Bryan Strang Spotlight: Bhagavad Gita to the rescue

[CrimsonAvenger]

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/minds ... ita/628257

Mind’s demons slayed, ex-cricketer Strang heals with yoga, Gita

He slings back the camera hanging loosely from his right shoulder. He shuts his eyes, takes a deep breath, and gently sways his hand in an up-and-down motion, letting the air out through his mouth. “This is the kriya, the action, to release your ego... divinity lies beyond,” he says to the Zimbabwean woman hanging on to his every word as she imitates his actions.

Lesson over, he borrows a cigarette, saying “shukriya” with folded hands. As the woman leaves, she is presented with her new-found teacher’s media accreditation card. It says, “Name: Bryan Strang, Designation: Sri Krishna.”

Some would say Strang hit rock bottom after his cricket career (56 wickets in 26 Tests and 46 wickets in 49 ODIs for Zimbabwe between 1995 and 2001) ended, but the former left-arm seamer is personally convinced the ups and downs of his life are all part of a roller-coaster process of soul-searching.

For the 38-year-old from Bulawayo, the prison cells, bloody wounds, alcohol-related problems, manic depression, suicidal tendencies and self-inflicted injuries of the recent past have now been replaced by a deep and sincere spirituality.

“I found God and it changed my life,” says Strang, as he stubs out the cigarette butt. “I was angry with myself, my country and my life. By the time my career fizzled out, the revolution took ground in Zimbabwe.

“It was a terrible time in our lives. I was a white man who believed in harmony, somebody who wanted to be a monk in the Himalayas before I got fascinated by cricket. But all that changed when our lands were taken away from us. My anger made me rebel against the law,” he says, a faraway gloominess in his eyes.

The result was that he kept getting thrown in jail, which only increased his angst. “It was a misplaced sense of judgement,” he says. “I believed I should stand up against the law because it wasn’t my law. Then the alcohol took control. Nothing in my life made sense, there were broken relationships, and lots and lots of anti-depressant pills. I was put on Valium to be calmed.”

Although his brother, Paul, a former leg-spinner for Zimbabwe, and friends from the cricket field like the elegant former left-hand batsman Alistair Campbell stood by him, Strang knew the light to drive away his dark days would ultimately have to come from within.

“I left home and tried to live the life of a hermit, but I was still fighting myself. I went to England and worked as a chainman on the road. It was better therapy than the shrinks. Building a two-mile road gave me internal peace, but I still hadn’t made peace with my country.”

In 2008, Strang returned to Zimbabwe. “It was a difficult decision, but I had to come back to Bulawayo. A few months later, a man met me while I was having coffee and said, ‘You look like you could do with a prayer. I will pray for you when you come to church’. The next day I went, and four strangers prayed for me. Things began to change immediately,” he says.

In 2009, Strang found the guru who he says changed his life forever. It was Sri Sri Ravishankar.

“I started reading the Bhagavad Gita and the words made so much sense to me, for this was exactly what I was craving for all my life,” he says, adding, from the scripture, “Words can heal and words can wound.”

As his crumpled spirits lifted, Strang was able to take control of his mind. He became a teacher of yoga and spirituality at an Indian community in Westridge, Harare. And then, as he recovered, he was able every now and then to take time out to heal his other damaged love, cricket.

“Cricket is life, no other sport displays truer emotions. I’ve come back to spread the message of love and heal wounds.” Wearing a backpack, he mingles with the crowds at the Queens Sports Club, healing a few wounds along the way. Healing after being healed, life has come full circle for Bryan Strang.

[shumbat]

Good for Strang, we could do with him as coach at Southern Rocks.

[ZIMDOGGY]

im glad Bryan has got his sh1t together,
but whatst all this meditiating Himalayan monk business?
lol
what a poof.

[Dr_Situ(ZimFanatic)]

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/minds ... ita/628257

Mind’s demons slayed, ex-cricketer Strang heals with yoga, Gita

He slings back the camera hanging loosely from his right shoulder. He shuts his eyes, takes a deep breath, and gently sways his hand in an up-and-down motion, letting the air out through his mouth. “This is the kriya, the action, to release your ego... divinity lies beyond,” he says to the Zimbabwean woman hanging on to his every word as she imitates his actions.

Lesson over, he borrows a cigarette, saying “shukriya” with folded hands. As the woman leaves, she is presented with her new-found teacher’s media accreditation card. It says, “Name: Bryan Strang, Designation: Sri Krishna.”

