Asanas during pregnancy - 3

Ekpadasana

This is one asana which i completely ignored before pregnancy thinking it was too easy. Not so and especially during pregnancy. There are various ways of doing this posture....

1) palms joined in front of the chest as a namaste

2) bending on either side in a side stretch as shown in the picture above

3) palms joined for an upward stretch

Believe you me, this asana gets difficult when you close your eyes or during pregnancy when the centre of gravity shifts due to the extra weight being carried. Let me be more clear - the closing of eyes is NOT for pregnant women.

It would be prudent for pregnant women to do it near a wall - just in case.

This posture brought a lot of calm in me as i feel in pregnancy one is bound to be affected by the dance of the hormone levels. It made me feel good and gave strength to my legs. i tried to remain in this posture at least for half a minute but the duration depends totally on the comfort level. My mood swings were definitely controlled due to this and various other practices but my husband might like to disagree ;-)

Anyways, just keep up the practice all moms-to-be, and enjoy!!!

Asanas during pregnancy - 2

In an earlier article about asanas in pregnancy, i had said that padmasana was a posture which could be done throughout pregnancy. Here are a few more variations which can be done in padmasana that offer different kinds of stretches to the body and can be done all the nine months provided you take proper precautions and do according to your comfort. One more thing to take care of in padmasana is that the heel of the feet should not press against the belly.

Each stretch can easily be held up to 30 seconds and can be repeated 2-3 times .... but go according to your capacity. Again, remember that pregnancy is not the time to experiment. These variations help in keeping the spine supple and strengthen the back which is very essential during pregnancy. It is also important not to lose one's posture as i have seen many pregnancy women walking with an arch of the back as if they are carrying a great burden on their stomach. This is because of weak backs. It creates a vicious circle of backache and sloppy posture.

Modify your padmasana by sitting on the edge of a flat pillow or a blanket for ease. It really works by keeping you there longer and is a very good option during pregnancy.

PS: i regret not having taken pictures of my yoga practices during my pregnancy as they would have given a better idea. but i was in a different frame of mind back then and lazed over it.....

Happy pregnancy!!

Thought for today

Look at the anvil of a blacksmith - how it is hammered and beaten;yet it moves not from its place. Let men learn patience and endurance from it.

- Sri Ramakrishna

Walk yourself to Health

I used to consider walking as an exercise which only older people or people with some physical problem, do. Not now. I have been a regular ‘walker’ since conception and do so even now. I feel walking is one of the safest exercises for pregnant women and also for mothers who have just delivered.

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I used to walk regularly for 40 minutes daily and still try to do as permissible by my baby. It has helped me tremendously…….. Not only did I put on a healthy 8 kgs (17 pounds) during pregnancy, I was back to my normal weight within 3 weeks of delivery. Moreover there was no edema whatsoever. My shoes, chappals and rings fit me perfectly till the last day. There are many other factors I agree but you can’t negate the positives of walking. In fact, I had walked even on the day of my delivery and restarted in a week’s time from my delivery. It’s been 2 months now and I still walk regularly.

Note: Take care to walk at a regular pace and then at a slow pace as your pregnancy advances. Do according to your comfort level. Walk on flat terrain wearing proper shoes.

To make mundane walking more interesting you can take help of music, a friend or some chanting. Otherwise just enjoy your own company and ponder on things……….

Happy walking!!!

Asanas during pregnancy - 1

There are several asanas and their variations that can be done at various stages of pregnancy. various schools have different takes on how asanas should be practiced when pregnant. Here, i'll talk about the poses that i have practiced.

A few very important points to be taken care of are:
1) Each pregnancy is different so asanas that might suit someone might not be comfortable for others.
2) It's always better to consult your doctor before commencing your practice.
3) If you have never practiced yoga before, do it under some expert's guidance.
4) Everything needs to be done according to one's comfort level only. It's not the time to explore and experiment.
5) Being cautious helps.

There are 3 meditative poses that i used to regularly practice throughout pregnancy.
- Sukhasana (Happy pose)
- Vajrasana

- Padmasana (Lotus pose)

I feel these are postures which i could not practice with so much sincerity before because of my focus on other asanas. So in a way it was a chance for me to develop that area of my practice. One of the major benefits of these asanas is that it emphasizes the flow of blood to the abdominal region where the fetus resides. This is a very important phenomenon. i felt really good practicing these asanas and i tried to practically sit in any of these.

Health Tip

I am soon going to start blogging on other issues related to pregnancy and parenting related to what i have learned and experienced, but for starters, just a health tip.


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Eating papaya and salad everyday relieves the strain infants have to take to pass motions. It's working for my little one. Phew!! what a relief..........

PS: It is widely believed that eating papayas is not a good idea for pregnant women as they act as laxatives and increase the peristaltic movementand may induce miscarriage or early labour. However, there is not such reasoning in nutrition, but i would advice pregnant women to be cautious and conservative. I used to eat papaya during my pregnancy but in very small portions. Moreover, this tip is meant for mothers, post-partum.

Kriyas during pregnancy

I am quite prone to colds and it's a terrible thing to be prone two as it is a double edged sword. On one hand you are not sick (technically, it's only common cold....) and on the other it makes you want to just rest & do nothing (at least to me). So one thing i didn't miss in pregnancy was doing jalneti regularly. It helped me keep colds at bay and also recover from them sooner. It's just a simple nasal wash which can be done with the help of a neti pot or simply using the cup of your palm. I will not go into the details of how to do it as it is better learned from a teacher. But i can vouch for it's effectiveness as i have been a regular practitioner of this kriya since a past few years.

