Are You Managing UR Anxiety?
Nothing is permanent in this wicked world. Not even our troubles. — Charlie Chaplin Anxiety is a normal emotion. Everyone feels it from time to time. It’s your Body mind complex telling you that you may be facing something new and you are not sure you can handle it.That you are not feeling equipped enough, or a little shaky and nervous to face the problem at work or in your personal life. It could be a test you are preparing for, or an important work decision that you need to make, or a relationship decision with long term consequences. An Anxiety Disorder is different. Then, worry and fear are constant. Panic and Breathlessness are overwhelming, Tension and Sleeplessness can be disabling. The experience of Anxiety is out of proportion to the actual event. Worry and restlessness become constant and the person is unable to set them aside. Day to day life gets quite impacted and the individual realizes that Help is much needed. With treatment, most people can manage their anxiety and get back to a fulfilling life. Anxiety disorder is mental health disorder characterised by feelings of worry or fear and includes different conditions such as panic attacks, obsessive-compulsive disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder. Different types of Anxiety disorders: Panic disorder - You feel fear, you may sweat, have chest pain and palpitations. Sometimes you may feel like you can’t breathe or having a heart attack. Social Anxiety disorder - You feel self-conscious and overwhelmed with worry about everyday social situations. You worry about everyone judging you or about being embarrassed or ridiculed by people. Phobias - You feel intense and debilitating fear in different situations or with objects. Phobias could be related to heights or flying or an animal and so on. The fear much exceeds what’s usual and may result in people avoiding those situations. Generalised anxiety disorder - Your worry and tension is excessive and not proportionate to reality. Symptoms common to most anxiety disorders: Panic, fear, and uneasiness Sleeplessness Unable to stay calm Cold, sweaty, hands. Sometimes numb or tingling Breathlessness Palpitations Dryness in mouth and throat Dizziness, Nausea Tense muscles, restlessness You may feel terrified and overwhelmed, and not in a position to take care of yourself. Treatment will include psychotherapy and/or medication. Your Psychiatrist may put you on Anxiolytics or Anxiety medication or even antidepressants, depending on your symptoms. They usually work for most Anxiety disorders.People fear that once they start medication, it will be lifelong. That is not so. Over a period of time, especially if therapy has been regular, medication can be slowly reduced and moved to an SOS basis. Psychotherapy is talk therapy that addresses the emotional response to Anxiety, its causes. A Psychologist helps you understand and deal with your anxiety disorder. Cognitive behavior therapy teaches you how to recognize and change negative thought patterns and behaviors that trigger deep anxiety or panic. Over time you become aware of these patterns and can cope better. Systematic Desensitisation teaches you how to de-condition yourself from Phobias. Step by small step, you are able to look at these phobias, recognize their build up and face up to them rather than avoid them. Relaxation therapies teach you how to bring yourself to a state of calmness such that you can breathe and think calm and be able to see your unrealistic fear responses. You can see your calm mind helping with Clarity of thought and not leading you towards uncontrolled fear. Sleep hygiene helps you address all issues related to sleep and improve the quality of night time sleep. It helps you with a Sleep Wake schedule resulting in you getting sufficient and restful sleep. Coping Strategies to help you manage your symptoms: Practice yoga. It will help with Body Mind calmness. It also works on the internal body and systems. Take a break. Pick up painting, listen to music, get a massage. Step away from the problem for a while. Maintain a routine. Eat regular and timely meals. Maintain a sleep wake schedule. Regulate Work timings. While this will be difficult initially, it will greatly add to Limit alcohol and caffeine since it may aggravate anxiety. Exercise daily. It will help you feel tired but calm. Practice breathing exercises. Inhale and exhale slowly and deep will help to feel calm. Time for humor. Schedule a daily dose of laughter on TV, shows, with friends. Talk to someone. Set up a support group of a few friends and family. Reach out to them when you feel fearful. Talk to them when you feel overwhelmed. Be patient with yourself. You have started a program. Give it some time for results to show.
Nothing is permanent in this wicked world. Not even our troubles. — Charlie Chaplin Anxiety is a normal emotion. Everyone…
Flatten UR Bloated Stomach
Most times we enjoy a late-night binge while watching television without even realising how much we are eating! When you indulge in sugary and fatty foods mindlessly, indigestion takes place, which in turn causes bloating. This is a message UR body is trying to convey to you that there is an imbalance between the good and bad bacteria in your gut. Anti bloat foods Ginger Ginger has anti-bacterial properties that act as a natural antibiotic and flushes harmful bacteria that irritate the tummy in the form of gas. A piece of ginger in tea or hot water can work its magic! Fennel seeds Fennel seeds (Saunf) is a miracle herb, rich in compounds that have excellent anti-inflammatory properties that reduce bloating and trapped gas.Drink a glass of saunf water soaked overnight, first thing in the morning. Lemon water Lemon water is abundant in citrus juices that stimulate the gastric juices in UR stomach and ease the digestion process. Lemon contains vitamin C, which builds immunity and boosts collagen growth. Lemon water also helps you to get rid of toxins and improves UR metabolism. Papaya Papaya is abundant in digestive enzymes (papain). This exceptional fruit helps in breaking down hard and undigested proteins which cause gas. This is probably why raw papaya is used to tenderise meat. About 75-100 grams of papaya can be eaten as a mid morning snack or as your breakfast. But in case UR pregnant, avoid papaya Natural spices Natural Spices like black pepper, cardamom; coriander and basil have a flavourful taste, are healthy and simplify the digestive process. They can be consumed individually in a tea or can be added as flavour agents. Yoghurt Yoghurt is the perfect remedy for frequent episodes of gas and bloating due to its rich probiotic properties. Two tiny cups consumed daily or a glass of buttermilk can help in dealing with harmful bacteria. Daily consumption of two cups of curd or a glass of buttermilk will help in removing the harmful bacteria from your stomach. Post meal digestive mix Made from the