Happy 2008!!

God does not want us to do extraordinary things; he wants us to do ordinary things extraordinarily well.

Usher in the new year leaving behind all the negatives of the past year & taking only the positives. I would like to thank and wish a very happy 2008 to my blog guests in India, the US, the UK, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore, Australia, New Zealand, Spain, Switzerland, Botswana, Hongkong, Norway, France, Germany, Taiwan........

Will be back in 2008 with more interesting stuff. I would greatly appreciate comments & suggestions from you.

Cheers!!

Thought for today

Originality is the art of concealing your sources.

How Tai Chi Works

In his book 'Tai Chi & QiGong', the author Bill Douglas says that Tai Chi is truly the exercise of the future. Just as we flow through the changes of life (or not), our life energy, or Qi (Chi, prana), flows through us (or not, if we are stressed out). Qi is the energy of life and flows through all living beings. It animates, heals & nurtures life. When the stress of change makes us tense, we squeeze off the flow of life energy. Physically this feels like tension. Tai Chi & QiGong are easy, simple yet sophisticated relaxation exercises that encourage the muscles to let go of tension, the mind to let go of worry and the heart to let go of angst. These negative emotions block the flow of Qi. They are the result of our mind or body being unable to "let go" of something.

The goal of Tai Chi is to move through a series of choreographed movements like a slow martial arts routine, but very slowly & in a state of absolute relaxation. In order to do this we have to let go of our mental/ physical tensions, grudges, prejudices and anything that keeps us tied to the past. This enables us to flow more easily into the future by clearing our mind and body of old stress so we can get a fresh perspective on life.

I have been practising Tai Chi for a year now, and believe me, it works!!

Thought for today

Of all the things you wear, your expression is the most important.

Have fun with this ball game!!

Juggle two rubber balls with one hand placing the other behind your back. Throw the 1st in the air, then throw the 2nd & catch the 1st. Go on like that for a few counts & change your hand.

It's a difficult game to get in the beginning, but don't lost patience. It needs a keen sense of observation plus hand-eye co-ordination. With practice you'll be able to adjust the height, pace of the throws. It works like meditation, develops concentration & co-ordination, and cultivates a sense of balance. Pass it on to your friends, children and their friends.

I learnt it at the Yoga Institute, Santacruz, Mumbai; from one of the teachers. He equalled the two balls that we were juggling to the dualities, the opposites that exist in the world and the purpose was to strike a balance so that none of the balls will fall. Yin-yang, ida-pingala, hot-cold, sunrise-sunset, love-hate, hard-soft, awake-asleep and so on. The universe works on the principle of dualities and our job is to balance them to lead a good life. Any kind of extreme is detrimental. This made a lot of sense to me.

Therefore, learn, practice & have fun. Will blog about more such games later.

Ciao

Thought for today

The hourglass sits on the mantle for each of us and each of us can see that all of the sand is no longer at the top. The sand is running. Time is passing. We can't "save" time - we can only invest it while we watch it go by.

Is it time for New Year Resolutions??

Around New Years', invariably all publications (newspapers & magazines) carry articles regarding resolutions for the new year. Some questioning the celebrities, some common people. But I have never seen any article about the resolutions taken in the past year and an evaluation of them - were they followed, their effects in life etc. I am not saying that one shouldn't have resolutions, but they need not be connected to the new years.

And resolution is a process
1. Taking a resolution
2. Making effort to adhere to it
3. Analyzing our performance
4. Taking corrective measures

I know i am starting to sound like an MBA (masters in business administration), which BTW i am, but that's not my point. Life is about planning, managing, organizing, controlling.

Sometime back i went to see my neighbour who's going to turn 100 (that's right one hundred years on this planet) in a couple of months. We were generally chatting when she told me about her daily routine. One thing that struck me was that every morning before getting up from bed she'd take resolutions for the day. It can be anything small or big like not eating a few things, not getting angry, doing a good deed, not using cars, having only lunch, calling a long lost friend, visiting the temple, laughing a lot, helping a family member, creating something new etc. And i thought to myself, is this the way to live, drawing boundaries everyday??

But on second thought i feel, isn't it a great way to live? After all moderation is the key. And having resolutions for the day helps us in being control. It improves mental strength, willpower, self control (brahmacharya), effort (tapa) and makes life more interesting. We might feel as if we are being CONTROLLED but after a few days it becomes a second nature.

There is a direct correlation between breath, mind and body. So taking a resolution and following it definitely improves our health. Take a minute here just to ponder on this................................................. (think of a possible resolution, the effort you would have to put in and the benefits you could derive).

I feel, New Year's Resolution is like a top of a mountain we wish to climb and daily resolutions are the steps taken for reaching the top.

Is there anything that you would like to share???

Thought for today

A man is not hurt so much by what happens, as by his opinions of what has happened.