Apart from jalneti, the other kriya that i used to practice was jeebha moola shodhan. It's done first thing in the morning after taking a little water and massaging the upper palate with the thumb, to puke out excess acids. It also helped me tremendously by relieving acidity to a certain extent. (Pregnant women who are puking anyways need not do it)

One can also practice trataka (candle gazing, thumb gazing) for peace of mind, focus & concentration.

i am including sun bathing as a part of kriya here for convenience though technically it is not. Regular exposure to sun in the mornings or evenings when the rays are mild is very very essential. It helps in keeping the bones healthy (vitamin D aids calcium absorption) besides being good in every which way.

Simhasana (Lion pose) is also very useful and important. I am again taking the liberty of taking it under kriyas as i used to practice it like a kriya. Extremely beneficial for the upper respiratory system, thyroid and cosmetic benefits (works like a facial). Needless to say that it is important during pregnancy as well.

Keep Healthy!!!

PS: please do the kriyas according to your comfort level only and don't start anything afresh is my tip to everyone.

Tibetan Singing Bowls

My parents bought me this Tibetan singing bowl a few months back from a Buddhist monastery near Coorg (Karnataka, India) and i feel charmed to have possessed one. The monastery is the second largest in India with a hundreds of monks.

I got introduced to this ancient yet exotic thing back in Mumbai (i m currently in my hometown Ahmedabad since the past 5 months), when i saw it in a shop and really liked the tune and energy it emanated. It also wondered me as to the hows, whys, whats and wheres behind it. I have read a few articles about the bowl but i firmly believe that an ounce of practice is worth a tonne of theory.

Hence, i have been practising it daily for 5 minutes...... and the experience has been overwhelming. Playing the Tibetan bowl really energises the surroundings. It creates very good vibrations inside the area (room) thus enhancing the ambiance. The bowl when played in the background brings vibrancy in meditation, chanting, asana or pranayama. Whenever i play it around my baby he listens to it keenly. (at least that is what i feel :-) )

There are a few tips that i would like to share here :-

- playing requires a lot of practice as the sound would not be smooth & melodious otherwise. It's similar to an amateur playing a musical instrument.

- i feel that the gong when held like a pencil brings smoothness in the sound.

- you will also feel the vibrations in your palm while you are playing it, but the palm needs to be kept straight. Do not cup the fingers.

- just tapping the gong on the rim also creates an 'om' like sound of the bell which is divine.

How to select one? Well, i really don't know as they come in lots of varieties ranging from different sizes, different metals used in the making, different kinds of gongs, different inscriptions etc etc..... So the best way is to play it before buying and take the one which sounds best to your ears.

PS: here are two good articles which are worth a read...........

1) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Singing_bowl

2) I was going to write an article about this long back but Shameem, who is a senior colleague and an excellent yoga practitioner, has penned this article wonderfully

Visualization

"Empty mind is a devil's workshop" - so the saying goes. I had a lot of free time during pregnancy as i stopped taking classes, travelling too much or exerting myself. This gave me an opportunity to experience various other physically passive but mentally active techniques - that i believe are much more powerful.

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Visualization is one such technique. It simply means creating a mental picture......... of what??? you decide. I feel that everything we do in life first manifests in the mind. Likewise, if we want to achieve something or wish for something to happen, it has to first be pictured in the mind. So everyday i used to create positive pictures of myself during and after pregnancy. I visualized my pregnancy to be smooth, my baby to be healthy, my growing excellence in yoga etc etc.... I don't know and can't say how effective the technique might be but i have faith in that and i feel at least the positive visualization keeps the mind at peace.

PS: visualization is a part of the ancient yogic technique of yoga nidra as explained by the Bihar School of Yoga. So open your inner eyes..........

Breathing techniques during pregnancy

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One can practice all the breathing techniques in pregnancy except those which involve compression of the belly or retention of breath. The pranayamas and breathing exercises that i practiced throughout my pregnancy are as follows:

1) Kapalbhati - but involving forceful exhalations and inhalations using the clavicles only
2) Alternate nostril breathing or nadi shodhan
3) Ujjayi
4) Sheetali
5) Sheetkari
6) Brahmari or humming bee breath
7) Long exhalations through the mouth
8) Abdominal breathing
9) Intercostal breathing
10) Clavicular breathing
11) Deep breathing

These techiniqes help at all levels - physical, mental, emotional and spiritual thus directly affecting your baby residing within you.

Breath retention is not allowed as it inhibits the flow of blood to the fetus. For the same reason it is also wise not to get breathless when one is carrying. But some retention should be practiced in the last 2 months to help during labour.

Apart from the ones listed above, there are breathing techniques in Tai Chi as well which help. Also these pranayamas or any other breathing exercises should be learned under a qualified teacher and therefore i m not elaborating too much.

Out of these i used to concentrate a lot on alternate nostril breathing (at least 15 minutes daily). That might be one of the reasons of my pregnancy going smoothly.

ps: will go into the benefits of everything i practised during pregnancy, later.

