“Mr Vyas, can we have a yoga session tomorrow at the Birla House at 7.30 in the morning?” “Yes madam, I will be there.” It is unusual of me to go to someone’s place and teach yoga, but in this case I made an exception because this was a request from no other than Lekha Poddar, herself—the scion of the Birlas, a great family, which helped me at the most critical phase of my life. Lekha is the daughter of GP Birla and sister of CK Birla, eminent industrialists of the country.

She is a pioneer in Rajasthan, turning heritage properties into hotels. She is extremely brilliant, sharp with a heart of gold. It made me nervous to think of teaching her yoga.

She has been into yoga for some time and that too, from best of the teachers. At 7.15 exactly I was at a place familiar to me as the residence of my chairman/boss but that day I was feeling as one feels before an exam. I have known her closely over years and worked for and with her on different projects so my nervousness was not unfounded. She came with her industrialist husband and after greetings walked to the sprawling lawns of Birla House. On the way, she told me that her yoga guru back in Delhi was so good and she has been wondering what extra I could teach her. I very politely said, “Madam I don’t think I can teach you anything but will share whatever little I have learnt from my late mother.”

“Well,” she said. “Let’s see.” Once on my mat after the usual yogic prayers, I was my usual self and we started the session. As the session progressed, I could see a great sense of appreciation in this extraordinary lady. Her questions convinced me that she liked the session.

While I was packing my bags to leave, she asked me to stay back so she could write every thing I had just taught her. She sat with me for more than an hour and wrote every thing with explanations and said, “Your teachings are different and much better then my yoga guru.” I thanked my guru and left with pleasant memories of that session. One of the things she praised was saral yoga asana, which she found helpful for her back and another for her neck. I share with my readers one asana which was one of the poses I shared with her with a hope that my readers too will appreciate and like this simple but powerful pose.

Technique
Sit in sukhasan or cross-legged position comfortably.
Keep your torso, head and spine in a straight line.
Take your hands back. Interlock fingers of both hands.
Keep the inner side of interlocked palms out—the inner side of the palms should be facing out.
Close your eyes and concentrate on your breathing.
After deep inhalation, while exhaling, go down—bend forward keeping the spine straight and try to keep your forehead on your left knee.
Breathe normally.
Remain there for at least 15 seconds or within your own comfort level.
Repeat with the other knee.
Try to place the centre of your forehead on your knee.
caution
Those with serious eye problem, high blood pressure, heart ailments should do under expert guidance.
Benefits
It prevents and cures constipation.
It cures indigestion.
Elimination is improved.
Abdominal muscles gets considerable massage.
It is said to awaken all the charkas.
It helps in proper spacing and alignment of the vertebra.
Reinvigorates spinal nerves.
This asana resembles yoga mudra but is different from it and hence is called yoga asana.