finest natural ingredients, this after meal digestive mix helps in the digestion process. Ingredients 1 tsp. mint powder 1 tsp. ajwain 1 tsp. black jeera Preparation One teaspoon of equal parts of mint powder, ajwain and black jeera. It is best to avoid drinking water right after your meals. You can drink water 30 mins after your breakfast, lunchor dinner. Yoga poses to get rid of gas Apanasana How to do it Lie down flat on the ground Slowly inhale while you place your hands on your knees Exhale and hug/bring your knees to your chest Rock your knees from side-to-side to extend your stretch Resume this position for five-eight breaths and then release your knees Balasana (Child pose) How to do it Sit on your knees with your legs spread, so there is adequate gap in-between Now slowly lean forward and stretch your arms in front of you Make sure to keep your back straight, whileyour forehead is touching the floor Hold this position for five breaths or more Setu Bandha Sarvangasana (Inverted back bending asana) How to do it Lie down on your back with your knees bent Keep your feet hip-distance apart Now place your arms along your sides (palms facing up) and keep your feet flat on the floor Gently lift your hips while you stretch your chest, neck, shoulders and spine Hold this pose for at least five breaths Therapeutic water to prevent gas formation Drinking this magical water helps in preventing gas formation. Ingredient 2 litres water 2 tsp. ginger juice 5 basil leaves Pinch of ajwain Preparation Mix 2 liters water with 2 tbsp. ginger juice, 5 basil leaves and a pinch of ajwain. Some smells determine whether the food you’ve eaten has been digested or not. Did you know that the unpleasant smell of gas is usually caused due to the bacteria present in UR large intestine? UR intestine releases gases that contain sulphur which is responsible for the nasty smell.Most foods contain fibre that is soluble and insoluble. Soluble fibres quickly dissolve in water and become gel-like in the gut. Soluble fibre is present in oat bran, beans, peas and most fruits before it enters UR large intestine, triggering gas. To avoid gas from forming avoid eating foods or drinks that give you more gas. Foods that trigger gas Soluble fibre found in beans, oat bran, peas and most fruits Soluble fibre found in wheat bran and some vegetables Lactose found in dairy products suchas cheese and ice cream Sorbitol found in fruits like apples, pears and prunes Starchy foods like potatoes, pasta, noodles, wheat etc. Cruciferous vegetables like cauliflower, cabbage, and broccoli contain raffinose a sugar that remains undigested until fermented by gut bacteria. This can produce gas and, in turn cause bloating. Fried and oily food Fruits eaten after meals tend to ferment due to the slow digestion process Get the best customised diet plan by contacting our nutritionists today!
Most times we enjoy a late-night binge while watching television without even realising how much we are eating! When you…
Quick bites to whip up under 10 minutes
1. Know why and when you have hungry pangs Eating at night can be triggered by habit or boredom. It becomes a habit as we tend to use food as a tool to deal with our feelings like sorrow, anxiety, rage, or frustration. These feelings are symptoms of depression and sleeping difficulties, which can also lead to obesity and obesity-related issues. 2. Plan UR meals Planning UR meals and eating healthy snacks decreases UR cravings, avoids distractions and keeps your hunger at bay. 3. De-stress Anxiety and stress trigger us to binge eat as a solution to our negative emotions. Research states that relaxation techniques like breathing exercises, meditation, hot baths, yoga, or stretching can help you control these trigger points. 4. Eat regularly When hungry, we are likely to make bad food decisions and swallow high-fat, high-sugar junk foods. Eating regularly as per the suggestion of UR nutritionist manages your appetite. 5. Keep junk food away If you can't see it, you can't eat it! Replacing junk food with foods like fruits, berries, simple yoghurt and cottage cheese helps you stay healthy and promotes sleep. All-Time Favourite Midnight Snacks 1. Milk & whole-grain cereals (cornflakes, oatmeal or bran flakes) keep you full and induces sleep. Make sure that the whole-grain cereals are in their original form and not sugar coated or flavoured. 2. Apple or banana elevate mood with its natural content of sugar and keeps you satiated. 3. Almonds, walnuts and pistachios regulate the sleep/wake cycle of our body. Eating a handful of these nuts will put you right to sleep. 4. Turmeric milk or buttermilk are great substitutes for sugary drinks like cola and sugary drinks. Drinking a glass of turmeric milk or buttermilk helps you stay full and slashes the chances of midnight binges. Healthy Options For Sweet Cravings Homemade banana ice cream Orange carrot cupcake Healthy Options For Savoury Cravings Upma Phool Makhana Mix
1. Know why and when you have hungry pangs Eating at night can be triggered by habit or boredom. It…
The Absolute 10 Best Online Yoga Courses You Can Opt For In India
As the Covid-19 pandemic continues to curb movement around the world, social distancing is widely practiced. So yoga teachers are now conducting online classes, tutorials and even meditation practices of different yoga styles. Some of these classes are also customized to meet an individual’s specific goals and requirements. All you have to do is choose a class that best suits your need. Classes are conducted every day but it also depends on the location, time and the size of the group. According to Dinesh Pratap Singh, personal trainer a certified yoga & fitness instructor at Apollo Life Studio, an online yoga session is a simpler way to learn yoga if you are a beginner. Online sessions are effective, especially when you want to stay consistent and keep it regular. You needn’t step outside your home, you don’t have to miss a session and it’s also easier on the pocket. Online classes/courses allow flexibility of choice, duration, space, time, intensity and attention! It enables personalized training, customized, specific routines towards your own fitness goals (mind and body) all in the comfort of own personal space. However, if you plan to start online yoga sessions, ensure you inform UR yoga teacher (trainer) of any medical condition you may have. We believe you should benefit the maximum from UR learning experience. So here’s a list of the most reputed yoga schools and teachers in the country and a bit of info about what they offer and teach. Checklist 1. Yogakshema Yogakshema, Delhi NCR’s only accredited Iyengar Yoga Centre, conducts classes six times a week. Nivedita Joshi’s instructions are underlined by clarity and adherence to the principles established by Yogacharya Iyengar. Nivedita participates regularly in yoga sessions in various cities of France with S.F. Biria, a senior teacher of