Yogic Techniques during pregnancy

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There are a host of techniques in yoga which would help in pregnancy:

Asanas
Pranayamas
Chanting
Mudras
Kriyas
Meditation & concentration

Some of the techniques can be done as they are and some have to be modified to suit the pregnant body. I would be going into detail about various techniques in my following posts according to the ones i have practised and experienced.

A few caveats to be taken care of
- Each pregnancy is different and each individual is different. So something that might help someone might not be of help to the other.
- The exercises have to be done according to ones comfort level only.
- It's wise to consult your doctor before taking on the asana practices.
- Faith, conviction and a positive attitude at all times.........

ps: pregnancy is a time to concentrate on, explore and experience the beautiful techniques of yoga which remain ignored due to our focus on the Asanas.

No stretch marks???

Hi everyone, it's been a long long time since i last blogged. Partly because i just delivered a beautiful baby boy a month and a half back and partly because i was simply lazy. I just felt like enjoying my pregnancy and the time with my baby without thinking too much about what to write. But i feel happy to be back in circulation and share stuff with like minded people. Since i have just gone through a pregnancy ( a beautiful, sometimes a bitter-sweet experience), i am going to blog a lot on that in the coming weeks.

Firstly to tom-tom a little bit, i would like to say that i have escaped this pregnancy unscathed i.e. without a single stretch mark on my body (yeah....) - completely cosmetic and not that it mattered much, but it feels good to know that it's because of my yoga practice. No amount of anti stretch mark cream is going to help as much as yoga. A rigorous yoga practice tones the skin so well that it prepares it for the extreme stretch of pregnancy. The extreme back bends, deep twists etc help in keeping the skin supple and elastic and prevents tearing....... well that is what did the trick (although unknowingly). But i hope this, although a trivial benefit of yoga, might inspire a few of you to take yoga seriously.

more later..... ciao!!!

Vision

"I am an excellent yoga practitioner"
"I am a loving, dutiful & respectful daughter"
"I am a great cook"
"I am creative and confident"
.......

Before you get ideas about my tom-tomming, let me make it clear that it is a part of my VISION.

A vision is an expression of your goal for yourself. It's how you see yourself or wish for yourself but in a present positive tense. Let me make it more clear. For eg. an architect wants to build a house, the first thing he'll do is to create it in his mind, followed by a drawing, a model and then the actual house. In the same way what we want to be in life (in all aspects) also begins with a thought.

We have always focused on what we "don't want" or what we "don't have" in life and tried to strive to attain that. But a vision talks in a way as if we already have that. Those of you who've read the book "The Secret" or seen the movie would be able to relate to this better.

But it does not mean that you have a perfect sounding vision and sit back. Nothing will happen. It's just the "right" beginning. You can take a few minutes to make your own vision and then keep adding and editing it as and when required. In fact you can have your own vision book which you read first thing in the morning instead of the newspaper. You'll spend just 2 minutes reading it, but the effect it would leave on your phyche and persona would be profound.

I learned about it in the SSY (Siddha Samadhi Yoga) course and the ISP (Infant Siddha Programme - The art of joyful parenting) which concluded yesterday. Believe me, our mind is much much more powerful than we can fathom.

Please take a few minutes out during the day today to open the eyes of your mind to build your own vision.

Happy visualizing!!!

A STARK REALITY OF LIFE

Something borrowed..... My friend Janu from Italy sent me this a few days back & i thought i must share it.

Eagles are the most long-lived birds in the world. By the time they reach 40 years, their claws start to age, losing their effectiveness and making it hard for them to catch prey. The lifespan of an eagle is up to 70 years old. But in order to live this long, it must make the toughest decision at 40. At 40 its beak is too long and curvy that it reaches its chest. Its wings, full of long, thickened feathers, are too heavy for easy flying. The eagle is left with 2 choices - do nothing and await its death or go through a painful period of transformation and renewal. For 150 days, it first trains itself to fly beyond the high mountains, build and live in its nest and cease all flying activities. It then begins to knock its beak against granite rocks till the beak is completely removed. When a new beak is grown, the eagle will use it to remove all its old claws and await quietly for new ones to be fully grown. When the new claws are fully grown, the eagle will use them to remove all its feathers, one by one. Five months later, when its new feathers are fully grown, it will soar in the sky again with renewed strength and is able to live for the next 30 years.

In life, sometimes, we have to learn to make difficult decisions so as to make room for changes. Changes bring about renewal. And the only way for us to soar again is to let go old ways, old habits, old lives. For as long as we are prepared to put aside our old baggage - past glory or shame, past success or failure - be willing to become zero, with an empty cup mentality, we will be able to discover our potential and head towards a renewed perspective in any aspect of our lives.

Thought for today

Life ends when you stop Dreaming,

Hope ends when you stop Believing,

Love ends when you stop Caring,

Friendship ends when you stop Sharing...

Open Sandwich

Sorry for being away for a long long time...........

Today i would like to share a recipe for a healthy meal which i got from my aunt.

Ingredients:

A packet of whole cereal bread, 2 medium sized cucumbers, 2 bell peppers, spring onions, (broccoli, baby corn or any other vegetable of your choice optional), half a litre of curd made from low fat milk.

Method:

Tie the curd up in a muslin cloth for about 3 hours.

Finely chop all the vegetables and add hung curd to it.

Add salt & pepper to taste.

Put the mixture in the refrigerator for 2-4 hours to soak.

Make toasts from the bread slices and spread the mixture generously on it.

