Mansooruddin Faridi

“Yoga is not a religion; it is a way of life, a way of being in harmony with nature.  It is a physical exercise that leads to spiritual peace. People practice yoga, not in pursuit of religion, but in pursuit of spirituality. Moksha and Nirvana is the aim of life; Yoga is the way to reach this destination. Spiritual freedom is the goal; not an attractive body.

“There is nothing objectionable inOm, it is recognized as the sound of the universe. The word represents the unity of mind, body and spirit.”

 These are not the views of an Indian yoga guru, but Pakistan's Yoga practitioner Kehkashan Nadeem.  The 46-year old Karachi resident Kehkashan says she “lives in and for yoga.”

Yoga has been a part of her life for the past 20 years. After practising and imparting training in traditional yoga, she was the first to introduce 'Aerial Yoga' in Pakistan. Kehkashan is a well-known Yoga enthusiast of Pakistan; she frequently appears in TV shows. She is a big reason for people’s growing interest in Yoga in her country.

She got trained in Yoga in Nepal and Thailand and even in the Pakistan Institute of Yoga through her heart yeans for visiting India. No wonder her guru is an Indian. She has spent a thousand hours training. Mansooruddin Faridi, the editor, Awaz-the Voice, Urdu, spoke to Kehkashan Nadeem about her passion. Excerpts from the conversation:

What is your view on the connection between yoga and religion?

Look, yoga needs time, not religion. Yoga began when medical science did not exist. It shows the way of life. The way of life is explained, it’s not about what the food is, it explains when to eat and how to eat. It has nothing to do with religion. We have to understand that yoga is only about health. It has physical and spiritual benefits. We can lead a healthy life by making it a part of life. Yoga has no religion and no God. It is part of a civilization.

Let me make one thing clear that Yoga is with life, it has nothing to do with the hereafter. It will neither lead one to hell nor block one’s journey into heaven.

Yoga is a treatment that does not require any pills. You have to be more discriminatory with the help you are provided with other people.

On what basis is yoga accepted in Pakistan?

Yoga is indeed a part of the lifestyle. It is an exercise but it also has a connection to one’ religious faith. No doubt it was difficult in the beginning. Very few people used to do yoga when I started, but things have changed in the last ten years. Students who join me are interested in the exercise they do not participate in any discussion and do not like one. They are interested in yoga, looking for the spiritual aspects of it, not the religious. If we understand that all problems will be solved then yoga is only a philosophy of life, it is to understand ourselves, not others.

The truth is that the new generation has changed a lot, they think differently, people who come for yoga do not get into the debate about if it’s about religion. They know that it is not about religion, yoga is about spirituality; it’s about peace of mind and a source of peace of mind.

In India there is politics on yoga, many objections are raised based onreligion, be it the salutation of Shree or Om. Have you ever faced such protests in Pakistan?

Time has changed a lot, people are now thinking above politics and religion. There is no doubt that yoga was neglected in Pakistan because of its historic links with India. Initially, people in Pakistan used to show displeasure and wondered why I am promoting it. This is the Hindu Veda. I explained that this is just an exercise, an ancient way of exercising. Gradually everyone realized that this is a positive process, it would not be wrong to adopt it for health.

You already know that the use of Om is very important in Yoga. It is considered the sound of the universe; it provides spiritual peace to man. It is an important part of yoga. It has nothing to do with religion or devotion, it is just a mantra. People who join me are now interested in yoga, they talk about spirituality, they talk about religion.

How do you see the relationship between yoga and India?

 Let me tell you that I also feel very close to India because I have a birth connection with India. When I was very young I had visited Delhi. My uncle lives in Delhi. I was very young then and have some blurred memories of the visit. I travel a lot and meet Indians wherever I go in the world. I have many Indian friends. My guru is also an Indian. When I go to Nepal and Thailand, after a yoga course, my colleagues - white, black, all - head to India, but I have to return to Pakistan as there is an issue of visa (between two countries). Despite so much devotion and nostalgia, Delhi is far away for me.

The saddest thing for me is that I haven't been able to go to India since I gained consciousness. I pray for a way for me to turn to India. Rest assured we are all one.

Can yoga be a stronger bridge between the two countries than cricket?

Yes! There is no doubt about it. First of all, there is a commercial aspect to cricket, but it is a matter of spirituality in yoga. The link will be further strengthened. I believe that Yoga can surely establish a bridge stronger than the one that cricket has created between India and Pakistan. We have not understood its importance.

 People in Pakistan who are interested in yoga and want to go to India for further yoga training are very disappointed with the current situation. The whole world is benefiting from this but we are limited to Nepal and Thailand.

The era of Corona made everyone homebound; everyone remained locked in their homes. How has this affected your yoga?

Yoga studios were, of course, deserted during the time of Corona, but yoga was happening online. You would be surprised to know that it was the best time of my life. During this time I trained more than a thousand yoga instructors. I took up online classes for Pakistanis and students from abroad during the Corona period. Due to this I never felt I was distanced from yoga. During this period, I did good yoga and slept well.

 You may be surprised, but the truth is that my schedule was hectic and longer than usual during the Corona period. When the world was worried about the frugality of life in Corona and all business came to a standstill, the craze of yoga was reaching new heights. There was social distance but online classes filled the void.

During this time, I offered online classes to the students and completed online courses as an instructor.

Now you are in the headlines for the launch of aerial yoga in Pakistan. What is this new Yoga form about?

Yes, three years have passed since I introduced aerial yoga in Pakistan. It is a new form of yoga that is gaining popularity in the world. It accelerates blood circulation in the body. There is always more tension and flexibility in the human body. Aerial yoga is more effective and shows the impact in lesser time. For it, I trained in Thailand. It takes a lot of hard work. Life has become so busy, everyone wants quick results.

If you do traditional yoga, you have to do it seven days a week. People want results by doing yoga two or three days a week. This is not possible. Great yogis exercise daily and then they get results too.

What for and how should one do yoga?

The most important thing in yoga is spirituality. When spirituality comes within you, your mind and body become healthy. Yoga has been adopted as a lifestyle that gives you peace of mind while keeping you healthy.  When you practice yoga, strength, balance, mobility, flexibility and stability automatically develop within your body. Physical and mental balance is a characteristic of yoga.

The best thing about yoga is that you become conscious, it affects your life. You apply it when you eat, drink and sleep. Yoga means applying what you learned in class to your life. These are positive signs that have a profound effect on your life.

Can you give some tips on how to do yoga?

 Before doing yoga, you have to first understand what you want.  What you want from it depends on your lifestyle. It’s like a salesman deciding if he wants to stand at the counter of a shop all day or sit on more chairs.