Iyengar Yoga. She introduces simple postures for a peaceful and quality life. Each class not only enhances you mentally as well as spiritually but also prepares you to face the struggles of life with a positive, indomitable and dynamic spirit. Yoga is taught at different levels and there are walk-in classes, along with medical classes and make up classes too. Yogakshema is offering a one-month introductory yoga course to help you get fit and healthy! The course starts on July 11th and will be conducted via Zoom on Saturdays and Sundays, 9:00am -10:30am. For more information log onto https://www.iyengaryogakshema.org 2. Adhyatma Yog Sansthan Adhyatmayogasansthan has been working progressively for the last ten years in the field of health management, health enrichment and stress management. The school offers yoga classes for healthy and positive living and the eradication of health ailments like obesity, thyroid problem, weight loss/gain, diabetes, gastric problem, constipation, hypertension, low BP, sinusitis, hernia, joint pain, arthritis, heart problem, migraine, depression and stress. Some of the programmes conducted by Adhyatmayogasansthan are as follows: • Free yoga camps • Yoga seminars • Yogic lectures • Spiritual lectures • Yogic treatments • All kinds of meditation • Yoga workshops • Yoga demonstration classes • Yoga conference • Stress management • Therapeutic yoga for various diseases • Group classes • Home tuitions/personal classes • Power yoga • Special classes for weight loss and obesity • Acupressure • Yogic massages • Aerobics • Student’s special yoga for competitions • Yoga courses – three month, six month courses and one year yoga diploma For more information log onto http://adhyatmayogasansthan.com 3. Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Nataraja Centre The International Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centres is a non-profit organization founded by Swami Vishnudevananda and named in honour of his teacher H.H. Sri Swami Sivananda Saraswati Maharaj, one of the most influential spiritual teachers of the twentieth century. This Organization propagates the authentic teaching of Yoga and Vedanta. A variety of courses, classes and workshops are offered, including those for beginners, at the intermediate level, advanced level, foundation to meditation course and weight loss course, amongst others. For those new to yoga, the yoga practices are taught step-by-step to teach the 5 points of Yoga: Proper Asanas, Proper Pranayama, Proper Relaxation, Proper Diet Positive Thinking and Meditation. During this current phase, various classes, courses and programmes are also offered online. Details regarding this can be found at sivananda.org.in/online-sessions. For more info log onto www.sivananda.org.in/delhi 4. Bharat Thakur Artistic Yoga Bharat Thakur's Artistic Yoga is a leading yoga company in India. It was developed back in 1999 when Bharat saw that the Yoga being taught and practiced all over the world and in India was in no way as powerful, dynamic and immediate as authentic Yoga could be. Online classes are conducted on the basis of difficulty levels such as easy, moderate, difficult and very difficult. The classes include the teaching of the basics of yoga including the different asanas, pranayama, bandhas, kriyas, mudras and meditation. Before you begin online classes, you are required to find out how fit you are, how flexible you are and what kind of classes you should be taking. As a registered user (registration is free), some of the unique features that you will have access to is as follows: • Up-to-date information about the centers and workshops in various cities • A better understanding of the different aspects of Yoga • Online Classes: Videos on specific techniques and more • E- Publications: Loads of articles, E-Books on different topics • The Artistic Yoga Journal: A monthly E- Magazine featuring articles about Yoga & much more… • Bharat Speaks: A video and audio section covering different aspects of life and Yoga as spoken by Bharat Thakur • The Hub: A unique interactivity feature that allows you to ask questions, have conversations, share your notes, make friends (and follow people into conversations with a unique ‘What’s Everyone Doing’ feature!) • Yoga Tube: You can share your practice and see what others are doing • What’s Your Yogability? – A questionnaire that can guide you on what you should be doing towards starting or improving your Yoga practice For more info log onto https://artisticyoga.com 5. Ritambhara Ritambhara offers an alternative way of engaging with life, rooted in Indian tradition and encompassing contemporary practices to help you live a life full of Rasa. Raghu Ananthanarayanan has been enquiring into three questions relentlessly in his life, these are how does one become the best that one can be? How do organizations and groups become the best that they can be? What does it mean to be an Indian? On the other hand, Sashikala Ananth’s passion has been the study of the Vaastu Shaastraas and adapting the profound insights of the ancient texts to contemporary living. Sashikala has conducted several seminars across the world where she brings together a unique confluence of learning and experience. She and her husband Raghu Ananthanarayanan have been running a design and self-development centre called Vadivam for the last three decades. Ritambhara offers online self-paced courses and family retreat programmes designed to energize and nourish the individual, as well as the family space. Among the various other online courses offered, is a course that covers the introduction to working with the Yoga Sutra. So if you have questions about yourself, life, and if you’re interested in understanding the nature of the human mind and transforming it, this course would be an exciting beginning. Ritambhara also believes that the COVID crisis has shown how relevant the practice of a holistic yoga can be. One can enable the celebration of peace by reiterating the individual practice of yoga with a central focus on the basic foundations of yoga, namely: • A deep and abiding concern for the suffering of mankind and the earth (duHkha nivAraNa) • A commitment to non-violence (ahimsa) • A commitment to truth (satya) In keeping with this thought, an International Online Yoga Festival was organized between 18th – 20th June, 2020, titled ‘Peace & Sustainability Through Yoga.’ Also, as an endeavor to understand and deal with all the mayhem that COVID-19 has created, Ritambhara conducts contemplative conversations online to help deal with this situation and to help you recognize how to anchor yourself to in these times. The session is on every Saturday, 4:00-5:45 PM IST. These sessions are offered through video conference on the web and there is no fee for these sessions. For more info log onto https://ritambhara.org.in 6. GNOSIS Medical Yoga Gnosis means spiritual knowledge. Gnosis Medical Yoga is a confluence of Ancient Indian Wisdom with Modern Medicine. Dr. Vineeta Ketkar is a practicing Family Physician in Pune and has been practicing since 1980. Through her well-equipped Yoga Institute she has been offering Yogic Health Services and Yoga training programmes since 2006. Gnosis offers medical yoga therapy based on Ashtang Yoga & Hath Yoga which is extremely useful for Psychosomatic and Life style Disorders. Gnosis believes that healing is a process occurring in the body continuously. The science of Yoga, dealing with body, mind & cognition level helps for maintenance of Health. In Psychosomatic disorders, Lifestyle diseases and Degenerative spine and knee conditions, Science of Yoga offers guidelines in their management. Gnosis also offers individualized programmes for fitness/health depending upon the working pattern and personality traits of individuals. Some of the others services offered by Gnosis includes lectures and workshops, corporate yoga, outdoor yoga, yoga in hospital and yoga for sports fitness. For more info log onto https://www.gnosismedicalyoga.com 7. Be & Make Swami Vivekananda Yoga Institute Be & Make Swami Vivekananda Yoga Institute strives to be a journey of self-discovery for individuals. It has be running for 10 years and offers expertise on asanas, pranayama, meditation and lifestyle management, providing holistic yogic practices that follow internationals standards in yoga. The institute believes that there is yoga for everybody, whether you are young or old, experienced or a total beginner. They offer the best yoga classes at the most economical prices to help people benefit from yoga and create a lifestyle that is full of happiness. The institute promotes the fact that yoga makes you strong, peaceful and healthy! It is an art which connects UR mind, body and soul together. Be & Make Swami Vivekananda Yoga Institute offers various classes, like yoga for senior citizens, yoga at home, yoga for children, spiritual and meditation, corporate yoga, pre-natal and post-natal yoga, yoga for weight loss and so on. Classes are conducted seven days a week from 5:00am to 9:00pm at your convenient timings. Yoga at your doorstep is a great way to get services with the ease of no travelling and in the comfort of UR home. The best yoga instructor gives you individual attention for your overall wellbeing or helps you manage your ailments. The yoga institute also conducts classes at apartments, schools, and universities. For more info log onto http://beandmakeyoga.com 8. VINYAS Yoga Studio The VINYAS Yoga Studio was established in 1997 and is known to offer friendly, flexible, high quality, intensive services. VINYAS Yoga is a holistic Yoga module which targets the growth and enrichment of multiple layers of human existence which is believed to be physical, astral, mental, emotional, intellectual and spiritual. Besides the regular yoga classes, VINYAS also offers yoga classes for women, children, and pregnant women. VINYAS Yoga also aids in management of various common ailments found in women like pre and post-menopausal problems, sickness during pregnancy, anaemia, breast care, leucorrhoea, menstrual disorders and so on. You are also provided an opportunity to practice yoga with your kids with ‘parental yoga’ that is offered by VINYAS Yoga. During the 30 minutes session, parents can spend some quality time with their children. Kids from 18 months to six years are given training. VINYAS Yoga treats and manages various psychosomatic ailments as well. The yoga studio has a very different style and approach to therapy. The treatment and management of every ailment is different. It is supported with appropriate musical ragas. VINYAS also conducts yoga programmes for personality development, job stress management and labour management. The studio conducts two online sessions daily, five days a week on a monthly basis. For more info log onto http://www.vinyasyoga.com 9. Asmyi Iyengar Yoga Asmyi Iyengar Yoga offers a form of Hatha Yoga that emphases detail, precision and alignment in the performance of asanas and pranayama. They utilize props such as belts, blocks, blankets and chairs as aids in performing asanas and help you perform correctly, with no risk of injury or strain. This makes it easy for both, young and old. This system aims to unite the body, mind and spirit for health and well-being. Classes are offered at the beginner, intermediate and advanced level. At Asmyi Iyengar Yoga Noida, certified Iyengar Yoga instructors share their learning wholeheartedly with everyone. Classes are conducted level-wise, Monday to Sunday from 7:15am till 7:30pm. From time to time, workshops and intensive courses are also organized for advanced and serious practitioners. Senior and extremely learned teachers are invited from around the globe to conduct classes. Additionally, every day online yoga classes #Watch&Do is conducted in English and Hindi for all, including beginners and newbies. These are quick 45 minutes sessions that help you do doable yoga asasnas with the help of simple home props like a chair and pillow. For more info log onto https://www.asmyi.yoga 10. Atré Yoga Studio AtréYoga Studio endorses a style of yoga crafted to individual lifestyles. They offer diverse wellness and yoga approaches under the same roof as Ashtanga, Hatha, Yin and Vinyasa Flow; including their very own specialized AtréYoga. The Studio has been known for the uncompromising and anatomically relevant luxury and applied yoga services to yoga practitioners, MNCs, and ace level athletes for over ten years. Zubin Atré’s knowledge and application of anatomy and kinesthetics helps him address students' individual needs and goals as he safely guides them through asanas. AtréYoga comprises of five structured series of asanas developed by Zubin. Based on in-depth awareness of human anatomy and movement, these asana series are designed with variations on flexibility, strength, balance, and breath. Besides classes, AtréYoga Studio also hosts workshops, organizes retreats, provides on-site corporate yoga sessions and yoga counselling. With no levels, and no competition - classes are kept small, and people perform to their own ability. A detailed online yoga schedule hosted on the website helps you plan your workouts much in advance. Reasons AtréYoga style is one of the best yoga styles to be learnt online: • The instructions are very precise, clear and loud. While instructing AtréYoga, the rectangular shape of the mat is always used as a reference for the asana positioning during the class in support of the instructions. • The use of metaphors is used in guiding through the postures (asanas) which makes it easier for students to understand the asana. • The visual cues given, together with the instructions makes it easy for everyone to follow the class, even without previous experience in yoga. For more details log onto https://atreyogastudio.com
