Look at what this man is doing…
Image source: The Star
Yes, there are many who can perform this Yoga posture, but what’s special about the man in the picture is that he performs all such complex Hatha yoga postures with such an ease at the age of 99 
. His name is Swami Yogananda (not the Paramahansa Yogananda of ‘Autobiography of a Yogi’ and ‘Kriya Yoga’ fame). This 99 year old Yogananda works in association with the the Art of Living Foundation and travels around the world to teach his brand of yoga called ‘Sukshma Vyayama’.
Swami Yogananda has never taken medication in his 99 years of life on earth. He is such an expert at preserving the energies he gained through yoga that he eats only once a day, and after three days of food he takes up fasting for a week! Physically he is very much fit and healthy, mentally alert as well. He’s learning the English language at this age and hopes to write a book on yoga! Although the Swami says he is 99, official records say he was born in 1927, but who cares if he is 100 or 80, that he remains healthy and vigorous by any standards, even at this ripe age, is a perfect example of what regular practise of yoga can do to the human body.
I took up the Advanced Meditation Course offered by the Art of Living Foundation two months back. ‘Sukshma Vyayama’ is taught as a part of this course… very very simple set of excercises of about 15 minutes, but very very effective. With regular and sincere practise of these excercises (complemented with a healthy lifestyle), I’m sure anybody can live with full vigour till 100 and even beyond. Swami Yogananda aspires to live till he is 150! I wish he lives much longer as an ambassador of this ancient science of Hatha Yoga. May he inspire more and more people to live a life of health and vitality. God Bless.
An article about Swami Yogananda appeared in The Star, a Malaysian daily.
See also, an article about Swami Yogananda in youthejournalist.com.
leisha says:
woah.amazing, at 99 he can still perform those yoga poses!
19 March 2008, 1:57 pmemy505 says:
omg. that’s so amazing, he’s got a flexible body.
22 April 2008, 10:21 amyoga
Ilchi Lee says:
The only way that you will ever see me in that position, is after a horrific car accident.
4 September 2008, 10:34 pmPhil says:
why did u say god bless at the end? it was pretty uncalled for, im sure he can live to 150 easily without the help of your “god”
7 September 2008, 7:35 pmSrini says:
oops!!! sorry! yes, he can live till 150 or even more even without the help of my god, but i just wanted to express my wishes for him, not that he badly needs my wishes. Anyway, thanks for your comment
8 September 2008, 10:46 am