You can also add cheese as garnish or into the mixture of vegetables.

And presto, your open sandwich is ready to eat.

Have any soup or drink as an accompaniment.

It's extremely easy, quick to make and makes up for a healthy meal.

Happy eating!!!

Are you insecure?

1) Do you always want to be the centre of attraction when you are in a group?

2) Do you tend to boast of your attainments, work, relationships etc.?

3) Do you spend a major part of conversation (with anyone) on criticizing people, things, systems etc and feel good about it?

4) Do you act as a Mr/ Ms Know-it-all?

5) Are you too sensitive towards others opinions of you?

6) Is it difficult for you to acknowledge others virtues, good advice, achievements?

7) Do you say "thank you", "please" and "sorry" easily?

8) Can you easily accept your own mistakes?

9) Are you too conscious of other people judging you?

10) Are you shy to talk in a group?

Some of these questions are contradictory, some reflect extroversion, whereas others introversion. And each one of us will have the answer "yes" in one or a few questions. The important thing to realise here is that a positive answer to any of these questions reflects that a person is insecure, has low self-esteem and is not comfortable in his skin. Also important is to realize that all of us will have some degree of insecurity but i feel that when more than 2 of the above questions are answered as "yes", we need to think.

i am on a long break now (which explains my laziness towards the blog) at my hometown in Ahmedabad where I had a chance to meet and interact with many people. Out of the conversations that we had, one thing was common......... CRITICISMS. I don't know why are we so fond of it and why do we get a sense of satisfaction and gratification from running others down. That reminds me of an anecdote,

An evening school teacher asked his lady students to refrain from talking negative about anything throughout the week. In the next week he asked the ladies, how the week went and what did they talk about. One of the ladies promptly replied, "Sir, there was hardly anything to talk."

Isn't it also true for us? (i m referring equally to men and women :-))

Why are we not comfortable with who we are? why do we keep comparing everything? why cant we accept the simple fact that each one is made different with his strengths and weaknesses, talents etc, and why do we get confidence out of negating others? People who are extremely extrovert or introvert are both insecure and tend to have a bloated ego. It's not wrong but it's certainly wrong not to know about it.

In yoga there is no comparison, no competition with others. To develop the attitude of "Aishwarya" i.e. self confidence, sense of achievement; we have to move ahead and that too by not pulling others down. Criticising is very easy like breaking a glass. But you achieve only when you make a glass, applying heat, moulding and proper cooling....................

Cheers to that!!!

Thought for today

Don't be afraid to say, "I don't know", "I made a mistake", "I need help", "I'm sorry".

Spiderman is a Vegan and practices Yoga

Spiderman, Spiderman,

Does whatever a spider can

Spins a web, any size,

Catches thieves just like flies

Look Out! Here comes the Spiderman.

Every one from a small child to an adult is fond of superheroes and would certainly wish to get some of their powers. Needless to say that 'Spiderman' is one of the favourite superheroes around the world. So this bit of information might inspire a few. The man who played the strong, loveable, caring, protecting Spidey - Tobey Maguire, is certainly one to look up to. He is a vegetarian (vegan to be precise) and practices yoga daily.

Hastapadangushtasana

(The pictures are not that clear as they've been taken informally from a cell phone.)

Initially when i started practicing this asana, even keeping the leg straight from the knee was very difficult and balancing even more trying. It is a very important asana as it works on the faculties of balance, strength, concentration, flexibility and endurance. Once you grow in the practice, you can move from the straight to the side version without putting the leg down. One more thing to be aware of is keeping the bottom or the supporting leg straight. It will come only with practice. Certainly, people who thought yoga was boring and not challenging should rethink, and try some of these techniques!!!

Thought for today

Life is no more than a dewdrop balancing on the end of a blade of grass

All about coconut

The English name coconut, first mentioned in English print in 1555, comes from Spanish and Portugese word coco, which means "monkey face." Spanish and Portugese explorers found a resemblance to a monkey's face in the three round indented markings or "eyes" found at the base of the coconut. On the Nicobar Islands of the Indian Ocean, whole coconuts were used as currency for the purchace of goods until the early part of the twentieth century.

Coconuts are the fruit of the coconut palm, botanically known as cocos nucifera, with nucifera meaning "nut-bearing." The fruit-bearing palms are native to Malaysia, Polynesia and southern Asia, and are now also prolific in South America, India , the Pacific Islands , Hawaii and Florida. The light, fibrous husk allowed it to easily drift on the oceans to other areas to propagate. In Sanskrit, the coconut palm is known as kalpa vriksha, meaning "tree which gives all that is necessary for living," since nearly all parts of the tree can be used in some m anner or another. The coconut itself has many food uses, including milk, meat, sugar and oil as well as functioning as its own dish and cup. The husk was also burned for fuel by natives, but today a seed fibre called coir is taken from the husk and used to make brushes, mats, fishnets, and rope. A very potent fermented toddy or drink is also made from the coconut palm's sap. Coconut oil, a saturated fat made from dried coconut meat, is used for commercial frying and in candies and margarines, as well as in non-edible products such as soaps and cosmetics. Most coconut water is still consumed fresh in tropical coastal areas - once exposed to air, the liquid rapidly loses most of its characteristics, and begins to ferment.

