Friday, August 31, 2007
Herbs: Nature's healing genies
Herbs are medicinal plants that have been used for healing over centuries in civilizations around the world. Almost every culture has a distinct tradition of healing with medicinal plants. At one point in time, when science was relatively under developed, humans relied solely on herbs for curing illness.
Herbs and medicinal plants continue to be life savers to millions of people who do not have access to good health care. Additionally, herbal poultices can be used on injuries of the bone, joint and muscle, while herbal teas can be used as sleep inducing tonics or invigorating drinks.
Herbs are used in a multitude of ways in order that their healing properties are extracted and maximized.
Here are some examples:
Infusions: this is a straightforward way of extracting the active principle of herbs by boiling in water. Infusions are prepared in much the same way that we prepare tea. This technique is used to extract the unstable components of the dried green leaves or flowers even, in some cases. Infusions are made with a single herb or in combination with other herbs. Once prepared, it can be had hot or cold and sweetened with molasses, honey or brown sugar.
Decoctions: some parts of the plant such as roots or barks, which are thick and impenetrable, cannot be maximized by simple boiling. These parts have to be made effective by cutting into bits and boiling in water for hours at a time.
Essential oils: aromatic plants are partly composed of oily complexes that can be extracted and used as oils in aromatherapy and massages, for example. These oily substances that are found in glands are located in the flowers, leaves, roots, bark and resins.
Some examples of herbs that are used on a regular basis as part of home remedies are rosemary, thyme, eucalyptus, hibiscus, tea tree, cinnamon, fennel, garlic, ginger, mint, ylang-ylang, ginko, chamomile…..the list is endless, and so are the benefits.
Chinese herbs
Chinese herbs are a separate category of medicines altogether and rightfully so. They can strengthen the immune system, inhibit the growth of tumors, manage blood pressure and increase sexuality – the range is very wide. There are numerous herbs, those that are considered common and those that are the jealously guarded secrets of traditional Chinese herbalists.
Here are some examples of Chinese herbs and what all they can be used for:
Ginseng is a commonly available root that has such a flair for healing and rejuvenation, it is taken for granted. The Korean ginseng for example, stimulates the cerebral cortex and counters exhaustion and extreme infirmity. It helps to replenish depleted energy and body fluids. It can also stimulate the sex glands and is capable of removing toxins from the body. The taste is mildly bittersweet.
The black and red Reishi mushrooms are other example of prized Chinese herbs. They can strengthen the immune system, increase vitality of white blood corpuscles and accentuate the impact of anti-oxidants. These mushrooms also have a calming influence on the mind. They alleviate insomnia and female sexual dysfunction.
The Lotus seed is yet another indispensable Chinese herb. It tones the kidney and spleen and eases diarrhea. It stimulates appetite and has a sweet to neutral taste.
The Licorice root comes as a blessing because it can detoxify the body, invigorate and cool it down at the same time. It acts as an analgesic and can regulate the action of other herbs. It can be used as a natural sweetener.
Herbs have been long revered as saviors in the wake of sickness and pain. They are medicines and because of their ability to heal and restore, they are kept dried and in dark bottles so that they can be used all year round. Herbs are now integrated in food and cuisines of many a culture so that they can influence the functioning of our bodies and help optimize health on a daily basis. The medicinal properties of herbs prompt us to use them as remedies for diseases ranging from the simple to the severe.
Herbs as we can see, heal, soothe and relieve. They are nature’s gift to mankind.
Herbs and medicinal plants continue to be life savers to millions of people who do not have access to good health care. Additionally, herbal poultices can be used on injuries of the bone, joint and muscle, while herbal teas can be used as sleep inducing tonics or invigorating drinks.
Herbs are used in a multitude of ways in order that their healing properties are extracted and maximized.
Here are some examples:
Infusions: this is a straightforward way of extracting the active principle of herbs by boiling in water. Infusions are prepared in much the same way that we prepare tea. This technique is used to extract the unstable components of the dried green leaves or flowers even, in some cases. Infusions are made with a single herb or in combination with other herbs. Once prepared, it can be had hot or cold and sweetened with molasses, honey or brown sugar.
Decoctions: some parts of the plant such as roots or barks, which are thick and impenetrable, cannot be maximized by simple boiling. These parts have to be made effective by cutting into bits and boiling in water for hours at a time.
Essential oils: aromatic plants are partly composed of oily complexes that can be extracted and used as oils in aromatherapy and massages, for example. These oily substances that are found in glands are located in the flowers, leaves, roots, bark and resins.
Some examples of herbs that are used on a regular basis as part of home remedies are rosemary, thyme, eucalyptus, hibiscus, tea tree, cinnamon, fennel, garlic, ginger, mint, ylang-ylang, ginko, chamomile…..the list is endless, and so are the benefits.
Chinese herbs
Chinese herbs are a separate category of medicines altogether and rightfully so. They can strengthen the immune system, inhibit the growth of tumors, manage blood pressure and increase sexuality – the range is very wide. There are numerous herbs, those that are considered common and those that are the jealously guarded secrets of traditional Chinese herbalists.
Here are some examples of Chinese herbs and what all they can be used for:
Ginseng is a commonly available root that has such a flair for healing and rejuvenation, it is taken for granted. The Korean ginseng for example, stimulates the cerebral cortex and counters exhaustion and extreme infirmity. It helps to replenish depleted energy and body fluids. It can also stimulate the sex glands and is capable of removing toxins from the body. The taste is mildly bittersweet.