A man in search of Peace

There was once a man who had one wife, four children living in one BHK (bedroom, hall kitchen), very stressed with work, lack of space, children crying and shouting, totally distressed in his life. One day, saintly person came to the village who was apparently distributing peace. So the man went to him asking for mental peace in his life. The sage was ready but on one condition that the man does exactly whatever he said without questioning.

For the first week the saint asked the man to bring a dog into his house. "A dog!!", the man said. "We can barely manage with the 6 of us living in this tiny house & you are asking me to bring a dog on top of that." "Do as I ask you do, if you want peace and come back to me in the next week", the saint said. So the man did as was told. Next week he met the saint, a cat was added to his home. The man started to protest but kept quiet because of the saint's condition. Third time the man went to him with his hopes high on getting what he wanted, but to his shock a goat got added. And a few hens in the fourth week. By this time he was getting used to the shabbiness of the house, stink of the animals but yet he survived.

In the later weeks he was asked to get rid of all the animals one by one. First when he got rid of the hens, he was happy. When the goat went he was glad, his happiness knew no bounds when the cat was gone & he was in sheer bliss. When the dog was left the man was so much at peace that he didn’t even bother to go back to the saint. So the saint came to his house inquisitive about what had happened and asked to give the dog away. The man had finally found his peace.

What changed? The situation remained the same. He was staying in the same dingy house with his wife & four kids; but his outlook towards it changed. CAN WE ALSO TAKE A BETTER LOOK AT OURSELVES KEEPING THIS IN MIND?

Analyzing Anger

Here's a small quiz which tells us 'How do we cope with anger?' Think and answer the questions.

Sometime back I had written a few articles on anger, effects of expressed and suppressed anger and managing anger. It will give you a better perspective if you are to take a peek through these articles before jumping on to the quiz.

Coconut Water

While having fresh coconut water, take out 2 tbsps in a bowl. Take a few drops on your palms and massage it on the face. Massage your scalp with the rest. Keep it for sometime before washing it off and see the result.

We have taller buildings but shorter tempers,
wider roads but narrower viewpoints.

We spend more but have less,
buy more but enjoy less.

We have bigger houses but smaller families,
more conveniences but less time.

We have more knowledge but less judgement,
more experts yet more problems,
more medicines but less wellness.

Kareena swears by yoga

I have always found Kareena Kapoor to be the most glamorous actresses of our times. And at present she sports one of the best bodies in business. FYI Kareena's been practising yoga for her body & mind since a couple of years now. Want to read more......

This is a recent article which appeared in Mumbai Mirror. We should learn 'commitment' from celebrities. I know they are paid (in cash & kind) to do so but aren't we also paid, albeit in kind? Remember we used to have a poem in school "What money can't buy?", well health is surely one such thing.

Batti Bandh - Lights Off !!!

Batti Bandh is an entirely voluntary event taking place on the 15th of December between 7:30 & 8:30 p.m. This event is aimed at requesting all of Mumbai to stand up for a cause that is greater than all of us. All you need to do is switch off lights and appliances in your home, shop, office, school, college or anywhere you are for 1 hour to take a stand against global warming.

I am going to encourage youth who have taken this initiative and i urge you too. This is your chance to show yourself and the world that you care. It's only a tiny symbolic step, but every effort counts. For more visit website.

Personal Note - Holiday walk

Sorry for a long hiatus from blogging, i was on a short vacation to Mahabaleshwar (a beautiful hill station, 6 hrs drive from Mumbai). We stayed at Ramsukh Resorts & Spa, which i would definitely recommend to all for their location, services, facilities and food. For the four days that i was there, i ate and ate......... from morning bed tea, breakfast, a hearty lunch, tea snacks to the dinner at night we were served everything. The only thing which kept me active, light, energetic, without putting on a gram of weight (after literally hogging food), was walking. And that is the reason i am writing this piece.

We (my husband & i) used to walk for 2 hours everyday absorbing the fresh air, nourishing sunlight and keeping ourselves fit, not to mention getting ready for the next meal. The resort also had organized jungle walks every morning which were very refreshing. Apart from those all hill station including Mahabaleshwar offer tourists various walking routes.

Well that's what these vacations are for, right? So, when on a holiday, keep walking.........

Personal Note

I have been practicing the headstand (shirshasana) for many years. Started as a kid doing it against the wall but have taken it more seriously since the past couple of years. And i have surely progressed. From the wall, to a foot away from the wall, holding for 10 seconds to 1 minute, 3 minutes and now i can hold with ease for even 7-8 minutes.

The point i want to make here is that, there is absolutely no short cut to anything. We have to be persistent and patient. And the results will come slowly, step-by-step. That's how life is!!

Variation in the Warrior

After going into Warrior - I, (with arms up in namaste), slide the same arm as that of the back leg down to the heel and take the opposite arm over the head. Tilt the head to look towards the heel. A nice variation to the warrior. It strengthens the legs as well as gives a nice twist to the spine. Hold it for as long as comfortable & change sides.

Enjoy your practice!!!

