Yoga Is Awareness

Yogic tip

2011-01-24T16:16:00.000+05:30

If you're headed to bed or want greater relaxation, try extending your exhalations by one second for every breath. So, for a four-second inhalation, exhale for five seconds. It will immediately help slow your heart rate.

The Power of Love

2010-12-01T15:22:00.003+05:30

We are meant to have an amazing life. I cant tell you how much i am grateful to Rhonda Bryne. She has brought so much joy in my life through her wonderful books. The secret helped a lot, however its "The Power" that gels with me. It seems that I had forgotten how to feel deep, genuine love. I smile a lot but to feel it so intensely i have just rediscovered. So what am i sticky to now is
"Your job is to love as much as possible everyday"

Just believing & trying to live from this truth is wonderful. My viewpoint has changed.

Dhanurasana

2010-11-23T11:54:00.003+05:30

Dhanurasana is one of my favorite poses. It creates a sense of openness & freedom. It is also a great indicator if my hip is aligned properly, since ive dealt with this issue for a long time.
One of my students develops headaches when she practises this asana. So first we avoided its practise. Then after a while i made her practise it & she had no problem. However, the headache returned. so i was all confused. Loving challenges being my nature, i went about investigating :) Well, several causes here
1. Extending the neck causes muscle tightness leading to lack of air supply to brain.
2. Fear from doing the asana causes tightness
3. Lumbar region of spine flattens out causing headaches.

It could be any or all of the above reasons. But one thing is for sure. whatever causes us trouble we are wary of it. This fear sticks to us. Its the same when some of us cant practise headstand after a fall. Or any other asana. And the only way to get out of this thinking is to breath deeply, calm the mind, with awareness try again. And again if you fail. But always respect the body signals & the boundaries it creates. The idea of yoga is to stretch these boundaries, but only with love, care & awareness. Provide the safe environment for any practise; failures or success then becomes a smaller thing. The openness to oneself is what builts trust within. Thats yoga. Love & trust yourself first.

Office yoga- simple things to relieve stress

2010-11-22T09:24:00.004+05:30

Simple practices to bring awareness to body. This shows where we are holding tension. Any tightness indicates stress being held in that area. Try these
1. Neck stretches
2. Stretch fingers & then make fists.
3. Make fists of hands & rotate wrists clockwise & anti clockwise.
4. Point & flex toes.
5. Rotate ankles clockwise & anti clockwise

These can be done standing or sitting. In sitting keep your straight & relaxed.

These help circulate blood to the extremities. This allows energy to flow to them, away from thoughts that create tension. Relax & breath throughout the practise. Do each 10 times.

Pottery & yoga

2010-10-21T11:42:00.003+05:30

Last week, on my visit to Noida, I stopped over Delhi to spend time at the Delhi Blue Pottery Trust. It was my first visit to a proper studio with baking kiln, glazing facilities & everything to do with expressing yourself through clay. I simply loved it. From the kick wheel, the director of the studio to the assistants around. It all seemed magical & i decided there & then to further my interest by learning professionally. Here in mumbai its more like fun pottery. But i want to do it all. Somewhere it overlaps with yoga. Its pure meditation.Im contemplating joining a school at manali or pondicherry. The problem is that the waiting period. And i just cant wait. Now it seems thats the life i want to live. Now.

Eye flu

2010-09-29T15:41:00.002+05:30

Got the pink eye - conjunctivitis, so have been spending a lot of time in pain & asking myself what did i do to bring this on. Both equally draining activities. Thats when it hit me - perhaps its the Almighty's way of telling me to spend more time loving myself. I realise im highly self critical, as are so many of us. even when others appreciate, praise me im not really believing them or let myself enjoy that moment. well, then you can imagine how unlikely it is to appreciate myself.
So, canceling all work, I did what i do best- ca some asanas, some pranayama but meditatively. 4 asanas in 30 minutes, just the lying down ones. Anuloma viloma. Honestly, i felt i had a spa treatment done :) I actually felt lighter, definitely happier & very very peaceful.

Moral of the story - any physical disease is a call to spend time with yourself. Do what ever gives you joy - read, watch movies, sip tea ....... but listen to your inner voice , its talking to you, always

Yoga is a lot more that excercise

2010-09-29T15:22:00.002+05:30

Most of us think of yoga as bodily movements, flows, breathing exercise & all the health benefits that such physical actions will bring about. Yoga is all this & much much more. Its a discipline, a way of life, a way to walk, talk, eat, work - in short yoga is in everything, a step by step path to reach your highest potential. Yoga evolves the mind, raising the level of consciousness, to go beyond the mind & realise who you really are.
To understand better - animals have consciousness which is at a lower level as hu mans. They feel as we do but human can make sense of our feelings, analyse, ponder & choose our responses. Animals react as per their brain programming. What yoga does it to teach us techniques, some with the body, some with the breath, to raise our level of awareness. With greater awareness, we can choose to excercise greater options of behaviour, thought patterns & rise above our inherent programming. Thats creations - something new from what was.
We start by training the body because we have some control over it, so we discipline it first. Then the breath is trained. We train our senses as our awareness increases & make better, perhaps different choices. Overall, we create a new way based on harmony within ourself & also harmonious to all around us. Thats yoga.
"Yogash chitta vritti nirodhah" - Yoga is restraining of the mind. Thats the defination of Yoga according to Patanjali, the author of The Yoga Sutras. The Sutras are a compilation of every yogic wisdom in the world. Anything you need to know about yoga, refer to this single source. The problem is that these sutras or aphorism, 195 in all, are in sanskrit & you need an interpretor to decode & understand it. Thats the part i enjoy :)

Yogic Tip: Diabetes

2010-09-23T14:20:00.002+05:30

All abdominal compression asanas are great for diabetes. Pawanmuktasana, paschimotanasana, yoga mudra.

Living in peace with yourself & others

2010-09-23T13:54:00.003+05:30

There are many situations in which we have no control over what happens, no ability to affect the outcome, but no matter what occurs it is possible to stay balanced. Such equanimity gives us strength and a sense of being unshakable in a world that is constantly making demands and creating challenges. We never know what is going to take place or when—nothing is predictable, permanent, secure, controllable, or dependable. Everything is subject to change in every moment. When we are at peace within ourselves we can embrace such change with greater sanity and dignity.

This is the end to which yoga works. Yoga is all about finding & maintaining your equanimty, the balance . . the unchangeable factor that come what may, i will be in my right frame of mind. In the Gita its called Samatvam. Success in life is in knowing nature of things. Freedom is in the fact that no one & nothing can affect my state of being.

The energy that is within us

2010-09-18T13:58:00.002+05:30

Everything in the Universe consists of energy, a vital, invisible, and moving force. Modern scientists recognize the existence of energy, with Einstein describing it in his famous equation: e=mc2.

In China, the existence of energy has been the foundation of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) & acupuncture for thousands of years. In the yogic traditions of India & Tibet, people have understood the concept of energy, which they call "prana." The Jewish Kabbalistic tradition refers to energy as "yesod." In the Christian faith, energy is often called "Holy Spirit." The Lakota tribe of the First Peoples of North America call energy "wakan." The Iroquois tribe refers to this subtle, yet powerful force, as orenda."

The powerful force of balancing energies within the body, mind,
emotions & spirit to create vibrant health, and extending this energy to heal society the environment, and the planet.

Ayurvedic Tip: Digestion

2010-09-14T15:07:00.002+05:30

During monsoons the digestive system is sluggish. also with all the festivities happening one tends to indulge. Ayurveda suggests the best way to restore harmony to your digestion is by having a CCF tea. 1/2 tsp each of coriander, cumin & fennel, boiled & steeped. Have a cup after each meal. Cheers!

Complaining??

2010-09-14T11:42:00.004+05:30

"When you complain, you become a living, breathing crap magnet."

What an awesome quote! Im a firm believer of the Law of Attraction as explained in The Secret. Most often, I have noticed that the more i critisize the worse the situation gets especially in my relationships. As soon as I start focusing
on the stuff that bothers me about the person, it worsens.

It is the best and fastest way to see that "what you focus on expands."

That is why I wanted to share this quote with you.It left a sting in my belly because I had to admit that sometimes I am a crap magnet. At least now that I am aware of it, I can also choose to snap out of it as quickly as I see it.

