Mumbai: 13th April, 2024
Gurudev Sri Sri Ravishankarji paid a personal visit to The Yoga Institute’s Mumbai campus on 11th April 2024 to meet Guru Maa Hansaji Yogendra, Director, The Yoga Institute, Mumbai. The meeting was followed by an interaction between Gurudev Sri Sri Ravishankarji, Guru Maa Hansaji Yogendra and the students and sadhakas of The Yoga Institute. Students and sadhakas of The Yoga Institute, Mumbai, then sought the blessings of Gurudev Sri Sri Ravishankarji and Guru Maa Hansaji Yogendra.
Shri Hrishi J. Yogendra, Associate Director, The Yoga Institute, Mumbai welcomed Gurudev to the campus and presented him with a memento of appreciation.
As part of the interaction with the students and sadhakas of the Institute, Gurudev Sri Sri Ravishankarji said, “Gurudev equated Guru Maa Hansaji’s work at The Yoga Institute to a form of penance. He further added that the kind of commitment and dedication that is indispensable for such penance can only come from a deep, unwavering inner strength and clarity of purpose. Those who look outside of themselves for strength and vision can never find the will for such penance. Gurudev Sri Sri Ravishankarji further added that Guru Maa has been successfully leading The Yoga Institute and has helped millions discover their own inner strength and wisdom. This he added was an invaluable contribution of The Yoga Institute towards society.
He further advised the sadhakas that the true purpose of Yoga was a healthy body, a happy mind and a connection with our soul-purpose. This he observed has been a constant objective of The Yoga Institute. He commended the inter-generational commitment of the founding family of The Yoga Institute, Mumbai in preserving these invaluable ideals and life-principles. He praised Hrishiji’s efforts and work and wished that he would continue in the legacy of his illustrious fore-fathers. He ended with the observation that complete dedication to your purpose is the right way to achieve Divinity and to have happiness in your heart through the process.”
Guru Maa Hansaji J. Yogendra, said that “Gurudev Sri Sri Ravishankarji presence has brought a divine power and light in the heart of everyone who was present. Gurudev’s work has left a global imprint and improved lives globally. She added that Gurudev has disseminated love, connection and wisdom worldwide.
Guru Maa Hansaji then pointed that when we see God in ourselves that is a form of meditation. But when we see God in others, that is Love. She thus clearly earmarked Gurudev’s efforts in heart-centered living. Guru Maa urged all the sadhakas to learn from Gurudev’s ethos and practice a heart-centered living through unconditional acceptance of the self and the other. She asked the sadhakas to first cultivate self-knowledge and self-awareness through meditation or dhyaana without falling prey to distractions. And then she recommended that sadhakas begin their journey of seeing the Divine in others and in all of Creation. ”
Guru Maa Hansaji Yogendra is the Director of The Yoga Institute, Mumbai and a globally acclaimed spiritual guru, wellness mentor and thought leader. Her words, ideas and life-long body of work in Yoga, wellness and mindfulness has the source of powerful change in countless lives. Guru Maa Hansaji J. Yogendra has been honoured with the Bharat Gaurav Award at the UK House of Commons in British Parliament in London for extraordinary contribution to, and excellence in, the field of yoga in 2019.
She has conducted more than 100,000 yoga sessions and has been honoured with the Prime Minister’s Award for her contribution to the field of Yoga . Guru Maa Hansaji has a prolific and commanding online presence on various social-media platforms which connects with millions of viewers worldwide. She is also a published author and writer. She is on the board of numerous national and international committees devising yoga syllabi and yoga policy. Guru Maa Hansaji Yogendra has designed health systems, special techniques, health camp programmes and well-being modules that cater to a wide range of people across age, ethnicity and gender. Her life is an example in commitment to social well-being. An epitome of grace and wisdom, she is a global symbol of peace, balanced living, and yogic living.
The Yoga Institute was established in 1918 by the venerable yoga guru Shri Yogendraji, also known as the Father of Modern Yoga Renaissance. The Yoga Institute celebrated its centenary milestone on 25 December 2018. The 100 year anniversary celebration of the Institute was attended by Shri Ramnath Kovind – Ex-President of India, M. Venkaiah Naidu – Ex- Vice President of India. Recognizing the philanthropic work done under Guru Maa Hansaji J. Yogendra’s guidance, Hon’ble Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi, felicitated The Yoga Institute with the Prime Minister’s Award for Outstanding Contribution for Promotion and Development in 2018.
The Yoga Institute is a non-profit organization and the oldest organized centre for Yoga in the world. The Institute has a diverse legacy of pioneering work in the field of yoga such as: the “householder yoga” movement, several social initiatives such as Annam Brahma (free meals for the underprivileged), free medical health camps, blood donation drive, wellness and mindfulness programmes, yoga for armed forces and police, holistic health programs, yoga programmes for the municipal and western railway staff, wellness programs and much more.