The black and red Reishi mushrooms are other example of prized Chinese herbs. They can strengthen the immune system, increase vitality of white blood corpuscles and accentuate the impact of anti-oxidants. These mushrooms also have a calming influence on the mind. They alleviate insomnia and female sexual dysfunction.
The Lotus seed is yet another indispensable Chinese herb. It tones the kidney and spleen and eases diarrhea. It stimulates appetite and has a sweet to neutral taste.
The Licorice root comes as a blessing because it can detoxify the body, invigorate and cool it down at the same time. It acts as an analgesic and can regulate the action of other herbs. It can be used as a natural sweetener.
Herbs have been long revered as saviors in the wake of sickness and pain. They are medicines and because of their ability to heal and restore, they are kept dried and in dark bottles so that they can be used all year round. Herbs are now integrated in food and cuisines of many a culture so that they can influence the functioning of our bodies and help optimize health on a daily basis. The medicinal properties of herbs prompt us to use them as remedies for diseases ranging from the simple to the severe.
Herbs as we can see, heal, soothe and relieve. They are nature’s gift to mankind.
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
Juicing for Life
I am always intrigued by the flashy advertisements for weight loss programs that occupy prime spots in newspapers. They guarantee quick and easy solutions to problems that have no quick fix answers. Even so, people are ready to experiment as long as there is the promise of weight loss, glowing skin, freedom from stress and so on. Health has now become a packaged commodity that can be easily bought and institutions are being built by counting on the fact that people are unhealthy, sick and in need of easy solutions. One thing is for sure though – there are no shortcuts to good health.
That stress is the key component of many physical, psychological or physiological imbalances these days and fighting rising stress levels can be significant in combating many of these imbalances we so easily call “illness” or “disease”, is commonly understood. And poor eating habits, processed and ready to eat food are the order of the day because nobody has the time to eat, let alone cook. If there is any truth in the adage “you are what you eat”, then food is all-important and diet is everything.
How then, does one integrate the best aspects of food into one’s diet without much ado? Incorporating freshly made fruit and vegetable juices is one way. It is not only a very simple and quick way of maintaining health on a daily basis; it is also a way of life. It is an entire philosophy in itself and to its credit, is the fact that it is an effective, natural immune booster, for one. It is a great way to safeguard your health, watch your weight, and bust the stress in your life. It gives all the benefits of a raw food diet - one becomes lean and fit with an overall health quotient that is above average. Juicing helps in getting rid of joint pains, muscle aches and in general generates a tremendous amount of stamina, both mental and physical. This is a typical low input, high output diet, which has the potential to correct bio-chemical imbalances and consequent mood swings, brought about by dietary excesses.
Some obvious benefits have therefore been attributed to a juice diet – it flushes out toxins and consequently increases metabolism (toxins prevent fat from metabolizing, for example), boots immunity and impacts the nervous system positively.
A juice diet or adding a couple of glasses of juice to your diet increases the alkalinity of the blood. This resultant increase in the PH value of the blood has its own advantages - it clears the body of acidic waste. Less acidic waste in the body means lowered propensity to disease. A clean digestive system can account for good health because there is no residual waste putrefying in the intestines waiting to cause other problems. Consequently a good and healthy liver will live up to its name “the power house of the body”, with ease and efficiency.
However, a word of caution - vegetable and fruit juices are very high sources of sugar (and salt) and can be detrimental if not prepared and consumed in a sensible and logical fashion.
Some of the best vegetables and fruit for juicing are listed below with their good and bad qualities, where applicable. They can safely be consumed on a regular basis.
Celery, parsley and coriander juice can be had first thing in the morning – it wakes you up and leaves you feeling fresh and energetic. There is one thing to be aware of though - both parsley and coriander are diuretics. That by itself is not a bad thing because it has a cleansing effect. It can, however, drain the body of potassium and other minerals. Potassium is, incidentally, very important for the optimal functioning of the heart among other things. However, a banana a day makes the potassium stay!
Carrots are also an excellent vegetable for juicing - high in vitamin A, high in anti-oxidants and a good way, therefore, to reduce the risk of cancer, especially smoking-related, including lung cancer. It lowers blood cholesterol and prevents constipation. However, as we all know, carrots are high in sugar. So people with high blood sugar levels have to find substitutes. Juiced raw potatoes may do the trick.
Potato, also distinguished as natures best known alkali, is a remedy for a whole host of problems ranging from migraine to rheumatic joint pains, it purifies the blood, aids digestion, is high in vitamin C and has chemicals that can block cancer. If taken with a pinch of turmeric, it doubles up as an anti-inflammatory and its anti-carcinogen properties are augmented. Potatoes with eyes are considered the best because they have more prana. The green portions are better left untouched as they are toxic.
Beetroot is famous for its high iron, content and anti-oxidant properties. It is not recommended for people with high blood sugar. People suffering from hypoglycemia are also advised to keep off foods that are high in sugar, contrary to the popular notion that sugar is helpful in bringing back the balance of blood sugar when it falls.
