The Foundation course in Yoga was held at Vivekanand Kendra, Kanyakumari along with the new batch of yoga certificate courses from 22nd November to 06th December 2024. 52 participants attended the Shivir who came from various states like Tamilnadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Assam, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Jammu Kashmir, Ladakh and Maharashtra.
Formal reporting & registration started on the morning on 21st November and an introductory session was held the same day in the evening after Bhajan sandhya post supper wherein participants were given orientation for the camp.
The camp was conducted in Hindi and English Languages and accordingly, participants were organized into 7 different groups that were named after starships atri, Pulah, pulastya, marichi, vashishth, kratu and angiras.....
The 15-day camp had morning prayers, Yoga Asana-Pranayama practices, Shramsanskar, Lectures, Group discussions, Chanting practice, Bhajan sandhyas and Prerana se punrutthan sessions.
In yoga practicals, participants were taught loosening exercises, Suryanamaskaras and various Aasanas. In Pranayama they were trained into a practice of different pranayamas in a systematic way.
Theory lectures comprised sessions on the Concept of Yoga, Yama, Niyama, Aasana-Pranayama, pratyahara, Antrang Yoga, Kriyas-Bandhas-Mudras, Bhagavad Geeta, Karmyoga, Bhakti Yoga, Jnana yoga, Anand Mimansa, yoga and health and Indian Culture.
There were lectures about Swami Vivekananda, Ma. Eknathji, Vk thought movement, vk activities, Kendra Prarthana and Sanghe Shakti Kaliyuge.
All these lectures were followed by Manthan ie. Group discussions to enhance the understanding of subjects.
In Geet mantra, Abhyas sessions participants were taught various chantings that included Shantimantra, Aikyamantra, Pratahsmaran Prayer, Bhagavad Geeta Karmyogshlok Samgraha and Shivir Geet along with other chants and songs.
Participants did shuddhikriyas Jalneti, Sutraneti and Vaman dhauti twice during the shivir. They also practised Trataka in a session and experienced Omkar Dhyana, Cyclic Meditation and Yoga Nidra.
Daily Bhajan Sandhyas were held in the evenings which helped emotional culturing through chanting of devotional Bhajans.
Pure and Sattvik food was devised for a daily diet that supported the Yoga Sadhana of participants throughout the camp.
Shramsanskar sessions helped participants cultivate an attitude of service and self-sufficiency by working on campus cleaning.
Prerana se Punrutthan sessions were comprised of games, story of VRM, sutra chanting, introspection, Question answers and cultural performances.
All took part in a Kendra Varga on the first Sunday during the shivir. Participants visited Vivekanand Rock Memorial on 27th November and Had Darshan of Kanyakumari Devi Temple & nearby places.
On 1st December all were taken for a Trek to Marutvamalai Hill and on 4th December they went for a campus visit where they saw Ramayan Darshanam, Vivekananda pictorial exhibition and Gangotri.
The shivir went on well in a congenial, spiritual atmosphere with moderate discipline and affection.
Many of the participants have expressed their willingness to devote their time and energy for the service of society through Kendra's activities.
