Prana Series
As Shikshantar School approaches its 25th year, we reflect on a journey that began under the shade of an Alstonia tree, where three friends visualised a space dedicated to learning, reflection, and meaningful connections. The seed of Shikshantar has grown into a family that continues to nurture the spirit of growth and togetherness.
In this milestone year, our Founder and Director Education Minoti Didi shared her long aspiration of introducing the Shikshantar team to her teacher Smita Didi, who had been Didi’s personal guide on the path to health and fitness.
As a Yoga Therapist for adults and children in the tradition of Sri T Krishnamacharya, Smita didi shared about how it was important to regulate breathing as a foundation to good health and longevity by enabling all to stay centered in the present.
She initiated the first session in the series with a group of team members who felt ready to walk this path of inner strengthening through ‘Prana Series’- a space to pause and nurture our inner selves, a process to unlock the channels in our body through rhythm of breathing patterns.
Smita Didi facilitated the session through simple breathing sequences and emphasised on how the function of Pranayam is to stay rooted in the present, it makes your mind quieter and alleviates the feelings of anxiety. She took the session further with ‘Avahanam’, a technique of hand movements coordinated with the rhythm of deep breathing to ground yourself in the present moment and foster inner calm.
Participants later reflected on how they had arrived with many thoughts and questions, and the session helped them process and resolve these through mindful breathing.
The first session in the series concluded with collective wishes for peace and a better world, highlighting the impact of calming the mind.