Striking the right work balance

A leading Osteopath and Art of Living exponent delves into how yoga can positively impact our day-to-day working lives. As an Osteopath, I'm concerned with function and how the body can best manage disease and injury. As an Art of Living teacher and volunteer, I'm interested in spirituality and its influence on people and society. I often tell my patients that Yoga is the most comprehensive form of exercise that I have come across. Whether it is a specialised class or an introductory session, the body and the mind need yoga.

Our physical body is made up of organs that promote and maintain our systemic function. The Mind being metaphysical isn't something that is observed under a microscope. Neurones are cells that make up the brain and nervous system but the mind is not gross and physical. The tangible link between the body and the mind, as my Guru Sri Sri Ravi Shankar has always informed, is the 'breath', which is also the keystone of all yogic practice. Yoga is a highly specified series of actions which directly leads to the support and strengthening of the body's organs and faculties, which action healing, growth and the regeneration processes. Yoga postures in effect 'direct' mechanical forces and pressures which lead to organs in the body receiving nutrients from the blood stream. Increased nutrition comes from increased arterial (oxygenated) blood flow and the drainage happens by increased venous (deoxygenated blood) return. This removes the build-up of toxins and the by-products of cellular activity from tissues. Parallel to this there is a profound effect of reducing anxiety and stress which results in a calmer state of mind and therefore better cognitive function, which is the basis of 'better decision making' and increased productivity. As we become more established in our professional lives, we also become more efficient and better programmed to achieve professional goals, which are often not aligned to becoming healthier, fitter or even physically more active. In fact it is usually the opposite, leading to sedentary lifestyles where muscles, ligaments and joints become chronic, stressed and start to dysfunction. Yoga and meditation has crossed all socio-economic and cultural boundaries, the discipline and practice is now

becoming deeper ingrained into everyday life and informing people's views on their place in society as individuals and as a collective. Initiatives such as International Yoga Day if anything have brought about recognition of Yoga's increasing popularity globally and brings together practitioners who are themselves the ambassadors of this ancient practice. According to Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, 'Corruption begins where belongingness ends'. One would never bring harm to one's own when there is a sense of belonging. It is yogic practices that expand one's sense of belonging, leading to society that can co-exist and embraces principles of non-violence. Sri Sri recently mediated talks between the revolutionary armed Columbian rebel forces FARC and the Columbian government, encouraging FARC to adopt the Gandhian principles of non-violence. Currently there is a ceasefire in Columbia, and the country hopes for continued cooperation. As an ambassador of peace, Sri Sri's efforts are underpinned by Yoga and Meditation.

Keerti Mathur is an associate at the Gait and Posture Centre at Harley Street in London and has been practicing Osteopathy for 10 years. He is part of the Art of Living faculty and a keen musician. Under the guidance of Art of Living Founder Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, Keerti worked to set up India's first school of Osteopathic medicine in Sri Sri university Orissa