Decompressing the spine

Find a table or a bed in your home or office that is higher off the floor than the height of your torso. Then lay face down on the edge of the bed or table so that the tops of your thighs are supported while your entire torso hangs to the floor. Relax your back, your arms, and your neck. Allow your body to go completely limp. Breathe deeply and remain for several minutes. When you emerge, you'll feel taller and less tense in your spine. You feel more energetic due to the rush of blood in your torso and head.

This technique is very useful for people who have to sit or stand for long hours. Excessive sitting creates a compression in the back which aggravates the already stressful conditions. People with blood pressure and vertigo should exercise caution while doing this (remain for lesser time).

ps: not good with paint brush, have tried to explain. hope you all understand.

Two monks and a lady

Once 2 monks were traveling together on pilgrimage by a route that took them across many rivers & villages. One day when they were walking on the bank of a river, they came across a beautiful young girl. She was distressed as she wanted to cross the river & didn't know how.

"We are unable to help you", said the first monk keeping his eyes downcast & kept walking. The second monk stopped and asked "do you know how to swim?". "No sir", said the lady. "Then you must lean on my back & I’ll carry you across", offered the monk. After putting the girl on the other side, the monks continued towards the temple upstream where they planned to stay overnight.

That night, unable to restrain himself, the first monk asked, "how could you carry that girl over the water on your back, we monks don’t go near females, especially young & lovely ones. It is dangerous. Why did you carry that girl?? Why did you do such a thing?" The monk simply looked at his companion, "I dropped her 10 hours ago on the other side of the river but you are still carrying her!!"

Moral - Learn to practice detachment, letting go. In life, when we have small quarrels, tiffs with various people, we don't forget. (At least we can't complain of having a bad memory :-)). But can't we be objective and look at things in a broader perspective?

The Bible of Yoga

This book is a must buy for yoga teachers and serious practitioners of yoga. It is a very humble looking book and comes nowhere close to the beautiful, colourful yoga books with glossy pictures, but is quite the opposite when it comes to the content. It is quite in-depth as it describes a technique / asana with instructions, breathing, benefits, contraindications, chakras and variations. The practices are also aptly classified as beginner, intermediate and advanced, thereby letting us advance systematically.

Published by the Bihar School of Yoga, you can order the book on the net as well as get it from good bookstores.

Start building your own yoga and health library....

An Inconvenient Truth

"By far the most terrifying film you will ever see"

I watched this movie a few months back in Mumbai (Bombay). It came & it went and hardly got noticed by many. It was not even released in most of the tier 2 cities and below. In this world of mass media, awareness, education it's really sad to see people ignore these meaningful, eye opening movies and go about their daily lives using and wasting as many resources as they possibly can. There surely has to be an end to human greediness, or there might be sooner an end to this "beautiful" world we've created for ourselves.

I urge you all to go and watch this movie, to ruffle a feather in our calm demeanor as to what possibly we are heading towards in terms of climatic changes, disasters, mass extinctions. Time has come not to propagate about global warming, not to write, read about environmental issues BUT TO TAKE SOME ACTION.

I promise this new feature of 'earthcare' that i have started today will feature a lot more, will focus on steps we can take in our own ways to help. We don't live in a particular country, state, city, area and street, but on this planet. And if we don't realise that my friends, IT MIGHT BE TOO LATE.

So for starters, at least go & watch the movie. While you are reading this, you may also want to surf through its website, http://www.aninconvenienttruth.co.uk/

PS: I feel it should be a 'must watch' for all. Schools and colleges can have special screenings organized for their students.

Health Queries

Various health conscious people have in past been asking me questions and queries relating to their health either through emails or on the blog which has helped me read and research more. So i thought of sharing the same with you so as to get more inputs regarding the same and enhance our learning. Therefore, i am starting with this new module on 'Health Queries'.

Q: "Salomi, i have a question.Not about this particular article.While doing yoga, we usually start with Sukshma Kriyas. I get more cramps in both my toes when i rotate my feet.Somebody told me that rock salt may be the result. As i use rock salt since a month. Can you find out the salt details of rock salt and whether it has any connection to the cramps."

Firstly i think it's best to use rock salt or any other which is organic and in its natural form. Table salt or common salt is processed. It is zapped of its nutrients and various chemicals, bleaching agents are added to get the fine powder. Salt is a very important part of the diet of all living beings. Even animals instinctively invade salt pans and lick salt to compensate for their mineral loss. You can read the first two articles here.

As regards to your toe cramps i feel there can be many reasons for it, one of which being lack of salt in the body. But there are various ways of compensating for that by using rock salt in your food, salads, juices, )provided you don't have blood pressure), having more of fruits and certainly not changing back to common iodized salt. Here is a nice article on cramps. Specially on the day you get cramps, analyze your diet for the past 2 days.

To alleviate toe cramps, you can do special exercises designed to strengthen the muscles. Try standing on tiptoes and raising your body up and then down repeatedly, using your toes to support you. Hold each position for five seconds. Another good one is to pick up marbles with your toes and relocate them to another spot on the floor. Walking on sand strengthens toes, massages feet and exfoliates the skin … a great workout for feet!