Adding cabbage in the juices prevents and heals ulcers, kills bacteria and viruses, stimulates the immune system and prevents colonic cancer. Fruit juices and smoothies can also be included in the diet. Freshly squeezed orange juice, apples blended into milk with nuts and dry fruits, bananas blended into milk with nuts and dry fruits are all wholesome meals in themselves.
Juices are also helpful in fighting worms (neem juice, carrot juice and the juice of pomogranates), yeast infections and similar conditions caused by parasites due to its cleansing action on the colon. Bitter gourd juice is also considered a mild but effective therapy in fighting diabetes.
Many different veggie and fruit blends can be tried with a little imagination and a lot of common sense. Veggie juices can be spiked up with a few cloves of garlic or pieces of ginger and benefits drawn from that as well. Do not add sugar to your fruit juices.
It is worthwhile noting that a raw food diet and juicing should be undertaken with organic vegetable and fruit only. The risk of eating pesticide-ridden carrot, for example, far outweighs the benefits of raw carrot itself. So beware.
But for those of us who are wellness enthusiasts and cannot think of our next meal without that salad or juice, wash the vegetable by steeping it in warm saline water for a few minutes.
Here is a recipe for you to try: chop some carrots and a little celery into your blender. Add some freshly ground pepper and cumin and a few tablespoons of water. Blend. You can strain the pulp if you wish. Some palates prefer the taste of pure juice, but the pulp has its own story to tell. A very important aspect of juicing is that it should be made and instantly consumed. Do not let it stand for any length of time before drinking because it will oxidize and get stripped of its healthfulness.
As you discover new avenues to wellness, may you find comfort in the fact that more health and happiness in your life means more health and happiness for your family, friends and the planet.
That stress is the key component of many physical, psychological or physiological imbalances these days and fighting rising stress levels can be significant in combating many of these imbalances we so easily call “illness” or “disease”, is commonly understood. And poor eating habits, processed and ready to eat food are the order of the day because nobody has the time to eat, let alone cook. If there is any truth in the adage “you are what you eat”, then food is all-important and diet is everything.
How then, does one integrate the best aspects of food into one’s diet without much ado? Incorporating freshly made fruit and vegetable juices is one way. It is not only a very simple and quick way of maintaining health on a daily basis; it is also a way of life. It is an entire philosophy in itself and to its credit, is the fact that it is an effective, natural immune booster, for one. It is a great way to safeguard your health, watch your weight, and bust the stress in your life. It gives all the benefits of a raw food diet - one becomes lean and fit with an overall health quotient that is above average. Juicing helps in getting rid of joint pains, muscle aches and in general generates a tremendous amount of stamina, both mental and physical. This is a typical low input, high output diet, which has the potential to correct bio-chemical imbalances and consequent mood swings, brought about by dietary excesses.
Some obvious benefits have therefore been attributed to a juice diet – it flushes out toxins and consequently increases metabolism (toxins prevent fat from metabolizing, for example), boots immunity and impacts the nervous system positively.
A juice diet or adding a couple of glasses of juice to your diet increases the alkalinity of the blood. This resultant increase in the PH value of the blood has its own advantages - it clears the body of acidic waste. Less acidic waste in the body means lowered propensity to disease. A clean digestive system can account for good health because there is no residual waste putrefying in the intestines waiting to cause other problems. Consequently a good and healthy liver will live up to its name “the power house of the body”, with ease and efficiency.
However, a word of caution - vegetable and fruit juices are very high sources of sugar (and salt) and can be detrimental if not prepared and consumed in a sensible and logical fashion.
Some of the best vegetables and fruit for juicing are listed below with their good and bad qualities, where applicable. They can safely be consumed on a regular basis.
Celery, parsley and coriander juice can be had first thing in the morning – it wakes you up and leaves you feeling fresh and energetic. There is one thing to be aware of though - both parsley and coriander are diuretics. That by itself is not a bad thing because it has a cleansing effect. It can, however, drain the body of potassium and other minerals. Potassium is, incidentally, very important for the optimal functioning of the heart among other things. However, a banana a day makes the potassium stay!
Carrots are also an excellent vegetable for juicing - high in vitamin A, high in anti-oxidants and a good way, therefore, to reduce the risk of cancer, especially smoking-related, including lung cancer. It lowers blood cholesterol and prevents constipation. However, as we all know, carrots are high in sugar. So people with high blood sugar levels have to find substitutes. Juiced raw potatoes may do the trick.
Potato, also distinguished as natures best known alkali, is a remedy for a whole host of problems ranging from migraine to rheumatic joint pains, it purifies the blood, aids digestion, is high in vitamin C and has chemicals that can block cancer. If taken with a pinch of turmeric, it doubles up as an anti-inflammatory and its anti-carcinogen properties are augmented. Potatoes with eyes are considered the best because they have more prana. The green portions are better left untouched as they are toxic.
Beetroot is famous for its high iron, content and anti-oxidant properties. It is not recommended for people with high blood sugar. People suffering from hypoglycemia are also advised to keep off foods that are high in sugar, contrary to the popular notion that sugar is helpful in bringing back the balance of blood sugar when it falls.
Adding cabbage in the juices prevents and heals ulcers, kills bacteria and viruses, stimulates the immune system and prevents colonic cancer. Fruit juices and smoothies can also be included in the diet. Freshly squeezed orange juice, apples blended into milk with nuts and dry fruits, bananas blended into milk with nuts and dry fruits are all wholesome meals in themselves.
