Yin & Yang Yoga Challenge

30-DAY’S YIN & YOGA YOGA CHALLENGE

YOU WILL PRACTICE 3-TIMES A WEEK TOTAL OF 12 YIN & YANG YOGA

Starting a yoga practice is one thing but maintaining it is a completely different story! One of the biggest struggles is getting on your mat consistently. Life has a tendency to get in the way!

If you’ve been in a “yoga rut”, this is the unique yoga program for you! With the ideal combination of Yin yoga, Hatha yoga, Vinyasa (flow) yoga, and core strength workouts, you’ll get the boost of inspiration and motivation you need to get back to your regular yoga practice while helping you get stronger, leaner, more flexible and a whole lot calmer!

A perfect of all Yoga Style

This 12 days course will have 12-amazing Yin & Yang Yoga, classes. Including 6-Yin, 3-Vinyasa, 3-Hatha classes. Vinyasa is a fabulous yoga class when it comes to building core and body strength. Where Yin Yoga is the deep opener of your connective tissue, ligament and bones and Hatha Yoga is all about merging two force shiva and shakti into one.

What Is Yin Yoga:

Yin Yoga: This style of Yoga targets the deep connective tissues of the body (vs. the superficial tissues) and the fascia that covers the body; Yin Yoga is to help regulate the flow of energy in the body. Yin Yoga is unique in that you are asked to relax in the posture, soften the muscle and move closer to the bone; offering much deeper access to the body.

Vinyasa Yoga:

Get rid of that excess body fat with a vigorous workout. If Vinyasa Yoga is new to you, then being part of this program and experiencing this wonderful practice is the right way to introduce yourself to it.

The word “Vinyasa” can be translated as “arranging something in a special way”; like Yoga poses for example. In our Vinyasa Yoga Challenge, students are going to learn how to coordinate movement with breath to flow from one pose to the next.

Lifestyle yoga is always happy to offer you this course and can’t wait for you to start the challenge!

Our team always put lots of effort and energy into building these classes and we are extremely proud of finishing this course. Share pictures and videos of yourself doing the program on social media by using the hashtag #12daysyinyang, You could even be featured in our newsletter

12-Unique Yin & Yang Class Will Deliver

Class 1: Hatha Flow

Class 2: Yin For Happy Hips

Class 3: Yin for Healthy Spine

Class 4: Vinyasa Flow for whole body strength

Class 5: Yoga-Tox for Toxin elimination 

Class 6: Yin Flow for Shoulder Arms and Wrists

Class 7: Core and Plank to the best abs

Class 8: Yin Flow for Legs

Class 9: Vinyasa Challenging Twist 

Class 10: Yin for the Whole body

Class 11: Hatha for Balance

Class 12: Yin Flow for Liver & Gall Bladder Meridian Lines

Our goal in life is to have Balance: Our goal is to become One with yourself. Sumit Manav Yoga always has been the yogi’s lifestyle, Not the people trend.

Location:

Live on ZOOM

Date & Timings

From ———

Timing: ——–

Days: Saturday, Monday & Wednesday.

Total 12 Hour Yin & Yang Journey in 30 Days

Price USD75/- Only 

Terms and Conditions:

Advance booking required

Refunds/cancelation

No Refunds and credit will be given for cancellation

All refunds are subject to a 10% processing fee that will be deducted from your refund.

Yoga mats, Changing rooms & shower facilities are available at the location.

Booking can be done through calling on 042546645 or WhatsApp-0552223542

Yoga and Ramadan – The holy detox!

RAMADAN KAREEM:

Ramadan Strengthen your Imaan, heal your heart.

With the holy month round the corner, speculations about staying healthy while fasting, the importance of fasting right and its effects on our body, are rife. Ramadan 2019 begins next month, and at this stage it becomes imperial you know the tricks to keep your mind, body, and soul healthy as you indulge in faith and self- discipline.