As the Covid-19 pandemic continues to curb movement around the world, social distancing is widely practiced. So yoga teachers are…
Imagining The Subtle Body
What is the subtle body? And why should we imagine it during yogasanas? It is the body which is subtler than the physical one! The human system is very complex and beautifully done. It is incredibly fragile and at the same time, phenomenally resilient. This life is so fragile: Inhalation, exhalation, inhalation, Imagining The Subtle Body: From The Surface To The Core exhalation - If the next inhalation does not happen, you're gone! Between life and death, there is just half a breath, not even a full breath! But even though life is so fragile, it still has resilience. Human beings can do unbelievable things because the body is structured on many different levels. If it was just physical, if you just held somebody’s nose in their sleep, they should be gone. But that is not how it is. It is in layers. Even if the physical loses its ability to live, if the other dimensions are still alive, the physical could be revived. It happens to you every day: When you sleep, one part of you is actually dead – your personality, your thought, and your ideas of what you are – but because the other parts are still awake, everything comes awake once again. Enhancing Perception Whether you practice a simple asana or any other dimension of yoga, essentially, the only goal is to improve your perception, because only what you perceive you know – the rest is just imagination. Generally, instead of enhancing knowledge, people have unfortunately been given teachings. Teachings will only lead to unbridled creativity, which is a sure way of graduating into an asylum. If your imagination loses control, if it is not rooted in reality, you are moving towards insanity. On the spiritual path, if you take in teachings which are not necessary for you, very quickly, you will move towards insanity. The danger is always there. If your feet are still firmly on the ground and then you imagine something, it is okay. But if your imagination can take you off the ground, then you have no control over the situation. Memory And Imagination Asanas and other yogic practices are mainly designed only to enhance your perception and not to send you on a flight of imagination. As your understanding is enhanced, then you know life, you are not thinking about life. Right now, this question has arisen because there is no experience of the subtle body, but somebody is telling you ‘please see it,’ -imagination. Yes, we are asking you to imagine this because the distinction between what is real and what is vision is not significant. It is a very thin line. The actual process is anyway happening. If you assist it with the right kind of action and awareness, the real thing will come into the picture. Today, it is an established fact in neuroscience that unless you have some memory and imagination, your visual apparatus will not function. You always believed that your eye is a camera – no. Without the computer behind, it cannot work. We are doing what is called natural eye care methods at Isha Rejuvenation, where we use memory and imagination to see better; you can distinctly see if you build memory about something; within a minute, you can see things better. Conclusion Even now, you are unable to see many things about which there is no memory. So we are just trying to build some memory, and you cannot make memory without imagination. You always thought you could not imagine unless there is a memory. No, you cannot build memory unless there is imagination. Without imagination, consciousness is not possible. We are asking you to imagine the subtle body. Just make it like yourself; do not make it too beautiful. Do not let your imagination run wild. Just a little bit is okay because if you build this, the memory will play. Once the mind plays, you will begin to see. But do not see it walking all over the place – only when you are doing the asanas. Those of you who start seeing subtle bodies all over the place, such people should eat only subtle food! Ranked amongst the fifty most influential people in India, Sadhguru is a yogi, mystic, visionary and a New York Times bestselling author. Sadhguru has been conferred the Padma Vibhushan by the Government of India in 2017, the highest annual civilian award, accorded for exceptional and distinguished service.
What is the subtle body? And why should we imagine it during yogasanas? It is the body which is subtler…
The Fundamentals Of Good Health
There are three fundamentals you need to take care of to create health for yourself - food, activity and rest. 1. Eating Right One of the most critical aspects you must be conscious of is how quickly a specific type of food digests and becomes a part of yourself. If you eat something and it doesn't digest within three hours, it means you have eaten food that should either be avoided or reduced in quantity. If the food moves out of your stomach within three hours, it means that even if it is not the best food, it is still something your system is able to handle. If you maintain a clear gap of five to six hours between one meal and the next, without having anything in between, cleansing will take place at the cellular level. This cleansing at the cellular level is essential for a healthy life. If you are over 30 years of age, two tasty meals a day will suffice one in the morning and one in the evening. There must be a gap of three hours before you go to bed after your evening meal. If this includes at least 20 to 30 minutes of light physical activity such as simple walking your system will be healthy. If you go to bed with food still inside your stomach, a certain level of inertia in the system will be generated. Physiologically, this inertia is like acceleration towards death and death is the ultimate inertia. Another dimension is that if you go to bed with a full stomach, it puts pressure on other organs in the abdomen. This will also lead to various kinds of health issues. For this reason, too it is crucial that before you go to bed the food eaten should move out of the stomach as you sleep in different postures so you should ensure that your stomach doesn’t put pressure on your other organs at any point. 