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!

Innovation: Low cost lamp

This is a variation of torch explained in previous post. Electronic circuitry is the same! Packaging is different and LED heads are filed to spread the light.

As compared to the torch, it uses plastic body specifically manufactured for this purpose. It makes you nostalgic, if you used similar shaped lamp powered by kerosine, in your childhood!

I got a sample for Rs.40 in Belgaum, Karnataka, during my recent visit to my native place.

Do you really need Eveready HomeLite (Sorry! Nu LITE) which is mainly created to boost sales of their batteries? Of course, you can't compare the illuminations of both but I feel, it is definitely not worth paying Rs.350/- for Eveready Nu LITE.

Innovation: Low cost torch

This is the most popular torch used by farmers in villages these days.

It involves elementary electronic circuit with one battery, one resistor, two LED lights and one switch, all put together in multi-purpose plastic box. It is assembled at shops/homes (home industries???).

It is light weight, small in size (slightly bigger than a match box) and hence carried in pockets.

Cost: Rs.20

Battery life: 50 hrs with very good constant brightness, followed by another 24 hrs with low brightness. I have verifed this myself by experimenting with one torch by keeping it on continuously until it dims down fully. I don't know the battery life for torch with incandescent bulb, but I guess it should be around 10hrs.

Myth: There is rumour that the battery can be recharged through solar energy. And hence, I have heard, people keep it in sun light to recharge! This myth is used as marketing strategy. The fact is the battery life is very high as compared to conventional torches with incandescent bulbs.

Note: Battery cost is Rs.10. It can be replaced once it is drained out.

Mindmap of Talk by Chetan Bhaghat

Click here for the transcript of the talk.

I was so much impressed by the talk that I created a mind map for easy and quick reference. I used FreeMind software (free) to create this.