Coconut Water is better than whole milk - Less fat and NO cholesterol.
Coconut Water is better than Orange Juice - Much lower calories.
Coconut Water is better than processed baby milk - It contains lauric acid, which is present in human mother's milk.
Coconut water is naturally sterile - Water permeates though the filtering husk.
Coconut water is a universal donor - Its identical to human blood plasma.
Coconut Water is a Natural Isotonic Beverage - The same Ph level we have in our blood.

Moreover,

Coconut water contains more potassium (at about 294 mg) than most sports drinks (117 mg) and most energy drinks.
Coconut water has less sodium (25mg) where sports drinks have around 41mg and energy drinks have about 200 mg.
Coconut water has 5mg of Natural Sugars where sports and energy drinks range from 10-25mg of Altered Sugars.
Coconut water is very high in Chloride at 118mg, compared to sports drinks at about 39mg.

(Data is based on a 100ml drink)

The information has been solicited from the internet and info given by a friend

Giving 'Thanks'

The spiritual texts always explain that it is very imperative for the practitioner or seeker to let go of "EGO". Though it is easier said then done, one simple way to practice that is by meditating on 'gratitude'.

Sit in a quiet place in your house or room, in comfortable posture (cross legged or any other), close your eyes, place your palms on your thighs and draw your attention inwards. After a minute when you are focused, start expressing gratitude towards each and every person that has touched your life in any way.

Thank the people who build roads, bridges, telephone systems, communications, media which you always take for granted.
Thank the shopkeepers, bus conductors, staff at the multiplex, restaurant where you normally frequent.
Thank the workers who built your house, car mechanic, plumber, electrician, driver, sweeper, servant, garbage collector, security, gatekeeper, office peon, maid, cook, gardener, milkman, newspaperman, postman, laundryman and all the other people who render their services to you even though for money.
Thank your friends, relatives for being there when you needed.
Thank your children, father, brothers / sisters, spouse and your MOTHER.
Lastly thank the higher power, God destiny whatever you may call for giving you this life.

Do this exercise for about 5-10 minutes everyday when you get up in the morning or go to bed. You may also feel tears rolling down your cheeks but that is just your ego melting away making you grounded, humble and compassionate. After all there is no such thing as independence. It's only INTERDEPENDENCE which helps us live.

ps: the pic is from Bihar School of Yoga

Thought for today

A reed before the wind lives on, while mighty oaks do fall.

Gyan Mudra

We have seen many a great thinkers sitting in this mudra with the thumb joined to the index finger and the palms resting on thighs. It is one of the most commonly used mudras i have some across. Many practitioners, practice pranayama and meditation sitting in gyan mudra.

I have experienced that it promotes concentration and a higher sense of focus. It just keeps your senses more stimulated and alert so as to absorb the maximum. So practically speaking if you were to sit for a lecture, or in a meeting or conference; practicing this mudra would surely help. On a more serious note the circulation of subtle energy between the fire element (represented by the thumb) and air element (index finger) stimulates our higher faculties of thinking, logic, co-ordination, analyzing, intuition, concentration and mental balance.

Thought for today

Every major tradition has made a unique contribution towards human evolution. It is not wise to see one tradition better than another. The wisdom in all the religions of the world belongs to everyone. They all advocate the basic human values of truth, peace and service. - Art of Living

Working both sides of your brain

One way of classifying the human brain is by dividing it into two parts – right & left. The right side controls the left side of the body and vice versa. So for keeping both sides active and running; to prevent brain degeneration, it is wise to use both the sides optimally. One way of doing it is carrying out the daily functions which you normally do with the right hand, by using the left. Egs of using the opposite side could be many:-

For cooking and stirring
Carrying grocery bags
Writing (it’s more difficult)
Dialing or answering phone
Operating the computer mouse
Holding the remote
Brushing, bathing
Applying make-up or creams
Cleaning
While eating or handling the spoon

There are so many mundane activities which we do throughout the day which can be done using the hand that we normally don’t use. Try even a few and observe how your brain gets activated and focused. At first it'll seem awkward but slowly you'll be adept at using both the hands for the same thing.

Recreation

I am learning belly dancing and should be finishing the first level in a couple of days. It’s been a very thrilling, invigorating and explorative experience. Contrary to the popular belief (at least in India) that belly dancing is only a seductive and an obscene form of dance, I must admit that it’s totally wrong. In fact it is a classical dance (certainly not what Mallika Sherawat did in ‘Maiya Maiya’) which is aesthetically very beautiful. It almost brings you in a meditative state of mind which most dances do. No other art form except dance and yoga allows you to explore your body thus. Belly dancing in particular involves a lot of co-ordination of the mind and body, many isolated movements and an amazing control over even the smallest muscles of your body which we didn’t know existed:-)

I also feel that it’s imperative for anyone to keep learning throughout ones’ life and something which is away from one’s profession. The reasons being many – it’s a lot of fun, it makes life more interesting, it keeps us active mentally & physically, challenges us in different ways we might not have thought, opens newer avenues, enhances performance in various fields, helps us meet different people, opens our mindsets, and gives satisfaction. Moreover, it’s the time we spend with our own selves which is most valuable. It is also one of the things which we don’t learn to earn. So there are no vested interests. I term it as recreation – an activity done involving most of our senses, for the sheer joy it brings. I believe that there has to be some time every day or every other day designated for such activity. And no, watching TV, talking on phone, listening to music do not fall under this category as they are passive. Cooking, gardening, sports, dance, painting, music, singing…….would definitely qualify. It is also one of the for pillars of a yogic lifestyle. (Vihar - Achar, Vichara, Ahara being the other three)

How to have fruits?

