India is enforcing the harshest and most extensive COVID-19 lockdown in the world. On March 24, 2020, with just a short four-hour notice, India – all of India – was in lockdown, stay-in-your-house-and-don’t-you-dare-come-out kind of lockdown. All state and international borders were closed, effective immediately.
Except once to dispose of garbage, under cover of night, in a vacant lot cum neighborhood garbage dump about 50 feet away, I haven’t been out of my house in over ten days.
The government of India has done a great job in getting the word out to 1.3 billion people about social distancing, hand washing and hand sanitizers. Shops draw social distancing chalk circles for people to wait in line, and rather than hand over groceries, they send them down a 6 foot PVC pipe dumping into the waiting bags.
But India has something much more valuable to offer the world in times of crisis like these. Not just the example of the harshest and most extensive lockdown, but a tried-and-true way of life passed down for thousands of years that brings calm, peace, clarity and immune building strength and vitality to the body, mind and soul.
You know what I’m talkin’ about!
Yoga!
And I can almost guarantee that anybody who practices yoga is doing it now, with renewed vigor, behind locked-down, shelter-in-place, stay-a-home, social-distancing doors. And they will maintain compassion and kindness, and a healthy perspective; body, mind and soul. They will use this new forced isolation time to reflect, meditate, and grow spiritually. They will emerge stronger and more conscious when this is all over.
Yoga does that to you. Just ask anyone who practices yoga.
Everyday yoga becomes a more important part of my life. Yoga is doing exactly what I knew it would do when I embarked upon the path later on in my life – I’m healthier, happier, more compassionate, forgiving, kind, generous, thoughtful and patient versus the direction I was heading – crotchety, old lady with 40 cats.
It fills my days of lockdown with meaning and purpose. Besides reading, writing and studying Yoga and Ayurveda (Yoga’s sister science philosophy) I follow an extensive routine that gives me peace and strength, knowing my body, mind and soul are in the best shape ever in my life, to get me through the tough times.
I encourage anybody at home, bored, with “nothing to do” to check out a few YouTube videos and start your journey with yoga. It will be one of the best decisions of your life! And please include more than just the asanas (the exercises, which is what most western countries have come to think of as “yoga”). Try adding some simple daily meditations, cleansing and breathing exercises into your life. There are many great apps to get you started, like “Insight Timer”, “Calm”, “Headspace” and “Stop, think, Breathe” just to name a few. And while you’re on the App Store, check out the yoga apps: “Down Dog” (my favorite) or “Daily Yoga”. Most of the apps have good, free programs to get you started and now’s as good a time as any. And, it’s never too late to start!!