(1888PressRelease)
August 01, 2007 - Yogananth Andiappan is pleased to announce the launch of his first coffee table book Yoga from the heart with a press luncheon in the Tandoor Indian Restaurant followed by a Photo Exhibition in the Schoeni Art Gallery on May 31st, 2007.
The book is a collection of four hundred beautifully taken extraordinary asanas chosen from a few thousand, many of which have never been photographed before. Indeed it is the first and only Yoga book featuring the most number of postures and languages in the one book.
“Today, yoga is known predominantly as a philosophy, a form of exercise or something trendy to do, but few know that yoga is an art. I would like to quote Sri B.K.S. Iyengar who once said, “Only the art can express the art itself, not the words”.
This book, Yoga from the heart is an expression of my dedication, devotion, experience and knowledge through my own practice of this great art.
I would like to take you to the beginning of my yoga journey which started before I could walk or talk. I started learning yoga at the age of two from my Father and Guruji, Dr. Asana Andiappan. It is unusual to start at such a young age, and the reason is not because my Father is a yoga teacher or that he wanted to prepare me to be one. Rather, given he started his journey in his mid teens, he was curious to see what would be the different for one to start earlier with an open heart and mind.
Soon after he started teaching yoga to me, he realized it is very different teaching yoga to a young child versus an adult. Not only was my body flexible and capable of doing almost all the Asanas, he realized at such a tender age, a child does not question or challenge what is being taught to them. The luxury of being so young meant that I did not have distractions or stress, which enabled me to be present, to be in that moment and be completely aware of what I was doing.
My yoga journey started deep within my heart and soul, in full consciousness. It was natural for me to perform and to perfect the asanas as my body had no blocks which would interrupt the flow of movements, and my mind had no hesitations. My father was able to align my body perfectly to each posture which was imprinted in me.
The learning began not just from the muscle and bones of my body or my mind, but from deep within the soul. Though I am not able to fully remember that wonderful beginning, I have always and still experience being in the moment every time I practice yoga which is itself an amazing experience.
Heightened consciousness, passion and dedication of my practice have led me to discover many new postures which bring new experiences to the body, mind and soul. The essence of yoga is not just physical, mental or spiritual but a combination of all three.
My experience of each posture is a meditative one. The alignment and awareness begins from the center of the soul to the outer layer of the skin on my body and extends to the atmosphere which surrounds me. I feel each posture from the inside to the outside, enabling me to stay centered. At that moment, my mind is relaxed as my inner being guides me through each and every posture. My face is relaxed, my breath normal and there is no discomfort. I am neither excited nor depressed but in complete stillness. Such an experience is completely new and difficult to describe with words.
It is interesting to note that postures may look similar from the outside, but the experience for two people doing the same posture is completely different. With the book, I really hope every yoga devotee can develop to not only see each posture from the outside but also the inside.
A gymnast or an acrobat can perform most of these postures and likely better than me. However, I am confident the level of consciousness and awareness experienced by them will not be close to what I feel. As you work through the pages of the book, I hope you look at these pictures not just with your eyes or mind but with your heart and soul. You may surprise yourself when you see something more than the physical form itself.
Similar to a person who can see beyond the colors of a painting and see new meanings, or when one looks at a rose intently with one’s heart, the beautiful rose may be imprinted in the mind forever. When the inner self becomes more aware of one’s action and thought, every action and thought will begin to develop from deep within. One will begin to understand things much better. So travel beyond your mind and become more aware of your soul as you start to turn the pages of the book. I wish you an enjoyable journey….”