2. Use Your Body When it comes to activity, a straightforward thing you need to consider is that your body is capable of bending forward, bending backwards and twisting towards both sides. So this activity must happen in some form or the other. Classical hatha yoga is the best way to do it. Moreover, it is scientific. So if traditional hatha yoga is not yet part of your life, you must somehow make sure that every day you bend forward, backward, twist to both sides and squat so that your spinal column is stretched. This is a must on a daily basis, if you want to keep your entire system healthy particularly your neurological system, or else it will be an issue as you age. 3. Get Enough Rest But Not Too Much! Various factors determine the amount of rest a person needs. One crucial factor is the type and amount of food you consume. Experiment with different kinds of foods and check which foods make you feel heavy and which ones leave you light and agile. If you make sure that at least 40 per cent of your diet consists of fresh vegetables and fruits, there will be lightness in your body. Also what the body needs is restfulness and not necessarily sleep. Therefore it is a misunderstanding to think that sleep is the only way to rest. Even as you sit or stand you can either be in a state of restfulness, in a state of agitation, or in a state of inertia. But if you are in a lively state of restfulness every moment of your life, the volume of sleep you require will decrease. How To Live A Healthy Life The Five Sheaths Of The Body 1. In yoga, the human system is looked upon as five sheaths or layers. Every aspect of the human system including the mind, is seen as a body and yoga is a technology to transform it. These five layers of the body are called Annamaya Kosha, Manomaya Kosha, Pranamaya Kosha, Vignanamaya Kosha and Anandamaya Kosha. 2. Anna means food. And your physical body or Annamaya Kosha is the food that you have eaten small or big is your choice, but it is food, nonetheless. So as there is a physical body that you have gathered from outside, there is also a mental body. This spiritual body is known as Manomaya Kosha. If you bring the physical body, the mental body and the energy body into proper alignment and balance, you will not have any physical or psychological ailments. 3. The third layer of the body is called Pranamaya Kosha or energy body. The physical body, mental body, and energy body are all in the realm of physicality, but on different levels of subtlety. 4. The next layer of the body is a transitory body that is known as Vignanamaya Kosha. It facilitates the transition from the physical to the non-physical. It does not ascribe to any of the physical qualities, but at the same time it is not yet wholly non-physical either. 5. This layer is called Anandamaya Kosha which in English translates as ‘bliss body’. This does not mean there is a bubble of bliss in you. It is called bliss body because in our experience, whenever it is touched, we become blissful. Bliss is not its nature; bliss is what it causes.
There are three fundamentals you need to take care of to create health for yourself – food, activity and rest….
How To Achieve Peace In UR Life
We are the most comfortable generation to have ever lived on this planet. In our endeavour to make our lives more secure and tranquil, we have also tried our best to fix the environment and if we fix it any more, there will be no planet left! Furthermore, our survival process is better organised than ever before. For instance, you can go to a supermarket and buy everything you need for an entire year. Moreover, you can get all your groceries without even stepping out of your home! Never before in the history of humanity has such a thing been possible. But despite having all the comfort, amenities and luxury at our disposal, we definitely cannot say we are happier, more loving or more peaceful than our forefathers. There Is No Peace Everybody desires peace in their lives, but their agitated minds prevent them from experiencing peace. Suppose you lose your peace — naturally, you will first quarrel with your husband or wife. But as this state progresses, you will go and yell at your neighbour. And if it progresses further, you will yell at your boss! The day you yell at your boss, everyone will come to know you need medical help. This is because, yelling at your husband, wife or neighbour may be perceived as ‘normal’ as everybody else is doing it, but yelling at your boss is considered to be taking it a bit too far. Peaceful Chemistry Within You When your mind is restless, you will visit a doctor who in turn will prescribe a tablet for you to get some respite. Once this tablet goes into your system, you will become peaceful — at least for a few hours. This is due to the fact that when some chemical is put into our system, at the level of our body and mind, agitation leaves and a little peace sets in. So, peace is a sort of chemistry within our body. Similarly, every emotion has a type of chemistry and whatever the feeling, it will have a similar chemical process within the body that will adjust with it. If you are peaceful, peaceful chemistry will be within you. Or, if you can create that kind of chemistry within yourself, automatically peace will be within you. In yoga, it is approached both ways. Creating The Right Kind Of Chemistry With the right kind of practices, you can bring about a change in your internal chemistry and bring it to a particular level, so that, irrespective of the situation you find yourself in, you will always be able to maintain your peace. At present, your peace may be dependent on external situations. Hence, if the situation is conducive for you, your peace is not disturbed. However, if you find yourself in a situation that is not favourable to you, there may be a problem. Therefore, only when your peace is not a slave to external situations and your inner self remains the same, despite the external situations you encounter, it is called yoga. In other words, it can be said that yoga is the science of creating the right kind of chemistry. Inner Peace: A Guide To Developing It Being Peaceful Is The Very Beginning When your inner state is pleasant, you are naturally pleasant to everyone and everything around you. No scripture or philosophy is needed to instruct you to be good to others. It is a natural outcome when you are feeling good. Therefore, inner pleasantness is surefire insurance for the making of a peaceful society and a joyful world. If you have the right kind of chemistry, being peaceful and joyful is the only way — it cannot be any other way. To be peaceful and joyous is not the ‘end’ of life but the ‘beginning’ of life! If you are not peaceful and always caught up in your own mental nonsense, you have not started ‘living’ yet, as being peaceful or joyful is the most basic requirement. You must be peaceful, even if you just want to enjoy your breakfast or dinner. If you are restless, you will not experience any enjoyment, as being peaceful is the very beginning of things. However, nowadays people go about propagating that the highest dimension of one’s life is to have peace of mind. Unfortunately, as a large population of the world has not made this ‘beginning,’ many are speaking about it like it is the ultimate goal in life. Additionally, it is very sad that so-called spiritual gurus are going about telling everyone that to be peaceful is the ultimate thing! What people don’t realise is that being at peace is the most fundamental of all things and it is not enlightenment or God — being at peace with oneself is the ‘A’ of life and not the ‘Z’ of life!
