Healing with yoga: 7 stories of resilience and hope

  Sore eyes, out of the bed look, a stack of rough notes, sample test papers, and fresh stationary these describe the student gearing up for the exams. The litmus test is on with exams around the corner. Students are barred from watching TV, mobile phones confiscated and friends are not entertained. For a reason friends are now looked as enemies. There is so much to do and so little time we see the student of the year – crumbling under pressure. The stage is set for a bigger one tomorrow. Here we bring you the advantages of yoga and meditation and how they can help your kid to shine on. During preparation time: 1. Work hard and sleep well. Without physical and mental rest, memory and concentration are not strong. Wake up with the sunrise, and doing some light yoga exercises like surya namaskar followed by simple breathing exercises (eg. Nadi Shodhan Pranayama). 12 quick rounds of  Surya Namaskar can be good work out  . It’s a complete body workout which leaves one fresh a...

  Adho Mukha Svanasana Asana (Downward Facing Dog ) Yoga Pose Adho – Forward; Mukha – Face; Svana - Dog The asana is  pronounced as A-doh MOO-kah shvah-NAS-anna Adho mukha svanasana posture  replicates a dog bending forward , hence the name  downward facing dog pose. This asana  can be practiced by any beginner  too and with all its benefits, one should include it as a part of daily yoga practice. 6 Easy steps to do perfect Downward Facing Dog Pose (Adho Mukha Svanasana) Come onto your fours. Form a table such that your back forms the table top and your hands and feet form the legs of the table. As you breath out lift the hips up, straightening the knees and elbows, form an inverted V-shape with the body.  Hands are shoulder width apart, feet are hip width apart and parallel to each other. Toes point straight ahead. Press your hands into the ground. Widen through the shoulder blades. Keep the neck lengthened by touching the ears to the i...

Santosha:  contentment, happiness  is the second  niyama . Happiness again is an attitude. If you are used to being unhappy, even in the best of situation you will still grumble and be unhappy. Nothing can make you happy in the world. Do you see what I am saying? When you are happy, what is happening? When you are smiling, what is happening? There is so much relaxation in the muscles of your face, in the head, and everywhere. There is freedom, there is joy, and there is relaxation. But if you train your muscles and nervous system to being unhappy, then that same thing continues (unhappiness), that is, the knots in your face, the stiffness in your head, and in your body. You remain unhappy irrespective of the situation around you. Santosha   is a practice .  Being unconditionally happy is a practice . “Come what may today I am going to smile, anyway everyone is going to die. Everything is going to vanish and disappear, so what? Let me be at least happy....

  In the thousands of years of our evolution, we humans have certainly come a long way. The past couple of centuries especially have seen the most rapid transformation in our lives. But this transformation has also have had its flip side. Our lives are more stressful than ever and this eventually takes a toll on our health. So how does one stay in sync with the constant change and yet manage to live a healthy life? The answer is simple: Yoga. The word "Yoga" originates from Sanskrit which means "to join, to unite".  Yoga exercises  not only bring body, mind, consciousness and soul into balance but also assist us in coping with everyday demands, problems and worries. Practicing yoga helps in developing a greater understanding of the purpose of life and the relationship with one's own self. Not new to us: The practice of yoga goes back to over 5000 years. The importance of yoga can be deciphered from the fact that all those scientists who investigated cosmic laws,...

  The sheer love of conquering the vast green expanse with a couple of clubs and a passionate precision makes many of us give up the comfort of staying indoors on a cozy afternoon and head out to our local golf course for a game or two. The game of golf is a testing one where the players must be balanced in both – body and mind. Whether you love playing the 9 hole game or the 18 hole game, golf can enjoyed better if you are physically and mentally healthy. Enhance your game! While spending hours playing golf can be fun, it can also be tiring for the body. Further, lack of correct posture while playing the game increases the chances of sustaining injuries. So how does one minimize the risks while not compromising with enjoying-the-game part? The solution is simple: By practicing Yoga! Yoga is an ancient technique that has helped people from all walks of life to enrich their body and mind to enjoy life to its fullest. Athletes, professional players, artists, and many more have benefi...

  I'm not short, the world is big!” “I wish I were slightly taller.” “What happened to my height while I grew up?” People with below average height long to grow taller so as to take a better view of the world. Though height doesn’t really matter in the final analysis as it doesn’t take away 0.1 mm from your inherent qualities, doesn’t dictate your personality or your achievements. In fact, some of the biggest powerhouses of the world were short in height. Mahatma Gandhi, the great Indian freedom fighter was 5’5”. Voltaire, a French philosopher and writer was 5’3”. Yuri Gagarin a famous Soviet astronaut was 5’2”. Shawn Johnson is short even for a gymnast – just 4’9’’. The quirky Lady Gaga is a mere 5’1”. But what if you wish to grow taller anyway? Is there a way to increase height naturally? Yes! Yoga can make you grow taller by addressing a few key issues. Essentially, yoga stretches your spine, lengthens your back and leg muscles, and improves your posture. It also detoxifies...