The
Emerging World
Leaders
and professionals in all walks of life are confronted with a world
where change is commonplace. The psychological process of preparing
the self and the capacity to transform continually are critical to
developing a robust response to this challenge. These professionals
and leaders go through programmes that help them acquire skills and
competencies to cope with the new demands of performance, often without
creating the inner foundation to live through the constant change. It
will be obvious to any serious observer of the situation that this is
less than optimal.
A
knowledge worker is a living, vibrant, creator of value. All the
competencies and skills that are “contracted” by the organisation are
embedded in the person. How can a person be expected to be “the best
that one can be” and offer it to others if the individual’s sense of
self is not valued and fostered?
The Arthashashtra
recommends that all leaders must be yogis. The Natyashastra,
the Vaastu shastras and a host of other texts recommend a
practice of Yoga as the foundation for excelling in the profession.
The reason is very simple. Yoga practiced in a holistic fashion
ensures that a person becomes capable of being the best he or she can
be inspite of changes in the context and across time. Leaders and
professionals need to strive continuously to perform at their peak
capabilities in the context of flux. This means a continuous
investment in one's competencies, one's inner well being and one's
health.
What is Yoga?
The fundamental thesis of yoga is
“actuality and change” (satvaada and parinaama vaada)
i.e., how does one perceive reality as is, how does one live and
change in harmony with the dynamic nature of ones environment.
The branches and leaves of a tree
are its most visible parts but, they are surely not the whole tree.
Without the roots that go deep into the earth, the branches and leaves
will become dry twigs and decaying leaves. Aasana &
Praanayaama are the most visible parts of the body of yoga but
they are not the whole practice. When they are not rooted in self
reflexivity, they are mere exercises for the body. They are the more
superficial and easily demonstrable aspects, the more tangible of the
“bahiranga saadhana” (the outer practice). While the “antaranga
saadhana” (inner practice) is referred to as meditation and has
caught the popular imagination, it is also distorted and trivialized as
a relaxation or a mind control methodology. The behavioural components
of Yoga namely, Yama & Niyama (interpersonal ethics &
intrapersonal discipline) are often neglected. Yoga is a profound &
holistic practice and an approach to life; it cannot be practiced or
adopted in fragments. Yoga is to be lived in the flux of reality
though it can be learned in the tranquility of an ashram.
This
programme will provide an opportunity for participants to
-
Introspect upon and clarify a persons' intent.
-
Introspect upon the relationship between outer expression and inner
processes.
-
Discover practices that will help people touch their healing energies.
-
Discover inner energies and potentials and help them cohere and
converge.
-
Develop
a foundation of interpersonal ethics and intrapersonal
discipline.
-
Introspect upon the way one holds and gives meaning to spirituality.
The Concept of the
Programme
An
Individual is simultaneously a member of multiple systems -
organisation, society, family and others. Each of these systems is a
complex network of interdependent roles and processes with distinct
values and norms. The diverse pulls and pressures of the systems and
lack of integration and synergy in oneself result in diffused inner
energies and consequently, incoherent expressions. The learning
theatre is designed to focus on
inner energies and enable coherent expressions. The core
processes of the programme will be:
Aarogyam:
Working with the body and unleashing its energy and potential and
learning to experience well being in oneself. Understanding aasana
and praanayaama.
Aangikam:
Learning the basic skills of expression through body, voice and
movement in theatre. This leads to an understanding of the self and
communication with the world outside.
Aahaaryam:
Understanding relationships with individuals and groups. Becoming
aware of multiple roles and their relevance. Understanding Yama &
Niyama.
Vaachikam:
Learning how to commune and listen deeply to oneself and the group,
share in its sorrows and rejoice in its happiness. Learning the
processes by which the drama of playing roles
synergies
with the use of words and the use of sound and music to communicate
one’s insight and one’s picture of reality. Understanding dynamic
meditation.
Saatvikam:
Learning the way of anchoring oneself deeply in the unfolding of one’s
being and experiencing the flow of life from within, learning the art
of expression where one evokes a resonance in oneself and in the
other. Practicing the art of collective meditation and synchronous
evocation (sahridayatva)
These
core processes would form the underpinnings of the programme in a
discourse-free experiential unfolding of the self and the
collectivity.
This
programme will bring together experienced facilitators in human
processes, Yoga teachers and choreographers from contemporary theatre to work with participants.
Design of the Programme
The
methodology of work will be a flowing rhythm between an exploration
into one’s inner processes and working with outer expression, through
a combination of exercises and dialogues. This framework will help to
integrate the individual’s inner experience with the action choices he
/ she makes in the work and family spaces.
Processes
of living as a community will also add an important dimension to the
design of the programme.