I hope it answers your question. Cheers!!!

Are you breathing right?

It's true that most of us living in cities have become addicted to busyness. We don't like to sit idle doing nothing. We are constantly on the move either in the mind & body. And hence we have even forgotten to breathe right!!! (something that we have been internally programmed to do) Isn't that ironical??

Check for yourself. When you breathe in does your abdomen expand out or retreat in? For many of us it retreats in which means that we are breathing shallow. We are not utilizing the lower lobes of the lungs which have the capacity to hold maximum volume of air. Therefore, because we breathe in wrong, there is less oxygen leading to less availability in the body for its functions which ultimately causes lack of energy.

Breathing from the abdomen is the correct way to breathe and is referred to as the yogic breathing. It utilizes and expands lung capacity, relaxes the body, calms the mind, exercises the diaphragm and gently massages the abdominal organs. You can do conscious yogic breathing for a few minutes daily or whenever you feel stressed.

Have you ever seen a child breathing? Observe it's stomach rise & fall as it relaxes into it's breath. It's time we started learning from children.

Banana date shake

Take about 3 medium sized bananas & cut them into pieces. Cut and soak 5-7 dates in water till they are a little soft. Add bananas & dates in a blender with a little water, cumin seeds and black salt (to taste). Blend it and your healthy, energy giving shake is ready. It tastes absolutely yummy and makes you last a couple of hours. The best thing to have before or after a workout.

Ummmm........delicious......

Think before you Drink

At a competition in Delhi University a few years back, the "winner" died on the spot. The event was "who can drink the most coke?" the winner drank up 8 bottles which produced too much carbon dioxide in the blood and not enough oxygen to live.

Sure, not everyone drinks 8 bottles at one sitting, but doesn't that make you wonder? Can 8 bottles of fruit juice kill? certainly not. Isn't it surprising then that a 'soft drink' can be so hard and even fatal on our body.

I had also received a forward saying, a tooth got totally dissolved within 10 days in a bottle of Pepsi. So did a nail. (We can certainly try it at home :-) ) In fact our teeth and bones are the only parts of our body that stays intact for years after death.

The average PH of soft drinks is 3.4! This acidity is strong enough to dissolve bones and teeth. It is also high enough to be a cleaning agent. Try using coke / pepsi for the following:

- Cleaning a toilet

- Removing greasy stains from clothes

- To loosen rusty bolts

Diseases flourish in an acid medium - all cola drinks are highly acidic. The bubbles and fizz are not just sparkle - they can burn human insides by the phosphoric acid & carbon dioxide. Carbonic acid in aerated drinks is instrumental in ruining eye sight.

And then there is sugar. Around 4 tbsp per bottle leeches body of essential nutrients.

Most cola drinks also have about 40 mg of caffeine. Caffeine is addictive and also raises the blood sugar by stimulating the break down of glycogen.

Cola drinks have zero nutritional value. They do however have colour additives, flavouring ingredients, acidifying - buffering - foaming - emulsifying - stabilizing chemicals, preservatives...... chemical formulas, synthesized as food!

Yes indeed, Taste the Thunder, enjoy! But think before you drink!

This article has been taken from resources at the Health Awareness Centre (Dr Vijaya Venkat)

Yoga for Weightloss

Who says that yoga can't help to reduce weight. True that it should not be used for that but getting in shape is surely one of the benefits of yoga. Yoga works in a holistic way even though you might shy away from admitting or might not have noticed. Apart from the physical benefits (like toning, flexibility, improved strength) it also has other benefits to offer which are very important and play a major role in weight reduction:

• Helps in getting rid of waste better. (FYI humans can store up to 7 kilos of waste in their bodies, we are walking, talking warehouses..........)
• Improves our physiological working - better digestion, circulation, proper working of the endocrine system etc. A lot of problems are related to the improper hormone secretion which can lead to weight gain
• Better metabolism
• Improved and informed food choices. Believe me if you practise yoga regularly, your food choices will improve automatically. It just brings in that instinctive awareness.
• Better routines, better sleep, relaxation etc

PS: I am also talking with my own experience. Try different yoga classes and select one which best suits you.

There are a host of celebrities who have taken to yoga in a big way - Madonna, Jennifer Aniston, Yana Gupta, Mallika Sherawat, Kareena Kapoor, Aishwarya........ the list is endless.

Cheers to YOGA!!!

Lighting 'Diyas'

This diwali, make better use of the diyas you light. As you are lighting them, include a bit of meditation with it. Sit facing your gaze at the flame and stare at it for 2-5 minutes. It'll help you calm and centre yourself. A nice meditative practice for those of us who are yet to take a proper leap into meditation.

