YOGA for all

When the Sanskrit word yog entered the west, it became yoga. Hatha yog became hot yoga. When the hatha yog became really hot in the west, the people in the east, especially Nepalese are slowly warming to this age old art of keeping mind, body and spirit fit

Pragya RAJOURIA

When the Sanskrit word yog entered the west, it became yoga. Hatha yog became hot yoga. When the hatha yog became really hot in the west, the people in the east, especially Nepalese are slowly warming to this age old art of keeping mind, body and spirit fit. People have practiced yoga here since time immemorial but somehow its importance got eclipsed till the western world shed a new light on this old art in the 20th and 21st centuries

"In the west everything with the yoga in the prefix and suffix sell like hot cakes. There is an increasing demand for everything to do with yoga in the west," says Dr. Pramod Gautam, general secretary of Arogya Ashmram, the pioneer natural health and yoga centre in Nepal. "In Nepal also its popularity is increasing day by day. People are becoming more health conscious. We have 50 percent local and 50 percent foreign customers in our centre," says Gautam.

When asked to explain yoga in simple terms, Gautam says that yog or yoga actually means union, the balanced union of mind, body and spirit. The yoga postures, breathing and meditation techniques help bring this balance. And the benefits of yoga according to him are limitless. "Yoga basically teaches you to be disciplined in all sorts of day to day activities. It helps you to relax your mind and body," he says. "When you perform yoga postures, your entire body is toned. When your physical and mental tension are dispelled from your body with the help of breathing exercises, meditation and yoga exercises, you feel energized. Your mental power and concentration will also increase. Nothing works like yoga for personality enhancement," he explains.

When yoga promises so much and it’s not that difficult to find a good yoga centres with moderate charges, Nepalese people, even those living in the Kathmandu Valley are yet to make yoga part of their daily life and fitness programme. "It is due to lack of information on yoga among people and lack of education in general," explains Gautam. "It’s good to start yoga young. It should be part of school curriculum so that it will give a good foundation in life to children. Meditation, which is part of yoga practices will increase their powers of concentration and help in their class and extracurricular activities. Children can start yoga from the age of seven," he says. "Potentials of yoga can be utilised in rehabilitation centres of all kinds. Even old people, pregnant woman, diabetic and cardiac patients, those suffering from various kinds of allergies can do yoga and benefit from it. But such people should do yoga under the supervision of an experienced instructor," he adds.

In Nepal the star hotels also cater to those wishing to learn yoga, especially the foreigners. " We were doing quite well and yoga centres in Nepal were rapidly gaining popularity among visitors of foreign countries before the present tourist slump hit us hard," says Gautam. "Though we do not have luxury yoga resorts in Nepal, foreigners appreciate what we teach them here. If tourism revives in our country, luxury yoga resorts will do good business here," he adds. "Most people think that yoga is an exercise method and nothing more. They do not know how it helps in maintaining general wellbeing of their body, mind and soul. What you eat is also important to get the maximum benefit from your yoga practices. You should eat well-balanced, healthy food and avoid overeating," explains Gautum. "Yoga is simple to practice. For yoga exercises you needn’t allot anymore time than that you spend sipping a cup of tea in the morning," he says. How about making yoga your cup of morning tea?

JR Mayer the numismatics expert

J R Mayer is a fifth generation descendent of ‘Mayer’, one of the most successful families in Europe in the numismatics and jewelry business. A man with a tall profile, JR – as he is better known – is, however, very down to earth. A simple man with simple tastes, JR is an eligible bachelor who says ‘success can only be achieved through hard work’.

‘GoldQuest’ is certainly not an alien name for many common Nepalis. It is one of the world’s largest and most respected gold coin and jewellery distributors, to which almost 7000 Nepalis are customers. The product range varies from numismatics and medallions to jewellery and watches that commemorate outstanding personalities, places and events. Some of the depictions are of great personalities like Mahatma Gandhi, Mother Teresa and Pope John Paul II among others and world famous monuments such as the Taj Mahal and the Ka’abah.

On the other hand, though ‘Mayer’ may not sound familiar, yet it is not alien. ‘Mayer Mint’, a Germany based minting company, serves not just the need of gold coins for GoldQuest, but serves the need of coins for Nepal directly as well. One of such coins minted by Mayer Mint for Nepal Rastra Bank was the 1998 coin on wildlife. Others may follow, including one with the holy ‘Pashupatinath’. And talking of ‘Mayer Mint’ and ‘GoldQuest’, J R Mayer is a man that cannot be missed.

A man with a tall profile, JR – as J R Mayer is better known – is, however, very down to earth. A simple man with simple tastes, JR is an eligible bachelor who says ‘success can only be achieved through hard work.’ Citing his mode of working, a friend says, ‘JR works like a dog’ to which JR adds with a smile ‘like a German dog.’ And JR is related to both the reputed companies of GoldQuest International Ltd. and Mayer Mint. JR and a friend who were on a visit to Nepal recently had talked to Bhaskar Sharma of The Kathmandu Post.

JR is a fifth generation descendent of ‘Mayer’, one of the most successful families in Europe in the numismatics and jewelry business. Born in Pforzheim, Germany, famous for its gold related industry, JR had a global education through student exchange programs that took him to the United States, France, United Kingdom, Ireland and several other countries in Europe. He graduated with an MBA from the University of Frankfurt, majoring in MIS and International trade, after which he interned in several well-known European companies. Eventually he joined his family owned Mayer Mint, a globally trusted and recognized company for its outstanding quality and unique numismatic products, as its Managing Director.

It was in November 1999 that JR at the Beijing International Coin Show met Vijay Eswaran, the managing director of GoldQuest International Ltd. What followed next was simply marvelous. Mayer Mint soon became the main supplier for GoldQuest and later became a strategic partner. In August 2000, JR joined GoldQuest International Ltd. as the head of product development. Here he acquired deep insight into the management of a multinational organization from the founding directors of GoldQuest.

He is the one responsible for creating an astonishing collection of fine art gold products from GoldQuest International Ltd., a young and dynamic US$ 200 million company headquartered in Hong Kong. At 30, he is the Associate Director for Product Development and Promotion at GoldQuest. JR’s key responsibilities involve innovating and developing new products for the company and maintaining quality and variety at the same time.

JR believes that GoldQuest helps bring numismatics to the common man, as the company creates opportunities for anyone anywhere in the world to enjoy the hobby of coin collection through the power of e-commerce.

But all is not smooth with GoldQuest, concedes JR. Flooding numbers of illegal websites have been disseminating wrong and improper information about GoldQuest. The magnitude of the problem is easily seen in the light of the fact that 200 such illegal websites were shut down in the last three months alone. "That is why we emphasize on disseminating proper information and hence conduct training though our own group of personnel. We have been providing training all over the world including Nepal," he says. GoldQuest, which plans to go public in 2005, presently deals with almost 100 countries worldwide. In the years to come, JR aims to manifest GoldQuest and Mayer Mint into the top of dynamic and internationally respected companies with millions of happy and satisfied customers worldwide.

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