learning the techniques of yoga, including various asanas, has become an obsession. At the same time, it has given rise to many unhealthy practices! Persons with little or no proper qualifications or expertise are operating yoga centers. Many untrained people deceive people by showing them Yoga books, video recordings and teaching asanas, without any emphasis on correct technique. A student before selecting a teacher should determine the credentials of the teacher.
In the modern age, where the concept of the world as one family is gaining ground, the advantage of video cannot be ruled out. Yoga is a rigorous spiritual discipline. Tragically, it is being propagated as a means of physical fitness or a set of physical exercises. Its highest goal has been and will be reaching a state of bliss, total freedom from mortal bindings and enlightenment. Physical health and emotional balance are important but are secondary goals.
As the popularity of Yoga as a physical fitness discipline increases, the entry of charlatans in the yoga business is bound to increase. There is no easy way that this can be prevented. Be careful and cautions before you commit yourself to a yoga teacher.
Today, video is an important means to teach Yoga throughout the world. What will happen when yoga is practiced all over the world and people enjoy perfect health? The majority of the medical practitioners will be unemployed. It does not matter. Let the principle of greatest good for the greatest numbers prevail!
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