Health Tip - Eating Fruits

It is a well established fact that fruits should be an important part of ones' diet. But they should be eaten alone, not with any other food. So if you have been having fruits after meals, it's time to stop. Here's why: fruits are predigested and are required to be in the stomach for only 20-30 minutes. They have high water content & thus help the body in cleansing. If it is eaten on top of other foods it creates a lot of problems. The meal has to remain in the stomach for a long time whereas the fruit you had with eat needs to go but has to stay there. In the meantime the fruit ferments and the entire mass of food begins to spoil. The whole thing turns acidic and creates a lot of problems for us. Perhaps you have experienced it.

In any case, try it for yourself....... Leave the fruit alone.

Exploring the Dan Tien

Dan tien is an energy center located slightly below the navel, near the centre of the body. In Tai Chi, it is known to be the centre of gravity, and all Tai Chi movement is directed by this centre, while the torso & limbs are extensions of this.

The dan tien corresponds to the swadhistana chakra in yoga. In the hard martial arts like karate, they know of the power of the dan tien. The ability to exert extreme force for breaking boards and bricks comes from awareness of moving from the centre of our body. But again, that same power can help us lift our laundry basket, a baby or turn over our mattress with much less chance of hurting our back or pulling our muscle. In pilates, it is referred to as the core strength.

No matter what form our physical expression takes, the internal self-awareness of moving from and breathing into dan tien will add power. In yoga that is why we stress on abdominal breathing. Whether you are making a board room presentation, ironing clothes or running a marathon, your performance will be simultaneously more effortless and much more powerful.

All great coaches know that real power comes from the dan tien even if they have never heard the term. Singing or acting coaches talk of "speaking from the diaphragm", golf coaches speak of "swinging with the belly button". Dan tien is our store house and main production unit of energy in our body.

As Tai Chi teaches us to move from the dan tien, it also helps us realize that we can let most of our muscles relax.......... As it is said

"Hold it tightly like a dove, so not to crush it in your grip, and yet firmly so it does not fly away".

Written with inputs from Tai Chi & QiGong by Bill Douglas

Silence - 'Mauna'

We are constantly talking. Either as a part of our occupation (teacher, marketing executive, call centre employee etc.), with people around us (friends, relatives, strangers, shopkeepers etc) or with ourselves (literally or figuratively). You don't need science to tell you that excessive talking does drain you out physically, mentally and emotionally.

Yoga talks of a technique of 'mauna' (forced silence) to keep you away from the physical world, take you closer to your true self and of course to conserve your energy.

Mauna not only refers to keeping ones mouth shut, but also trying to keep your mind from conversing within. Gift yourself a few minutes of silence each day. What can you do when in 'mauna'? Well you can engage in gardening, painting, reading, sitting quietly, listening to music, meditating, counting your breath, hearing the sounds of nature, listening to your heart beat or just being.

Try and fix a regular time during the day when you can be alone by yourself or bring silence into your routine by talking only when required. Only when we observe ourselves will we come to know how much unnecessary talking we do every day. Silence helps in getting in tune with ourselves, knowing who we really are, what we want and how we want to live. Get these insights into your own self with a few minutes of silence each day.

Shhhhhh!!!!!

Emote :-)

Smile - It brings a difference.

Dance - Who knows when you won't be able to?

Cry - Holding those emotions in, is bad for you.

Kiss - It's the most wonderful thing in the world.

Laugh - What's the point of hiding happiness?

Frown - Why not let them know you're unhappy?

Apologize - You don't want to lose friends.

Hug - There's no better feeling being wrapped up close to someone you love.

Live - Because life is everything you have.

Chakrasana - Wheel Pose

It's an extremely invigorating pose, slightly difficult to get in the beginning but achievable with a little determination & practice. You can go into the pose lying down or even standing.

Lying down on your back, bend your legs keeping them hip width apart, rotate your arms to put them behind your shoulders, fingers pointing towards the shoulders. Push your feet and palms on the floor to lift your body up. Some people go inhaling into the pose while some go exhaling. Stay there for a comfortable count and lower your body down.

Standing with feet shoulder width apart, put your palms on the waist bending backward, bend your knees, release your hands behind and glide your palms on the floor to come into this asana. This is much more challenging so should be attempted only after a proper practice.

In any case, do your practices under the guidance of a teacher only.

Lifting the heels up as i have attempted here provides better contraction to the spine & elongation to the front of the body.

Experience the stimulation you get and ENJOY!!!

Managing Anger

This is the last article in my 3-part series on anger. Anger Management has a dual approach.

1) What to do when you are angry? (Short term)

2) How to get angry less frequently and less intensely in the first place? (Long term)

Both are equally important and necessary if you want to make your and you near & dear ones' lives better.

These are some suggestions which help in that direction.