We are the most comfortable generation to have ever lived on this planet. In our endeavour to make our lives…
5 Ways To Lose Weight
At almost every social gathering I will invariably have a bunch of people who will saunter over and very casually ask me ‘how to lose weight?’ I want to tell them so often that to even start to answer that I need to chat with them one on one for at least two hours because every person is different, their routines are different, their age etc is different! Well, but some are persistent. So, I use this line I found somewhere instead. The best way to lose weight is to do the following exercise: First look to your right, then look to the left , then smile politely and say “no thank you” when someone offers you food that UR not supposed to eat! Well, in reality it's not as simple as that... Tips on Weight Loss: 1. Distribute your food intake through the day and limit your portions for quick weight loss: Eat 3 Healthy Eating Plates and 4 to 5 In Betweens (Mini Meals) or Snacks (only if you need them). 2.Water for weight loss: Drink 2 glasses of water half an hour before every main meal and half a glass before every snack. Each glass can be about 200ml. Sip any home made herb teas in the day to increase intake of water and antioxidants. 3. Exercise for quick weight loss: Find an exercise you enjoy. You could walk or skip rope or join a gym or class. Do some yoga or jog or dance for half an hour twice a day or for an hour once a day. Exercise must become a necessary part of your life. If you eat you must exercise or atleast move. Plan a small snack before (a fruit) and after you exercise (two egg whites and a toast or some milk or yogurt or sprouts. 4. Make small lifestyle changes for weight loss: Eat at a table and not in front of the TV or in bed. Plate your food. Use smaller bowls and fix UR food timings. 5. Make clever choices in restaurants for weight loss: Always start with water. Order a bottle of water instead of a soft drink or mocktail. Doggy bag (pack) large portions of food and focus of conversation and people rather than just food. Order right and don’t order fried food. Fad diets are fun in the beginning but very hard to sustain in the long run. Try every fad if you must but always have a good fall back plan that works ready. Smile as you reduce weight!
At almost every social gathering I will invariably have a bunch of people who will saunter over and very casually…
Ashtanga yoga suryanamaskar guide
How to do the south Indian version of surya namaskar Eddie Stern Today we are going to do the Surya Namaskar which is an ancient practice of the yogic tradition. There are different types of Surya Namaskar – some that are done in the north of India and some that are done in the south, which have different characteristics. Today, I’ll be teaching you a South Indian version of the Surya Namaskar that I learnt from my guru ji(s) Pattabhi Jois and guru ji Sharath Jois. Whenever UR doing these practices you should ensure UR doing three things all the time: 1)Moving with awareness 2)Breathing freely 3)Not feeling any discomfort Stretching a muscle and strengthening a muscle might require effort and you feel discomfort only if UR distorting the first two things. If you have discomfort which is pain, you won’t be able to breathe freely and you will stop moving with awareness because you will be so concerned with UR pain! So if you feel that level of discomfort you need to stop and rest or do less of that position. As with all exercises, it’s best to have a teacher present to help guide you. When you don’t have a teacher, it’s ok to try to use videos. But you have to pay a lot of attention to UR own body and to UR own capacity. OK let’s begin! The first Surya Namaskar has nine vinyasas. Vinyasa means breath and movement together. First Vinyasa Inhale and place UR hands over UR head. Second Vinyasa Exhale and place UR hands right down by UR sides Third Vinyasa Tighten UR hips a little and reach UR hands forward and exhale. Bend down. Bring UR head close to UR legs; bend UR knees as much as you need to get UR hands on the floor. Inhale with UR head up. Stay here and exhale. Repeat first and second Vinyasa Tighten UR belly – stand up and reach UR arms over UR head. Exhale and bring UR arms out to UR sides. Fourth Vinyasa Inhale and move UR arms forward and up like in the first Vinayasa. Tighten UR hips and like a swan dive, exhale and open UR chest and come down. Rest UR head down towards UR legs and place UR hands flat on the floor. Fifth Vinyasa Inhale with chest up Sixth Vinyasa Exhale, jump back and lower down Seventh Vinyasa Inhale and get into the upward facing dog position Eight Vinyasa Exhale and get into the downward facing dog position. Breathe with sound 5 times. Ninth Vinyasa Bend UR knees and look at UR hands. Inhale, hop UR feet forward, lift UR chest up straightening UR legs. Exhale and bend UR head down. Repeat first and second Vinyasa Inhale and stand up with UR hands over UR head. Exhale and stand in the samasthiti position. Take a long inhale and a long exhale. After you do UR Surya Namaskar or any other asanas, complete it by getting into a half lotus or full lotus position or even into a sukhasana position. Any position you like. We’ll start with the half lotus position today •Hold UR wrist behind UR back. Exhale and bend UR head down towards the floor •Inhale and sit back up. Put your hands behind you (palms flat on the floor) •Lengthen UR lower spine, lift UR chest up and gently rest UR head back. •If you have any neck discomfort, keep UR chin towards your collarbone and continue to lift UR chest up. This position helps to open UR lungs for deep breathing. •Push off from UR hands and keep UR hands on UR knees. The back of UR hands should be on UR knees; close UR thumb and forefinger. Keep UR Spine straight and UR chin down. Breathe slowly 10 times. Breathe with sound in UR nose and UR throat. •If UR in half lotus with the sukhasana, you can change UR legs but if UR in the full lotus position – don’t change UR legs – you’ll just be doing UR right first. And if UR in full lotus for all this, there will be one more pose that you can do at the end. •While still in the half lotus pose with the sukhasana - put your left leg on top. Hold onto your opposite wrist – exhale and bend down. Breathe 10 times. •Now come into the full lotus position if UR able to do it. If UR unable to do full lotus, just keep UR legs crossed. In full lotus padmasana, keep UR hands on the floor next to UR thighs and lift yourself off the ground for 10 breaths. If you are not able to do a full lotus – just cross UR legs and lift yourself off the floor for 10 breaths. (Your legs don’t have to be lifted off the ground). This concludes the Surya Namaskar – the first type, along with the 3 finishing poses and udbuthihi, the deep breathing which helps to calm the mind and give you a little bit of a meditative state at the end of your practice. •Now lie down on UR back for two minutes stretching UR legs out in front of you. Rest flat down. Some people are a bit more comfortable with their feet resting flat on the floor. Keep UR knees together if you have any lower back pain. Otherwise, rest with UR legs in front of you for 2 minutes. When UR ready to bring yourself back up, you can lengthen UR inhale and lengthen UR exhale, wriggle UR fingers and toes and move UR ankles and wrists around a little bit – pull UR knees into UR chest and hug UR knees for a moment. Rock yourself up to a seated position with UR hands folded in front of you. Say ‘Om Shanti’ three times to conclude. The most important thing about yoga, meditation or any devotional practice or contemplated practice you do is to do it with regularity because that’s when you begin to see change and transformation in UR life.
