CHICAGO – Swami Ramdev, a world renowned yogi in Sanskrit, Ayruveda and Vedic Philosophy came to Chicago in early July from his native India to teach his unique pranayama (breathing exercises. Several thousand people turned out for the five-day camp in an indoor sports arena to learn the Swami’s seven types of breathing exercises through his yoga to help them lose weight and improve physically, emotionally and spiritually.
Renowned for his yoga style that is less asanas (postures) and more pranayama, Ramdev toured the United States this summer to yoga camps in New York, New Jersey and Chicago. The trip has also helped the yogi raise funds to continue his research work on Ayurveda and yoga.
Ramdev gained fame for his stand against the fast food and carbonated beverage industries in India, in his effort to encourage healthy lifestyle changes in India. Praised for this work and for his training, he was invited by the United Nations as a special guest to a recent “Stand Up Against Poverty” conference.
The event organizers Anu and Bharat Malhotra gave people an opportunity to interact with Swamiji at a press conference in Chicago which served as a kick off to the five day camps. Swamiji briefly explained the seven types of breathing exercises (Bhastrika, Kapal Bhati, Bahaya, Anulom Vilom, Bhramri, Udgeeth, and Agisaar Pranayama) he teaches in his classes and how actually they help in curing the diseases. He guaranteed that by attending one of the sessions people will be able to lose up to two to six pounds per session. Later on people had an opportunity to ask Swamiji question related to their health and also share their experiences on how Pranayam have helped them in curing some of the incurable diseases and living a healthy lifestyle.
Before the press conference Swami Ramdevji was kind enough to share his knowledge of Yoga and Pranayam with this exclusive interview:
Baba what can you say about Ayurveda in relation to Shudhi, Sidhi and Kundal-Nijagrati?
Ayurveda is optimum for Shudhi (body purification) but achieving Sidhi through Ayurveda I cannot say much about it. Janm-Aushadh, Mantra and Tap can lead you to Sidhi but attaining Sidhi through Ayurveda, me and others have not seen anything like this before and therefore I cannot comment on it. However for sure one can definitely attain Shudhi through Ayurveda.
Why did you decide to concentrate on yoga?
When I was nine years old, I used to observe that people did both Aasan (like Chakraasan, Shirshasana) and Pranayam (Abhiyantar). At that time Kapalbhati and Anulomb-Vilomb did not exist. People will fill their lungs with air and will hold it in as long as possible even to the extent that some will faint. People used to do Yoga for exercises and body building. So at that time we used do these Pranayam and Yoga in a disarranged manner. We initially started doing Pranayam for Kundali-Nijagran. When you do Pranayam at a very high speed, several things start happening within your body. This will result in some people will start laughing, others start screaming, and some will start shaking. When I started teaching Pranayam I did it along with meditation (dhyan). That’s why I always start my session with recital of Om and end it with Om and in between I also do Om recital too. This resulted in curing many diseases such as asthma, vision, hypertension, diabetes etc… I started teaching Pranayam with the intention of meditation, but these cures came as by-products. In general I have been practicing yoga for the past 15 years.
In America you need FDA approval for drugs to be commercially available in the market. What are you doing for Ayurvedic drugs to be available in America?
We have started providing these medicines under the name herbal food supplement. Ayurvedic medicines are usually made from herbs. I do not know much about the FDA apporoval. I do know that Ayurvedic medicines are a part of your daily diet e.g. you need Vitamin C for your eyes which are present in Amla (Indian Gooseberry) and now this is not a medicine, salt or hormone, it would be a part of your food. You can order these medicines on-line worldwide with the exception of cancer medicines which contain ingredients that might be objectionable to authorities of other countries. Along with this we are establishing centers across America where you will be able to buy books, DVDs, CDs and as well as Ayurvedic medicine from our Institute.
Do you claim that Ayurveda can cure every disease?