• Relaxation (watching TV, talking on phone is not relaxation)
• Diet – reduce artificial stimulants, have simple food
• Exercise
• Time management
• Prioritizing (spend more time on IMPORTANT activities)
• Eat something sweet :-) . It helps the body secrete serotonin which, is like the switch that turns off anger. When enough serotonin is secreted we feel happy.
• Pratipaksha bhavana – Think of the opposite, change the way you think, try to replace your angry thoughts with rational / good ones.
• Karma Yoga – cooking, cleaning house etc. - basically keeping oneself occupied
• Asana, Pranayama & meditation; deep breathing with more stress on exhalations as it activates the parasympathetic nervous system that helps in slowing down the heart rate & blood pressure
• Find alternatives – is there a more mature way to deal with the problem?, can I look at this differently?
• Objective attitude – is it really worth getting so angry about?, am I taking this personally?, will I remember this in 3 hrs, 3 days, 3 months or 3 years?
• Better communication with people you interact with.
• Engage humor

Different alternatives will work for different people. And mind you, conquering anger will also show improvement in other areas of our lives - relationships, work, personality, attitudes....... need i say more?

Health Tip

Recovering from an illness ?? Have lots of fresh fruits, fruit juices (without condiments), lemon, coconut water, sleep, relaxation and lots of laughter. This helps the body better in dealing with illness and you'll be back on your toes refreshed.

Everything Readymade !!

There was a time when most of the things were made at home - All spices, flour, food, sweets, cakes etc - even though they took a long time. And we have to admit that the food did taste better. Moreover, even our clothes were tailor made, stitched at home or by a neighbourhood tailor. I admit that we still use some of these things but most of it has gone into oblivion. The reason - man's need for instant gratification. Don't you feel it has translated into all spheres of life. We are definitely becoming more and more impatient and more worried about the results than the process of attaining those.

And we've not even spared the animals. The concept of zoos is born out of it. We want enjoyment and entertainment at the cost of animals and that is why so many animals brought from different parts of the world, from different habitats, climates etc are brought, caged in one place. After all it's GLOBALIZATION we may say! Can you imagine staying in a palatial house with all facilities and comfort BUT not being allowed to go out......... Atrocious. i am sure you would agree that there is more fun and adventure in spotting animals in their natural surroundings in their raw character, than dull duds sitting in cages starring out at the onlookers.

Recently, on my visit to Singapore (one of the developed nations) i went on the visit to Jurong Bird Park (one of the major tourist attractions). i was shocked at the treatment meted out towards the birds of prey (large birds like eagles & vultures). They were sitting pretty (dumb) in their cages, doors opened, but one of their legs tied to a metal rod. i was deeply saddened by HUMAN BEHAVIOUR.

i have not visited many zoos and i intend not to; but my intention behind this write up is to make people more aware, sensitive, and careful in the way they use the environment and its beings for their joy. Afterall each living being has a right to enjoy it's freedom!! What say???

An Amazing Video

I received this forward from my mother and i thought i HAVE to share it with you all. It's just amazing. It's about an Interview with God. (Click on 'view presentation')

You can drag the background song's scroll at the end so that it doesn't interrupt with your viewing the above video. I love the background song too so that will remain here at least for sometime. The other option is to just hear the song out & then play the video :-)

Those who have the hidden talent for painting landscapes (even those who don't but love to learn new arts), may well start after viewing the breathtaking beauty of nature................. Savour the video!!!

Health Tip - Eating Cereals

I have been trying not to mix two cereals in my meals since the past few months and i feel much better. i am not sluggish after meals, but light and energetic. Few schools of nutrition particularly natural hygienists recommend a mono cereal diet (if at all you want to have cereals...) i know the staple food of most Indians is roti(bread), vegetables, dal / pulse and rice. So have either wheat or rice. Most of the times its our habit which leads us to stuffing ourselves during meals. So not mixing two cereals puts lesser load on the digestive system at the same time makes available remaining energy to do other work. Experience it yourself.

Happy eating!!!

Full Split - Hanumanasana

It's a very challenging pose but achievable with continuous practice. I too have to perfect it still. Apart from extreme flexibility, what is required here is tremendous strength in your back to hold the hands up in a namaste. It gives an immense contraction at the lower back. Keep your palms folded, as you are bent over your leg and then come up breathing in. It also needs core strength (deeper muscles of your abdomen) to come up like that. But please don't even try attempting it without a proper workout (i don't mean just a warm up!!)

Have a fun-filled & challenging practice.

Effects of expressed or suppressed anger

Anger stimulates the release of the hormones adrenaline and cortisol into the bloodstream. These two hormones have a number of effects that mobilize the body over the short-term but that can be destructive if anger is chronic.

The hormones cause heart rate and blood pressure to rise. This can damage the delicate inner lining of the arteries and accelerate the development of arteriosclerosis – a buildup of plaque that can lead to a heart attack.

They cause platelets circulating in the blood to become sticky. That enables them to cling to damaged areas on the artery lining, where they clump and release chemicals thought to further stimulate the growth of plaque in the arteries.

They stimulate fat cells to empty into the bloodstream to provide a quick energy source. When that fat isn't burned, it's converted into cholesterol – making more cholesterol available to be incorporated into plaque.

Our internal alarm system triggers the release of adrenaline to heighten our awareness and responsiveness. This gives our blood stream and muscles a quick supply of glucose so we can run fast and make quick decisions.

