Eat Smart, Sleep Well, Move More, Relax More

Feeling of helplessness, hopelessness and worthlessness? If you think you have these three problems, then you probably have a depressed state of mind. Look at the mirror.Do you see horizontal lines on your forehead irrespective of your age? Angles of your mouth pointing downwards? You are two steps closer to depression. But wait, I have the solution. Every one of us get sad emotions in our day to day life. This is different from depression which prevails for a longer period of time than the former.These sad emotions can be tackled easily by implementing these changes in your lifestyle. 1.Exercise Exercise is actually a treatment , something like a spa treatment, or rejuvenation therapy, or rather a gift, probably the best gift you can give your mind and body. It can be anything like yoga, skipping, cycling, running, or your favorite sport , or working out at the gym. Exercise triggers the endorphin levels which raises your overall mood, making you feel happier and optimisti

Better digestion means better health. It is easy to speed up your digestion if you take a little bit care. An apple a day, keeps the doctor away. It is so correct when it comes to your stomach related ailments. Apple juice and lemon juice, (freshly squeezed the better), both have a cleansing effect on your digestive system. It is advised that you drink these juices before breakfast to cleanse and condition your digestive system for the whole day. Chew. Any food, if you chew really well, speeds up the process of digestion manifold. So next time you have your lunch, sit in a corner of the room, take time, and chew well and enjoy every bit of the food until it melts in your mouth. Avoid Cold drinks. I have heard people, even the well read and the learned too, saying  that Cola is given along with junk foods, for aiding digestion.This is the biggest blunder I have ever heard. Any meal, when taken along with cold drinks, slows down the process of digestion.If it is very impo

There are five elements that make up our body. They are : 1. Prithvi ( Earth ) 2. Ap (Water ) 3. Thejas ( Fire ) 4. Vayu ( Air ) 5. Akasha ( Ether ) : The highest and the most eternal. At the time of birth, the unique combination of these five elements gives the body its form and structure.When we die these five elements are assimilated into the earth, thus completing the natural cycle.These elements are present in each and every object in the universe.

These are the five life sustaining forces in our body. They are the following: 1. Prana : The most important Vayu . This is responsible for the breathing and sustaining heart beats. The seat of Prana is the head. 2. Udana : Responsible for total control and balance of the body. represents the energy required to produce vocal sounds. The seat of Udana is said to be the chest 3. Vyana : This Vayu runs through every single cell of our body.All muscular movements like contractions and relaxations are controlled by Vyana . The seat of Vyana is the heart. 4. Samana : This is responsible for ignition of the agni ( fire )in our body, hence aids in the process of digestion and assimilation of the food we take in.People who practice Yoga with special emphasis on Samana Vayu will be able to see aura ( kosha ) present around every human being.The seat of Samana is in between the intestines. 5. Apana : Apana Vayu is mainly responsible for cleansing the body, by excretion of was

Kosha is the covering of our soul or Atman . Just like the layers of tissue covering the onion, our Atman is also covered by layers called Koshas .Being alive is a subjective experience which is determined by our physical, mental and spiritual constitution. Koshas represent all aspects of the process of being alive. Koshas are five in number. They are, 1. Annamaya Kosha ( layer of the physical self, nourished by food) 2. Pranamaya Kosha (layer of the Prana , or air, which is the vital force which drives the body and soul and holds them together ) 3. Manomaya Kosha (layer that include panchendriyas which are the five sense organs of taste, touch, sight, sound,and smell as well as the mind which accounts for the process of human behaviour of bondage and liberation.It is subject to most changes, characterized by pain and pleasure, and is the bed of all worldly desires ) 4. Vijnanamaya Kosha ( wisdom dependent layer which accounts for our intellect and reasoning along with

Do you take any medicines for more than a prescribed period of time? Pranayama is also a medicine for our body and mind. We should not do Pranayama for many hours continuously.There are specific time period up to which it should be done and may lead to adverse reactions if practiced for longer period of time. We should practice Pranayama for 30 minutes or for 45 minutes every day to a maximum of one hour. If you wish to practice Pranayama for half an hour; then you should devote time for each Pranayama as described below: 2 minutes - Bhastrika Pranayama 2 minutes - Bahya Pranayama 2 minutes - Bhramari Pranayama 2 minutes - Udgeeth Pranayama 2 minutes - Chanting Aum with deep breathing 10 minutes - Anuloma Viloma Pranayama 10 minutes - Kapalabhathi Pranayama If you wish to practice Pranayama for 45 minutes, then you have to devote time for each Pranayama as described below: 3 minutes - Bhastrika Pranayama 3 minutes - Bhramari  Pranayama 3 minutes -

A Mudra is a symbolic spiritual gesture with the body, especially with the hands and fingers. The following Mudras are usually used in Pranayama 1. Dhyana Mudra ( Chin Mudra ) (Tips of the index finger and thumb touching each other) 2. Vayu Mudra ( index finger folded along the side of the thumb) 3. Shoonya Mudra ( Tips of the middle finger and the thumb touching each other) 4. Prithvi Mudra ( Tips of the ring finger and the thumb touching each other ) 5. Varuna Mudra ( Tips of small finger and the thumb touching each other ) 6. Shakti Mudra ( Tips of small finger, ring finger and thumb touching each other) 7. Apana Mudra ( Tips of middle finger, ring finger and the thumb touching each other ) You can use any of these Mudras for practicing Pranayama .

Pranayama can be practiced in the following postures. 1.Siddhasana 2.Padmasana 3.Sukhasana

If you have back pain, do not bend forward. If you are suffering from heart problem or hernia do not bend backward. While practicing Asanas, whenever you bend forward, you should breathe out. Whenever you bend backward or sideways, you have to breathe in. When you are in normal position breathing should also be normal.

If you are suffering from High BP or Heart problems, do Pranayama without much exertion and by taking small intervals in between each sessions. If you have pain in the lower back, or if you are suffering from acute Asthma or Ulcerative Colitis, remember not to practice Pranayama with strain. If you are suffering from Epilepsy, Cancer, Pranayama has to be practiced very slowly. Expecting mothers should not practice Kapalabhathi and Bahya Pranayama. During menstrual cycle, ladies can practice all other Pranayamas expect Bahya Pranayama. Pranayama should be done only on empty stomach. If you want to do Pranayama in the evening, take a gap of 5 hours after meals.