Not even a Yoga teacher is always calm and positive. Light and shadow coexist, and practices such as meditation, praying, and acknowledging negativity help navigate the world, Avisek Majumdar explains.
A Yoga teacher, Ayurveda practitioner, and organizational well-being consultant, Avisek wants to share the healing power of traditional Indian Yoga with everybody. He says that the last few challenging years have made people more aware of mental and emotional well-being and that he has been able to extend his teachings.
Well-being is no longer just a hobby, Avisek believes, but a must during uncertain times. It allows people to remain agile and resilient. Avisek will be present in September at UNFINISHED among a vibrant community of global thinkers and makers. Part festival, part talks, part art, part undefined, the UNFINISHED experience gathers 3141 participants selected from those who apply.
Read on to find out how Avisek is approaching this year's theme, "Silence," and what message the yoga teacher would write on a billboard in the center of Bucharest.
Defining Moments
Once a teacher, always a student. Learning is a constant companion in the life of a yoga teacher, although much of it happens through self-observation and contemplation on the teachings of past yogis. As I continued walking the path, I naturally felt drawn to other related well-being branches and started sharing them through my work. Yoga and Ayurveda form a powerful alliance that can provide solutions to many modern lifestyle challenges when properly understood and applied.
Yoga and Ayurveda are integral to me, and every aspect of my life directly or indirectly reflects the principles of these ancient sciences of well-being.
UNFINISHED. Thoughts and Expectations
I genuinely love the concept of "the unfinished." I strongly believe that our evolution is not a noun but a verb. We are all on an eternal journey of becoming by embracing our current state at any given moment. I feel that this festival reflects that philosophy in a simple and easily understandable way.
Last year, I had a fantastic time at the festival, interacting with positive, vibrant, and open-minded individuals who were ready to explore both internally and externally.
I look forward to meeting more vibrant people this time and co-creating wonderful experiences with sound and silence, or, as I would say, the sound of silence!
The "Silence" Theme
'Silent' and 'listen' are two words formed with the same alphabet letters. The more we embrace silence within us, the more we enhance our listening ability. Yoga philosophy emphasizes that silence is the language of harmony. In silence, we can connect with our potential. In Karma Yoga (Yoga of Action), there is a principle of "action in inaction and inaction in action." This principle can also be applied to silence. We live in a noisy world, both externally and internally. Cultivating silence helps us create an inner oasis of tranquillity and peace. This inner tranquillity is a competence that distinguishes a visionary from an ordinary leader. Throughout history, many technological innovations have emerged from contemplative individuals with a keen ability to "listen" to the "inner silence."
To understand silence, we must comprehend the essence of elemental wisdom. Every atom in this universe is infused with wisdom, and each element—earth, water, fire, air, and ether—carries infinite wisdom within it. Silence is said to be the language of our creator. By learning to be silent, we can speak the language of our creator. In simpler terms, everything around us will reveal its deeper wisdom.
However, we also exist under the constant influence of opposites in this world of duality. The ego-driven mind seeks noise, constantly seeking recognition and proclaiming its identity. Yet, deep within us, there is a space that remains untouched by duality. Until we find our way to that space, it can be challenging to avoid noise. The good news is that we can educate ourselves and connect with this inherent power through practices such as Yoga, which encompasses proper body-breath-behavior techniques. Silence can be profoundly therapeutic and has been recommended as a medicine for the mind by yogic and mystic traditions throughout the ages. It's time for us to nourish ourselves with "conscious silence" from time to time.
Avisek with Bogdan, who will conduct Gong Baths during the meditation sessions at UNFINISHED
Uncertain Times
Impermanence is a blessing. At every stage of human evolution, we have faced similar challenges, albeit with different faces and with different approaches. However, at our core, our psyche remains more or less the same, and our approach to life follows the eternal principles of seeking pleasure and avoiding pain. The past years were no different. I did my best to maintain equanimity as we traversed through troubled times. Fortunately, my work shifted its approach, allowing me to reach a larger number of people through online classes, workshops, and yoga therapy sessions. One of the blessings arising from these challenging years is the growing awareness of mental and emotional well-being. I firmly believe that Yoga and Ayurveda combined can be powerful tools to address the needs of this uncertain time.
Mindset and motivation
To be honest, I am not always positive. However, when negativity arises, I "witness" it. I don't believe in a mind that is devoid of negativity, as light and shadow coexist. What I find achievable—and what I teach, preach, and try to practice to the best of my ability—is to observe and acknowledge negativity when it predominates. When I feel the ground beneath my feet becoming shaky, I surrender to the teachings of my Guru. I pray, meditate, take long walks, and enjoy a glass of wine with good friends. When time permits, I also find relaxation and meditation through photography.
Yoga: misconceptions and realistic expectations
Two common misconceptions about Yoga are: firstly that it is solely a form of fitness, and secondly, that one needs to be flexible to practice Yoga. As the saying goes, "If you don't know where you want to go, you will never know if you've reached the destination." One should continuously ask oneself why they want to try Yoga and what benefits they wish to experience physically, mentally, emotionally, in their relationships, and with their higher self.
Once we understand our intentions, it is advisable to seek guidance from a competent yoga teacher who can indicate the length of the journey and the milestones that mark progress. Relaxation is often the first significant milestone in a yoga practice. One should aim to achieve a pain-free body and a worry-free mind. Relaxation leads to a deeper understanding of oneself, allowing for better prioritization of goals and desires. Health is the outcome of inner harmony, and Yoga aims to create that harmony.
Well-being consultant for organizations
People are the foundation of any company. The golden rule is, "If a company takes good care of its employees, the employees will take care of the product and profits." The average adult spends a significant portion of their waking hours at work, either in the office or working remotely. A company's sustainability depends not only on innovative product lines but also on how well the company nurtures the minds and emotions of its people. While salary packages, company cars, and club memberships may temporarily boost motivation, a truly positive work environment is created by understanding the fundamental needs of the human body, mind, and emotions. That's why regular well-being programs are as essential as research and development or sales and marketing departments.
I am fortunate to collaborate with some of the sharpest minds approaching human resources with compassion and humanity.
For these companies, corporate well-being programs go beyond a mere checkbox; they involve designing personalized well-being experiences for their staff. These experiences help employees relax, rejuvenate, and reconnect with their creativity and enthusiasm.
Well-being is no longer just a hobby club or an annual retreat in an exotic destination; it is a serious and sustainable wellness intervention to keep the workforce agile and resilient amidst the stresses of these uncertain times.
Yoga in Romania
Over the past 15 years of my stay in Romania, I have witnessed a significant shift in the perception and acceptance of Yoga. There was a time when Yoga was misunderstood as a cult or an esoteric practice from the East. However, now Yoga has become a familiar term among fitness enthusiasts in Romania, and "postural yoga" has gained popularity as a common method to stay fit. Nevertheless, I believe a comprehensive understanding of Yoga has yet to gain widespread acceptance in society. The latest research in neurophysiology, epigenetics, and mind-body-based psychology emphasizes the importance of maintaining mental and emotional well-being alongside physical health to unlock human potential fully. One thing that gives me hope is the openness among the younger generation and intellectuals who are ready to learn and embrace Yoga as a holistic mind-body practice and incorporate it into their lifestyle.
A Message on a Billboard in the Center of Bucharest
'Home' is a feeling, not a place. May you find your home within.