The science of food combining is called trophology. Even fruits need to be had in a proper manner so as to derive maximum benefit from them. The reason being, different foods require different enzymes to be secreted for digestion. Now when two incompatible foods are ingested, the enzymes cannot do their work well and results in fermentation, putrification, burps and belches. As far as fruits are concerned, let me first divide them into categories:

1) Acid fruits - citrus, pineapples, strawberries, pomegranates, sour apples, sour grapes, sour peaches, sour cherries, sour plums

2) Sub-acid fruits - sweet apples, sweet peaches, sweet cherries, sub-acid grapes, pears, papayas, mangoes, apricots, sweet plums, fresh figs, blueberries, raspberries, blackberries

3)Sweet fruits - Bananas, custard apple, all sweet grapes, all dried fruit, chikoos

4) Melons - watermelon, musk melon

The commandments for correct fruit eating (it applies to fruit juices as well)

Eat sub-acid fruits with either acid or sweet fruits

Do not combine acid fruits & sweet fruits

Melons should be eaten alone

Also fruits donot combine well with any other food type and should be eaten alone.

Wait for 20-30 minutes after you have had one group of fruits to shift to another.

Have a fruity day :-)

Thought for today

Always focus on the front windshield and not the rearview mirror. - Colin Powell

Health Tip

Have you noticed animals licking their wounds, and wondered? It's because saliva is potent. Even human saliva applied on pimples, acne, zits, bruises helps in their healing and removal. The early morning saliva is the best as it is unadulterated. It may sound gross to some but it's a fact and a useful one at that.

Gung-ho about eggs

People who consume dairy products and eggs are called lacto-ovo-vegetarians. Just clearing some issues.......

I have had some people expressing their relief at knowing that by eating eggs they are not killing anything. But I had also mentioned that the source of those eggs has to be examined. Most of the eggs in India are gathered from hens in conditions i had elaborated in previous articles. And if that is the case then it's even worse.

Also, it has been pointed that even by eating plants we are killing living beings. To this i would like to respond by saying that in Jainism, all living beings are classified as those with different no of senses. You can refer to this google book from page 150 onwards. We have 5 senses like animals while the plants have 2. So the pain inflicted when we eat them is much lesser or nil when we consume plants. Of course everyone is entitled to his or her opinion, but all personal decisions should be made with awareness and reasoning.

One more question that can be raised here is of whose eggs? I mean all over the world people eat a variety of eggs ranging from those of hens (most widespread), ostrichs etc. Again i dont have any idea as to how the other eggs are obtained. If anyone knows and can send me the information, i'll be happy to publish it here.

Till then this issue is adjourned :-)

Dwi Pada Viparita Dandasana

or Upward facing two-foot staff pose

I go into this pose after going into chakrasana. The pose can be done in various stages. The first one is when you keep your legs bent, then straighten one leg at a time. You can also take a twist by taking both legs to the side, or taking one leg up in the air. It is an intermediate pose with some advanced variations.

The compression you feel in the back is worth the expansion of your abdomen and chest areas. It also has a few effects of sirshasana.

For a perfect execution of this pose, look up in Yoga Journal.

Samanvay Mudra

Join all the finger tips and thumb of the palm together to form a hollow space in the palm. Do it with both palms and rest them on your thighs. It is also called Shukari mudra (hand gesture) in Dr R P Upadhyaya's book on mudras. It balances all the five elements of earth, water, air, fire and space in our bodies & hence is a powerful mudra. Develops strength, coordination and balance.

Recently i was watching a movie in a multiplex and the air-conditioner was really strong. I was feeling very cold and i applied this mudra for a few minutes. It generated warmth in my body and made me feel comfortable.

A note of caution: Mudras appear to be harmless but can be quite powerful and so should be done for a longer time only under guidance. Otherwise just stick to 5-8 minutes of practicing it.

Monotasking Vs Multitasking

This parable is very true & relevant to our lifestyles where we feel that doing only one thing (mono tasking) is a waste of time.

Mother saw the child studying and watching TV at the same time. She invited her child to play a game. She said, "we have 5 fingers on each hand lets call them the five senses, thumb is touch, index is smell, middle is taste, fourth is hearing, little finger sight." She then threw a ball at the child asking him to catch it. The child caught it easily with one hand. She then bandaged the little finger with the palm and again threw the ball. The child caught the ball but with difficulty. The mother then tied the thumb and the little finger to the palms then threw the ball at him. Child could not catch the ball.

She explained to the confused child, "as we require all our fingers and our palm to catch the ball, similarly we need all our senses to do things efficiently."

In the ancient scripture Upanishads, our five sense organs are compared to the 5 horses that pull a chariot and our mind to a charioteer. Just as the horses would run wild if the charioteer lost control of them so also our senses would play havoc if not controlled by the mind. Therefore, we should concentrate fully on one activity at a time. No matter how mundane the task at hand seems, but if you give your undivided attention, you end up doing it better & in lesser time.

For this week, list all the tasks that you carry out during the day and analyse which ones are clubbed together with other tasks and what is the outcome of those. e.g talking on phone while driving, eating while watching TV, reading newspapers in the loo............ the list seems endless.