Juices are also helpful in fighting worms (neem juice, carrot juice and the juice of pomogranates), yeast infections and similar conditions caused by parasites due to its cleansing action on the colon. Bitter gourd juice is also considered a mild but effective therapy in fighting diabetes.
Many different veggie and fruit blends can be tried with a little imagination and a lot of common sense. Veggie juices can be spiked up with a few cloves of garlic or pieces of ginger and benefits drawn from that as well. Do not add sugar to your fruit juices.
It is worthwhile noting that a raw food diet and juicing should be undertaken with organic vegetable and fruit only. The risk of eating pesticide-ridden carrot, for example, far outweighs the benefits of raw carrot itself. So beware.
But for those of us who are wellness enthusiasts and cannot think of our next meal without that salad or juice, wash the vegetable by steeping it in warm saline water for a few minutes.
Here is a recipe for you to try: chop some carrots and a little celery into your blender. Add some freshly ground pepper and cumin and a few tablespoons of water. Blend. You can strain the pulp if you wish. Some palates prefer the taste of pure juice, but the pulp has its own story to tell. A very important aspect of juicing is that it should be made and instantly consumed. Do not let it stand for any length of time before drinking because it will oxidize and get stripped of its healthfulness.
As you discover new avenues to wellness, may you find comfort in the fact that more health and happiness in your life means more health and happiness for your family, friends and the planet.
Thursday, August 23, 2007
Let them eat cake!
I remember when we were kids. My mum used to try real hard to get some good food down our gut and we would look disdainfully at what seemed a coarse and unpalatable meal. She would insist we drink our ragi porridge every morning and one soft-boiled egg was mandatory as well.
She would expound the theories of healthy eating and tell us how the food we ate was in some way a measure of who we were or at any rate how healthy we could expect to be in the future. I recall now how she influenced us into believing that the crude looking lumps of jaggery were actually better for us than those dainty crystals of white sugar sitting in neat little glass jars on her impeccably arranged spice rack.
Now I see. I am a mom and am constantly battling with how to make food seem likeable and healthy at the same time. I have to try slightly more sophisticated tricks than my mother did because this generation of kids is way more mature that we could ever be. Take this for example: my four year old is like any other in one respect – she likes cakes and cookies and chips and chocolate. But if you check the back of the packing for ingredients, you will see coloring agents, flavoring agents and other things “permitted”. And if you go home and do your research, then you will know what “permitted” means.
This is the age of fast food and instant gratification. Forget ragi. For that matter, please completely ignore jaggery. Huh!
So what do I do? I try to tactfully integrate healthfulness into regular things that kids like. Once on an impulse I decided to try baking. My daughter was thrilled and excited. As a prelude to this new activity, we read “the gingerbread man”, “this story is mean”, she said, “but lets try baking, amma”. And so it was that we set out to bake our first batch of cookies together. No preservatives, no coloring agents, nothing artificially. Not even sugar.
Good old jaggery did the trick once more. Of course we used multi-grain flour, stone ground, nothing less, and some fantastic organic raisins. We threw in some oatmeal for good measure and cornflakes too, and stuck it into the oven. Lo and behold, we had the most delicious golden brown cookies.
This experiment we tried with cake and brownies and a whole range of other breads and confectioneries.
Now I actually encourage my daughter to eat cake. I like it so much that she likes cookies. And guess what, I’ve found myself a new hobby - one that I greatly enjoy – and the best part is, satisfaction is guaranteed. Try it and see. If I am wrong, then I will eat my words. And my cookies too. I promise.
Healthy cookie recipe:
Ingredients: 1 cup multi-grain flour (or whole wheat flour)
1 cup jaggery (or brown sugar)
1/2 cup oats
1/2 cup cornflakes (optional, but gives cookies a crunchiness)
1 cup butter
1 tsp vanilla extract
one egg may be good to add, but it is not absolutely essential
a pinch of salt
and oops! I almost forgot, a fistful of raisins
Method:
Pre heat oven. Practice and intuition help in discerning temperature and time, both for pre-heating and baking.
Melt butter. Add jaggery (or brown sugar), vanilla essence to melted butter (and the egg if you wish). Mix well. Add flour, oats and cornflakes to this mixture. Mix again. Add raisins.
Prepare your tray by spreading butter all over it and dusting some flour (or brown sugar). Stick into oven. Check after 20 mins. Continue baking if necessary.
Enjoy!
She would expound the theories of healthy eating and tell us how the food we ate was in some way a measure of who we were or at any rate how healthy we could expect to be in the future. I recall now how she influenced us into believing that the crude looking lumps of jaggery were actually better for us than those dainty crystals of white sugar sitting in neat little glass jars on her impeccably arranged spice rack.
Now I see. I am a mom and am constantly battling with how to make food seem likeable and healthy at the same time. I have to try slightly more sophisticated tricks than my mother did because this generation of kids is way more mature that we could ever be. Take this for example: my four year old is like any other in one respect – she likes cakes and cookies and chips and chocolate. But if you check the back of the packing for ingredients, you will see coloring agents, flavoring agents and other things “permitted”. And if you go home and do your research, then you will know what “permitted” means.
This is the age of fast food and instant gratification. Forget ragi. For that matter, please completely ignore jaggery. Huh!