Bhujangasana -The "Determination" pose

2010-09-02T10:11:00.004+05:30

Bhujangasana means serpent or cobra pose. Its one of the best backbend postures. All backbends challenge us

"Like a snake, the spine should be moved from end to end, when the head moves, the movement is transmitted to the tail" - B.K.S. Iyenger

Doing the pose: Keeping the body fixed firmly to the ground with feet,heels together, forhead on the ground, palms on either side of the chest. The elbows are tucked in towards the back, shoulders away from the ears. On inhaling lift the forhead, nose, chin, spine, head upwards with little or no support from the arms.

This can be modified & done standing. Stand, place arms, fingers on back supporting it. Lift chin up & gently push the back outward, stretching it backward.

The resistance experienced here is from our spine as we try to move it against its natural form. We are using our will power to do so. Thats where determination comes in.

As Swami Sivananda Radha explains "The psychological implication of snake lies in the fear of being overpowered by the unexpected events of life - health, economic, relations.Its a constant battle, so it seems. Exhaustion & helplessness results until we realise that we never get a burden we cant shoulder".
The answer is within us, as always.The kundalini energy is symbolised as a coiled, sleeping snake lying dormant at the base of our spine.

Mythology uses snake to represent its powerful, fearsome, poisonous,watchfulness & wise image. Vishu with his 7 headed snake bed. Medusa, the greek goddess has snakes instead of hair growing from her head. Shiva has a snake around his neck. Krishna dances on the head of the serpent Kaliya.

We humans are designed to self heal & face any situation. This can happen only when we realise the power we have within. Instead of swaying to the music of the outer reactions, like the cobra does to the charmers tunes, we can create our own internal peace. From here comes the determination to lift ourself above circumstances.

As your back grows stronger from regular practice, you realise that you are not spineless & you are ready to reach up higher using your own power & strength. This surge of confidence, self assurance is what you need from your practice, to take into your daily life.

what are your thoughts while doing bhujangasana?

What holds us back ...

2010-08-16T09:26:00.004+05:30

If there is one thing i wish for all to think about, it is this question

"What would I do if I took out fear from the equation?"
Fear in all its forms - physical fears -I cant do this. What others think, say about me. I have never done this. Fear of change, losing something or someone. Fear of loneliness... ..Ask yourself this question & see what surfaces. Whatever thoughts arise, make sure you simply observe them, dont judge yourself. Let them out in a safe environment, without barriers.

This beautiful excercise revels how we limit ourselves from living freely. All our fears are just boundaries created by our past thinking pattern to protect ourself - or correctly speaking, to protect our ego. Ego dislkes change of any kind, good or bad as this would mean a shift in its dimensions. So, go ahead, stretch your mind :)

Breathing excercise for boosting immunity

2010-07-29T11:23:00.002+05:30

Focus on breathing deeply for two more minutes. Gently control your respiratory system, making each breath grow longer and deeper than the last one. Breathe out any tensions you feel restricting your lungs from moving fully and naturally. Feel your mind clear with each breath. Notice the resistance Your mind creates: the worries and judgments it comes up against. Take several deep breaths and dissolve these barriers. Breathe deeply and gently; remember, you are breathing in life itself.

Hold the breath at the top of the exhalation for a moment, feeling its fullness. Then exhale smoothly, letting your hands drift down into your lap, and relax, feeling the vitality of the breath circulate throughout your body.

Richie rich

2010-07-20T20:46:00.002+05:30

Richness is not earning more...
spending more....
or saving more...
Richness is when you need "No More"

I love this. It speaks of freedom. Freedom & faith. Freedom from thoughts about money. That you need it. That you need to get it. How will it come to me. when. ....

faith. faith that the universe will always provide me when in need. This really requires a great faith in God Almighty, Universal consciousness, The power that may be, or whatever that you have faith in. And for the ones who have no faith.. well honestly i dont kno how you manage. Cant imagine not having belief of a supreme power that runs the show.

5 Ways to a new you

2010-07-15T13:04:00.002+05:30

1. Know that the world “out there” reflects your reality “in here.” The people you react to most strongly, whether with love or hate, are projections of your inner world. What you most love is what you most wish for in yourself. Use the mirror of relationships to guide your evolution. The goal is total self-knowledge. When you achieve that, what you most want will automatically be there, and what you most dislike will disappear.

2. Shed the burden of judgment – you will feel much lighter. Judgment imposes right and wrong on situations that just are. Everything can be understood and forgiven, but when you judge, you cut off understanding and shut down the process of learning to love. In judging others, you reflect your lack of self-acceptance. Remember that every person you forgive adds to your self-love.

3. Don’t contaminate your body with toxins, either through food , drink, or toxic emotions. Your body is more than a life-support system. It is the vehicle that will carry you on the journey of your evolution. The health of every cell directly contributes to your state of well-being, because every cell is a point of awareness within the field of awareness that is you.

4. Replace fear-motivated behavior with love-motivated behavior. Fear is the product of memory, which dwells in the past. Trying to impose the past on the present will never wipe out the threat of being hurt. That happens only when you find the security of your own being, which is love. Motivated by the truth inside you, you can face any threat because your inner strength is invulnerable to fear.

5. Understand that the physical world is just a mirror of a deeper intelligence. Intelligence is the invisible organizer of all matter and energy, and since a portion of this intelligence resides in you, you share in the organizing power of the cosmos. Because you are inseparably linked to everything, you cannot afford to foul the planet’s air and water. But at a deeper level, you cannot afford to live with a toxic mind, because every thought makes an impression on the whole field of intelligence. Living in balance and purity is the highest good for you and the Earth.

Adapted from Ageless Body, Timeless Mind, by Deepak Chopra (Three Rivers Press, 1998).

What is meditation

2010-07-14T10:31:00.004+05:30

The mind is a great servant but a terrible master - Dr Jaydeva Yogendra

I have struggled to figure this one out. Years ago when I really needed to sort myself out, I thought of meditation. Naturally, books were bought & read. Yet this didnt clear my understanding. The variety of methods of meditation - breath purifying, divine light, chakra, mantra, yantra, mala, soham ... endless!! It just confused me. I just get caught up in all this mumbo jumbo & there was np meditation being done. It was more like a struggle, a fight with the mind.

Confused & disheartened, i scrapped meditation from my practise, sticking to asana, pranayama & breath awareness. Little did i kno that this simple method is the most effective base for meditation. Breath awareness -just observing the natural way the breath comes in & goes out- is such a calming, relaxing practise. Its what comes most naturally, if you remain in a relaxed way. Thats meditation - simply keeping your mind on one thing. The key here is to remain an observer. If any emotion arises, watch it, dont get caught up in it. Let it pass & return to keeping mind on your chosen object. If other thoughts come, which they do, dont indulge them, dont talk to them, let them pass.

Meditation is moment to moment awareness of what the mind id doing. Your actually telling the mind to observe the breath & then you are watching the mind. If other thoughts come, you are aware that this or that thought has come. If emotions arise, acknowledge them. But do not dwell on them. Return to your task of watching the breath. Do all this without any tension. If the mind gets tense, confused or tired be aware that my mind is getting tired, relax with a slow long breath & resume breath awareness. You will be amazed how light your body will feel afterwards. Also, a sense of joy will arise. The body may tire if your not used to sitting straight. Plod on, your body learns real fast. like everything in life, train the body to sit upright for 10 minutes at a stretch. Daily asana practise works wonders - opens up the body making it supple & flexible.

All this easier said than done. Ask any practitioner, they all struggle to hold the mind in one spot. In yoga this is dhyana - the 7th step of Ashtanga Yoga. What can be done is create an area of focus. Like, if your watching the breath - observe the way the breath enters the nostril, how it feels, the pace, the tempreture, the areas within the nose, throat that the air touches. All this awareness takes us inward & focusses the mind, creating a roaming space for our mind. We have managed to limit the area the mind flutters around. This is dharana - 6th step of Ashtanga Yoga. This too requires a lot of discipling & training. The key is how often you practise. If youe serious about gaining control over your mind & your life, start with short spells - 10 m inutes of focussing. do it twice, thrice a day.Fix time where you parctise daily and do not miss it. The mind will gradually come around. Then, perhaps after couple of months,extend the time to 15 minutes. In this way, the mind will be disciplined. All the best , cheers!!

Constantly hungry??

2010-07-13T14:35:00.006+05:30

I found this article posted by Dr. Frank Lipman.Ive added the yogic techniques :)

This is a complaint I hear fairly frequently, especially when people are on a detox or a particular diet. Here are my thoughts/responses/tips:

1. Make sure you are actually hungry. Many people misinterpret the feeling of thirst for a sensation of hunger. They are actually dehydrated without knowing it because they don’t drink enough water and because they consume so many caffeinated beverages – sodas, coffee, tea, chocolate, etc. which have a diuretic effect.

