Yamini Muthanna is a Bengaluru-based Yoga Acharya and Natya Acharya who had been running an exclusive studio, where she promotes the learning of Indian Classical Dance Bharatnatyam and Yoga ever since 2001. The Studio attracts students from all over the world.
Yamini is an ardent practitioner of Ashtanga Yoga since 1986 and her expertise is blessed by her revered Guru Yoga Visharad Shri BNS Iyengar of Mysore.
Actively dancing for 4 decades with multiple performances in India and abroad she has also authored 2 books, her first book The Power of Yoga is now an international bestseller and is marked the No. 1 reference book for research scholars of Yoga studies. Her second book is an exclusive book for children “Yoga for Children”.
Catch Yoga and Natya Acharya, Yamini Muthanna in a special interview with Women Fitness as she shares her expert input on dance, yoga, and fitness.
Namita Nayyar:
You are a Yoga Acharya, run a school of yoga, and are an accomplished Bharatanatyam artist. How would you define fitness-body, mind & soul?
Yamini Muthanna:
In both yoga and dance, it all starts with getting the body ready, fit, and strong. Both disciplines are very demanding physically. In the process of learning the skill and meeting the demands of rigorous training and knowledge development the body gets tamed and the mind gets transformed into a well-nourished information system. The realization is eventual within the process of study. Age and experience enhance this knowledge which is the best part of the study of these ancient art forms. The mind gets stable, joyous, and content. The soul experiences a sense of freedom.
Namita Nayyar:
How and when Yoga happened to you? According to you how can it help women and kids in every aspect of their life?
Yamini Muthanna:
I was inspired to do Yoga at the age of 17. Life was overwhelming with a shift in the circumstances at home and family. Like any normal teenager, I was confused and anxious. Was so lucky to have been growing up in Mysore and by chance got introduced to Yoga. I found comfort and care for my feelings through this practice and learning. It got me curious as to why and how this practice has such a profound effect on me. I started getting deeper into the study of the theoretical aspects of Yoga.
Yoga just happened to me unplanned, and I felt extremely settled doing it. This has been my feeling ever since. Actually, everyone who practices Yoga does go through this experience. However, it is important to understand this experience, as it is easy to miss it when one is in the pursuit of physical goals only. It is easy to miss the mental and spiritual benefits if one is ignorant of what this practice has to offer. I initially choose to do yoga to help me in my dance practice. But what I received from it was so much more.
Yoga has helped me to be stable, balanced, and flexible- both in the mind and body. This is the kind of benefit Yoga practice offers and I feel everyone must take it!
Namita Nayyar:
Being a renowned, Bharatanatyam dancer you have traveled as an official ambassador of Indian culture to various countries around the world. How has it helped you stay fit over the years?
Yamini Muthanna:
Yoga is a part of my daily routine. It is like food and water for me. A practice of yoga just needs intention and does not need equipment or a specific type of space. I carry my practice wherever I go. And when it is time to practice, I spread my mat and just practice- whether it is the airport, hotel room, green room, park, or a little space on the balcony, I do my practice. My mat is part of my luggage wherever I go. Everyone around the world knows about Yoga as a classic, Indian holistic health and wellness routine. I have gained more respect for my practice of Yoga, wherever I have gone as an ambassador. I have taken impromptu classes with random groups during my travels. I am proud of our Yoga heritage and enjoy sharing it with anyone who is keen to understand.
Namita Nayyar:
5 key hurdles you have observed amongst kids & women you practice yoga but are unable to derive its maximum benefits?
Yamini Muthanna:
- Inconsistency
- Self-doubting (will this work?), Lack of patience (I have been doing this for 1 month now, and I see no benefit?), Over expectation (I want to lose weight in 15 days as I am getting married?!)
- Postponing activities (Will do them next month)
- Lacking skill in prioritizing things that are important.
- Too many choices and eagerness to be entertained all the time with variety.
Namita Nayyar:
What kind of diet do you recommend and follow yourself? How do you like to kick-start your day?
Yamini Muthanna:
I recommend sticking to the traditional diet as in, what our parents and grandparents ate. I kickstart my day with high-protein multigrain porridge which is my mother’s recipe. By the end of a month, I make sure that I have had enough greens, enough pulses, enough protein, and enough calcium, all through vegetables, fruits, and pulses. I change my diet plans according to the season. I make sure I prepare the menu for the month every 1st week of the month. Makes it easy for me to maintain my kitchen. I never eat stale food from the previous day. I never diet. I just eat right.
Namita Nayyar:
Can women suffering from joint issues follow your routine?
Yamini Muthanna:
Yes absolutely. I am in my menopausal age and I have been able to combat the process with absolutely no discomfort in spite of all the symptoms. Though I have been so much in tune with my body, it did not spare me. My upcoming book is all about that. I have started sourcing my information. Joint pains are a part of aging for both men and women. Women especially after the age of 35 it all start slow but steady. I have conducted special workshops to help women to understand and deal with the issues related to hormones, joint health, and mind fitness. Menopause is a real thing and deterioration of the body is very real and all normal health issues are related to this. It is also very real that you can help yourself and handle it well by being aware and taking care.
