Look before you eat

The new year is almost here. Resolutions are being made. We keep on promising ourselves that we will quit that bad habit or lose all the extra weight put on during the year end fesitivities. Some of us even go a step beyond and say that we will pick up a healthy practice such as yoga or meditation. Why not? Gone are the days when going to a yoga class was considered a luxury, a fashionable thing to do or a hip new age practice. Yoga has become a necessity, something we need for survival.

The earth is going through many changes. And if we are to keep up with those changes in energy and vibrational frequency of the earth, without losing our peace of mind, then yoga is the only way.

We can start with one asana a day and 10 minutes of silence. Pick one asana. Have you practiced yoga before? If yes, then pick one asana that you love and practice that for five minutes a day. Examine the changes that it created in your body - why do you love this particular asana so much? Sit for 10 minutes, silently, watching your breath after your practice.

If you have never practiced yoga before, find a teacher near you and make a begining. A group session, even once a week can have great benefits for you. Your body needs it, your mind, only more so.

I will give you an example of how asana can help stabilise your mind, breath and body on a daily basis, if practiced every day, that is. Take balancing asana as a practice. You are standing on your right leg , with the foot of the left leg resting against the right inner thigh. Your palms are pressed together in prayer pose and placed against your chest. Your gaze if on a point in front of you. Your breath is normal. Keep your awareness on your pose, balance and breath. Now two things come into focus here:

1.Your body is not always able to balance perfectly.
2.Balance is not about stillness. It is about movement.

The important thing is to focus your awareness on the body and accept it the way it presents itself in that moment. Practice non-judgement. Practice balance.

Balancing asana soothe the nerves. They help the body release excessive energy trapped in the nerves which creates anxiety and tension. They tone the nerves and restore a sense of balance to the body and mind.

Why not make a resolution to get on the mat and stay on it for five minutes a day? Why not strike a pose, meditate and take the benefits to bed everynight? This moment is as good as any other, to begin.

After all, as the old saying goes “The past is history, the future is a mystery. The moment is a gift. That is why it is called The Present”.

Labels: balancing asana, yoga poses

Food can affect our health in ways that we cannot imagine. It has the potential to make or mar your existence. Make choices that are healthy for you and your family. Here are some nuggets of information to help you do just that......

A can of worms actually...
One 12 oz can of Coke has 34 mg of caffeine. And if that is not enough, there are 40.5 grams (10 teaspoons) of sugar in it too.

A sweet choice, honey...
Manuka honey is quickly gaining recognition in medical circles around the world for its anti-microbial properties. This special medicinal honey can now be officially used for dressing wounds, boosting immunity and increasing digestive health. Manuka honey has proved to be effective in healing wounds that are particularly incurable such as in the case of diabetics and cancer patients.

Currant news...
Recent research led by New Zealand Scientist from the New Zealand Institute for food and plant research show that black currant extract has the power to minimize muscle damage in high performance athletes. The findings show that the berry extract reduces the risk of muscle injury by boosting the bodys natural defences, controlling inflammation and oxidative stress.

Kick that carb addiction...
Its not just smokers who have to look at the health warning signs on tobacco and cigarette packets.
Scientists from Auckland Regional Public Health Service have recently published their findings of a research initiative which claim that foods heavily processed and packed with refined carbs have the same addictive quality as tobacco. Such foods cause blood sugar levels to peak and consequently stimulate the same areas in the brain as tobacco, making one crave for more. Carbs are also a mood enhancer. These famous comfort foods are infamous for making waistlines thicker, thereby creating a host of other health problems. Carbs are addictive – and improve mood in much the same way as drugs or tobacco. Shouldnt processed carbs in packages have the same health warning then?

Please feel free to send me such useful nuggets of information so that it can be shared with everybody. Send it to bindumandala.yoga@gmail.com
and remember to put your name or website in the message so that I can give you a link back.

Eat plenty of silica, calcium and zinc. It helps to pump up your iron intake as well. Cucumber, asparagus, onions, potatoes and cabbage, rice, oats are all good sources of silica. Zinc rich foods include peanuts, beans, milk, cheese, whole grains and cereals.
These are the best natural foods that will improve and maintain the health of your hair and skin.

Labels: hairfall treatment, silica, zinc

It's very tempting to drive through and pick up your fast food lunch, replete with fries and a coke. The next time you are tempted to do that think twice. Obesity is on the rise. It is time to take stock of what we are eating and more importantly, what we are feeding our children. Full fat, deep fried, sugary treats.....are all synonymous with unhealthy, unhappy and just plain irresponsible.

Also, now that winter good and proper, is here upon us, there is more reason to stay alert and eat right.

So, how to eat right this winter and make healthy eating a habit rather than a novelty, starting now?

Labels: eating healthy during winter, healthy eating, obesity

I introduced my friend in a previous posting, hoping that she would give us her pearls of wisdom.....she has however, shared her thoughts through me and so I am now passing it on. Most of what I am sharing below, I learnt from her. Simple things, based just on common sense she would remind me of because they are easy to forget.

I asked her how to keep the kids healthy while traveling. We have been on the road for quite long now and I must say it was a challenge keeping their body weight from dropping, for example. However, it was the yogurts and bananas that did it. Another simple trick that I learnt to help maintain children's dental health - feed them cheese! Cheese helps clear the mouth of bacteria that damage teeth, and sugar. It also adds good calories, protien and calcium to the diet.

Which brings me to the next point - keep them off sugar - they will sleep better and behave better too!

If you are concerned about your kids catching the flu or common cold, then keep them off dairy, especially if it is winter. If they get stomach upsets, freshly squeezed lemon juice will help them recover.

If you have access to immune boosting foods such as cold pressed coconut oil, fish oil, or medicinal honey, (these are just some examples), then give them a spoonful every morning. You might be better off eating some yourself everyday.

Do yoga! There is no better immune booster than that. It is the best.
Teach your kids simple pranayama - brahmari or bee humming - they will love it.

Finally, have a blast. It's easy to be happy, if you choose to be. And what is more, you will boost your immunity naurally!

Happy travelling.

Labels: immune boosting for children while traveling

I have invited my friend Sharanam, to write on this blog. She is a renowned therapist and food technologist who has come up with fantastic innovations in health food and clinical nutrition. She has a wealth of knowledge and abundant experience in the field. She is a polarity therapist who lives and works in Auroville, India. In the future, we can all look forward to her insightful sharing. Please keep an eye out for her posts.

Do you frequently find your feet and hands swelling up? Do you sometimes feel bloated even though you seem to be sweating it out in the gym? Perhaps your problem is water retention. Sometimes the heat cause swollen fingers and toes as well. If your problem is as simple as this, then try some of these natural diuretics to help you get rid of the excess water in your body. Parsley, eaten in salads or put in soups can be effective. Cilantro also known as corriander, can have the same effect if boiled in water and taken as a tea. Cabbage and pumpkin soup with parsley and corriander garnish is all powerful too.
I find these remedies to be truly effective. Try them before you head to the pharmacy.