So what do I do? I try to tactfully integrate healthfulness into regular things that kids like. Once on an impulse I decided to try baking. My daughter was thrilled and excited. As a prelude to this new activity, we read “the gingerbread man”, “this story is mean”, she said, “but lets try baking, amma”. And so it was that we set out to bake our first batch of cookies together. No preservatives, no coloring agents, nothing artificially. Not even sugar.
Good old jaggery did the trick once more. Of course we used multi-grain flour, stone ground, nothing less, and some fantastic organic raisins. We threw in some oatmeal for good measure and cornflakes too, and stuck it into the oven. Lo and behold, we had the most delicious golden brown cookies.
This experiment we tried with cake and brownies and a whole range of other breads and confectioneries.
Now I actually encourage my daughter to eat cake. I like it so much that she likes cookies. And guess what, I’ve found myself a new hobby - one that I greatly enjoy – and the best part is, satisfaction is guaranteed. Try it and see. If I am wrong, then I will eat my words. And my cookies too. I promise.
Healthy cookie recipe:
Ingredients: 1 cup multi-grain flour (or whole wheat flour)
1 cup jaggery (or brown sugar)
1/2 cup oats
1/2 cup cornflakes (optional, but gives cookies a crunchiness)
1 cup butter
1 tsp vanilla extract
one egg may be good to add, but it is not absolutely essential
a pinch of salt
and oops! I almost forgot, a fistful of raisins
Method:
Pre heat oven. Practice and intuition help in discerning temperature and time, both for pre-heating and baking.
Melt butter. Add jaggery (or brown sugar), vanilla essence to melted butter (and the egg if you wish). Mix well. Add flour, oats and cornflakes to this mixture. Mix again. Add raisins.
Prepare your tray by spreading butter all over it and dusting some flour (or brown sugar). Stick into oven. Check after 20 mins. Continue baking if necessary.
Enjoy!
Integrating Yoga into home schooling
My daughter is four. She has not really been to school yet. Now, that is sacrilegious in India and as parents we have received enough and more flak for making such a choice.
There is no denying that it has been a struggle trying to convince ourselves as to why, let alone trying to convince others. We were always of the opinion that schooling is not necessarily always a good thing, and in this case particularly, we thought, the kid was too young anyway.
Moreover, after many rather disappointing experiences looking at schools we came to the conclusion that our daughter was better off being home for as long as possible. And out of this decision came the idea that we could try home schooling her.
Soon we discovered or should I say, by trial and error, put together a curriculum for her. It was not easy, has never been and even today, we struggle tremendously with whether we are justified, and whether she is progressing as she should for her age and so on…….
That fear has been put to rest time and again and I keep reassuring myself that the English alphabet and numerical skills are not the be all and end all of education for children. There are so many ways to engage a child and I have found out the hard way that there are no shortcuts to a well rounded intellect, sound physical health, emotional intelligence and spiritual well being.
Of course it has not been piece of cake chiefly because as a parent who has to double up as a teacher, I sometimes lack the motivation to keep pace with the program we have set. The other thing is she likes company. The company of other children, that is. So we always wondered if she was missing out on simple childhood fun and socializing with her age group…..
That question remains unresolved but the consolation here is that there is not definite answer to it either.
Let me cut to the chase and say what I started out to: to all parents who are in two minds about sending their kids to school, I say keep them at home for as long as you can. They can be taught a lot - independence, responsibility, creative problem solving, some painting, some math, how to help with household chores and how to be friends with siblings even when they disagree. I think life skills, values, self-esteem and compassion can be taught (or developed, as the case may be) very early in life. And what better school for that than home.
Yoga is an excellent start if you have trouble finding things to do together. There is not much yoga you can teach a four year old, however. But you can get them to run around and enjoy free play, discovery and theatre in your yoga room and while on the mat. They can be made to do simple exercises as well. It’s all about creating the atmosphere and giving it a name. They love that sort of thing. They go for novelty and yoga can be such fun for them – especially if you leave them alone and simply practice yourself. They will imitate and discover.
One simple, utterly enjoyable pranayama that kids aged three and upward can be taught (and especially love) is the bee humming (also called Brahmari). It’s very relaxing and is sure to put them in a playful mood. And what is more, there is a happy buzz all around.
As a parent I have to say, I have discovered a lot myself. Being a mother has made me grow. But being a home-schooling mother has given me innumerable lessons in child rearing. Learning to accept and let go were very hard lessons for me. I still cannot say that I have mastered them. But in the whole scheme of things, it has made me aware of my strengths and weaknesses and given me the space and time to observe and be close to my daughter.
I have no regrets about not sending her to school so far. When its time to, we will, but in the meantime, I hope she internalizes through her intuition that her home is her haven for experiments and progress, that life itself is her best school, that friends and collaborators can be found anywhere and that the search for the Truth is the only test worth undertaking.
There is no denying that it has been a struggle trying to convince ourselves as to why, let alone trying to convince others. We were always of the opinion that schooling is not necessarily always a good thing, and in this case particularly, we thought, the kid was too young anyway.
Moreover, after many rather disappointing experiences looking at schools we came to the conclusion that our daughter was better off being home for as long as possible. And out of this decision came the idea that we could try home schooling her.