Namita Nayyar:
5 asanas to practice to gain strength
Yamini Muthanna:
5 of my favourite asanas are:
Vrikshasana– A magic asana to stabilize the mind and health through nadi alignment. One-leg stand which is easy and can be done anywhere. Wakes up the micro muscles and aligns the body to gravity.
Trikonasana– A complete body stretch revitalizes the nadi (nervous system) and induces prana (life force) circulation to the entire body.
Prasaritha padothanasan– Fabulous for skin and brain health. Fixes thyroid issue and help hormonal imbalance. Stretches the entire body and releases the spine from stress and makes it supple and flexible.
Bhujangasana– Fantastic for back health and diaphragmic health. Builds up heart strength. Extremely beneficial for all the organs of the body. Absolute mood enhancer.
Viparitha Karini– For the same mood enhancer qualities. Adding to the benefit it also relaxes the body and breath. Making the mind calm and ready to meditate or relax into yoga nidra or a practice of pranayama.
Namita Nayyar:
With all the stress in one’s life, how can one go about achieving a balancing of chakras and achieve happiness?
Yamini Muthanna:
Stress in life happens when don’t know how to prioritize things. It is important to understand what is essential to lead a life of harmony. One thing which has helped me a lot in my life’s journey is my love and curiosity to understand the Shastras (Ancient scriptures). It has helped me overcome a lot of confusion life brings about. Understanding Dharma (purpose of life), Artha (meaning of things that happen to you in life), Kama (to what extent you need to have desires), Moksha (how to reach that point of overall and complete contentment). An understanding of these 4 doctrines that will start bringing life into perspective is my personal and strong belief.
Chakras are life forces, little bundles of energy which need to be unleased – it acts according to your understanding of life. Chakras are not mystical objects that create magical experiences. They are tiny energy zones that get energized by you and your life’s intentions. If your core objectives in life are not in place, the chakras are resting with no strength. Only when one brings intention to life the chakras get alert. The main function of the chakras is to fuel your intention during the various stages of your life’s intention.
Namita Nayyar:
Motivational quote you live by.
Yamini Muthanna:
One and only quote from the Bhagavad Gita- Chapter – 2 Verse – 47
|| Karmanye Vadhikaraste, Ma Phaleshu Kadachana |
Ma Karma Phala he tur bhuh, ma te sangotsva karmani ||
You have the right to “Karma” actions but never to any fruits thereof. You should never be motivated by the results of your actions, nor should there be any attachment to your prescribed activities. Just do it…
Simple yet profound. Has worked for me! Beautifully.
Namita Nayyar:
How are the three related-dance, yoga, and fitness?
Yamini Muthanna:
Dance is joy and freedom– it is like the explosion, of strong energies in the form of well-structured movements to reach that point of complete harmony and bliss with nature. Only a dancer will understand this bliss or the movement of energy which brings about that union with supreme energy.
Yoga– is the same union, absolute harmony, and bliss in the stillness of the mind. Here you don’t move. This does not involve an explosion of energy, but actually, you end up conserving it. Keeping the mind absolutely free from afflictions, and the body free from disease and discomfort, is the essence of the practice of Yoga. This is to understand spiritual energy, which is the basis of our existence. A feeling of the strong force in the form of heat (Tejas) and health (ojus) is generated to basically keep the body pure and useful to the Universe. The health we talk about in the Yoga world is to suit this purpose.
Fitness – I personally feel is Fun and healthy. Very physical in goals. Adds health, beauty, and glamour to the body which may translate into confidence and happiness. It is a choice and a beautiful one.
Honestly, fitness has never been a thing for me. I have always liked it when anything I do has a combination with learning. I have naturally gained my fitness by learning some very potent and magical art forms from Indian Marshall arts like Kalaripayuttu and Manipuri Marshal Art Kangta. This is again all about mindfulness and strong movements of power and skill, which is much more demanding than modern fitness ideas.
Namita Nayyar:
Please share insight on your latest book “Yoga for Children”
Yamini Muthanna:
Yoga for Children, personally, is my most important work. I believe that it is best to equip our children earlier in life rather than repair them later. The Children’s Book of Yoga (Step-by-step) is an easy-to-understand guide to inspire kids to adapt yoga into their lifestyle early in life. The book covers all those aspects a child deals with during their growing years. From the start of puberty through, the growing up years till adulthood, yoga practice can help in many ways. The book has a series of asana practice to deal with the pressure and stress which comes with the modern education system. The book covers simple yoga asana sequences to practice during times of examination stress, performance pressure, menstrual discomfort, etc. It covers small exercises to focus the mind and arrange their thoughts. The book features little yogis who are practicing yoga as their daily routine to inspire and motivate the young readers of the book and also parents to ensure them that Yoga practices have great benefits for children.
The most important dialogue a child hears from their parents, teachers, grandparents, and anyone for that matter is “focus”. Nobody teaches them how to focus. This book “The Children’s Book of Yoga (Step-by-step)” is an honest attempt to train the kids how to focus. The practice of yoga can be of great help!
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