OUR STORY
Namaste.
My name is Medha. I am the co-founder of Arsha Samyoga.
Let me tell you our story.
Frustrated with my corporate job, I quit and travelled to Kerala to do a yoga course. It was a decision that changed my life forever.
It was in the beautiful tropics of Kerala that I met Aravind, under starry nights and yoga-filled days, almost as if blessed by the Guru's Grace.
We soaked up the knowledge of yoga that was poured onto us while we pursued our gurukul-style education. The teachings of Swami Sivananda struck a deep chord within us, that cemented our commitment to this path.
It seems we were doubly blessed that November, because we also found our teacher and mentor, Acharya Ravi Easwaran ji (direct disciple of Swami Paramarthananda Saraswati ji). With his guidance and blessings, we were introduced into Advaita Vedanta in the tradition of Pujya Swami Dayananda Saraswati ji.
Life was no longer the same. The sense of restlessness that every human being experiences was soothed over with this teaching. A deep sense of contentment and relaxation took its place.
Through the teachings and through our own experiences, we understood the relationship of Yoga and Vedanta. It took us several years of contemplation and exploration to figure out the roles of these two seemingly different paths.
We wish to offer this beautiful blend of knowledge to the world, to help yoga students, teachers and enthusiasts sort through the various disjointed pieces of information available in today's world.
We wish to offer to the world a comprehensive, systematic and smooth teaching that improves one's health and lifestyle through Yoga, and shows the road to happiness and contentment through Vedanta.
With this aim in mind, Arsha Samyoga was born. Arsha means Rishis (seers) and Samyoga means confluence - so "Confluence of Rishis". With the aid of the divine knowledge gleaned by the Rishis, let us learn and refine our bodies, minds and intellects to live life in the most complete and wholesome way.
We welcome you on this beautiful journey with us.
With love,
Medha & Aravind
YOGA FOR YOGYATA
It is important to understand the purpose of any activity that one chooses to do. Without knowing the purpose that drives the action, it becomes difficult to structure the activity in an efficient manner. Only when there is clarity about the goal, can there be clarity about the means to achieve it. Efforts are squandered in the absence of meaningful direction.
A similar sensibility must be applied to the practice of yoga. Yoga is like a wish-fulfilling tree; many different things can be achieved with its help.
So the first question to ask is - “Why am I practicing yoga?”
Is it to lose weight? Is it to overcome health issues? Is it to maintain physical fitness? Is it to increase flexibility? Is it to reduce stress and anxiety? Is it to feel relaxed?
There are no superior or inferior answers. The only objective is to have clarity on the purpose of practice.
BENEFITS
At Arsha Samyoga, our goal is to use the powerful tool of yoga for two-fold benefits:
MAINTAIN THE HEALTH OF THE BODY
While physical health can be achieved through various forms of exercise, the practice of yoga asanas is unique in that it takes on a rounded, holistic approach to health - it ensures musculoskeletal strength and fitness, health and flexibility of the spine, powers the digestive fire, ensures detoxification, improves circulation and regulates hormonal levels.
MAINTAIN THE HEALTH OF THE MIND
At the mental level, pranayama, meditation and relaxation techniques have the desired effect of reducing stress levels and increasing the happiness levels of the mind.
Long-term practice has the wonderful benefit of decreasing agitations in the mind, in terms of frequency, intensity and recovery time from emotional turbulence, leading to peace of mind.
The goal of Arsha Samyoga is simply this - to achieve good physical health and to have a poised mind to take on the challenges of life.
We believe that the practice of Hatha Yoga is incomplete without the study of philosophy. Hatha yoga has the special ability to prepare the psyche for the study of Advaita Vedanta. The study of Advaita Vedanta texts gives one immeasurable relief and bliss.
The word yogyata means eligibility or preparedness. “Yoga for Yogyata” is to use the tool of the Hatha yoga practices to ensure the fitness of the body and of the mind for all manner of constructive pursuits - in daily life as well as for spiritual progress.
ABOUT US
ARAVIND KS
Founder and Principal Teacher
Aravind is an E-RYT (500 hours) with Yoga Alliance. He has completed his 500 hours of Yoga Teacher Training two times over. He has a Master's degree with Distinction in Yoga. He worked at Cure.fit Studios for over 1.5 years as a Senior Yoga Teacher. He has over 3500 hours of yoga teaching experience.
He is studying Advaita Vedanta under Acharya Ravi Easwaran ji (disciple of Swami Paramarthananda Saraswati ji).
He is studying Veda Mantra chanting under Acharya MS Srinivasan ji (Challakere Brothers).
MEDHA NAINEGLI
Co-Founder
Medha has completed her 500 hours Yoga Teacher Training. She has completed her Master's degree with Distinction in Yoga. She worked for over 1 year at the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bangalore (NIMHANS), as a yoga therapist, offering yoga classes for patients with psychiatric issues.
She has completed several Advaita Vedanta texts under Acharya Ravi Easwaran ji and is currently studying the Upanishads.
She is teaching Vedanta from 2019 and has successfully completed several batches.