‘He worked as a chemical engineer until he became ill, was diagnosed with diseases, and medical doctors gave up on him,” says Daxay Patel of Plainsboro, referring to yoga teacher Acharya Yogendradev. “He found a guru who said ‘come to yoga’ close to 10 years ago. Now it’s his whole life.”
Patel, a member of Plainsboro of the Human Relations Council of Plainsboro, was instrumental in bringing Yogendradev back to Plainsboro for the second time. In conjunction with Plainsboro Recreation and the Life Foundation, a free yoga weekend will be presented Saturday and Sunday, August 27 and 28, in the Plainsboro Municipal Building.
Yogendradev presents “spontaneous yoga,” a style of yoga inspired by the Life Mission’s Rajarishi Muni. “I study yoga with him whenever I get a chance,” says Patel. “There are many types of yoga but I like his theories. He knows modern science terms and explains the chemistry behind it.”
According to Patel, Yogendradev lives wherever he goes and people help him by giving him a place to stay and food to eat. He does not take money. “He gives the knowledge of yoga to teach people how to live better through yoga,” he says. “I was recently with him in Pennsylvania for a one-week session and I learned a lot from him.”
Topics to be discussed and practiced throughout the weekend include diet, practice of asana and pranayama, kathorikaran and relaxation of body by yogic techniques, meditation, exercises, and yoga therapy for major and common diseases.
It is advised that participants do not eat for two to three hours before practicing yoga and that loose-fitting clothes be worn. A yoga mat is useful. There is no registration.
Patel was born in India and has lived in New Jersey for 22 years, and in Plainsboro for 12 years. A graduate of NJIT and Rutgers University in Newark, he has a bachelor’s degree in engineering, and a master’s degree in computer science. A professor at Rutgers University, he is working on his doctorate degree.
He and his wife, Rina, moved to Plainsboro when she was employed by Merrill Lynch. Now she works at State Street Corporation on College Road. They have a daughter, Pooja, 10, a student at Millstone River School, and a son, Tej, 3, a student at Harmony School.
Patel has been a part of the Human Relation Council for six years. The group develops programs to establish community awareness, understanding, and appreciation of the ethnic population mix in Plainsboro. Members serving three-year terms include Patel, Marie Piper, Ruth Levy, Maryann Sullivan, Michael Kelly, Amanda Yates, Kaushik Mashettiwar, Victoria Johnson, and Carolyn Bitzer. Call 609-799-0909 for information.
— Lynn Miller
Yoga Weekend, Plainsboro Recreation, Municipal Complex, 641 Plainsboro Road, 609-638-9011. Bring a mat or blanket. Free. Saturday, August 27, 1:30 to 3:30 p.m., and Sunday, August 28, 1 to 5 p.m.
