"Postures and breathing of Hatha Yoga practices are there to bring about balance
between Ha (Sun) and Tha (Moon), so that blockages are removed and Prana,
the life force, is able to flow everywhere equally." Sharat Arora
Life of Yoga Master Teacher -Sharat Arora (Anand Sagar)
Sharat Arora was born in 1953 and discovered yoga in 1978. He went through intensive, full-time training for seven years with BKS Iyengar at the Ramamani Iyengar Memorial Institute in Pune and assisted B.K.S. Iyengars on all levels of Asana classes. However, more significant in his development as a practitioner and teacher was his involvement in the daily therapy sessions, serving countless patients. His fusion of this experience, with his extensive study of Western medicine, greatly influenced his continually-evolving Yoga technique and sharpened his unique Yoga therapy skills.
During this time of his growth and transformation, Sharat was living in a Buddhist community and became interested in meditation, particularly Vipassana. With this added insight, Sharat made a breakthrough in understanding what Yoga techniques were meant to bring about in himself and others. He was further inspired by the teachings of J.Krishnamurti and later by HWL Poonja (the linage of Ramanamaharishi), leading to a more holistic practice and Yogic life. Sharat's clear and precise instructions, constant and detailed attentiveness, focus on providing students with the tools to practice and explore independently, and therapeutic knowledge for treating ailments and injuries, are combined with a spiritual depth that makes his instruction unique. Sharat speaks French, German and English fluently and has lived and traveled extensively in Europe.
The Sharat Arora Method
The Sharat Arora Yoga Method is the study of action and non-action, only when we find that balance can we experience harmony in the postures and true integration is possible. In order to achieve this, focus on flexibility and strength has to be put aside as it conflicts with our main goal which is to release tensions and overcome the limitations of the body. This is true freedom.
Classical Iyengar Yoga can be considered the basis of our method. We use props to maintain alignment and relaxation in all the poses. The method is immensely beneficial for healing all manner of ailments. During the practice we maintain our awareness inwards and directed towards the sensations of the body, rather than the thoughts to minimise and eventually eliminate the control of the mind.
In this method the organs of action are the hands and the feet and the trunk is passive. We keep our awareness here rather than performing local movements of the trunk. This revelation about the footwork is integral and specific to the Sharat Arora Yoga Method. All the postures therefore grow from the foundations from which alignment is easy to find.