Andhra Pradesh   

Keeping yoga ‘afloat’

ADILABAD: Yoga, that ancient Hindu philosophy advocating physical and mental discipline is kept afloat at grass roots level thanks to efforts of ‘water’ yogis like brothers Narayan and Vasant Manik Rao Kadam. Hailing from Nanded district in Maharashtra, they perform various yogasanas or postures in water that accords them the status of being ‘different’ from other adherents.

The performers demonstrate their ability not only to float on water but perform the asanas simultaneously at the Fun World amusement facility currently in Adilabad town. A 10 ft x 10 ft x 10 ft pond has been specially dug out for showcasing the art of the yogis.

Without any formal training in yoga, the brothers, who are actually simple farmers, took to yoga as a hobby that eventually became a passion. “The Patanjali granth on yoga caught our imagination initially. We further learnt about yoga through Vivek Koushik’s treatise on yoga titled Pranayam Evam Pranayam ke Chamatkar. It took about 7 years’ time for us to master the technique of staying afloat while forming even difficult postures,” related Vasant Kadam.

“We have sort of mastered the Tribandh vidya that incorporates control on breath and on diet too. Control on breathing is essential to keep the body afloat,” added Narayan.

The yoga exponents also have a philosophical and spiritual way of looking at things. They say they never felt the need for a yoga guru while training. “Who has taught animals to swim in water? Push a goat or a dog in water for the first time. It straight away swims out of the water. The animals never required any swimming guru. We simply followed this principle and trained on our own,” revealed Narayan Kadam.

The performers accompany the Fun World to different places during off season. They are paid by the organisers for the shows they give.

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