Soon we discovered or should I say, by trial and error, put together a curriculum for her. It was not easy, has never been and even today, we struggle tremendously with whether we are justified, and whether she is progressing as she should for her age and so on…….
That fear has been put to rest time and again and I keep reassuring myself that the English alphabet and numerical skills are not the be all and end all of education for children. There are so many ways to engage a child and I have found out the hard way that there are no shortcuts to a well rounded intellect, sound physical health, emotional intelligence and spiritual well being.
Of course it has not been piece of cake chiefly because as a parent who has to double up as a teacher, I sometimes lack the motivation to keep pace with the program we have set. The other thing is she likes company. The company of other children, that is. So we always wondered if she was missing out on simple childhood fun and socializing with her age group…..
That question remains unresolved but the consolation here is that there is not definite answer to it either.
Let me cut to the chase and say what I started out to: to all parents who are in two minds about sending their kids to school, I say keep them at home for as long as you can. They can be taught a lot - independence, responsibility, creative problem solving, some painting, some math, how to help with household chores and how to be friends with siblings even when they disagree. I think life skills, values, self-esteem and compassion can be taught (or developed, as the case may be) very early in life. And what better school for that than home.
Yoga is an excellent start if you have trouble finding things to do together. There is not much yoga you can teach a four year old, however. But you can get them to run around and enjoy free play, discovery and theatre in your yoga room and while on the mat. They can be made to do simple exercises as well. It’s all about creating the atmosphere and giving it a name. They love that sort of thing. They go for novelty and yoga can be such fun for them – especially if you leave them alone and simply practice yourself. They will imitate and discover.
One simple, utterly enjoyable pranayama that kids aged three and upward can be taught (and especially love) is the bee humming (also called Brahmari). It’s very relaxing and is sure to put them in a playful mood. And what is more, there is a happy buzz all around.
As a parent I have to say, I have discovered a lot myself. Being a mother has made me grow. But being a home-schooling mother has given me innumerable lessons in child rearing. Learning to accept and let go were very hard lessons for me. I still cannot say that I have mastered them. But in the whole scheme of things, it has made me aware of my strengths and weaknesses and given me the space and time to observe and be close to my daughter.
I have no regrets about not sending her to school so far. When its time to, we will, but in the meantime, I hope she internalizes through her intuition that her home is her haven for experiments and progress, that life itself is her best school, that friends and collaborators can be found anywhere and that the search for the Truth is the only test worth undertaking.
Beating the post partum blues with Yoga
Pregnancy and childbirth are very momentous events in a woman’s life. Ask any mother and she will vouch for it. Our son was the latest addition to our family of three. My daughter, now four, was a bag of mixed emotions when she visited us at the hospital. Luckily she was quick to realize that her status, if anything had now gotten enhanced – she was the BIG sister and was very proud of it.
This sudden realization brought out her innate strengths and what we saw was her high emotional intelligence and maturity. Her initial misgivings about sharing her parents and her space with another human being gave way to love and acceptance. As parents, our apprehensions about her ability to rise to the occasion were put to rest. She did not see her sibling as a rival, but more as a helpless little being that needed love and looking after. This was such a relief for us.
However, becoming a mother a second time round brought with it a set of challenges that I was not entirely prepared for. Of course I was aware of the fact that my daughter’s life had to remain intact – she would still have to live her life the same way as before the arrival of the baby. Perhaps I had forgotten how babies tend to consume their parent’s attention. I was in for a bit of a surprise.
Sleepless nights and subsequent exhaustion were the order of the day. Moreover, I was going through a post partum low during the initial days. As I tried to deal with the reality of things, in this instance, not all pleasant, I started to think about how I could help myself on the one hand and not let go of my daughter on the other hand. The first thing that came to my rescue was the love and understanding that my husband gave me. It was a great comfort to have him sit up with me through the night. Secondly, he took over the complete responsibility of caring for our daughter and making sure that the ride was smooth for her. And finally, he helped me to deal with the blues by holding my hand through a series of physical and spiritual exercises.
Which brings me to one of the most important aspects of the postnatal period, namely, recovery. Having practiced yoga for years and especially through the prenatal period, it was most natural for me to turn to it yet again. Only this time, it was going to act as my therapist and resurrect my confidence in myself.
As I rummaged through my bag of yogic practices, I found that I was equipped with everything I needed in order to recover completely. The most important thing on the agenda was to get back the high levels of energy that I was previously used to. The next most important thing of course was to work on my body image and the loss I felt because of how much I had gained!
This I loosely put down as “work on weight and regain original shape” in my list of things to do in the coming months.
The next thing to do, naturally, was to get on that mat and work away my blues, needless to say, and the excess baggage that I was carting around.
Apart from a regular sustained practice of asana, I found pranayama to be most beneficial as well. Body and breath awareness being the crux of my practice, I cart-wheeled my way through the postnatal period. The practice of asana helped rebuild my muscles, break down my belly and increase my physical stamina and strength in general. It also helped tone the organs in the pelvis and strengthen the pelvic floor. Pranayama helped get my mind back in shape. Hormonal ups and downs were effectively dealt with and an overall feeling of wellness and joy seeped into my being. Whatever I had read about the joys and bliss of having a new baby was not fiction anymore. It was very real.
