Mind map of Swami Ramdev Pranayam

Over last few weekends, I converted notes on Ramdev Pranayam into a mind map.



My recommendation:
1. Beginners: Watch (only, don't do) Pranayam video for 1-2 times
2. Do Pranayam along with video play, for 10 times (days).
3. Then you are on your own. Now you can use following as your guides
a. Audio extracted from video as mentioned in a previous post. I highly recommend this option because the audio can be put in mobile phone and it can be very handly.
b. Take a printout of above mind map and use it as reference.

I highly recommend you to try out Ramdev Pranayam for good health.

Note:
I tried XMind software (free, open source) to create this mind map. I found it more powerful than FreeMind. Portable version of this software is available here.

Swami Ramdev Pranayama: My customization

Please read related post before reading this.

After practicing Ramdev Pranayama for some time, I realized that I don't need to watch the video every time but I can practice just by listening to the audio. Also I wanted to customize the pranayama package for 30minutes. So I came up with an idea of extracting the audio from the DVD. I extracted the audio and cut it into pieces as below.

Legend:

Track name: Pranayama_x_<type>.mp3

Here x means track number indicates the order of pranayama to be practiced.

<type> means the type of pranayama.

Track name: Pranayama_x1_<type>.mp3

Here x1 means first section split from track number x.

I created 3 play lists: Pranayama25 (Approx. 25 minutes), Pranayama35 (Approx. 35 minutes) and Pranayama45 (Approx. 45 minutes). The play list lengths are odd but it is kept that way keeping in mind the continuity of audio and to avoid abrupt transitions from one type of pranayama to another.

I have copied these audio files into my mobile and created playlists.

Now I can't use following reasons to avoid doing something about my health:

• I don’t feel like practicing pranayama because place is noisy(I can simply use mobile along with headphones)

• My kid takes wants to watch Pogo when I start doing pranayama (I don’t need watch the pranayama video anymore)

• I don’t have enough time! (I can choose the play list as per my convenience!)

Swami Ramdev Pranayama: Excellent productization

I have practised yoga (specifically asanas and pranayama) under the guidance of two teachers since my childhood. I have explored many training CDs on yoga, one of them being Shilpa's yoga (actively marketed CD). I have also watched yoga training classes on TV. But I have not come across any product like Pranayama CD designed and packaged by Swami Ramdev.

I like it for following reasons:

1. Self learning: With Ramdev Swami CD, self learning is possile. You can simply play the CD and follow Swami Ramdev. Even if you have no idea of what Pranayama is, no problem! You may need to atmost watch the CD once or twice to get feel of Pranayama and understand the basics. Then you can start doing pranayam along with Swami Ramdev.

Other CDs are informative and demonstrative but mostly are not designed for "play and follow". Shilpa's yoga CD is best designed for demonstration, you will fall flat :-) when you see Shilpa doing but you may hardly find it easy do it along playing the video.

You can learn through books. Books are informative but hardly motivative enough to get you started with or sustain the momentum of your practice. Swami Ramdev CD simply gets you started and keeps you going! It is that simple.

2. Instructions: Pranayama is generally advised to be practised under physical guidance of a Guru. There are some rules to be followed. Since it involves regulating the breathing process, it should be done carefully. But instructions mentioned in books/other CDs more or less seem to be threatening to the extent that you don't dare to learn and practise.

In Swami Ramdev CD, instructions are explained clearly, on the go. You don't have to remember anything. Instructions include pre-conditions for doing Pranayama, who should avoid what type of pranayama, how long should one do pranayama etc.

3. Excellent packaging: 45 minutes of pranayama (7 varieties), 15 minutes for sukshma vyayam (7 types) and asanas (7 postures). Swami Ramdev recommends 1 hour practice daily but he explains how you can do pranayama in 30 minutes or 45 minutes as per your convinience.
Normally books, other CDs instruct you to do repeat a pranayama for certain "number of times" and in my experience, I am mostly lost in counting rather than doing it. Swami Ramdev takes away your focus on counting and stresses on "how long" you should be doing certain type of pranayama. You may ask, there I count "number of times", here I have to count "minutes", how does it help? Here the advantage is, you are simply following him while you play the video. Watching vido is not mandatory. After you practise by watching the video for about 10 times, you can close your eyes and practise by listening to the audio.

4. Price: Lowest price among all the CDs available on Yoga. VCD: Rs.60/- (VCD), Rs.110 (DVD: Includes Asan and Pranayama, English and Hindi). Shilpa's yoga CD was initially sold for Rs.500 but now sold at Rs.150. Other CDs cost you any where between 200/- to 500/-.
Clearly Swami Ramdev beats other CDs with economy of scale! What's better? Selling few hundred CDs at higher price and limit yourself to limited audience OR sell few lakhs of CDs at lower prices and yet make the difference you want to make?

Note: The title of the Pranayama CD referred to, in this post, is "Yog Vignan: Pranayam and Asan OR Divya Yoga Sadhana: Pranayam and Aasan". It includes basic pranayama routine meant for general health. It is flagship product by Swami Ramdev. See below pictures of this CD/VCD/DVD. Note that it doesn't refer to other CDs he has released with variations of basic pranayama package, addressing specific diseases.



Note:

• For general health and weight reduction: Just following Pranayama part of the VCD/DVD is enough. You can do aasans only if you have more time.

• If you are suffering from some ailments or aged above 50years, it is highly advised to attend Swami Ramdev Yog Vijnan Camp once and then use above CD for further practice.
• I have practiced Pranayama routine mentioned in this CD (about 45minutes per day, 5 days a week). In addition to this, with controlled food intake and swimming once in a week (45 minutes), I could reduce about 8kg in 4-5 months.
• Through Pranayama practise, I am able to float on water!

Naati/Jawari v/s Hybrid: Myth?

Entry from LiveJournal blog - 08 Jun 2008

Often I have heard from people of our parents generation that their previous generation used to have Naati/Jawaari food. So they lived longer and were healthy and independent till end of their life. I too believed it so far but now I think it may not be the case.

I feel they lived longer because of their life style.

They ate good food. We eat lot of junk food.

They ate only what they could digest. We don't have control over food. If there is party and if we like food, we eat more...

They used to fast regularly.

They did enough physical work most of their life. We hardly do any physical work. We don't have (or pretend) time to do excercise. In some cases, we are couch potatos watching idiot box.

They indulged in prayers, visiting temples, socializing through festivals, "jaatras"/"mela"s. They lived in joint families. There was hardly any stress that needed to be managed. We are nuclear families. We need balanced work and personal life. We need to take care of everything ourselves. Lot of stress that needs to be managed.

They were social. They used think beyond their family. They helped others. There was hardly any competition. We are selfish. We want to secure our future. We want to earn more and more. We are in race to be ahead of others. We are restless.

So, is it just food what they/we ate/eat mattered/matters or is it lifestyle that defines our longevity and happiness?