Blowing a Conch

If you are an Indian who has seen various mythological epics finely translated on television then you would agree with me that the sound of conch symbolically represents an onset of battle or a special occasion, worship etc. The importance of blowing a conch while worshipping is also mentioned in the Vedas. A conch is blown three times before a Hindu aarti (a worship ritual). Wikipedia offers a good insight into the world of conchs.

The magazine Eternal Solutions mentions that the sound of conch reduces negative energies in the environment. It removes distressing vibrations and allows the flow of sattva (peaceful, stable, positive) predominant frequencies. The Indian scientists also claim that the sound of conch helps destroy the germs and micro-organisms as far as it reaches. Similar to the effects of the sounds of the Tibetan bells. A good way to clean our surroundings!!

There is more benefit for the person blowing the conch. He usually raises his neck upwards and closes his eyes. This posture activates the sushumna nadi (central channel) and helps in maintaining perfect balance. It improves breathing system, improves lung capacity.

To be honest I didn't have any idea that there was such a thing as a conch blowing competition where the contestants are judged on duration, endurance and the novelty of sounds...... sadly we humans want an adrenaline rush in everything in life. But conch blowing is not a cake-walk. Try it & see for yourself.

Thought for today

Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance you must keep moving. - Albert Einstein

Panting like a Dog

Stretch you tongue out as much as you can and then inhale & exhale rapidly through the mouth. Exactly like the dogs do. It calms you down completely. It's very cooling. It almost feels like you are sipping lemonade on a hot day. You can do about 30-50 counts in 1 round and do 3-5 such rounds. But do it in fresh unpolluted air specially during hot summer months or when your mind temperature rises.

Clearing the air on eggs

Hello everybody, i was having a few differing opinions on the article "Do you call yourself an eggitarian?", which prompted me to read a little more to find answers. Here's what i want to say now. My previous thinking that eggs are infertile is right(most of them are). I was wrong the next time. As facts state, the hens do not need a cockerel to produce eggs, they do it naturally after attaining maturity. These eggs are infertile i.e. no living chick would come out of it if it were to hatch. Only the eggs laid after the hens mating with cockerel produces fertile eggs. So i think eggs can be safely had if the moral and ethical issues of sourcing (keeping the hens in good surroundings) are answered!!! Thank you Mayuresh & Abhishek for drawing my attention.

I rest my case here :-)

"A pinch of salt"

In her article titled "Take it with a pinch" in Mumbai Mirror dated 21st January 2008, nutritionist Naini Setalvad takes a view on salt. She says that table salt has nothing in common with the original natural salt. Refined table salt is 99.99% sodium chloride. It is made of uniformly fine crystals - made fine by a 648 degrees Celsius oven heating process and then flash cooled. It is then combined with a number of additives; potassium iodine is added to iodise it. However, iodine is very volatile and oxidises immediately when exposed to light. Because of this, dextrose, a simple sugar must be added to stabilize iodine. This would turn the salt purple and therefore a little sodium bicarbonate is mixed in to bleach the colour to a more marketable white. Finally, they are coated with compound such as sodium silico aluminate to make the salt that is 'free flowing'.

I had also addressed a question related to salt in the section on Health queries.

The natural varieties of salt do not contain iodine but fresh fruits, vegetables, sea vegetables, curd etc are also good sources of iodine. Moreover, we need only about 1 teaspoon of iodine throughout our lifetime and the body does not store it. For more on iodine read these articles - 1 & 2.

More than 5 gms of salt per day is not good. Its effects can be varied - water retention, high blood pressure, weight gain, burden on kidneys, not completely soluble in water therefore tends to harden arteries, interferes with elimination of certain wastes from the body etc.

On the other hand, natural salt regulates water content, is vital to nerve cells, balances blood sugar, aids absorption of food, clears sinuses, makes the bone structure firm.

Even our taste buds prefer natural salt. Natural salt tastes slightly sweet, smooth, pleasant and satisfying as against sharp, acrid, lingering, metallic taste of table salt. Try it yourself and see!!!

Mumbai Marathon

Today the 20th January, 2008, Mumbai played host to one of the biggest marathons in the world - The Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon, 2008. Though I was not a part of it, my husband was; and i feel very happy that he could finish the 21 kms half marathon without a very disciplined practice.

I was being a part of the festive atmosphere of the marathon by gluing myself in front of the television and I was pleasantly happy to see Milind Soman (remember his name is in the list of famous Indian vegetarians, i blogged abt a few days back?) running fittingly to the finish line like a true professional. That strengthens my case for vegetarianism. Also the marathon was inaugurated by another one of my famous vegetarians, John Abraham.

There is also another reason why i am blogging about this. Yes, the role of yoga in a runners' life. A few yoga stretches and pranayamas before the marathon can improve your running ability as the muscles and joints become supple, blood circulation efficient and the chest muscles used for breathing warmed up. Remember that apart from the limb strength, you need a good lung capacity to be able to sustain yourself over a long period without having drastic changes in physiology (read blood pressure, extreme breathlessness, in certain cases even cardiac arrest). I can also not undermine the importance of yoga stretched after you finish the run followed by conscious relaxation (savasana). So all those who prefer going for jogs in the mornings, try this and see yourself improving.

Cheers!!

