We often hear the term Yogic Kriya or Kriya Yoga – this is often mistaken to be just another form of yoga postures or aasans developed by prominent yoga gurus, but this is not so. Yoga Kriya refers to a centuries old system comprised of physical and spiritual systems of kriya or action, not necessarily aasans or physical exercises. Today, let us explore what is kriyas in yoga,...
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better living
Why Developing the Drishta (Drishtu) Attitude Is Important
As we all know, yoga isn't just a set of physical exercises but more of a whole system for living life. Yoga directs us to stay fit with the help of exercises, breathing exercises and healthy eating. Not only that, we are also prescribed meditation and the development of certain yogic attitudes for better mental wellbeing. There is the concept of Ahimsa that requires us to cul...
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How to Manage Stress Effectively with Yoga
Did you know stress produces mental as well as physical symptoms? Apart from the fact that stress makes us short tempered and irritable, it also causes muscle pain and tension, headaches, tiredness, indigestion and loss of libido. So, there are very good reasons for all of us to find ways to lower and remove stress from our lives. As a mind-body system of wellness, yoga is one...
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Hypertension & Yoga – World Hypertension Day Special
May 17 is observed the world over as Hypertension Day – a condition we generally know of as high blood pressure. This is a day meant to increase awareness about hypertension, which is so common in the population but so often goes undetected. It is also a day when we can resolve to make lifestyle changes that will help to naturally control high blood pressure.
Why is hyp...
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What Is the Jal Neti Pot and How to Use It
I have, in the past, spoken about Jal Neti, which is a part of six purification systems of Hatha Yoga. Jal neti or water therapy helps to maintain good respiratory health. A jal neti pot or a neti pot as it is commonly referred to, helps with this therapy. A neti pot is a device that is very widely used not only in India but also abroad.
What is a jal neti pot?
As yo...
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Oil Pulling or Kavala-Gandusha – What Is This Ayurvedic Therapy?
Oral health is thought to be a mirror of one's overall physical health. So it makes sense to be particular about looking after oral hygiene and health. Among the many ancient Ayurvedic therapies that are now being rediscovered is oil pulling for dental and oral hygiene. Though it sounds like some sort of new and strange sport, it is actually an oral health therapy that has bee...
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Forgiveness or the Importance of Not Holding Grudges
I once read somewhere that holding a grudge is like drinking rat poison and then waiting for the rat to die. The analogy seems a little extreme, but do think about it for a minute: nursing grudges isn't only just completely futile, it actually harms the person who refuses to forgive. In the yogic lifestyle as well, forgiving is a vital aspect of wellness and is vital for achie...
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The Importance of Introspection & How to Look Within
Knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom, said a wise soul once. I continue the train of thought I expressed in my last blog post… another thing that we had time for during the lockdown was to introspect and really think about life. As we slowed down, literally and figuratively, we had the time and the inclination to examine ourselves and our lives. So why and how shoul...
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The Art of Slowing Down and Living in the Present
There is so much that the pandemic lockdown of 2020 taught us. We all suddenly realised how it was possible to be self-reliant without expecting others to do all our work for us. We realised that it was possible to live perfectly happy and complete lives with a lot less – there is so much that we do and own that is actually superfluous. Many of us simply got to know and apprec...
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Guest Lecture for SVYASA on “Living in the Moment” – Aug 31, 2020
I was invited for a third time to give a guest lecture at the SVYASA Yoga University on the topic 'Living in the Moment'. It has always been an enriching experience speaking with the audience on this platform, and this time was no different. We had an enthusiastic group of listeners who were actively participating throughout the talk.
Here's me giving this lecture onlin...
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