Breathlessness and yoga..!

Something the whole world owes India is better health through breathing exercises taught through yoga.
"Hold your breath!" says the instructor and thousands of people in classes all over do so, and then slowly, ever so slowly exhale. The world has reason to rejoice because in the land where this discipline originated from very same techniques and exercises are used day after day by millions.
"Hold your breath!" whispers the mother of the school going child, and both mother and daughter hold their breath till they safely pass rotting garbage dump.
"Don't breathe!" I tell myself as I see dead carcass of a crow lying next to ten sweepers enjoying their morning cup of tea. "Don't breathe!" I tell myself again as I pass still rotting crow next morning and as one of the sweepers waves to me as I stare at dead bird.
The third day I let out a sigh of relief but quickly hold on to remaining breath as I see dead bird with innards exposed dragged few feet into a bush, but alas still emitting tell tale smell.
This time, all the sweepers wave to me. I point to dead crow and all of them look sadly at the sky.
Like I said India taught the rest of the world
to hold their breath and still continues to hold
her own.
My friend John called me from England. "Bob," he said, "I've started yoga and it's amazing!"
"What is?" I asked dryly.
"You Indians!" he said, "I've got a dozen of you chaps in my class, and you should see them with their …"
"Breath control!" I shouted.
"Yes," he shouted back, "it's a gift!"
"It comes with the land!" I shouted back.
"You're lucky!" he said.
Suddenly I understand.
The dead crow or part of it is still lying under the bushes the next day. I hold my breath and pass by, but with smile on my face.
The sweepers are at their tea.
"Thanks!" I tell them.
"We thought you'd never understand," says Bachu the sweeper with the cleanest broom.
"But we held our breaths!" says Ramu.
"We knew you'd get the point," smiles Pandu.
"That the reason we didn't clean up," they all shout, "is, you would also learn a yoga exercise in breath control!"
I nod happily and peel out a hundred rupee note which I give Bachu, the sweeper with the cleanest broom, "For keeping me…"
"Breathless..!" he whispers and the others nod as they finish their tea and go home.
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Breathlessness and yoga..!

Something the whole world owes India is better health through breathing exercises taught through yoga. Hold your breath! says the instructor and thousands of people in classes all over do so, and then slowly, ever so slowly exhale. The world has reason to rejoice because in the land where this discipline originated from very same techniques and exercises are used day after day by millions. Hold your breath! whispers the mother of the school going child, and both mother and daughter hold their breath till they safely pass rotting garbage dump. Dont breathe! I tell myself as I see dead carcass of a crow lying next to ten sweepers enjoying their morning cup of tea. Dont breathe! I tell myself again as I pass still rotting crow next morning and as one of the sweepers waves to me as I stare at dead bird. The third day I let out a sigh of relief but quickly hold on to remaining breath as I see dead bird with innards exposed dragged few feet into a bush, but alas still emitting tell tale smell. This time, all the sweepers wave to me. I point to dead crow and all of them look sadly at the sky. Like I said India taught the rest of the world to hold their breath and still continues to hold her own. My friend John called me from England. Bob, he said, Ive started yoga and its amazing! What is? I asked dryly. You Indians! he said, Ive got a dozen of you chaps in my class, and you should see them with their Breath control! I shouted. Yes, he shouted back, its a gift! It comes with the land! I shouted back. Youre lucky! he said. Suddenly I understand. The dead crow or part of it is still lying under the bushes the next day. I hold my breath and pass by, but with smile on my face. The sweepers are at their tea. Thanks! I tell them. We thought youd never understand, says Bachu the sweeper with the cleanest broom. But we held our breaths! says Ramu. We knew youd get the point, smiles Pandu. That the reason we didnt clean up, they all shout, is, you would also learn a yoga exercise in breath control! I nod happily and peel out a hundred rupee note which I give Bachu, the sweeper with the cleanest broom, For keeping me Breathless..! he whispers and the others nod as they finish their tea and go home. [email protected]