I have never claimed that Ayurveda can claim every disease. You have to do Yoga and Pranayam along with the Ayurvedic medicines for them to be effective. I claim this and I also have shown that I can cure most of the diseases with Pranayam and along with the use of Ayurvedic medicines for certain diseases.
What is a message that you would like to send to the youngsters worldwide on why it is so important to do yoga?
I would like to send three main messages to the youngsters. One is that you should take care of your physical health which is getting ruined by eating burgers, pizza and fast food. Obesity is on an all time high in kids nowadays. Secondly, the world is not looking at the biggest problem which is the genetic disorder getting transferred from parents to the kids. Genetic disorders are transferred without exception and there is no cure or medicine for this. This will be a big challenge to the next generation. Third is kids are becoming drug addicts and losing their emotional control. Once they get into this habit they get stuck deeper into the trap. Save kids by practicing Yoga and Pranayam. Kids can start doing Pranayam at the age of three and the five years old can start doing Aasan.
What will you like to say about organic food vs. conventional food?
Organic foods which grow naturally are definitely good for your health. Conventional foods are grown by using fertilizer and pesticides. Fertilizer increases the natural growth rate. This results in fruits and vegetables being not able to retain their proper and natural mineral and vitamin content. Pesticides save crops form diseases. So I am against the food grown by artificial means. But I am fine with hybrid food as long as they are allowed to grow by natural means.
How much one should do Aasan and how much of it one should do Pranayam?
You should do 90% Pranayam and 10% Aasan. Breathing cures asthma, hypertension, diabetes and other diseases and not Yoga exercises. This is a big myth in US and in European countries that Yoga cures these diseases. Pranayam cures the diseases and Yoga is for exercise.
Do you have any plans on opening an Ashram in the US like Patanjali Yogpeeth in Haridwar?
Several people have requested us to do so and we are looking at all the options. For now we are definitely going to open small centers in US which will be teaching Yoga and Pranayam. At this time it will be difficult to have a Yoga institution in US like the one in Haridwar. When the time comes we will have an Ashram in US and this will help Indians over here to rejuvenate their culture as well as will help people from other parts of the world.
Can Pranayam cure cancer?
Our body cells need oxygen to function properly. Pranayam increases oxygen content in our body and I have shown to cure cancer with Pranayam. If you do not believe me you can read a recently published report from John Hopkins Hospital where they have shown that “Cancer cells cannot thrive in an oxygenated environment”. With Pranayam blood, prostate, and breast cancer can be cured within 3-6 months. I have cured cancer patients of stage 1 and 2 and I have cured some last stage cancer patients as well.
Do you claim that AIDS can be cured by Pranayam?
No. I have never claimed that AIDS can be cured by Pranayam, but I have said it might be a possibility. What I have shown is that you can increase the white blood cell to the virus ratio with Pranayam.
What is your normal daily routine?
I wake up at 3 am and then I do my personal Yoga and Pranayam for two hours. After that I teach Yoga and Pranayam for three hours. Then I do two hours of self mediation. After that I spend some time for coordinating research and then I meet with people e.g. people with incurable diseases. If there is an evening session then I teach it. I eat two times once between 10-11 am and again from 7-8 PM but if I have an evening session than after the session. I eat salad, cooked green vegetables, fruits and cow milk and I do not take any grain, pulse or rice. It is important to know that there is 24 hours in a day and taste only lasts for 24 minutes. For 24 min of pleasure we are punishing our bodies for 23.5 hours, this is not good. When you eat healthy food and exercise you can get a good 6 hours of sleep, work for 16 hours and enjoy a good family life. In food I discourage carbohydrates and emphasize more on proteins and nutrition.
I read somewhere that you want to replace sex education with yoga why is this?
To reduce terrorism and crime you do not show people which ways crime and terrorism it is done. With love you can reduce terrorism and crime. Same thing applies to sex. “Upasana se Vasana ko door kar sakte ho” but not by teaching the way sex is done. Yoga increases self control and this will help younger generation
Swami Ramdev Books and Dvd at www.freewebs.com/yogaguru
