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Enrich Family Time with Yoga

Snow Yoga – Shovel Snow with Yoga

Why the wise go veg with yoga

Go VegetarianWhen diet is wrong, medicine is of no use; when diet is correct, medicine is of no need

Sattvic food brings a lighter, positive, happy and harmonious state of being

Increase your energy levels with yoga and vegetarian diet You are what you eat. 

That’s the principle yogic approach which takes a holistic view of human health, on the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual levels. The ancient treatise of Patanjali Yoga Sutra speaks of the concept of ‘Ahimsa‘ (non-violence), as one of the core values of yoga. The ethical discussion on non-vegetarianism, cruelty to animals, animal-to-man diseases, toxin secretion during slaughter, and lack of economics in meat production are undeniable truths. Apart from this the human body and its digestive system is naturally designed for a vegetarian diet. Today, the entire debate between vegetarian and non-vegetarian food is practically resting in favor of the former with research and statistics available in bookshops and on the internet. Simply stated, vegetarian food is easy to digest; contains antioxidants, fiber, an array of vitamins; low in calories, sugar, fat, and reduces your chances of getting diabetes, heart disease, obesity, hypertension and almost all cancers. Numerous sites including The American Dietetic Association, World Cancer Research Fund and National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey contain a wealth of knowledge on this. If that doesn’t alarm you away from non-vegetarianism, let’s focus a bit on a fascinating aspect of yoga which speaks of food.

Better food makes better mood

Ayurveda classifies food not as proteins or carbohydrates etc. but according to its effect on the body and mind. It classifies food based on three qualities or gunas that governs human life – sattva, rajas and tamas.

• Tamasic food creates lethargy or sluggishness
  
• Rajasic food creates activity or restlessness
  
• Sattvic food, which consists of vegetarian fare, creates lightness, energy and positivity
  

These three qualities are present in our body in varying degree and have a direct influence on us, our moods, emotions and consequent health. There is an ancient Ayurvedic proverb which sums it up- “When diet is wrong, medicine is of no use. When diet is correct, medicine is of no need.”

Go on the special Mood and Energy Enhancers Diet for the next 30-days

Just for the next 30-days, go on a special diet plan. Include only sattvic vegetarian food in your diet plans and let us know how you feel: examine your energy level, moods, emotions, and thoughts. We’d like to hear from you. For better experience, add 30-minutes of yoga too. Write to us at info@srisriyoga.in.

Scientifically speaking, we need food for two reasons: as fuel to produce energy to exist (prana or life energy) and as raw material to regenerate the body. Yoga says that our system is a seamless blend of the body, mind and spirit. An irregularity in the body affects the mind and unpleasantness in the mind manifests as an ailment in the body. It has been observed that the practice of yoga, accompanied with a sattvic diet, can truly create wonders. This is because when one does Yoga, pranayama (breathing techniques), and complements it with sattvic food, the prana levels in the body increase. This creates a lighter, positive, happy and harmonious state of being. In fact, many yoga practitioners have experienced that one of the major impacts of yoga is an increased awareness of their body and mind. This allows for their natural progression towards sattvic high-prana generating food choices. It is almost as though the body desires to return to its innate mechanism which is attuned to a vegetarian diet. The best encapsulation of this is by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, Founder of The Art of Living, who says, “When you become subtle in your mind and go deeper in your heart, you turn vegetarian naturally.” Another marvelous benefit of a daily dose of yoga , coupled with a vegetarian diet, is that it is one of the easiest ways to stay fit, look younger and get that glowing skin and hair. But it would be prudent to allow more celebrated vegetarian yogis to make that all-consuming point. 

(Written by Shatakshi Chowdhry with inputs from Kaushani Desai, Ayurvedic Cooking expert and Sejal Shah, National Coordinator for Sri Sri Yoga (India).)

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Are You Doing Yoga Nidra?

By Pritika Nair

It is interesting to see how yoga nidra, where we literally do ‘nothing’, can do wonders for the body and mind. I find yoga nidra as restorative as sleep, or even much more than sleep. It offers benefits that go deep down to the subtler levels of our personality. Let’s see how.

Yoga nidra can be better than sleep

Yoga nidra – my first understanding of this word was ‘sleep during yoga’. It was only after Sri Sri Yoga teacher, Dinesh Kashikar explained yoga nidra that I discovered it wasn’t yoga sleep. He said when you work with awareness (mind not wandering elsewhere), the work gets done better and faster. So true, I thought. He went on to explain that nidra means a relaxed state of mind but when we add awareness to it, it becomes yoga nidra. As we become aware of different parts of the body, relaxation is much more effective. But when we sleep, everything shuts down, including the awareness, and so relaxation remains incomplete somewhere. I reflected, how I would hit the bed every time I felt tired and worn out, yet feel lethargic and tired in the morning as though I hadn’t slept at all! When I started doing yoga nidra after my morning yoga postures, I felt relaxed like never before. My daily dose of yoga nidra not only charges up my body, but also calms my mind. I work better with a clear and focused mind.

Often emotional and mental patterns would continue from the previous day. But, as I experienced, these patterns erased after a yoga nidra session. It is as if someone pressed the refresh button. Following yoga nidra instructions, you can experience a state of absolute bliss too.

Vinitha Nishit, a DSN Course participant, echoes my thoughts when she shares, “On days I feel low and my mind is clouded with unnecessary negative thoughts, I lie down for a short yoga nidra and the change is very evident. I feel a lot lighter; my cluttered mind clears up. I think positively and the energy to work is tremendous.”

