Chaim Citronenbaum - Yoga Instructor

Never in his wildest dreams had Chaim Citronenbaum ever imagined that one day he would be compelled to take time off from his busy lifestyle in Central America and travel all the way to India to master the art and science of Yoga. A freak accident on the freeway had left him with a dozen broken bones and battered muscles and he was told he was lucky to get away with his life. Unfortunately, that was all he was left with, because his bad back and broken spine left him immobile and confined to bed. One doctor after another visited him and shook his head saying that since the nerves had been affected, there was little that could be done. All this had happened around 11 years ago and neuro surgery was still in its infancy then.

It was around then that an Indian doctor, Danish advised him to try yoga as a last resort. Chaim was ready for anything because the prospect of living the rest of his life on a wheelchair was frightening. A lot of research and a million phone calls later Chaim Citronenbaum was air bound to India in search of a cure for his debilitating back injury. He surrendered himself to the science of yoga and nine months later found the first stirrings of life in his limp legs. He cried from relief and kissed the hand of his yoga guru Swami Yoganand.

That may have been the end of his health woes but it was most certainly the beginning of a whole new way of life and he made up his mind to first learn the science that had given him a new life, to help others. Unmindful of the weather, unmindful of the disparity of cultures he adapted himself to the lifestyle practiced by the inmates of the ashram that was home to him for the next two years. And it was two years later that he walked about the ashram on his own feet and could not stop thanking Swami Yoganand and those who had guided him in his quest for a fresh lease of active life. He wanted to take back this art and science to his country and he pleaded that he be allowed to stay on at the ashram as a student and ordinary worker. Seeing the fire in his eyes, Swami ji agreed and it was a painstaking journey of learning and strict adherence to regime that saw Chaim Citronenbaum metamorphose in to a yoga guru himself after mastering the art of Vipasanna Meditation, Sudharshana Kriya, Kundalini Meditation, Transcendental Meditation, Cyclic Meditation, and other useful, special and advanced yogic techniques like Yoganidra and Shavasana.

A happy and thankful man he went back home with single minded determination spread the word and share with others the unique science that helped one enjoy a healthy body and peace of mind. The news that one who had been resigned to wasting away in a wheelchair had come back a robust and active man and had taken charge of his life and work as if he had never gone away spread like wildfire. When he started a centre for yoga he found that the response was so good that he had to call upon his associates back from India to help him. Today he conducts seminars, workshops, and yoga therapy and practical classes of yoga and in the last four years has taught more than 1000 students belonging to all nationalities.