Some would say Strang hit rock bottom after his cricket career (56 wickets in 26 Tests and 46 wickets in 49 ODIs for Zimbabwe between 1995 and 2001) ended, but the former left-arm seamer is personally convinced the ups and downs of his life are all part of a roller-coaster process of soul-searching.

For the 38-year-old from Bulawayo, the prison cells, bloody wounds, alcohol-related problems, manic depression, suicidal tendencies and self-inflicted injuries of the recent past have now been replaced by a deep and sincere spirituality.

“I found God and it changed my life,” says Strang, as he stubs out the cigarette butt. “I was angry with myself, my country and my life. By the time my career fizzled out, the revolution took ground in Zimbabwe.

“It was a terrible time in our lives. I was a white man who believed in harmony, somebody who wanted to be a monk in the Himalayas before I got fascinated by cricket. But all that changed when our lands were taken away from us. My anger made me rebel against the law,” he says, a faraway gloominess in his eyes.

The result was that he kept getting thrown in jail, which only increased his angst. “It was a misplaced sense of judgement,” he says. “I believed I should stand up against the law because it wasn’t my law. Then the alcohol took control. Nothing in my life made sense, there were broken relationships, and lots and lots of anti-depressant pills. I was put on Valium to be calmed.”

Although his brother, Paul, a former leg-spinner for Zimbabwe, and friends from the cricket field like the elegant former left-hand batsman Alistair Campbell stood by him, Strang knew the light to drive away his dark days would ultimately have to come from within.

“I left home and tried to live the life of a hermit, but I was still fighting myself. I went to England and worked as a chainman on the road. It was better therapy than the shrinks. Building a two-mile road gave me internal peace, but I still hadn’t made peace with my country.”

In 2008, Strang returned to Zimbabwe. “It was a difficult decision, but I had to come back to Bulawayo. A few months later, a man met me while I was having coffee and said, ‘You look like you could do with a prayer. I will pray for you when you come to church’. The next day I went, and four strangers prayed for me. Things began to change immediately,” he says.

In 2009, Strang found the guru who he says changed his life forever. It was Sri Sri Ravishankar.

“I started reading the Bhagavad Gita and the words made so much sense to me, for this was exactly what I was craving for all my life,” he says, adding, from the scripture, “Words can heal and words can wound.”

As his crumpled spirits lifted, Strang was able to take control of his mind. He became a teacher of yoga and spirituality at an Indian community in Westridge, Harare. And then, as he recovered, he was able every now and then to take time out to heal his other damaged love, cricket.

“Cricket is life, no other sport displays truer emotions. I’ve come back to spread the message of love and heal wounds.” Wearing a backpack, he mingles with the crowds at the Queens Sports Club, healing a few wounds along the way. Healing after being healed, life has come full circle for Bryan Strang.

At last you dig it up VP. Bryan's story is really an inspiring one (just like Price's). Apart from yoga he is also a studious and devoted karateka with sensei chiba. He told me that he want to do a coaching manuel called the yoga of cricket cause cricket especially test is all about present moment living.

[maehara]

im glad Bryan has got his sh1t together,
but whatst all this meditiating Himalayan monk business?
lol
what a poof.

Whether or not there's any spiritual truth behind it, meditation and that sort of thing sounds like just what he needed to get himself back on track. In which case it's rather tasteless for you to mock him for it.

[Dr_Situ(ZimFanatic)]

Good for Strang, we could do with him as coach at Southern Rocks.

Coach???? The nagging seamer is fit to bowl. Dont be surprised if you see this talented, hard cricketer (and a positive persona) playing for Eagles or Tuskers.

[bayhaus]

Man Brian has had it tough man! he coached us when I was in Grade 7 and we played against him in the Mutare league together with paul and kevin barbour(the Umpire). And to see where he's been is quite sad and inspirational as well, and I wish him well in his endouvours, though I hope he comes to know the true God.

[sloandog]

im glad Bryan has got his sh1t together,
but whatst all this meditiating Himalayan monk business?
lol
what a poof.

Show some respect man !
He's gone through a lot in recent times, and he doesn't need comments like that from guys like you !

[eugene]

I knew that Bryan Strang fell on some tough times but I didn't realise it got as bad as prison cells. I am assuming he lost farmland in the early 2000s.

[sloandog]

I though he came back to do some coaching for grass route cricketers....