And it is very hard to sum up in a few paragraphs what yoga has given me. If I have forgotten to mention some of its obvious effects, then I need to be forgiven. The subtle effects, my each one discover for themselves.
Still, if I were to tell some one how I got myself back together again, I would simply say, “just do yoga!”
This sudden realization brought out her innate strengths and what we saw was her high emotional intelligence and maturity. Her initial misgivings about sharing her parents and her space with another human being gave way to love and acceptance. As parents, our apprehensions about her ability to rise to the occasion were put to rest. She did not see her sibling as a rival, but more as a helpless little being that needed love and looking after. This was such a relief for us.
However, becoming a mother a second time round brought with it a set of challenges that I was not entirely prepared for. Of course I was aware of the fact that my daughter’s life had to remain intact – she would still have to live her life the same way as before the arrival of the baby. Perhaps I had forgotten how babies tend to consume their parent’s attention. I was in for a bit of a surprise.
Sleepless nights and subsequent exhaustion were the order of the day. Moreover, I was going through a post partum low during the initial days. As I tried to deal with the reality of things, in this instance, not all pleasant, I started to think about how I could help myself on the one hand and not let go of my daughter on the other hand. The first thing that came to my rescue was the love and understanding that my husband gave me. It was a great comfort to have him sit up with me through the night. Secondly, he took over the complete responsibility of caring for our daughter and making sure that the ride was smooth for her. And finally, he helped me to deal with the blues by holding my hand through a series of physical and spiritual exercises.
Which brings me to one of the most important aspects of the postnatal period, namely, recovery. Having practiced yoga for years and especially through the prenatal period, it was most natural for me to turn to it yet again. Only this time, it was going to act as my therapist and resurrect my confidence in myself.
As I rummaged through my bag of yogic practices, I found that I was equipped with everything I needed in order to recover completely. The most important thing on the agenda was to get back the high levels of energy that I was previously used to. The next most important thing of course was to work on my body image and the loss I felt because of how much I had gained!
This I loosely put down as “work on weight and regain original shape” in my list of things to do in the coming months.
The next thing to do, naturally, was to get on that mat and work away my blues, needless to say, and the excess baggage that I was carting around.
Apart from a regular sustained practice of asana, I found pranayama to be most beneficial as well. Body and breath awareness being the crux of my practice, I cart-wheeled my way through the postnatal period. The practice of asana helped rebuild my muscles, break down my belly and increase my physical stamina and strength in general. It also helped tone the organs in the pelvis and strengthen the pelvic floor. Pranayama helped get my mind back in shape. Hormonal ups and downs were effectively dealt with and an overall feeling of wellness and joy seeped into my being. Whatever I had read about the joys and bliss of having a new baby was not fiction anymore. It was very real.
And it is very hard to sum up in a few paragraphs what yoga has given me. If I have forgotten to mention some of its obvious effects, then I need to be forgiven. The subtle effects, my each one discover for themselves.
Still, if I were to tell some one how I got myself back together again, I would simply say, “just do yoga!”
Visualize your success and sure enough it is yours!
It is no more surprising that creative visualizations can make your dreams come true than it is that clouds can bring rain. Fact is, the mind can make our reality manifest and what we dream during alpha sleep is simply as real or not as the bed on which we sleep. Truly, the mind has so much power to make manifest our physical universe, we really ought to pay more attention to its powers.
Now imagine you could consciously induce alpha level activity in your brain. And imagine you could program and control your dreams so that you are dreaming consciously. Apparently, science has proof that what we visualize has a direct bearing on the health of the body. The mind-body link brought about by visualization is called video-motor effect. As your brain conjures up images of, say, a certain act, it produces impulses that stimulate the neurons to perform the act being imagined by conducting those impulses from brain to muscle. This implies that if you close your eyes and visualize yourself performing an act, your body’s actions are predetermined in such a way as if you already did it.
If this is true, then visualizations should be an invaluable aid in healing the body of terminal illnesses like cancer, for example.
Our state of mind has a direct effect on the state of our body. Our emotions affect the functioning of the endocrine system. The body pumps adrenaline during times of fear, anxiety or extreme stress, for instance. Thoughts are so linked to the body, that every one of them induces a chemical reaction in the body.
A closer analysis of the brain would suggest that the hypothalamus, otherwise also known as the emotional center of the brain, is where emotions get converted into physical response. The hypothalamus also manages the body’s appetite, blood sugar levels, body temperature, adrenal and pituitary functioning, heart, lung, digestive and circulatory systems. How are emotions transported between the mind and body? Through chemical messenger hormones called Neuropeptides. They connect awareness in the brain to the body through organs, hormones and cellular activity. These chemical representatives of emotions influence the entire immune system. It is now apparent that the body and mind do work in complete collaboration with each other.
The brain is the most efficient computer to ever be created. It is connected to every cell in the body and is divided into two sides, the left and the right brain. These two sides have very distinctive capabilities and functions. Logic and reasoning, for example is an activity of the left brain, while creativity, intuition and visualization are activities of the right brain. The right brain, therefore, has an important role in the mind-body field, and can help you achieve what you want, be it success at work or redemption from a terminal illness. In other words, the right side of the brain can automatically steer you to your goal.
It is therefore evident what impact positive thinking will have on the immune system. Since the mind has so much power over the body and indeed, the course of your life, it is essential to define your goal and intentions with utmost clarity. The more precise the intention (and the consequent visualization), the more precise the effect.
