Live In Concert - Baba Ramdev the Yoga Man

As children we were initiated to Yoga Aasanas and Pranayam. But I attended the first formal training session about three and a half years back in January of 2005. It was a week long Yoga and Pranayam 'Shivir' or camp under the auspices of Swami Ramdevji or Baba Ramdev.

I clearly recall our first day and the awe it inspired in me! It was 4:30 AM, dark and cold! As I neared the venue it seemed like a UFO had landed and the whole of Mumbai was bustling around it to take a look! Vehicles were pouring in from all the four roads that merged into the venue entrance. Four wheelers, three wheelers, two wheelers. 'Sevaks' or volunteers appeared everywhere controlling the traffic effectively, politely. The vast parking area seemed exceptionally well ordered for the number of vehicles it was housing.

The crowd hived into four to five large but orderly columns to enter. People were clothed in all sorts of colorful and creative woolen wear. There were men, women, children, elders. I am still amazed at how that giant wintry procession entered the grounds and took positions in just under 30 minutes! The ground was bright with floodlights and several monitors stood tall providing great view of the stage.

Mumbai's MMRDA grounds famous for hosting the world's greatest artists from the world of music and movies, looked very much like it was ready for one more such event. Only it was a Yoga Guru this time.

Ramdevji was dot on time and at 5:00 AM, day one of the week long Yoga and Pranayam Shivir began. Our sessions comprised of short prayers, practicing yoga asanas, learning the seven basic breathing exercises(pranayam), bhajans, toning exercises, tips on acupressure, home remedies and healthy diet pointers. Interspersed with the main agenda of advocating good health, issues of modern day relevance like nationalism, education, women's rights and corruption were spoken on, delivered with Swamiji's characteristic humor!

Baba Ramdev comes across as such an intelligent, thinking person who speaks his mind with aplomb! Never stresses on any particular religion and/or politics. Stresses on nationalism, human values and the "healthy body, healthy mind" mantra. The Philips tag line couldn't be more apt for anyone else - Sense and Simplicity!

In each session, participants were invited to speak about their experience with Pranayam, on whether and how it benefited them. As expected, there was hardly anyone who did not have a success story to share on how Pranayam had touched their lives and made it better!

One case was particularly moving. One Muslim gentleman who had come all the way from Vikhroli recounted his story between sobs. He landed with multiple health complaints after a surgery for ulcers in the liver went awry. The hospital took no responsibility for the carelessness and turned him away. He was bed ridden for three months. His neighbors shunned him believing rumors about him being HIV infected and therefore in a self imposed house arrest. He started practicing pranayam lying on the cot. Within six months of sincere efforts and absolutely no medication, he had recovered enough to drive himself to this camp with help from no one.

I heard Beyonce managed a crowd of 15,000 plus for the evening of her concert. Swami Ramdev managed a crowd of 25,000 twice a day for seven days! How is that for star appeal! Anyone who knows Mumbai, knows it to be synonymous with a hectic pace of life. The city of the famous "public ke paas time nahi hai"! If 25,000 mumbaikars managed to spend four hours for seven days in his yoga camp, Baba Ramdev is no less than any rock star.

It truly is one of the largest revolutions that India has seen, considering the reach and magnitude of Swami Ramdev's Yoga and pranayam movement. His word has spread across religion, communities, castes, economic stratas, and races. Gone are the days of shopping for masalas and pappadums, family and friends from across continents now stock up on Swami Ramdev's yoga DVDs and books on their annual visits to the homeland!

Years down the line, I am still reeling from the experience of being in the presence of rock star Baba Ramdev. Honestly, I find him really cute! I am glad Pranayam is effortlessly an integral part of my daily routine now.
The allergies that plagued me in those days, now are up against a stronger immune system that recoups faster.

I hope more and more people discover its benefits and are enriched with good health and happy minds!