2. Look for emotional triggers to eating….many people eat when they are angry or frustrated, need to relieve stress or comfort an emotional wound without even realizing it. Many times when people deal with the reasons they are angry, frustrated or fearful, their hunger resolves.

3. You may not be getting enough good nutrients in your food, even if you are eating a predominantly organic diet. Everyone needs trace nutrients – things like selenium, boron, copper, manganese, cobalt, chromium, germanium, molybdenum, and many others. The body will register a lack of nutrients as hunger no matter how much food is eaten. In other words, you could be “full” but your hunger not satisfied.

4. Not getting enough good nutrients in your food may also be from a digestive imbalance. The problem of feeling hungry is not always due to inadequate food intake, but poor absorption of nutrients from the digestive system. If you are not getting enough nutrients, your body will still send you messages that say it is still hungry.

5. Rule out parasites. Parasites are an epidemic (in NY anyway) and these parasites can feed off the nutrients that we eat and leave us hungry.

6. Many people are chronically tired and hungry because they have an hormonal imbalance. (This is not something that always shows up on a blood test) For instance, when people have significant drops in their blood sugar, it leaves them feeling ravenously hungry, exhausted and highly anxious

Yogic tips:

1. Breath breath breath Inhale, exhale deeply with your hand at your navel,when the need to eat arises. This will calm down your mind, clear your anxiety. The hand at the navel allows you to connect with your body, assuring it that your listening to all its needs. If its a genuine hunger call, make sure you listen carefully to what it is that your body really wants & then give it!!

2. Yoga asanas work very well in balancing the blood sugar levels, restoring calm in the body. Sarvangasana (shoulderstand) is excellent for bringing the body metabolism back to normalcy as it works on the thyriod & parathyroid glands.Thyroid manages protien synthesis, growth of muscles & bones. The chin pressing into the chest creates a lock (jalandhara bandha) which regulates the heart, reducing high blood pressure & slows breathing. This calms the mind, restoring balance.This lock also regulates the calcuim levels (parathyroid function).

2. Parasites are managed by the practise of Mayurasana (Peacock). if you cant do it, dont worry. Try getting into the posture by resting chin & toes on the floor. The elbows tucked into the stomach powerfully massages the internal organs, giving you the benefits of the pose :)

3. Forward bends like Paschimottanasana or Yoga mudra regulate the blood sugar levels preventing hypoglycemia & diabetes. Also, these poses reduce body fat by allowing you to let go of your fears. These are the "anti anger" postures as well.

4. Hormonal imbalances are mostly a result of stress & faulty eating habits. Reduce your sugar & refined starches intake as this really messes your blood sugar levels, making you crave for more of it.

5. Practise conscious chewing, focus on the food completely, taking in the colours, textures, taste. Avoid talking too much, TV viewing or any other distractions while eating. Remember that food is the nourishment of your body, so pay attention & enjoy every morsel !!

Office yoga - Breathing

2010-07-10T11:43:00.003+05:30

Pranayama

Keep your eyes closed, focusing on the breath

1. Abdominal breathing
Place right palm on navel. Become aware of the way the abdomen rises on inhalation & falls on exhalation.
Start counting. Equalise your breath. Inhale for 4 seconds, exhale for 4 seconds
Do 10 rounds.

2. Anuloma Viloma
1. Ready fingers for closing nostrils, thumb for right, forefinger or last finger for left.
2. Close left nostril, inhale from right for 3 seconds.
3. Close right nostril, exhale from left for 3 seconds.
4. Inhale from left for 3 seconds.
5. Close left, exhale from right for 3 seconds.
This is 1 round. Do 10 rounds.

Benefits:
1. Clears the nasal passages
2. Harmonises both the brain hemispheres
3. Creates mental equlibrium, calming the mind & induces tranquility

Office Yoga

2010-07-10T11:35:00.004+05:30

Parvatasana

A yoga routine for complete spinal movements. 3 rounds of complete set.

1. Sit on a chair with back straight, away from the back support.
2. Arms on side, palms towards ceiling.
3. Inhaling raise arms up, palms together, elbows straight.
4. Stay there for one complete exhalation & inhalation
5. Exhaling, turn palms outward & bring arms down in start position.
This is the basic pose. From arms raised up, palms together continue. Stay there for one complete breath in each pose :
6. Inhaling bend to the right, Exhaling come to centre. Same on the left
7. From centre, inhaling look up, stretching chest & arching back
8. Exhaling bend forward, arms straight parallel to ground
9. Inhaling to centre, exhaling twist from waist to right & then left.
10. Exhaling bring arms down to start position.

Benefits
1. Stretches, strengthens spine, neck, shoulders, arms & hips.
2. Removes any kind of back, muscular pains
3. Helps frozen shoulders
4. Increases alertness & energy level

Office yoga - Neck & shoulders

2010-07-10T11:33:00.002+05:30

Neck exercises

1. Inhaling, look up, chin towards the ceiling. Exhaling, look down, try touching chin to chest
2. Inhaling, to centre. Exhaling, turn your chin towards the right shoulder, looking behind. Inhaling, to centre. Same on left side.
3. Inhaling, to centre. Exhaling, drop your ear to the right shoulder. Inhaling, to centre. Same on left side.
4. Gently rotate chin from the right shoulder to chest to left shoulder. Same way left to right.
5. Gently rotate chin from the right shoulder towards the ceiling to left shoulder. Same way left to right.
6. Rotate in circular motion clockwise & anti clockwise.

Shoulder exercises (5 rounds)

1. Inhaling,lift shoulders to ears. Exhaling, drop them down
2. Extend arms straight ahead at shoulder level. Bend elbows & place hands on shoulders, elbows touching. Rotate them upwards, behind, down, back to centre. This is 1 round. Similarly, do in reverse.
3. Inhaling, stretch your arms wide out. Exhaling, cross your arms around chest, hands on shoulders. Hug yourself tightly.
4. Stretch your arms wide apart at shoulder level. Turn palms backward & push back.

Office yoga

2010-07-10T09:22:00.004+05:30

Office yoga for people doing a lot computer work

Please keep listening to your body. This allows you to stretch within your current flexibility range, avoiding straining or over stretching

All excercises to be done 3 to 5 times
These are to be done sitting, with back straight.

1.Palming

Rub your palms together, generate heat in them.
Slightly cup your palm & place them on the eyes, feeling the darkness & warmth
The eye should be within the palm. Fingers on the forehead.
Hold this pose for a minute.

Benefits : Refreshes, energizes tired eyes.Calms the mind.

2. Eye exercises – 3 rounds each
Keeping the back & neck straight, without turning the neck.
1. look to the right & left (sides)
2. look towards the ceiling & down to the floor (vertical)
3. Look top right corner & down left corner (diagonal)
4. Look top left corner & down right corner (diagonal)
5. Imagine a giant clock & rotate eyes clock wise & anti clockwise
Make sure you do palming in between, resting the eyes.

Nishpandbhava

2010-07-10T09:08:00.004+05:30

Nishpandabhava is a beautiful practise.
folow this link for "how to" http://www.theyogainstitute.org/nispandabhava.htm
It is a wonderful way of quietening the mind, discipling it with a lot of relaxation. There are so many techniques shown by yoga, as each one of us is different. So each one has to experiment & figure out which technique are you most inclined towards. In my case, i simply love nishpandbhava, as its message is very useful. I tend to have a very flighty mind, thinking way too much, jumping from one topic to another. After doing this practise i feel that i can listen people better. Actually hear what they are saying. Another great benefit is that in noisy places i can simply choose to listen to the sounds rather then get troubled by it. But be warned - you need to practise this regularly for training your mind.
Happy practising :)

Just a thought . . .

2010-07-04T13:50:00.003+05:30

I found a new way to tackle my monkey mind. Every time it gets agitated, irritated or desires something, I tell myself to watch it & say "Its just another thought". The hitch is that you gotta see this irritation, desire soon enough before it gathers too much of my attention & energy. The times that i manage to do so, its pretty interesting. It then seems that its just a thought like so many others, a passing thing. Im saved from anger or losing my self to a want. Im saved from harming myself or someone else. It feels like a small step towards discipline. It feels good :)

Calm mind, cheerful mind

2010-07-04T13:46:00.003+05:30

Though surrounded by pleasurable or painful objects to disturb your equilibrium of mind, remain immovable as a rock, receiving all things with equanimity. Be always cheerful. Laugh and smile. How can a mind that is gloomy and dull think of God? Try to be happy always. Happiness is your very nature. This is termed cheerfulness. This spirit of cheerfulness must be cultivated by all aspirants.