A powerful technique of visualization is briefly introduced here. This introduction is not meant to replace an instructor or a course. It is practiced in five phases. The technique is called yoga nidra and it can be summed up as “pychic sleep”, where alpha level brain activity is induced with awareness. It is not a self-hypnosis technique.
The first phase involves deep relaxation of the body by becoming aware of it part by part.
The second phase involves awareness of the mind. The mind to most of us is an abstraction. So how can we really become aware of it? By becoming aware of our breath. The breath is the metaphoric bridge between the known - the body and the unknown - the mind.
Having relaxed the mind to a significant extent, we go through a series of visualizations. These visualizations, though randomly selected, shake up deep rooted mental impressions which prevent us from actualizing our potential. This is the crux of the practice. It arouses the consciousness. It cleanses the mind.
During the visualization we make a mental image of a form of higher consciousness. It is different for different people – a candle flame or images from nature to some, Buddha or Christ to others. And in the presence of that form of higher consciousness, we repeat a Sankalpa, or a perfect and powerful thought representing our aspirations, which makes it possible for the latter to take root.
This practice brings great clarity to the mind, increases creativity, loosens pent up thoughts, feeling and emotions, gives physical calm and mental peace, and is very effective in dealing with various health problems, primarily those that are psychosomatic in nature.
The final stage of yoga nidra, therefore, involves gazing into this mind space full of creativity and problem solving ability (post visualization and sankalpa) . It is the time for introspection.
Yoga nidra helps cultivate awareness and equanimity. The practitioner becomes the observer of the phenomenon called life.
Now imagine you could consciously induce alpha level activity in your brain. And imagine you could program and control your dreams so that you are dreaming consciously. Apparently, science has proof that what we visualize has a direct bearing on the health of the body. The mind-body link brought about by visualization is called video-motor effect. As your brain conjures up images of, say, a certain act, it produces impulses that stimulate the neurons to perform the act being imagined by conducting those impulses from brain to muscle. This implies that if you close your eyes and visualize yourself performing an act, your body’s actions are predetermined in such a way as if you already did it.
If this is true, then visualizations should be an invaluable aid in healing the body of terminal illnesses like cancer, for example.
Our state of mind has a direct effect on the state of our body. Our emotions affect the functioning of the endocrine system. The body pumps adrenaline during times of fear, anxiety or extreme stress, for instance. Thoughts are so linked to the body, that every one of them induces a chemical reaction in the body.
A closer analysis of the brain would suggest that the hypothalamus, otherwise also known as the emotional center of the brain, is where emotions get converted into physical response. The hypothalamus also manages the body’s appetite, blood sugar levels, body temperature, adrenal and pituitary functioning, heart, lung, digestive and circulatory systems. How are emotions transported between the mind and body? Through chemical messenger hormones called Neuropeptides. They connect awareness in the brain to the body through organs, hormones and cellular activity. These chemical representatives of emotions influence the entire immune system. It is now apparent that the body and mind do work in complete collaboration with each other.
The brain is the most efficient computer to ever be created. It is connected to every cell in the body and is divided into two sides, the left and the right brain. These two sides have very distinctive capabilities and functions. Logic and reasoning, for example is an activity of the left brain, while creativity, intuition and visualization are activities of the right brain. The right brain, therefore, has an important role in the mind-body field, and can help you achieve what you want, be it success at work or redemption from a terminal illness. In other words, the right side of the brain can automatically steer you to your goal.
It is therefore evident what impact positive thinking will have on the immune system. Since the mind has so much power over the body and indeed, the course of your life, it is essential to define your goal and intentions with utmost clarity. The more precise the intention (and the consequent visualization), the more precise the effect.
A powerful technique of visualization is briefly introduced here. This introduction is not meant to replace an instructor or a course. It is practiced in five phases. The technique is called yoga nidra and it can be summed up as “pychic sleep”, where alpha level brain activity is induced with awareness. It is not a self-hypnosis technique.
The first phase involves deep relaxation of the body by becoming aware of it part by part.
The second phase involves awareness of the mind. The mind to most of us is an abstraction. So how can we really become aware of it? By becoming aware of our breath. The breath is the metaphoric bridge between the known - the body and the unknown - the mind.
Having relaxed the mind to a significant extent, we go through a series of visualizations. These visualizations, though randomly selected, shake up deep rooted mental impressions which prevent us from actualizing our potential. This is the crux of the practice. It arouses the consciousness. It cleanses the mind.
During the visualization we make a mental image of a form of higher consciousness. It is different for different people – a candle flame or images from nature to some, Buddha or Christ to others. And in the presence of that form of higher consciousness, we repeat a Sankalpa, or a perfect and powerful thought representing our aspirations, which makes it possible for the latter to take root.
This practice brings great clarity to the mind, increases creativity, loosens pent up thoughts, feeling and emotions, gives physical calm and mental peace, and is very effective in dealing with various health problems, primarily those that are psychosomatic in nature.
The final stage of yoga nidra, therefore, involves gazing into this mind space full of creativity and problem solving ability (post visualization and sankalpa) . It is the time for introspection.
Yoga nidra helps cultivate awareness and equanimity. The practitioner becomes the observer of the phenomenon called life.