Also we may have a burst of histamines to ward off infections. A whole complex of glandular and physical arousal occurs. If you have been driving a car and had or nearly had an accident you know what this rush of stimulation feels like.

They suppress the immune system, making us more susceptible to illness.

Can induce weight gain & overeating - may lead to cortisol levels that stimulate your appetite, with the end result being weight gain or difficulty in losing weight.

Simpler still, anger can also lead to headaches; tendency to smoke & drink; problems in inter-personal relationships; physical lashing out at every person or object that irritates.

So the next time you shout at your maid, grumble behind your boss's back, curse yourself for netting a ball in the tennis game, whack your child for not behaving.......... think of what it might do to you.

Peanut Sauce & salad

Someone's rightly said "The way to a person's (not just a MAN - modifying a little bit) heart is through his stomach!! I thought let me also start a new area of healthy recipes from my experiments with food (of course with valuable inputs from various people including the Health awareness centre). So here's something for starters:

Vegetables for the salad:-

Cabbage, tomato, potato, cucumber, carrot, french beans, capsicum - 400 gms. You can also take veggies like baby corn, red & yellow peppers, broccoli etc.

Peanut sauce:-

Roasted peanuts - 100 gms

Roasted chilli powder, jaggery, tamarind to taste; salt to taste

Method:-

cube vegetables - steam potato & french beans

mix all the ingredients for the sauce, add a little water and blend into a smooth paste

Serve:-

You can mix the sauce well with the vegetables and have it as a salad

Can also cut vegetables into sticks and serve the sauce with it as a dip. It goes very well as a biting with your drinks too :-)

Savour the taste of completely healthy, nutritive and delicious food....... Did anyone say its lunchtime????

Anger

This is the first of the three part series on ANGER. I am trying to address an issue which is very pertinent for all of us (no exceptions). i would be covering what, why, & how of anger and its management. i hope some of us derive value from it.

It is your first day at work. You get up early complete your morning routines & are ready to go to work wearing your new shirt. Just then your servant accidentally spills tea on you. What do you do? You are a housewife, a mother. You are going to pick up your child in school when a big procession blocks your way & you are stuck for half an hour. How do you react?
Under these circumstances, a normal person would react in frustration and anger not knowing that it will only harm and worsen the situation. As lifestyles become increasingly hectic, more & more people are short-tempered and small incidents can irritate, enrage & provoke. Anger is a defense mechanism we use when we sense that someone is encroaching upon us.

Why do we get angry?
Habit – by watching & imitating the behaviour of our care-givers or our parents.
To gain control
To get what we want
To protect ourselves against real feelings or bad memories

To hide our feelings
To get others to help us
To avoid responsibility
To protect ourselves against real or imagined threats

The first step is to become aware that yes, you are vulnerable and you DO get angry off & on. Yoga also stresses a lot on self-awareness. Without it you just can't move ahead. So this week, just try and be aware (if possible note down) when you got angry, the reason for your anger and how you felt later.

Someone's rightly said that even the longest of journeys begin with the smallest of steps.

Headstand variation

Since i have recently blogged about the traditional headstand i thought it would be good to continue with it. i am not intent in taking names of each variation as they might exist in some schools (of yoga) might not in others; and will definitely have different names for a similar variation.

This is not at all a difficult variation if you are relatively comfortable with sirshasana. The only thing you have to be careful about is bringing back the legs together keeping them straight; as it might be a little challenging. Moreover it also stretches the inner thighs & pelvic muscles. Explore and discover............!!!

A moment we'll cherish for years......

No musings, no lessons, no learning......... just celebration!!!! i am failing to get the right words to express my emotions about our scintillating victory in the T20 World Cup Finals against our arch rivals Pakistan. i am sure most of you (who have been rooting for India) would share the same feeling.

What came out through our performance in the whole tournament as we marched ahead beating the giants like Australia, South Africa and England were: excellent team effort, leadership (controlled aggression of MSD), fearlessness, self-confidence, interdependence. It is heartening to see the team members from all regions, religions and communities; coming together, playing & frolicking in the victory. It's high time we brought it home!! Cheers to India and the Indian Cricket team.

Note: pics are from cricinfo.com

"Sweet Nothings"

• Sugar is bleached with phosphate of lime to give its sparkling white colour.
• Saccharin is a coal tar product.
• It takes an hour to chew 2 feet of cane from which we get one large lump of sugar.
• Acidic - resulting in ulcers, psychological disorders and hyperactivity. Best eg is children who become hyperactive after coming back from a birthday party!!
• Sugar is the best friend of food processing industry. Read the labels the next time you go grocery shopping. You'll be shocked to read sugar as an ingredient in most products - sauces, cereals, baby food, biscuits, breads etc.
• Forms plaque on arterial wall and may plug valves to the heart and fill the veins, causing high blood pressure.
• To replace refined sugar, use foods that are rich in natural enzymes, dried fruits (dates, figs, raisins, apricots etc), unrefined jaggery.

Adapted from sources at The Health Awareness Centre

Are you shunning the sun??