Keep the mind in a state of moderation or happy, golden mean. Never let it run to excesses. People die of shock from extreme depression as well as from extreme joy. Do not allow Uddharsha to crop up in the mind. It is excessive merriment. Mind always runs to extremes, either to extreme depression or extreme joy. Extremes meet. Extremes bring about reaction. Mind can never be calm in excessive joy. Let the mind be cheerful, but calm.

This world is a mere appearance. Mind and the senses are deceiving you every moment. You have mistaken pain for pleasure. There is not even an iota of happiness in this sense-universe. Abandon these selfish struggles and schemes for amassing wealth. March directly to that wire-puller who is moving these toys of fleshy human bodies, who is keeping up this big show, who is behind this show. In Him only you will find lasting happiness and perennial joy. Merge in Him by practicing daily meditation and Japa.

Excerpted from Bliss Divine, a collection of Swami Sivananda’s writings.

My ATTC discovery

2010-07-03T11:00:00.003+05:30

Like a balloon, you can be light, joyful and buoyant. Your happiness has nothing to do with the world outside.

A friend posted this & it felt a perfect way to describe my experience at Netala. Its a very empowering feeling ... come what may i know a way to happiness, keep my engine chugging on :)

Funniest skin tip !!

2010-07-02T11:53:00.002+05:30

Expensive moisturisers are not always the best. Sometimes simple products containing things like jojoba or other oils are very effective. One of the first cosmetic ingredients was lanolin, which is an oil from sheep fleece. There is a story that Australian sheep shearers used to roll on their shearing tables at the end of the day in order to make their skin soft and supple. The mind boggles at the thought.

More tips ..........
chop half an union and squash 3 clovers of garlic. then blend it and add some normal moistriser. This is optinal but it will make the cream that little bit better. Add the seeds of a small pumpkin into the mixture and your all set for a life with smooth skin.
p.s it doesnt really work it just makes you smell funny!!!

Appreciation Meditation

2010-04-29T13:26:00.002+05:30

I found this awesome, simple practise, its by Ed & Deb Shapir. You must try it........

Sit comfortably with a straight back. Spend a few moments watching the natural flow of your breath.

Now begin to feel a deep appreciation and gratitude for the cushion or chair you are sitting on, and for the building around you, appreciating the space they provide in which you can meditate. Silently thank those who made the building, and the work that was put into its construction.

Then extend that appreciation to the world around you, to this earth that sustains all life, for the tress, plants, animals, birds, the oceans and fish, the sun and the rain.

Now extend your gratitude to your body, appreciating how it cares for and nourishes you, how it is connected to the food you eat and the water you drink, how it is within this body that you experience love, joy and happiness.

Now bring your appreciation and gratitude to your breath. Become aware of the flow of your breath entering and leaving your body. Spend a few moments appreciating your breath and the life it brings you. Then take that appreciation with you into your day.

What do you feel about meditation? Do you think it is boring or fun? Has it benefited you? Do comment below.

Allow yourself to be happy now

2010-04-12T11:12:00.003+05:30

The practice of generosity is giving ourselves over to what we are doing. The first step in Zen practice is to start where you are, to fully accept your strengths and weakness, your talents and your limitations. This is an act of generosity with yourself. Generosity is a vital ingredient in moving toward doing good and avoiding harm.

The Zen tradition offers several different views and practices regarding generosity. Vietnamese teacher Thich Nhat Hanh says, “the greatest gift we can offer is our presence.” He goes on to explain that we can also offer our stability, our freedom, our happiness, our freshness and our peace. Here’s how:

Presence. Just being present to those we work with, just listening fully as a human being, is perhaps the greatest gift we can offer at work. So often we are caught up in our tasks and our busyness. Just stopping and being present can transform our environment and open us in unexpected ways.

Stability. We offer our stability by bringing a calm and clear mind to our work. We offer stability by staying out of the dramas, by not taking sides, by not wobbling. We offer our stability by just being ourselves, moment after moment.

Freedom. Offering our freedom is encouraging others by acting from our own independence, our own ability to make choices. We offer freedom by not being afraid to speak and act for what we deeply believe.

Happiness. Allowing ourselves to feel happy at work can be a tremendous act of generosity to ourselves and to those around us. Our own happiness is perhaps our dearest birthright, not to be ignored or sacrificed at work.

Freshness. Imagine coming to work, fresh and renewed, as if it were a new day, like no other day. Isn’t that a fact?

Peace. Our workplace is where peace can begin. Peace is not something that just happens but a moment-to-moment act, a practice of generosity.

The Zen teacher Dogen (7th century Japan) said, “When we understand completely, being born and dying are both forms of giving. All productive labor is fundamentally giving. Giving is to transform the mind of living beings. One should not calculate the greatness or smallness of the mind, nor the greatness or smallness of the thing. Nevertheless, there is a time when the mind transforms things, and there is giving in which things transform the mind.”

How often in our work lives are we so focused on tasks that we forget the importance of being present to our colleagues? At work we have many opportunities to be generous with our time, knowledge, and understanding. We can give others our trust and confidence.

2010-03-23T14:27:00.002+05:30

We need to recognize and value when wedo things right: “Hey, you managed to keep your cool for the whole week, as you vowed to!”

Congratulations! Self-appreciation is powerful stuff. It reinforces the behavior we want to bring into being. It tells the brain, do more of this. So the next time around, you’re more likely to make that same good choice. Being grateful for how we’ve done reminds us that we indeed have succeeded at something we set out to do. When we fail to acknowledge our efforts, it’s easy for them to become invisible to us.

Recognizing and acknowledging our success also gives us the encouragement to try again tomorrow. Because we are aware of what we’ve done right, we have more confidence that we can do it again. So when we appreciate the success we have today, it actually makes it easier to succeed the next day. Especially when it’s something that involves a lot of effort over time, it’s important to keep appreciating how far you’ve come. That will give you the energy to keep on.

To Try: Right this second, stop and appreciate how well you’ve done so far. Even if you’ve only done it one time, appreciate yourself for that and think about what made the one-time success possible.

live in the fullness of life

2010-03-09T13:54:00.003+05:30

The good life is using your signature strengths every day to produce authentic happiness and abundant gratification.”

So, are you ready to discover your signature strengths?

"Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow."
~ Melody Beattie

Yoga mumbo jumbo

2010-03-03T15:55:00.006+05:30

I normally hold on to the thought of live & let live, it takes all kinds to make this world... & such views. However, having done a session of Bharat Thakur's Artistic Yoga, I feel strongly that this is NOT yoga. Its aerobics on a yoga mat.

Ok, to clarify, yoga is for the purpose of stilling, quietening the body & mind so that we can see clearly whats happening within & around us. To be more aware. its a discipline, an education system that lets you understand yourself & your world, both internal & external. The body is a tool to be used towards this goal. Making it strong, healthy helps in preparing for living. It is a means to an end. But when you make looking good an end, something is certainly wrong in our perception. Its a superficial way to look at yoga. After all yoga is a way of life. Your attitude reflects it.

Dont get me wrong here, i loving looking gud :)spent a lot of time (and money!)pursuing this interesting aspect of life. Yet, when its yoga we are talking about, its feelings, emotions, viewpoints, mental states that takes importance. Body is a way to explore all this. Like in shavasana or corpse pose, we try to figure out where we hold tension, stress in our body. Relaxing the body part by part takes you deeper, gets you in touch with the body,which leads you to whats causing the tension. After all, our bodies are a reflection of our thoughts. When we understand our body, our thoughts & accept them harmony pervails. Thats why we do yoga asana. You feel good, confident about yourself & can deal with the external world, harmonising with it.

We cant skim the surface and get any valuable information. It would be too trivial, superficial. Ofcourse the way we look shows how much we care for it. The thing to ponder on is are we taking that much effort in improving, knowing our mind along with our body? Whats really important to us? Why is being attractive such a big deal?

Coming back to Artistic yoga, there was no time to think of anything as i was simply trying to get my breath in some rhythm. The background music was distracting & the shouting from the instructor very jarring, meant to be encouraging but was absolutely unartistic. The point here is that this is an exercise routine, as called by the instructor, Not yoga. So please stop calling it that.

The seal is harmonising with his stony environment. Practising yoga.