Vegetarianism & Food scarcity

I always had this question in my mind, that if more than 95% of the people of the world eat non-veg and if a sizable portion of them were to convert into vegetarians, wouldn't that lead to shortage of vegetables and a galloping inflation in their prices. Well here's what i read in the book of vegetarianism by Swami Chidanand Saraswati.

• It takes 16 pounds of grain to produce one pound of beef, but takes a pound of grain to produce a pound of bread.
• Everyday 40000 children starve to death. Everyday we produce enough grain to provide every person on earth with more than 2 loaves of bread but it's being fed to livestock instead.
• Across the world, an average of 40% of the grain produced is fed to livestock.
• 1.4 bn people could be fed by the grain which is given to US livestock.
• One acre of fertile land can grow 40000 pounds of potatoes. That same acre can provide only 250 pounds of beef if it is used to grow grain for cattle feed.
• If you take 2.5 acres of land and use it to grow potatoes, you can fulfill the nutritional requirements of 22 people. If you use it to grow rice, you can fulfill the nutritional requirements of 19 people. But if you use it to produce chicken (including the food) you can fulfill nutritional requirements of 2 people. Even worse, if you use it to produce eggs or beef, you meet requirements for just 1 person. Can you imagine the irresponsible usage of the land when so many are starving?
• If meat eaters reduce their intake of meat by only 10 %, we could feed everyone who die of starvation.
• We could feed 10 billion people a year if we were all vegetarians. Much more than the human population.

A Buddhist saying goes thus, "The frog does not drink up the pond in which he lives." Aren't we behaving in the same way.

There is much more to write on the issue of vegetarianism including nutritional aspects, ecology, wastage of resources etc. but I'll save that for later.

Crane pose / Crow pose

Again a lose attempt compared to this.....

Some books refer to this as Bakasana (crane pose) whereas others as Kakasana (crow pose). Anyways I feel unless you can stay in this asana for more than 30 seconds (which i m glad i can :-)) you should not attempt the other two asanas mentioned below. i.e. side crane and ashtavakrasana. Initially place a pillow under your head to avoid any injuries.

The essence of yoga and life is to keep challenging yourself and keep attaining higher goals in whatever you do with a detached attitude.

Enjoy!!

Thought for today

The best executive is the one who has the good sense to pick good men to do what he wants done, and enough self-restraint to keep from meddling with them while they do it.

Side Crane pose

I know i am far from perfect but the effort is certainly on to get there. You want to see the perfect pose.................... go here. Everything about the anatomy, benefits, the steps of getting into the pose, preparatory asanas are explained here beautifully. It leaves me only to share my experience with this pose. I can now hold it for barely 15 seconds. You may also feel a slight pain on the quadriceps resting on your thigh because of the pressure created. And it works wonders for building a shapely upper body.

Pathways to Peace

On a lazy Sunday afternoon, I am presenting to you this lovely piece, Pathways to Peace (click on view presentation). It will stir your emotions, set you thinking, brighten you up, let you look at the positive, help you turn a new leaf.......... Drown yourself in a kaleidoscope of colour, landscape, music and good thoughts.

Savour it!!!

Ashtavakrasana

Who said yoga can't help build & tone muscles? You do this asana regularly and you don't need any weights to be lifted. There are many such postures in yoga which makes practicing it very inters ting, challenging and meditative.

It's an extremely strenuous pose, requires a lot of strength as well as balance. It not only strengthens the upper body and wrists but also the abdomen and helps in inculcating a sense of balance within us. Don't forget to practice it on the other side as well. You need an absolutely cool mind for doing it as a little mental disturbance plays havoc with the balance in this asana.

Though i sit on the floor and come up in the asana, one can stand and get into it for more challenge. Also it's important to keep the weight on the whole palm and not only on the heels of the palms which generally tends to happen.

Enjoy your practice...........

Thought for today

"Thousands of candles can be lit from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared." - Buddha

Famous Vegetarians

Here's a list of famous vegetarians in India & abroad of then and now. Have a look.

India

Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel (First Home Minister of India) (vegan)
P.V. Narasimha Rao (Prime Minister of India (1991-1996))
Mahatma Gandhi (vegan)
Amitabh Bachchan (actor)
Madhuri Dixit (actor)
John Abraham (actor)
Shahid Kapur (actor)
APJ Abdul Kalam (President - current)
Milind Soman (actor / model)

Indian Film Industry's list of hottest vegetarians

Abroad

George Bernard Shaw - Playwright
Henry Ford - ford motor company
Jude Law - actor
Leo Tolstoy - Russian writer
Leonardo da Vinci - artist
Natalie Portman - Actress
Paul McCartney - Singer/ Activist
Orlando Bloom - actor
Richard Gere - Actor
Ralph Waldo Emerson - Poet
Shania Twain - singer(vegan)
Steve Jobs - Apple Computers
Vincent Van Gogh - Painter
Yehudi Menuhin - violinist
Albert Einstein - scientist
Anne Hathaway - actress
Benjamin Franklin - scientist
Bille Jean King - Tennis champion
Bryan Adams - Musician
Dustin Hoffman - Actor
Martin Luther King

This list is only for representation as there are many many more famous personalities who are vegetarians. Some of them I know and some i don't.

"Nothing will benefit human health and increase chances for survival of life on Earth as much as the evolution to a vegetarian diet." - Albert Einstein 1879-1955 Physicist, Nobel Prize winner 1921