Healing with yoga: 7 stories of resilience and hope

  What if being happy could be like building muscles at the gym while doing sit-ups, or running on the treadmill or perhaps lifting weights? What if we could train ourselves to stay happy throughout the day? And what if this constant source of happiness could be achieved with closed eyes? Meditation, the art of diving deep inside the self, is also a source of undying zest and happiness. Adding meditation to the mornings can recharge us with a boost of joy and peace to keep us smiling through each day. Since a lot happens through the day, mornings are naturally the best time to meditate. Komal Kapur is a young female entrepreneur and owner of a bakery called Sweet Musings and Little Bites in Bangalore, India. She says, "When I meditate in the morning, I am able to achieve more work in much less time. I am more relaxed and calm during the day.” With many reporting the same benefits of a clearer mind, inner calm and a happier feeling through the day, meditating in the morning can be ...

  Aging is an inevitable natural happening. For the curious ones who want to know how to stay young, consider the practice of yoga, meditation, and ayurveda. These are the natural ways to maintain the health of the body. Here are some anti-aging tips from these ancient sciences that can slow down aging and keep you feeling younger. 1 Yoga and pranayama  Yoga and pranayama are immensely beneficial for the body and mind. Here are some anti-aging yoga postures and pranayama that you can do on a regular basis. Simhasana (Lion pose)​ Reduces tension on the face and chest area. Excellent for enhancing the functioning of a sluggish thyroid gland. Stimulates the platysma (a flat thin muscle in front of the throat) and helps maintain its firmness during the aging process. Helps to remove wrinkles and delays aging. Neck stretching Eliminates excess fat on the neckline. Prevents neck muscles from sagging. Eliminates age-related stiffness, allowing comfortable neck and shoulder movements....

  Birth is not only about making babies. It’s about making mothers. Such is the feeling of  Meghana Kalta , mother to a beautiful one-year-old daughter named Tarini, which signifies Goddess Durga. Here, Meghana shares with  Shradha Sharma  her experience of being a new-born mother. When I looked into the eyes of my new-born daughter, I felt as though I was born again. There was innocence, a hope, a light on her face, reflecting me through her. Motherhood is the most beautiful and a fulfilling phase in a woman’s life and I’m truly enjoying this journey. A sudden change After the birth of Tarini, everything changed all of a sudden. It was a 360-degree change altogether. I was no more just me, there was so much more and I felt extended. People‘s attention also started shifting to the baby as they took more care of her. The initial 40-day period was quite difficult as during that time, I felt weak, both physically and emotionally, and wanted the same love and attention a...

  Once during a yoga class, a fellow student asked the instructor about the toughest yoga asanas. This got me thinking about difficult yoga asanas. I started to explore the asanas, and it was interesting that our body has more potential and flexibility than we think. I took up the challenge to begin practicing the tough asanas. What I learned is that it is all in the mind. And that’s when my yoga challenge began. Are you also looking for a good yoga challenge? Poses that will test your sense of balance and flexibility? If you are, you’ve come to the right place. First, let’s understand what we mean by challenging yoga poses. After all, it is such a relative term. What may seem like a piece of cake to one, may be a Herculean task for others. In general, yoga asanas help you explore the depths of your own physical body. Some asanas seem like everyday stretches and bends that you may not have associated with yoga. Others may require more effort and self-motivation. Perhaps the toughes...

  Chatur   means four;  anga   means limbs;   Danda   means staff  (here, it refers to the spine of the body); asana means pose. It is pronounced as cha-thur-anga Dhan-daa-sana. This yoga pose is frequently practiced as part of the  Surya Namaskar  or Sun Salutation pose.  How to do the Chaturanga Dandasana/ four-limbed staff pose Sit in  vajrasana . Walk your hands forward and come in plank pose ( dandasana ) with your hands under your shoulders. Straighten your legs, till they are a few inches above the ground and parallel to it, with your toes turned inwards. On exhalation, bend your elbows until your shoulders are at the same height as your elbows. Exhale. Come up to plank pose. Exhale. Sit in vajrasana. Chaturanga Dandasana for beginners Start with a shorter time frame and gradually increase it. You can hold this pose for 10 seconds at first, and then for a little longer each time depending on your comfort. Benefits o...