Open my eyes to see what i have

2010-02-18T20:42:00.004+05:30

Changes made at the mind-heart level have a more fundamental effect on our healing than any other lifestyle modifications we may make.

Try balancing & nourishing our life with the most basic emotions of gratitude & love. Being grateful for every little thing makes us more aware & appreciative of all we take for granted, focussing on what we dont have. shift your mind to all that already with you & see for yourself how much better you feel. Simply feeling gratitude for your eyes, vision that you can read this, the clothes your wearing, the home you have, the shoes, bag, books, all the small stuff we tend to forget. Its all with you. see & appreciate them.

Guru - Swami Vishnudevananda

2010-02-12T15:38:00.003+05:30

My TTC
"Gee, is he the guru or just grumpy?" - A beautiful experience shared on the sivananda newsletter

The first time I saw Swami Vishnudevananda was in 1975, as I was getting off the boat for my Teachers Training Course. He was yelling at some guys. He seemed very agitated at their actions and was scolding them harshly. I was taken aback by his gruff demeanor and thought, “Gee, is he the guru or just grumpy?".

After setting up my tent I wrote him a letter saying that I did not like him, that he was mean and fat and did not even look like he did yoga and why was he yelling – was that cosmic love? I had come here to learn about love and all he was doing was yelling and screaming at people. I gave the letter to his assistant and thought I would surely be asked to leave, which was fine with me since he was just a grumpy old fat man anyway.

It was only after handing over the letter that I began to really notice the people he had been scolding and I realized that if I was in charge, I would throw those people right off the property. Then I saw that Swamiji was straightening out some very large egos, that soon these very same people would be crying at the altar and changing into some beautiful loving souls right before my eyes. I had just sent a long letter to this famous sage telling him a thing or two and now I could see that he was actually changing these people into really beautiful human beings. Later on the assistant came up and said she had read my note and I said, “He wants me to leave, doesn’t he?” and she said, “Oh no, he gets these letters all the time and sends his blessings.” How could he send his blessings to me – I said he was fat and mean and did not even look like he did yoga?

That night after the chanting in the Satsang, he looked around and began staring at me and he said, “I am just a disciple of my guru. I love my guru. He sent me to the West to teach everybody what he taught me and I will do my best.” He looked at me and said he loved me like my mother and what does your mother do when she sees you run across the street and not look both ways? She may run across the street and bop you on the bottom and tell you never ever to cross the street without looking both ways. He then said, “Sometimes I may not do this very good as I have a big ego and this is why I am into Yoga, too, to eliminate my ego and become one with the immortal Atman.”

He also said, “If I have done anything to upset you or disappoint you in any way this was not my intention, as I really do love you.” He got up from his bench and prostrated to all of us and said, “Please forgive me, I love you and I am sorry.” It was then that I realized what a beautiful soul he was and that this is why they called him the guru. He taught me so much in that day. I still love him and try to serve him as best as I can. Swami Vishnu was very honest and humble and gave all he had to teaching us how to be better people. The world is a better place since he came and established his TTC program for all of us.

The next day on the beach who comes up to me in a lotus handstand, walking from the main house to me on the beach? Swamiji. He walked up on his hands, smiled and waved (a one-hand handstand!), as if to say I am that fat mean guy who can’t do yoga and who doesn’t know anything about anything. As he walked by me on his hands he made all the girls smile and blush doing spins on his hands saying nice things to them enchanting them and making them happy. Then he went to the water and came up in a lotus fish posture meditating. You could feel it.

The water became calm, the wind stopped, and our brains stopped as we all watched him in the water, wondering if he was calming the ocean or if it was just coincidence. I think it was a yoga siddhi, a demonstration of mastery to show us we had come to the right place, class starts tomorrow, and don’t be late. Swamiji got out of the water, the ocean and wind began to move again and he bowed to us all as he went back to his house.

Sambasiva

Trusting issues ........

2010-01-30T09:48:00.003+05:30

“So often times it happens, we all live our life in chains, and we never even know we have the key.” ~The Eagles, “Already Gone”

So often we decide to make our lives better by changing the way we think about things. However, it is equally important to act in the new way as well. Only then can we really change.

This comes from my own experience. Ive been trying to change my mindset about people around me. At home, in my childhood, the constant worry was that ppl around all take advantage of you, you cant trust ppl & things like that. Now, i realise its not true. By holding these thoughts i am not giving others a chance to show me their good side, the one i can trust & open myself to. So i changed my mind (atleast I thought so!!)yet continued to believe hence act as though the world is a tough place, lacking in trust. Naturally, i was dissappointed & very confused.

It took a 3 year old to make me realise my mistake. When she wants a drink of water & i hold the glass to her lips, she trusts me & her hands are by her side. Now, had i been in her place, i would also place my hand on the glass, coz im not trusting the person to hold the glass correctly. In such small matters if i cant trust, how the hell will i allow others to do things in a trusting, loving manner.

Its tough on yourself. Expectations when combined with trust is such a beautiful thing. We deserve to be trusted yet we hesitate to bestow it on others. Im not talking about being naive, just simply allowing the goodness in ourself to be reflected by others.

And thats the challenge

Sleeping woes……. Zzzzzz ???

2010-01-19T12:20:00.002+05:30

Insomnia.
At times just the mention of this word is enough to traumatize people who have grappled with this condition. Sleep related issues seem to go hand in hand with our urban curry, hurry, worry lifestyle. Infact, it certainly is a condition created by our city life. Wrong dietary habits, lack of exercise, absence of a sleep routine & stress all contribute to sleep disorders. But at the root lies our thinking – the lack of faith.

Last night as I lay awake in bed, listening to the family gossip, I wondered for the nth time why cant I sleep. I lead a what seems to be healthy lifestyle. Eating sensibly, exercise regularly, work comfortably and enjoy a abundant life. Yet, here I am – AWAKE!! Infact, just thinking that I do all the “right things” yet “suffer” just makes it worse. Finally, I did drift off, thanks to some abdominal breathing, only to awaken at 3 am!!

Now, just so that u know, ive had insomnia couple of years back for almost a year. Thinking, thinking … useless, mundane thoughts over & over. It was frustrating & so very very tiring. I have feared it & hating myself to let a condition create such havoc in my life. What really got me was the question WHY. I had tried all traditional methods – warm baths, soothing music, chamomile teas, sleeping pills, pranayamas –though relieved symptom for a while, nothing restored sleep regularity. I was quite a mess. Went for counseling to experienced professional, yet remained clueless.

One early morning as I lay awake in bed, too tired to think it, something said don’t worry, everythings gonna be alright. It felt right, I just listened to that voice & that was it. Ive slept better that night & it did get better after a while. Nowadays I enjoy undisturbed, restoring sleep.

Then there was last night. So, I lay there wondering what am I worrying abt. The inside me said that, ok, look here buddy I had to make this wake up call coz u weren’t listening to me. You forced me to wake you to get your attention. You haven’t been thinking straight, going back to your old ways of distructive behavior. Be clear what you want & it will come to you. Your doing what seems right by others but is it really what you want?? Your trying to fit in, rather than creating you world.

As usual, this inside me was right. My new years resolution was to listen to me first. Just 18 days and I had slipped up. Well, for the first time I was happy for this unearthly hour wake up call!!

We, as makers of our lives, our destiny, think that we need to organize, think, plan everything. Actually we just need to be listening to ourself & everything will fall in plan. Now, this does need an abundance of unwavering faith which I must confess I have not maintained recently. I let doubting thoughts & feelings in. Like weeds they take roots so easily.

Awareness, as usual, is the key.

Happy for no good reason

2010-01-11T11:48:00.006+05:30

While engaging our bodies in yogic postures, we are also engaging our minds - thoughts & feelings. Yoga is supposed to make one feel calm & peace, however it opens up our minds & so we c an sometimes experience dark emotions like anger or discomfort. The key is in acknowledging these feelings, without judging them as good or bad.

In his book on meditation, Happy for No Good Reason, Swami Shankarananda says, "A statement like ‘I am angry,' or ‘I am scared,' already has a great deal of truth-value. Often we do not know or will not admit how we feel. Instead, we allow negativity to become the fuel that spins a web of deluded thoughts. When we make an accurate statement like, ‘I am angry', or ‘I am scared,' it cuts through the illusion and brings us to the present. It is a reality check. Present feeling is always valid and puts us in touch with what is real, while thoughts can lead us away."

If you can't identify a specific emotion you can substitute a general statement, such as, "I feel emotional," or "I'm upset." By saying what your feeling is, you put the focus back on you rather than the emotion.

