On January 23rd at 10:35 p.m. on ORF 2; then: “Water doctor – herbalist – trendsetter”
Vienna (OTS) – What is yoga? The teachings that came from India can be seen today in many forms and colors. It can be a trend sport as well as entertainment – but it goes far beyond that. The original, approximately 5,000 year old philosophical teachings of yoga contain numerous mysteries: through breathing techniques (pranayama) and physical exercises (asanas), practitioners are supposed to find a connection to a higher self. But what makes a real yogi, a real yogini? How does one achieve absolute mastery? The “criss-cross” documentary “The Secret of Yoga” by Jennifer Rezny goes on a search for the Hindu and Buddhist roots of yoga on Tuesday, January 23, 2024, at 10:35 p.m. on ORF 2 and looks at its diverse manifestations today. Gunnar Mergner’s film “Water Doctor – Herbal Pastor – Trendsetter” about Sebastian Kneipp’s medicine follows at 11:10 p.m.
“The Secret of Yoga” – A film by Jennifer Rezny
One of the most famous yoga faces is 93-year-old Ursula Lyon, called the “Buddha Grandma” by her students. She developed the so-called Sampada Yoga and combines physical exercises, meditation and breathing exercises with Buddhist wisdom. At the heart of her philosophy is compassion for herself and others. Monastic yoga traditions, among others, are also dedicated to the search for spiritual enlightenment. One of them is the Sivananda community. It follows the teachings of a famous Indian yoga master, which includes a comprehensive overall concept. Among other things, they are sexually abstinent, eat a vegetarian diet, study ancient scriptures, meditate, chant mantras and practice physically challenging asanas, i.e. sequences of movements, every day. The documentary takes a look at one of the most original forms of yoga – the so-called Bhakti Yoga, also called Yoga of the Heart – with the members of the Sri Sri Radha Govinda Gaudiya Math in a Hindu temple in Traiskirchen, Lower Austria. The focus for them is the spiritual connection with the divine.
But yoga is not always used for spiritual search; it can also be used to relieve physical suffering. Martina Sommer-Goldammer is a physiotherapist and convinced of the healing effects of yoga. She integrates yoga into her treatment therapy. And with success: your patients report noticeable healing results. A “back and forth” search for the origins of the popular practice, its characteristics and its dark sides today. Religious scholar and yoga expert Prof. Dr. Karl Baier analyzes current developments and introduces the history of yoga.
“Water Doctor – Herbal Pastor – Trendsetter” – A film by Gunnar Mergner
A provincial priest becomes famous worldwide in the second half of the 19th century for a do-it-yourself health system based on water, herbs and an active lifestyle. That is, in a nutshell, the amazing story of Sebastian Kneipp. It encompasses a winding path through life that leads from a village in the Allgäu to the Pope in Rome. An immensely successful teaching that still has thousands of fans organized in clubs today. And scientists and doctors who research the “water doctor’s” methods, which are not always easy to substantiate, and advocate the inclusion of gentle healing methods in everyday medical practice. “kreuz und quer” illuminates Kneipp’s life, work and legacy with a fresh perspective and the spotlight of modernity.