BAVINA SOOKDEO

As couples start the exhilarating process of wedding planning, amidst the whirlwind of excitement and anticipation, it's crucial to prioritise self-care and stress management.

Nilesh Boodoosingh, a seasoned yoga instructor from Conscious Yoga Collective, shared insights into how yoga can serve as a guiding light, nurturing the mind, body, and soul during this transformative time.

"Yoga is not something you do; it's something you become," told WMN, echoing Sadhguru's teachings.

Through cultivating body, mind, emotions, and energies, yoga became an integral aspect of his life, bringing him joy and mental balance.

Asked to share how yoga can effectively help brides and grooms de-stress before, during, and after their wedding, Boodoosingh said, 'In the western part of the world, if you utter the word 'yoga,' people think of impossible physical postures. "This is a very distorted idea of what yoga is. Yoga is not about bending and twisting your body or holding your breath.'

Before the wedding:

Boodoosingh stressed the importance of internal reflection and contemplation before diving into wedding preparations. He draws upon the wisdom of Sadhguru, highlighting the essence of yoga as union - a profound joining of hearts and souls. The word 'Yoga' literally means 'union.' Marriage can be a stepping stone towards this and is indeed the joining of two people who want their lives to be entwined in union. Even before any attempt is made to make any preparations for the wedding, it is important to know why, out of all the multitude of activities available, you want to do this in particular with the other person. A certain sense of the gravity of what this is should always be internalised before a single step is taken together. In yoga,

smarana means contemplation of the highest. This is the first step that should be taken before marriage happens. With this, there is a complete change and inner and outer purity will naturally happen as a consequence. This becomes the platform to approach the whole process of marriage with the reverence, profoundness, and excitement it deserves, making it a positive experience rather than one of anxiety and distress.'

During the wedding:

As the wedding festivities unfold, Boodoosingh introduces the power of

pranayama - the art of gaining control over vital energy.

'Once the stage is set during the wedding activities, there are processes like pranayama that can be used' he explained. 'It often gets mistranslated.

Prana means 'the vital energy,' and

yama means to gain control over that. So it is a subtle process through which one can gain control over his inner energies. These processes are taught in their depth because transforming inner energies are very important to stabilise the body and the mind.

"It is said in yoga, if you are in control of your prana you will invariably have unshakeable psychological balance.'

Nadi Shuddhi, he said, is a wonderful process to balance the mind and emotions; it cleanses the nadis (the pathways thro