GURUJI ABOUT HEAVY WORKOUT

When I went through my first experience — way back in 1985 — it was overwhelming. And I was just in my room more than a month. Hairs on the chest began to be grey, beard grey, head — so much grey: and I was not feeling even to do anything. But that was my good luck: because I was exercising; one day I looked at myself in the mirror and thought: what’s happening with me? And then, by good luck, I decided to start training again. It was a big problem to start; but I continued — and many of the symptoms were reversed. So — we work out like gym maniacs every day.

Guruji, but the persons who are not practicing yoga but exercising every day — they are also growing old?

Guruji: They are not practicing yoga — but they are in a far better condition than the persons who are not exercising at all! This combination with Kriya Yoga is for the first time. And I like it! It is now more like body meditation: because weight training makes you feel every muscle of your body — so you are becoming aware; your awareness is increasing. It’s more like a body meditation. And if you can’t feel the gross thing like your physical body — how can you jump and just feel as subtle a thing as the mind directly?

Could Hatha Yoga substitute the gym?

Guruji: No, that is yoga postures; it is stretching and isometric contraction together. The basic principle of yoga postures is isometric: you put a certain pressure in a certain way on certain things and they are strengthened. But feeling every muscle — only weight training can do. And remember: that was the divine gift of the Olympian gods! Barbells and dumbbells are very ancient equipment — and we have not been able to improve the design for thousands of years! Human beings have worked out — and they will start to look like the Olympian gods: that was a gift. Now bodybuilding has gone in a different way; but you go to the initial workouts: fantastic! You do some research here.

Is it good to mix?

Guruji: Full body workout every day — and yoga. I’ve been doing full body workout for maybe the last 53 years: no protein, no supplement, nothing. And vegetarian, yes. They all see my dinner — how much I eat every day.

What do You think: there exists the opinion that with the weak body the mind becomes very sensitive and roaming everywhere?

Guruji: The physical body is just a support system for your brain: it doesn’t mean that you need to look like a wrestler — you just need to be in top physical condition. Whatever is top for you. And it is a great support for the brain: a healthy mind and a healthy body — as everybody has heard since we were very young.

Because what I observe: if the person is very flexible but not strong — his mind becomes very different: they are very emotional…

Guruji: No, I think strength is needed. We are strength worshippers: strength is needed. And enough confidence will not be there — unless he is carrying the gun (smiling).