What happens when you put the focus on yourself in the present moment? You shift your awareness away from the mind, which might be rambling, critic this izing, commenting or fueling the emotion. By being present you are in your body doing yoga postures. As you focus internally on a complete state of being-physical as well as in the mind-you move into the awareness of your own creation. You are creating that moment for yourself.

And in this moment you have the freedom to choose - to be happy, content or continue experiencing the darker emotions. what ever you choose is right for you. But know that you have made a choice.

Kindness

2010-01-07T15:56:00.003+05:30

Be generous. Give to those you love; give to those who love you, give to the fortunate, give to the unfortunate — yes, give especially to those you don’t want to give. You will receive abundance for your giving. The more you give, the more you will have!– W. Clement Stone

Wikipedia says that a random act of kindness is: “a selfless act performed by a person or persons wishing to either assist or cheer up an individual… There will generally be no reason other than to make people smile, or be happier.”

Try spontaneous acts of giving, it doesnt really matter who you give to & what u choose to share. Just give a genuine smile to a perfect stranger & see how it changes their as well as your day. So cheers!!

New Year , new oppurtunity

2010-01-05T10:30:00.002+05:30

Its the beginning of a brand new year. Its our oppurtunity to start afresh - try new perspectives on everyday stuff , like try a vegetable which you've not included in your diet, a new lipstick shade, new haircut ....... any tiny bit of newness will inspire you to try more things. Perhaps, you could go for the marathon , maybe just to cheer!!

Food, the art of nourishment

2009-12-22T14:13:00.004+05:30

Yoga means union. So if for some reason you have to skip yoga asana practise, it doesnt mean you cannot do yoga. Food is a great way to practise.

The art of eating is given great importance & rightly so. Food is nourishing our body, sustaining our outer being. Naturally its very important. There is a "right" way to eating, so let me detail it out here.

Firstly, timing is crucial. The first meal of the day, breakfast needs to be had as early as possible. Before 8 30 am. Lunch, the heaviest meal, should be when the sun is hottest. About 12 to 1 pm.
An evening snack at 4 or 5 pm. Dinner, the lightest meal, should be around sunset & surely before 8 pm.

Next comes quantity. The ideal way is that fill half stomach with solid food, one fourth with liquid & one fourth empty meaning air space. Over eating is strongly discouraged.

Now comes quality of food. The food should be procured locally as this will in harmony to the environment of the area where you are located. The local produce will reflect the need of the environment. Thats why in hot places one can find water intense, alkaline fruits & vegetable. Likewise, in cold climates one gets a lot of earthy, root vegetables. Tea grows in moist places as it is astringent or drying in nature.
Also, quality implies the freshness of food. A meal needs to be eating soon after it is prepared as it begins to lose energy, nutrients & vitality. We all know that fruits & vegetables loose their crispness & deacy on storage. Eating such food will not be nourishing.

The next important factor is the attitude or the mental state whilst eating. One needs to eat in a clean space, thanking Providence for the food & focussing entirely on the act of eating. If you do so you will notice the variety of flavours, smell & definitely enjoy the meal much more. On the other hand if you eat while watching TV
or talking, the food will be virtually tasteless.
Its important that you eat in a happy mood en joying the meal. This will certainly translate into perfect digestion resulting in good health & well being. Also, when you eat mindfully your stomach will signal you when it is full & you can avoid overeating.

These are just a few pointers, try them in the yoga sadhana!!

What is love

2009-12-18T19:34:00.002+05:30

Once there was a young crocodile. He was lying on a log in a river, basking in the sun. He had a very serious look on his face - it’s a very intense business, being a crocodile! Crocodiles have a long history to live up to - as carnivorous predators, cold-blooded assassins, and direct descendants of the dinosaurs. This crocodile was pondering his great responsibility when all of a sudden, a beautiful red butterfly landed on his nose.

At first, he was indignant. Couldn’t she see that he was deep in thought, that he was contemplating serious matters? But she seemed oblivious, and every time he breathed, she would float up in the air and then gently return, caressing his nose with her velvet-soft wings. Then he’d breathe again, and up she’d go, and then gently she’d come back.

This became like a meditation for the crocodile, and the energy changed completely. He was mesmerized by the butterfly’s beauty and softness, and the energy of love began to grow between them. A happiness spread through his being. He was no longer a crocodile, and she was no longer a butterfly. They were one, in the union of love.

When humanity puts away its differences and comes back to the perfection of union, we will experience harmony and peace on this planet. But first, it must begin with our own hearts.

The ideal world is found within. There is nothing to change outside - we need only to heal ourselves.

Adapted from: Why Walk When You Can Fly, by Isha (New World Library, 2008).

Marvellous nature

2009-12-16T14:36:00.002+05:30

These Bridges are not built - they're grown !!

In the depths of northeastern India, in one of the wettest places on earth, bridges aren't built -- they're grown.
Grown from the roots of a rubber tree, the Khasis people of Cherapunjee use betel-tree trunks, sliced down the middle and hollowed out, to create "root-guidance systems." When they reach the other side of the river, they're allowed to take root in the soil. Given enough time a sturdy, living bridge is produced.
The root bridges, some of which are over a hundred feet long, take ten to fifteen years to become fully functional, but they're extraordinarily strong. Some can support the weight of 50 or more people at once.

One of the most unique root structures of Cherrapunjee is known as the "Umshiang Double-Decker Root Bridge." It consists of two bridges stacked one over the other!

Japan too has such awesome creations............

Tickle yourself

2009-12-15T10:45:00.003+05:30

Laughter is the GPS system of the soul, Sparks says. “Humor offers a revolutionary yet simple spiritual paradigm. If you can laugh at yourself, you can forgive yourself. And if you can forgive yourself, you can forgive others. Laughter heals and grounds us in a place of hope. It fosters intimacy and honesty in our relationships with each other and with God.
And isn’t that what grace is all about?”

From Ode Magazine

Freedom, beauty

2009-12-03T16:00:00.001+05:30

No matter how old you get, remember what it was like to be a nine-year old girl. Remember the feeling of freedom. If you’ve already forgotten, do a cartwheel. You can so still do one. Savior that feeling. Wake up with it every day. You’ll stay young until the day you die.

In the same vein, cut or potted flowers are never a waste of money. Because every time we glance at them, they remind us how much beauty there can be in the world.

Yoga goal

2009-11-30T14:39:00.002+05:30

The ultimate goal of yoga is the uniting of the individual consciousness to the universal consciousness. What does this mean in lay terms??

For most of us this translates into a healthy mind & body. Its a state of harmony which you feel within your body. Every part of your being feels good. You feel good about who you are, good abt what is happening around you & are excited about your life. Here joy is a constant state.

If eating a peice of chocolate takes you to such a place, well thats yoga! If you can be in such a place most of your day then you live a yogic life.

Sattwa, Rajas, tamas – Our mind stuff

2009-11-11T14:18:00.001+05:30

There are 6 windows or philiosophy’s in Indian culture. One of these is Samkhya, on which the Yoga Sutra is based. According to samkhya philosophy, there are 3 constituents of the matter. Sattwa (purity, harmony, lucidity), Rajas (energy, passion), Tamas (inertia, darkness). All 3 form the mind. When Tamas predominates we are dull, distracted, obsessive & indulgent. When rajas is higher we are restless. When sattwa predominates one is cheerful, easily concentrated & clear. In such a state of mind one displays positive qualities of dharma or self discipline, jnana or knowledge which is wholesome & fulfilling, leading to wisdom. Vairagya or a relaxed objective view of life & aishwarya or a strong will.

Yoga is a self discipline where one tries to remain in the sattva state. A lot of factors affect the state of our mind. The key remains in our awareness of which state we are in at any moment. The simplest way to monitor our mind state is the way we feel. Our emotions are the signals which guide us. When we feel good feelings we are cheerful, excited, open, understanding, have a great attitude towards life & prone to act wisely. This is the result of sattwa pre dominance. One has a loving feeling for all living things.Take the flip side. When we feel bad its like the entire world is against us. Anger, lethargy, obsession, jealousy, self pity are all result of tamas & rajas being higher.

We can change from one state of mind to another through firm, decisive yet simple acts. Firstly, we need to be aware of how we feel. If any negative feeling is on, try to think of something great like listen to your favorite music, think of something you really love. A pleasant memory can refresh the mind or think of a cherished goal. Try what works for you & keep it handy.

