Vishnu Prasad believes that yoga is beyond “touching our toes” and its magic lies in “touching our souls”.
Vishnu, a Doha-based wellness consultant also believes that through practicing yoga, people can regain their lost flexibility of body and adaptability of mind turning them capable of overcoming challenges with a smiling face.
“I started learning the art and science of yoga and other holistic wellness systems at the age of 15 while my father wants to see me as a mechanical engineer,” says Vishnu.
To guide and help people at a broader scale, Vishnu recently launched his book “Silence to Stillness” which he says is a practical guide to enhance and deepen one’s meditation practice.
Talking to The Peninsula, he said that the book was authored as a practical guide to meditation. “There is no philosophy rather it has been designed for a laymen who not only can easily understand but also practice yoga with its help.”
“I strongly believe this book can give the answers to many of your questions and give you clarity that will help you enter a deeper state in meditation and enhance your meditation journey.”
The book was launched on November 13 at Four Season Hotel Doha with Hassan Al Thawadi, the Secretary General of the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy as chief guest of the ceremony.
Equipped with knowledge, experience and academic degrees and certificates in holistic sciences, Vishnu started his career from Kerala, India then after serving in Maldives, Oman finally settled in Qatar four years ago.
“I had an inborn proclivity towards holistic sciences.”
Vishnu delivers lessons to group sessions at various luxury hotels of Doha as well as instructs to private clients.
“There are around 6 to 7 classes a day; one to two for groups while others are private sessions. In one group around 40 people participate while the session lasts for 90 minutes.”
He thinks that lack of understanding about yoga, found few years back, here in Qatar is not a today’s phenomenon.
“People’s interest and understanding on the subject is growing with the passage of time. They know now that yoga is not the name of just flexibility; it is greater than this limited concept. It is attaining inner-harmony and peace which ultimately reflects through your actions and attitudes towards relationships and ability to cope with everyday stress and challenges.”
He said that 300 people participated in International Yoga Day event, recently held.
“People representing all nationalities are taking interest in yoga and other holistic sciences.”
He says yoga magically improves one’s physical and mental performance. “It takes its practitioner to an inner journey. It is the science and art of stress-management and self-management.”
Vishnu, a Middle East Award winning, young well-being consultant is also founder of “Vishnu Wellness and Swasthi Yoga”.
He has International TTC Diploma in Yoga and Yoga Philosophy from India and now holds the title of Yoga Shiromani.
Vishnu has an International ISO 9001-2000 skill quality tested certification in personal training and Pilates; postgraduate diploma from Pevonia Botanicals Australia; diet and nutrition; anatomy and physiology; ayurveda; health club management among others.
He says that teaching the standard yoga or Pilates does not deliver immediate results in this fast-paced world. With this concept, Vishnu has developed a better way of achieving transformation within weeks – Swasthi Yoga and Total Pilates.
To a question about Swasthi Yoga, he said this unique style aims to transform one’s development to help achieve unlimited and unbelievable progress within a shorter period of time.
“You may have been practicing for years or just started, it still takes a long time to achieve a master strength, flexibility and progress.”
“As a result, many people stop practicing early due to disappointment, frustration and laziness. “Swasthi Yoga”, “Swasthi” or “Svasti” is a Sanskrit word meaning wellbeing, success.”
Swasthi Yoga, he says, emphasises your wellness potential and ability.
Swasthi Yoga is originally based on Hatha yoga. “It is famous for its miraculous healing ability and fast transformational power in one’s practice. It is a very powerful 90-minute series of yoga postures and breathing exercises, internal organ, and gland while systematically moving fresh, oxygenated blood to 100 percent of your body with an added equal activation of the entire diameter of the body.”
He says Swasthi Yoga builds strength, balance, flexibility, health and peace of mind. “Lung capacity is expanded, leading to greater vitality. Bones are strengthened. Joints are opened and lubricated. Muscles are strengthened, toned, and made more flexible. By the end of each Swasthi Yoga class, you will have worked every muscle, tendon, joint, ligament, internal organ, and gland while systematically moving fresh, oxygenated blood to 100% of your body with an added equal activation of the entire diameter of the body.”
He said that yoga also helps fighting diseases. “Many cancer patients are doing classes with me. They feel inner strength to fight against the disease as health starts from the mind.”
On detox yoga, he said: “Most forms of vigorous exercise stimulate all three systems of elimination to some extent, thereby helping the body in its quest to cleanse and detox. But yoga, with its focus on systematically stretching and compressing every part of the body, is particularly well-suited to keeping the waste-removal departments of the body functioning well.”
“In a well-rounded yoga practice, every part of the body is pushed, pulled, twisted, turned and upended. This facilitates the removal of waste products such as carbon dioxide, lactic acid and lymphatic fluid from the deep tissues and extremities of the body.”
On another type, slimming power yoga, Vishnu said that it was about calorie burning; increasing stamina, strength, flexibility and tone; promoting blood circulation; boosting immune system; alleviating stress and tension; eliminating toxins through sweat and improving mood.
On full moon yoga, Vishnu said that it is a great chance for an outdoor gathering when energy vibration is perfect. “Like oceans, moon has impact on our bodies as well because they are composed of 70 percent of water. Full moon yoga eliminates toxins from our bodies.”