How to do the south Indian version of surya namaskar Eddie Stern Today we are going to do the Surya…
Heal UR Life: How Alternate Therapy Helps U Heal
Heal UR Life: How alternate therapy helps u heal In these times, when the world is at siege due to the coronavirus pandemic, we are looking for different ways to relieve stress and working towards a better life. Alternative therapy is one such method to do it. We’re going to discuss stress, how to deal with it and the different ways to curb this menace. While on the subject, I would also like to talk about the various therapies to build relationships and boost the immune system, all in the comfort of UR home… Losing weight is one subject that always catches our attention, especially during this quarantine period. We all fear to gain extra kilos and not looking our best before we return to work. However, that’s where we go wrong, as ‘losing’ as a term brings negative connotation with it. On the contrary, I like to call it “managing weight”. It gives you much more control over what you want to do with UR body. Visualisation is a great way to proceed with managing UR weight. What comes first as an alternative therapy of healing is hypnosis. It’s not just about visiting a hypnotherapist or going into a trance. People are in and out of hypnosis every day in their lives without even realising it. Patterns and habits define hypnosis in daily life. For example, if you’ve learnt driving once, you are now habituated to it. UR conscious when U R driving, but you can do multiple things during that time as well. It becomes your habit with time which is a state of hypnosis. Weight management is emotional. You must’ve heard about emotional eating. But what is it? It is when we eat when we are emotional, overwhelmed or sad. A diet is not going to solve the issue of managing weight because it is connected to your mind and emotions. To manage weight, it’s essential to look at food differently, change a few beliefs and understand what food means to you. Have clarity on what you want to achieve. Hypnosis works in different ways, and it doesn’t always mean to close your eyes to get into a hypnotic state. One of the greatest hypnotherapists, Milton Ericson, never got his clients to close their eyes. He just talked and healed by getting people to talk about different perspectives. To add to that, hypnotherapy can help you learn to cope with conflict and manage difficult emotions more easily. It can help you build confidence and ask for what you need and deserve, something which is very important in relationships. Communication is vital, and hypnotherapy may be able to help you with this aspect too. During this lockdown, reports have come that the divorce cases in China have gone up drastically, and I’m not surprised. Humans are not wired to be with each other for long. Sure we love relationships, but we are also wired for our own time. We love to go to work or meet friends. However, in this lockdown, living in close proximity to our loved ones might cause distress. My advice would be to find some ‘me’ time for yourself. Take an hour every day to spend that time with no one but yourself. The problems in relationships arise when there is lack of communication. Almost every issue is down to the lack of conversation between partners. What we do in a relationship is that we assume we know everything about the other person and they know us. But that’s not the case. In my opinion, the longer you are together, the more you should communicate. Another method of alternative healing is havening, a kind of sensory therapy. When clients come to me, I take their words as symptoms of an underlying problem. As a therapist, I dig deep into their history and find the root of the problem with a technique called meta-modelling. It’s not painful or tiresome like other techniques. I talk to my clients and figure out the root of the problem, which could be childhood issues, family issues, school, bullying, peer pressure and other problems that can be the reason for their current pain. The present pain, if not dealt with, will have a massive impact on an individual’s relationship, health, wellbeing and productivity. The most crucial relationship that you have is with yourself! Havening is a method that helps me de-link and decode the childhood traumas of my clients, and that can help you too. It is a psycho-sensory technique which involves three pillars of healing, namely; psychology, psychopharmacology and the mind-body connection. As a practitioner, I heal my patients by connecting their mind and body. I work by attaching their mind and body by using sensory touches. It works by touching the face, shoulders to elbows and the hands. Let’s say UR very stressed, so you can use the affirmational havening to destress. People have different techniques when they are stressed. While some rub their temples, others put their hands on their head. Some even pull their knuckles to self-soothe. The self-havening technique to destress It’s an extremely effective method to destress, where you have to touch yourself with both hands crossed on your shoulder and bring them from shoulders to the wrist and talk positive things to yourself. Just say “I chose to feel healthy” or “I chose to focus on something” as you do the moves. Do it 5 to 10 minutes in a day to see the benefits. Focus on what you want and do this self-havening exercise. Things to do to forget the trauma during the lockdown • Self-havening • Yoga • Meditation • Listening to meditative podcasts • Singing/Chanting • Have probiotics • Walking in sunlight (if possible) • The vagus nerve technique – For this, sit straight on a chair, with your feet firmly on the ground. Now take three deep breaths. When you inhale, do it with the word calm, and when you exhale through your mouth, do it with the word stress. To get in touch with me, you can follow my Instagram page @micheleparadiseofficial, or go to my website www.changeyourmindforgood.com. You can also go to my YouTube channel @micheleparadise for havening videos.
Heal UR Life: How alternate therapy helps u heal In these times, when the world is at siege due to…