Food affects our mood. Lethargy after a heavy meal indicates tamas dominance. When you have an empty stomach, you tend to snap & feel grouchy. Eating light meals every 3-4 hours are a great way to keep your mind in a happy state. Eat your favourite thing but in moderation. Chocolate is a classic case. A little bit can elevate you to a fantastic mindset yet indulgence can leave you slothy & feeling bad about yourself. Even a healthy meal if over eaten leads to tamasic state.

So, which state are you in right now – tamas, rajas, or sattwa? Cant figure it out – how do you feel now? That will guide you.

Having stated all the above, know that all rajas & tamas are important. Rajas makes us active, tamas makes us sleep – both important activities of our life. As everything in life, every mind state has a place in our life. The thing is to be aware & decide if the current mindset is in your best interest. If not, then its very much in your hands to change that!

Emotions, the hidden link

2009-11-03T10:31:00.002+05:30

According to Zhuang Zi, one of the greatest Taoist philosophers from the 4th century BC, "We need emotions and feelings because how could we exist as individuals without them?"

It is important to say that, under normal circumstances, emotions are not causes of disease. Like rivers, emotions are forms of energy that need to flow, to circulate and to express themselves. They are intrinsic parts of us; they are our identity and the manifestation of our humanness. The typical serene image of Buddhist monks totally exempt of emotions does not correspond to reality. They do experience emotions; they are vibrant and jovial, like Soggyal Rimpoche, a famous Tibetan Lama known as "The Laughing Tibetan". Serenity does not mean lack of emotions, but the control of them. When someone is serene, he is not disturbed by emotion, or if he is disturbed he is easily able to find his balance again.

It is normal to experience a variety of emotions during the day: anger while driving to work; fear in the dentist's waiting room; worry about a school test; sadness at the news that someone in the family has died; joy at the birth of the first child, etc. It is basically impossible to live and to be part of this world without experiencing emotions, which, provided that they are transitory, have little significance to a Chinese medicine therapist. However, whenever there is a predominance of one or more emotions, they could become pathogenic factors and deserve close attention.

According to ancient Chinese texts: "Anger injures the liver; joy (excessive) injures the heart; grief and sadness injure the lungs; worry injures the spleen; and fear injures the kidneys." This statement is based on the theory of the Five Elements. However, the Chinese also consider pensiveness, shock, hatred and guilt as disease-causing agents as well. In addition, certain emotions can affect more that one organ, such as sadness affecting the lungs and the heart. As a matter of fact, all the emotions manifest themselves indirectly through the heart, which is the "Seat of the Mind", according to Chinese medicine.

Excerpted from Anger Goes Up, Fear Goes Down: Emotions and the Hidden Link

Peanuts

2009-11-01T16:11:00.002+05:30

"My life has no purpose, no direction, no aim, no meaning, and yet im happy. I cant figure it out.
What am i doing right?" - Charles Schulz

Shavasana - The Corpse pose

2009-10-31T11:21:00.003+05:30

"The best sign of a good shavasana is a feeling of deep peace & pure bliss. Shavasana is a watchful surrendering of the ego. Forgetting oneself, one discovers oneself". - B K S Iyenger

Shava means corpse. Here the body lies on the floor face up & completely relaxed., while the mind is alert The eyes are shut, arms by the side, palms up, body motionless. The mind moves from the toes to the head relaxing each body part. There are 16 "marmasthans" or sensitive body parts where one holds tension. There are relaxed systematically in shavasana.

The influence of this asana is incredible. Shavasana gives the experience of symbolic death & points to the need to be born anew.

In shavasana, passion, egocentricity & self importance is kept aside. Rest acquires a new meaning. There is a need to surrender, just BE. The body at rest can do its repair work. shavasana gives relief to the mind from driving forces & emotions. The effects are profound .

How are we using the time that remains? This is one qustion surely to surface. On analysis, we can find meaning & definition to our REAL goals & dreams. Let the inner self guide you, rather than just go after things that are socially considered as goals worth achieving.

Shavasana is a very important asana & make sure you keep atleast 10 minutes of its practise daily. You can do it independently, prabably in the evening after coming from work or just before falling asleep.

Joy & detachment

2009-10-30T14:23:00.000+05:30

The credo of the true self is joy with detachment. The joy comes from no longer having to cling to a small, defended territory. The detachment comes from having such wide awareness that everything is at once yours and not yours.

Adapted from The Deeper Wound: Recovering the Soul from Fear and Suffering, by Deepak Chopra (Harmony Books, 2001).

Circus trip

2009-10-27T15:58:00.002+05:30

Last evening i went to watch the circus at Bandra Reclimation. This being my first visit, it was very engrossing & amazing to watch such marvellous feats. The flexibility, talent & sheer daring on display was awesome. Kind of inspired me to try on postures aswell.

Having said that, i couldnt help but think of flexibility, gymnastics & their connection to yoga. well, gymnastics is a physical sport whereas yoga is got to do with disciplining the mind. We use the body in asana as a medium to reach, teach & control the body & the mind. In this process we have tremendous benefits on the body viz great health, improved strenght, flexibility.

The posture to become an asana, one needs to stay in it for some time. This time depends on your level of comfort- 30 seconds or 2 minutes. You decide how long to hold the asana with comfortable breathing. If the breath is disturbed the stay in the asana is quite pointless. Benefits go along with smooth breathing.

so try holding 1 posture for a longer time & see it go beyond just the physical level. Listen to the thoughts that surface. Explore them & learn something about yourself :)

Asana defined

2009-10-25T12:06:00.001+05:30

Sage Patanjali is the person who gathered all the available knowledge of yoga & systematically put it together. He is the author of The YOGA SUTRA, a set of 198 aphorisms. It is divided into 4 chapters.

In the second chapter Patnjali defines asana as "sthiram sukham asanam". This means a steady, comfortable posture is an asana. In the entire Yoga sutras only 4 sutras are related to asana. 5 sutras are dedicated to prayanama.

And most of the yoga practise done these days are simply about asana & pranayama.

How do u feel now

2009-10-24T19:48:00.000+05:30

It is so important to know how you feel. Just this evening i was to go out with my sisters shopping. But out of the blue, i felt tired, even angry for no apparent reason. So plans were shelved, i just drove back home. So, i did shavasana & later sipping tea i realised that i was feeling unappreciated in my earlier work & this set a spiral effect on my mood & my body felt drained out. Lack of energy, lack of interest. Had i realised this earlier, perhaps i could have just laughed it off with my loving sisters.

The key here will be, as always, be aware of your thoughts & feelings.

Fantastic food

2009-10-22T10:58:00.000+05:30

Yesterday i went to matunga to sample the south indian fare & it was worth all the efforts!

I ventured into Arya Bhavan, opposite station (central). The interior was a bit different from our regular udipi joints, brighter. The service was great as was the food.

Pranayama - The basic

2009-10-20T11:40:00.000+05:30

Because the breath is the most tangible manifestation of prana–the power of consciousness–a person with disturbed breathing is bound to be unhealthy, while a person with balanced breathing will have little or no room for disease. Breathing has a potent influence over the functions of our nervous system, brain, and thought process. To ensure a healthy body and a clear, calm, and tranquil mind, we must establish a healthy and balanced breathing pattern. That is the purpose of pranayama practices.

According to Patanjali, the author of the Yoga Sutra, pranayama is the mastery over the flow of inhalation and exhalation. The practice of pranayama begins with cultivating awareness of how our inhalation is followed by exhalation and how our exhalation is followed by inhalation in an uninterrupted flow; how an interruption in this flow disturbs our cardiac function; how a pause, jerk, or noise in the breath disturbs our thought process; and how chest breathing stresses our lungs. Before we attempt to gain mastery over our breath, we need to become aware of the distinction between a healthy way of breathing and an unhealthy way of breathing. In the initial stages, we have to make a conscious effort to cultivate this awareness. Through sustained practice we eventually reach a point where healthy breathing becomes automatic.

Diaphragmatic breathing is the foundation for a healthy breath. We inhale and exhale in response to the expansion and contraction of our lungs. Our lungs expand and contract in response to the movement of our diaphragmatic muscle. When the diaphragm contracts, it moves downward, filling the lungs with air. When the diaphragm relaxes and moves upward, the lungs deflate, causing us to exhale. In short, the movement of the diaphragm is the main cause of inhalation and exhalation. Our modern lifestyle—long hours sitting in cars, in chairs, and on couches, along with pervasive anxiety, fear, and stress—weakens our diaphragm and disturbs its natural cycle of movement. Establishing healthy breathing, therefore, begins with strengthening the diaphragm and restoring its natural movement. One of the best ways to accomplish this is the practice of abdominal breathing or Yogendra Pranayama IV.