Sunlight is one of the most important aspects of nutrition. It gives LIFE. Make sure you expose yourself to the vital rays of the sun at least 20-30 minutes in a day. Early morning and evening when the sun is not too bright is the best time to sunbathe and sungaze as the harmful rays of the sun are practically non-existent. It helps in improving your health, skin, health of the joints and so on. People suffering from arthritis, osteoporosis or any other joint problem must do sunbathing for half an hour daily. If the sun is too bright do not look at it directly, as the retina of the eye can easily be damaged. Sunlight is also the only source of active vitamin D which is essential for the absorption of calcium in our body. Also I am quite reluctant to use sunblock creams. Its better to cover the exposed part rather then applying chemical rich cream to our skin when going out in scorching sun. Whatever it is, please don't shun the SUN!!

Being Grateful

Yesterday, I took the 1.01 local to Churchgate. At Mahim station, a young lady came in and sat opposite me. She was walking with crutches as she had lost a leg. As we reached dadar, she asked me whether the next station would be Lower Parel. "No, it's Elphinstine rd", I said thinking she wanted to get down at Lower Parel. As I got ready to disembark, she also came. I told her it was not her station. She said she wanted to get down at Dadar (the previous station) but she couldn't climb the bridge so she's coming ahead & taking a train back from the same platform!!!! "Oh ok", I managed to say and went my way.

It set me thinking..... We complain for such small things in life whereas she had to make extra effort for everything. Do we have a right to keep complaining???

Try to count your blessings and be grateful for what nature has given you. In the yogic texts, this concept of contentment (santosha) is mentioned as one of the observances (niyamas - 2nd step in the eight-fold path). It gives us mental peace & keeps us and the people around us happy.

Setu Bandha Sarvangasana - A Variation

All back bends are energizing & invigorating, & this is no different. It's a challenging variation of the setu bandha sarvangasana (bridge pose). After getting into the bridge, support your back with your palms, walk the legs further, balance properly, slightly tuck in the abdomen & then lift one leg up. The weight of the body is borne on the palms, wrists, elbows & shoulders. It gives a definite contraction to the lower back muscles and strengthens the core (abs, back). But again, it should be done under someones' guidance unless you have been practicing for a long time; and after a good warm up.

Challenge yourself and attain newer heights in everything you do in life!!

Tai Chi Chuan

I am extracting this paragraph on Tai Chi from an article written by my Tai Chi teacher (Mr. Christopher Fernandes).

"Tai Chi Chuan is a traditional Chinese exercise that seeks to enhance balance, body awareness and overall well being it combines deep diaphragmatic breathing and relaxation with slow, gentle movements. Tai Chi appears to look like a graceful dance, but many practitioners have described it as a form of moving meditation. 'Tai' means highest, 'Chi' means outermost point or peak energy, 'Chuan' means balance, metaphorically action, a word that connotes power & control over one's own actions. Tai Chi Chuan also means Supreme Ultimate Reality."

You might have come across on various TV channels; groups of people practicing slow rhythmic movements in parks or gardens. You might have also heard of Tai Chi. Let me tell you that Tai Chi is one of the fastest growing forms of exercise in the west. I have been learning since the past 6 months under my teacher and i really enjoy it. There are many parallels b/w Yoga & Tai Chi which i would address later. The benefits, my experiences, some specific techniques are all there to write about but for today just the introduction is enough. If you have any questions to ask my teacher, i'll be happy to forward your emails to him.

Till then.............keep practicing whatever that you are learning!!!

Get rid of Constipation

Most of the people suffer from chronic constipation even though they might not be aware of it. Again it's not just the inability to pass motion but also insufficiency, more frequency etc. It is believed that constipation is the root cause of many ailments including cough, cold, skin eruptions, colic, piles etc. The body's inability to efficiently eliminate waste translates into various other conditions.

The acupressure course that i am currently attending asks us to take 1 tsp of herde powder with warm water immediately on getting up in the morning, followed by 2 glasses of warm water. We should then subsequently massage the middle of the chin (chin dimple) with our index finger for 2 minutes. This has to be done for 10 days continuously. This can be tried by almost everyone except those already suffering from illness.

Yoga also has various ways of relieving constipation. Apart from the various asanas, pranayamas, there are also kriyas like kapalbhati, agnisar, vaman dhouti, shankhaprakshalan with help in all digestive troubles. But this should be done under a teacher's guidance only.

Nutrition asks us to do more physical activity, have fibrous foods, water etc.

i also feel that constipation is basically hoarding. So people who have a tendency to hoard things, for whom it is difficult to 'let go' are more likely to suffer from constipation. They cannot practice 'forgive & forget'. They tend to keep past grudges. They find it difficult even to ask for forgiveness. They can't express themselves so well and they even store fat. It's astonishing the way our physical and mental spheres are connected. So try and be more flexible, keep only what you need, give away unused, unwanted things and forgive!!

Get rid of constipation. Everyone has a right to feel, light, energetic and motivated. Don't deny.....