An ardent disciple of Swami Shivanda of the Himalayas, he has travelled all over the world since the 1960s, attracting thousands of disciples with his magnetic charm and yoga therapy methods. Swami Satchidananda believes that ``to find out that inner joy, we have to analyse what makes us sad and gives us sorrow. Upsets in the mind and in the body are two chief reasons for our sorrows. To fall sick is a sin. The creator has given pure air, pure water, good sunlight and everything in the name of nature to keep us healthy. But because we violate many of the natural laws, we fall sick.

``So, the system of yoga which starts from the very base, from the physical side, wants you to be happy and healthy. Yoga is not a religion. It is just a system that can be practised by everybody, irrespective of caste, creed, race or religion. The founder of this system called Yoga was Maharshi Patanjali, who is supposed to have lived 5,000 years ago. When he analysed why we become unhappy, he found that ill-health is the most important reason. So, he started on the physical body and found certain postures in which you tone your inner system, the veins and the nerves to keep your body healthy.''

Swamiji elaborates further when he says that, ``for example, when you do the shoulder stand, Sarvangasana, you are toning up the thyroid gland. When you do the bow pose, Dhanurasana, you are toning up the adrenal glands. With the proper dietetic restrictions and yoga practices which comprise asanas and breathing, one can cure almost all types of diseases. What's more, yoga is not only curative, but is preventive too.'' And of course, leads you to a better self where you can experience the inner joy of living.