There's a saying which goes, 'A family that eats together, stays together’, however, with our changing lifestyles, and in an era where it is challenging to find time to share a meal, it is probably safe to say that ‘A family that practices yoga together, stays together’.
This International Yoga Day, as people explore the idea of yoga sessions, some families have taken yoga beyond group classes, bringing it home and passing the practice on to other family members, who in turn, have introduced it to their own families.
FAMILY TIME
“My family first got to know about yoga somewhere in 1986 through Madhubab Mordekar, who introduced me to yoga. When I started doing yoga, my wife, watching me practice, joined me and eventually my family members also started showing interest in yoga,” says Vishwanath Swar, from Margao, who practices yoga regularly.
For the Quadros family, from Loutolim, doing yoga together was a collective and unanimous decision.
“Nearly three years ago, the Lions Club of Loutolim started yoga and fitness classes in the Panchayat Hall, for an hour every alternate day of the week. The remaining four days of the week, my family and I would practice yoga at home,” says Antonio Quadros, who does yoga with his wife, son and daughter-in-law.
Watching her husband, Flavian Sutari’s passion and dedication towards yoga encouraged Ruby and others in the Loutolim-based family to try it out for themselves.
“We were happy to learn and explore this new style of exercise, and were curious to know more about it. Healthy living has always been a priority for Flavian,” shares Ruby who has also been practicing yoga with her son, Shaun, since 2017.
"When cycling time was restricted due to the rainy weather, he turned to books to learn yoga, and began practicing it, too,” she adds.
BENEFITS OF DOING YOGA TOGETHER
Families who do yoga together have seen just how beneficial it can be. “It has enhanced the quality of our health,” says Ruby. “We have benefited through flexibility, agility, focus, physical balance, emotional balance, breathing and diet. We have better sleep and so much more.”
She believes that yoga has made them more disciplined towards their meal and sleep timings, and adds that being consistent is the key to keep going.
Antonio and his family practice asanas convenient to them, and over the years, they’ve noticed a significant improvement.
“As a family, we keep ourselves fit not only physically, but also mentally. It strengthens the family bonds and practicing together motivates each other. Doing these exercises individually would have been very difficult and not as exciting,” says Antonio.
Vishwanath agrees saying, “When you practice yoga together, the whole family becomes healthy. And, doing yoga together itself becomes a very big bond between the family members, and keeps the family united.”