Integral Insight

This jetsetting ‘entrepreneur of the year’ chooses not to live in his family mansion, and spearheads his own business empire (hospitality, restaurants and food). So you’d expect him to have several charitable companies, which he does, but here’s the best part: Raju Harilela, high profile Hong Kong business magnate is a certified ‘Integral yoga’ instructor. He not only takes time off from managing his business to do yoga himself, but also teaches Integral yoga. Inspite of owning the finest hotels and restaurants, and globetrotting to the gourmet capitals of the world, he does not smoke or drink.

‘‘It all started several years ago,’’ explains Harilela, ‘‘when I suffered from headaches that had me hospitalised for days on end. I went to the world’s best doctors and was on four levels of medications, but it was no use at all.’’ So when he heard about Yogaville in Virginia, he made a beeline for it. There was no looking back.

Not only is he now absolutely fit and healthy, but also off all medications. ‘‘All thanks to yoga,’’ he says. ‘‘Integral yoga is a harmonious combination of several factors.’’

Swami Satchidananda, the guru of this yoga, defines it as a flexible combination of specific methods to develop every aspect of the individual—physical, intellectual, emotional and spiritual. ‘‘It is a scientific system which integrates the various branches of yoga in order to bring about a complete harmonious development of the individual,’’ he says.

While Hatha yoga focuses on physical development through asanas, pranayam, mudras, diet and relaxation, Raja yoga is about control of the mind through meditation. Bhakti yoga is devotional, while Karma yoga involves selfless action. Japa yoga is the use of the mantra. But Integral yoga is all this and much more.

‘‘Asanas work on the spine,’’ explains Harilela. This is crucial because the spine controls the regulation of prana—a tense spine makes us feel old because energy does not flow easily.

Hatha yoga also works on the endocrine system—the pineal, pituitary and thyroid glands. These are also stimulated by thoughts, so besides doing yoga it’s important to keep one’s thoughts positive and pure.

There are several other complex layers of Integral yoga which involve study, contemplation and action. By practicing Integral yoga, Swamiji had said, ‘‘Your life will become easeful, mind peaceful and your life useful.’’

What better example than Raju Harilela?