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...........