Experience deep relaxation in yoga nidra

Apart from its benefits off the yoga mat, yoga nidra works wonders on the mat too. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar says, “It’s very important to include yoga nidra at the end of any asana sequence as the body and mind needs the time to assimilate the effects of the asanas.” Additionally, lying down in yoga nidra helps cool the body and restores it to normal temperature.

Sometimes after doing certain intense yoga postures, you might experience slight pain in the body because of muscle stretch. According to an article in the New York Times, whenever the body undergoes heavy physical activity, calcium ions leak into the muscle cells, causing the muscles to contract and feel tired. A similar thing happens after an active round of yoga poses. It is then important to lie down in yoga nidra for some time as yoga nidra allows the body to flush out these chemical deposits via the bloodstream and thereby help relax more and more.

Meditation is a ‘wow’ feeling with yoga nidra

As I follow up my yoga posture practice with pranayama and meditation, I realize the important role yoga nidra can play in preparing the body and mind to enter a meditative state. I remember struggling to meditate when I initially started, but yoga nidra made it easier.

As we take our attention to various parts of the body, we activate the nervous system which helps increase relaxation and enhances the meditation process.

The more you practice yoga nidra, the better it gets. You can also enhance your experience with simple yoga nidra tips.

Yoga nidra for me is like a ‘super nap’ that recharges me in no time. It is a complete rejuvenation package – a must to relieve ourselves of daily stress in today’s busy world.

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Living with awareness – Yoga for life with greater joy and productivity

Yoga and Creativity: Catch the wave!

By Marilyn Galan

Creativity is like the breaking waves at the ocean’s surf. The surfer waits for the right wave and when it materializes, the surfer latches on, riding its crest until the destination. When the big wave of creativity comes in with a rush of ideas, yoga can give you the skill to surf. Grab these yoga-inspired ideas like a surfer’s gear and get ready for your next big creative wave.

Start the day with yoga

Dawn marks a new day’s creation. Morning is a great time to start the day with a quiet hour of yoga and meditation. An effective morning yoga routine can end with a yoga breathing technique called the Sudarshan Kriya, taught by The Art of Living Foundation. Practicing Sudarshan Kriya has shown to reduce stress and calm anxiety over time, helping the mind relax naturally into creativity. After morning yoga practice, the day ahead is like a fresh canvas to paint on. At the end of your yoga session, take a journal with you and write down any creative ideas that come up.

Make your own creative yoga space

Yoga and creativity can meld together for an inspiring environment at work and home. To make your space for yoga ready, gather some recorded guided meditations, a favorite chair to sit on, a yoga mat, and some pillows. Now, to add creativity, place some art supplies or musical instruments near your yoga space. Allow yourself at least 15 minutes a day to write, draw or play music in your own “creative yoga corner”.

Forming friendships with creativity and meditation

To catch the biggest waves, a surfer has to learn how to dive into deep waters. When you are ready for more than surfing on the waves, dive into your creativity. Take the challenge to learn more about an interesting sport, or an old love of art. Join a workshop. Couple this with a meditation practice, and you can find yourself picking up new skills and possibly uncovering hidden talents you didn’t know you had. Here’s a tip: Sit for meditation just before your creative class, then start your creative work for best results.

Be inspired by nature

Sometimes in the afternoon, I find my creative well starts running dry. That means it’s time for a nature walk. There’s a walking path nearby that meanders into fields of dense brush – great for taking in deep breaths of air and creative ideas. When I get there, I find a favorite place to sit and watch nature. What flowers are growing there? What birds’ songs do I hear? At least ten to 15 minutes of observing nature revives up my mind with a fresh new creative start.

Meditate through the day

A surf rider’s day isn’t complete without a few memorable moments on the waves. In between each new wave is the silent, quiet wait. The surfer has a chance to gather energy and notice the surrounding scenery. In the middle of the day, a meditation works like the ebbing ocean wave. Your chattering mind gently drops back into its quiet source. When your mind feels overwhelmed and no creative thoughts are materializing, a 10-20 minute meditation can calm the mind so new ideas can naturally surface. Before lunch, or at the end of the day, meditation can help you feel rejuvenated and ready for your next creative task.

Finding your flow with yoga

The surfer grabs the ultimate wave. A tunnel of water spirals forward, almost threatening to circle around him. No problem – the surfer has found the flow and sails right through to the other side. A good flow of ideas is effortless like breathing. Here is one yoga breath exercise to help you find your flow. Sit quietly with eyes closed. Slowly, take a deep breath in. Breathe out slowly. As you breathe, notice the flow of your breath. Does it seem to shake, or is it slow and steady? Do you find that you stop in between to take a bigger gulp of air to complete the breath? Continue breathing slowly and deeply for ten breaths.

Now, take out your journal. On the page, write down a central theme and circle it. For the next few minutes, keep writing down any thoughts that come to you relating to your central theme. Circle each new word and draw a connecting line to the main word. When your mind comes to a natural stop, you have completed the exercise.

Yoga helps you do what you love

Practicing yoga, we gradually build more awareness about our own creativity. We can move toward doing more of what we love. Yoga and meditation help focus the mind. With a more focused, calm mind, we can move more directly toward what we really want, toward the deep yearning of the soul, kind of like the tunnel opening at the end of the ultimate wave.

(Marilyn is a yoga enthusiast who loves to incorporate her inspiration about yoga postures and spirituality into her writing and art.)

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