Abdominal Breathing
Lie on your back. The legs are slightly apart. Bend the knees, place the feet hip-distance apart on the floor and let the knees rest against each other. Place right hand on the navel. Relax the body and feel the breath flowing in and out. Be aware of the abdomen rising and falling and let the breath flow without pause.

The hand will focus your attention on the abdomen. Let the hand rise and fall naturally with the breath. There will be some effort involved while inhaling, but there should be no strain. The inhalation and exhalation should be about the same length. Make sure you are breathing quietly through the nose.

After about five minutes, remove the hand. Now pay attention to the rise and fall of your abdomen as you inhale and exhale. Sit up after a few minutes.

You can start with three or four minutes a day and increase to 10 minutes. You can also increase the weight by keeping a hard bound book as your diaphragm gets stronger and the movement becomes more effortless. Eventually this will reset the natural cycle of your diaphragm’s movement, making your breath deep, smooth, even, and free of jerks, noise, and pauses. After a few months, you may want to add deep diaphragmatic breathing.

Yoga mudra

2009-10-20T11:13:00.000+05:30

This is my favorite posture as it makes me feel so calm & peaceful. To stay longer in the pose you can hold your hands behind the back & relax elbows & shoulders.

As the name suggests this is the symbol of yoga as it unites, harmonises the body to mind & spirit. Yoga means joining, uniting the three aspects of our being into one thought, idea, place. In yoga mudra the dominate thought is of vairagya. Vairagya is a broad concept. It means to be in the mindset of relaxation after doing your efforts, duties. This relaxation comes when you have done your job to the best of your ability & have left it to the Higher power with full faith that the result of your efforts will be in your best interest, for your greater good. There is no worry or anxiousness towards the outcome. So one can let go mentally & physically, relax.

In other words, vairagya comes in when you have done your part & surrendered to the Universal will in good faith. "Whatever happens i can now accept because i know its for my best"

Practise Yoga Mudra when you need to quieten an angry, confused or disturbed mind. When you are low on patience, yoga mudra to the rescue :)

On the physical level as well the effects are marvellous. This asana gives a wonderful massage to all the internal organs aiding assimilation & movement. Its perfect for faulty digestion, constipation & all urogenital related problems.

The variations are twisting to the sides so as to give a boost to peristalsis movement. Try practising it in padmasana. If you cant do this try it in ardha padmasana ( one leg up on thigh & the other down). Change sides to get maximum benefit.

Give more to yourself

2009-10-20T10:36:00.000+05:30

It feels wonderful to be complimented, right !! It simply makes our day, everything seems rosier, we may think about it & probably tell a loved one.

what I'm trying to bring to mind is this, why do we not compliment our self? why wait to hear it from someone else? I mean, we are always doing something - lets look carefully & recognise the wonderful things we are doing, how gorgeous we look right now or what an amazing chain of thought?

We are one way in which the universe is expressing it self right now. lets be aware & enjoy it, NOW !!

Acceptance & Gratitude

2009-10-16T15:29:00.000+05:30

Just to continue yesterday's theme - when you really accept things, people with all your heart, you cant fail to notice that you feel thankful for having that thing in your life. It might just be a small experience in your life which you cribbed abt but if you have tried saying its ok & go on with your life, it might happen that you notice that something good came from that very experience. Think abt it !

Acceptance

2009-10-15T10:40:00.000+05:30

Acceptance is the first step on yoga.

Acceptance of your self & your world.

Lets take the case of your body. Acceptance of its strenghts & abilities as well as its limitations & lack. Very often with my students i have seen that they keep comparing with others or complaining of their shortcomings. Just pause & ask your self "How is that going to help?". ok, now think about this - if i get to know & understand my body & my mind, i can then begin to fashion it to the way i want to be. So, i need to spend time to gauge, understand & know myself. I can do this by observing, listening & feeling my body & mind. I can only do this if I am quiet enough to see, hear & feel. Now, if your gonna be thinking of a lack or about others, how will you do your own assessment?? while practising engage your entire being, body & mind, on what you are doing, feeling & listen carefully. This will not only give you valuable knowledge abt yourself but you will also enjoy the session.

Taking this concept further, try acceptance of your life- exactly as it is right now. Acceptance of everyone around you - your family, friends, neighbours, collegues, boss.

try this during your next session & see it you feel any differently. Happy practise!!

2009-10-13T13:57:00.000+05:30

Hansaji of The Yoga Institute says that instead of trying to practise yoga for a n hour or so , try to bring in yoga practises through out your day. Like, when ever you need to bend down try squating in Utkatasana. Before beginning any new task try breath awareness for a minute. If you have been sitting for a while, get up and do some konasana or a hand to toe or padahastasana.
So, you can do practises through out the day and feel energised all day long. Also, you will not have to keep a speacial time slot for yoga !! This way you do not miss out on your practises.

2009-10-13T13:56:00.000+05:30

Instead of finding time to practice Yoga, practice Yoga all the time.” ~ Bob Weisenberg

2009-10-10T11:24:00.000+05:30

If you’re getting stuck in negativity, you’re likely to assume that other people feel the same way about you, and mostly that’s not true. People who really love you keep on loving you, even when you’re not loving yourself. The love you get is limited only by your ability to receive it.

It’s amazingly easy to shut someone else down. Without thinking about it we let pass countless occasions during the day when love makes a tentative appearance – in other words, we turn our backs on spirit.

Your beloved may start to say something nice or give you an affectionate touch or ask how you are feeling. Notice how often this seed isn’t allowed to grow, how quickly you simply cut the gesture off or take it for granted. In this way you limit the love you are receiving, rather than nurturing its faint beginnings.

Being shown a gesture of love is like being offered a portion of God.

Look into the eyes of your beloved and learn to believe that love is really there.

Adapted from The Path to Love, by Deepak Chopra (Three Rivers Press, 1997).

2009-10-08T14:49:00.000+05:30

The secret by Rhonda Byrne talks about the law of attraction & how to use it to live a full life. This is also what yoga talks about. Things like filling up your mind with so much positive thought that there is no place for negative thought is exactly what Yoga is about.

The base is the same - be aware of your thoughts, control or direct them to what you want. Its an inside job - apply the secret or yoga technique - its the same !

2009-04-28T10:50:00.000+05:30

Im learning pottery. Apparently, the basic step to learn this art is centering the clay with your hands. It means that one becomes a part of the clay then you can control it. Hmm, sounds a lot like yoga !!

About me

2009-04-19T14:27:00.000+05:30

Hi, im nausheen.

Im a yoga instructor living, teaching & learning each day in this wonderful city of mine - Bombay (Mumbai). I am trained as a Yoga teacher from the The Yoga Institute, Mumbai. This is a beautiful course which includes 900 hours of practise. It in such a manner that one gets to understand Yoga - philosophy, technology and phisiology. Its a wonderful course which actually is a self development course. It stretches over 7 months (12 months in my case!) which gives you enough time to assimilate, digest & apply all that is been taught. Also, the teaching technique at the institute lets you develop at your own pace. I know, we all tend to be lazy & fool ourselves when it comes to important, inner stuff, yet i feel, the institute way is very effective.

I have also done my teachers training course from the Sivananda Yoga ashram at Trivandrum, Kerela. This again was a fantastic learning experience - right frm living in a dormitory with 50 girls from all over the world to waking up at 5 20 in the morning & the awesome practise sessions twiice a day!! Phew... i was so glad when this course was over. all in all a fab, hands on learning.

As for my teaching .......... i visit my students place & try to practise yoga for 75 minutes. I mostly teach individuals but have some lovely couples who practise together.

each session includes some quiet time to begin & quieten the mind. Then we start asana practise for about 50 minutes and end with savasana for 10 minutes. prayanamas follow for the remaining 15 minutes. Kriyas are also taught & encouraged to practise in the day.

I love this profession for the beauty that is yoga because it means so much to me. Yoga has brought meaning into my chaotic life. I was a furnishing consultant for 12 years and doing rather well. However, as time went by things seemed less interesting & left me dissatisfied. I happened to just go for a dance yoga workshop by Shamim Akhtar & loved it so much that i took a 7 day course at the Yoga Institute. Things snow balled & i landed doing the TTC & without even realising i had become a teacher at The Yoga Institute. For some reason people liked me & encouraged me to take classes privately. From then on i quit furnishing & yoga was on full time. I can now say that this is what i enjoy doing the most & love to help people do the same through yoga.