Ramadan is a month of introspection and devotion. Considered the holy month of the Quran revealed to the prophet, Ramadan is a testing time for most. Fasting and abstaining from worldly pleasures, negative behavior and ill thoughts, creates a sense of focus and discipline, which we tend to evade otherwise. Yes, the religious value of the month intensifies by the day, but those who follow it diligently will also swear by the benefits it brings to the body and mind. Fasting helps release toxins, reduce weight, regulate healthy intake of food and increase self- control, amongst numerous other benefits to the mind. As you fast from Suhur (dawn) to Iftaar (dusk), your body needs the right kind of boosts to keep calm and function right- and exercises precisely helps you with that!

Ramadan will be coming soon prepare. your mind, body and soul for the holy month gain maximum benefit.

While other forms of exercises may focus on the body, over mind and spirit; yoga cleanses and kindles it all- a necessity in this month. It pulls out and sheds unwanted toxins, thus creating a perfectly balanced base. Studies show that if the release of toxins in the body is slow it leads to headaches, migraines, and tiredness; while if it is fast, it keeps you energized and rejuvenated. Yoga ensures the latter.

The best time for yoga during this month would be once your body has received some food and energy- which would mean dusk or dawn. Those who are new to Yoga, it would be best to start off with gentle pranayama and move towards easy asanas involving forward and backward stretches. Refrain from intense asanas till your body has paced itself to the practice and rhythm. However, since you are fasting and bereft of constant external energy, it would be best to listen to your body and push it only to the extent that it can take. For those who have been initiated into yoga and practice it regularly, it would be advisable to tone down your challenge level and go for a month of relaxed routines.

Use this month of yoga and devotion, not to push yourself, but to understand your body better. With a controlled pace and regulated exercises, reflecting over the body speed, the energy levels, the strengths, and weaknesses, comes easy. Couple this up with healthy foods like fresh fruit juices, dried fruits like dates and apricots, soups, vegetables, yogurt, etc and you just gifted yourself the best detox month ever- for both your body and soul!

Yoga for Law Firms

Law firms are notorious for requiring long work hours from its employees, 50 to 80 work weeks are not uncommon among lawyers and paralegals. Long hours, competitive environment, high expectations, irregular hours are a few pressures, which create an intense working environment.

The always-on approach brings with it enormous moment-by-moment mental and physical costs. Unyielding stress floods your body with a cascade of hormones: Adrenaline pumps up blood pressure and makes your heart beat faster; cortisol raises your blood sugar level, and, if it remains chronically elevated, can erode your immune system. Not only does such chronic stress make you more susceptible to ailments such as migraine headaches and irritable bowel syndrome, but research increasingly shows it can raise your risk for more serious conditions, including heart disease, osteoporosis, and depression.

Statistics also show that a legal career is one of the most stressful occupations and that lawyers have disproportionally high levels of health-related symptoms. A John Hopkins University study of more than 100 occupations in the US found that lawyers had the highest incidence of depression and, in 1996, US lawyers overtook dentists as the profession with the highest rate of suicide.

Unfortunately, in most cases, the time demands placed upon law firm professionals limit their ability to pursue outside interests and hobbies. And this is where yoga guru Sumit Kumar Manav can make all the difference.

Sumit has devised various methods of meditation that involves movement, specific postures, and a focus on the breath. Repeated practice of these not only strengthens your body and the core but also leads to the development of qualities in an intangible way, as well. Developing a strong mind, being able to adapt and feeling mentally balanced are all virtues that can be expected from a yoga practice and that are particularly beneficial for attorneys.

Sumit takes the ancient knowledge of yoga further through a modern and holistic approach. By combining high energy exercises with passive relaxation techniques, he will give your body and mind a full workout designed to suit your physical and mental requirement. Sumit makes Yoga an integral part of life and not just a form of exercise.

Ways Sumit can improve on Lawyers’ health through Yoga:

Striking a Balance :Sumit has identified and devised various postures that can help the lawyers to achieve a perfect balance between the right and left hemisphere of human brain.

Listening :Concentration and the art of listening closely is essential for every lawyer, a lawyer cannot afford to miss out even the most minute detail in a conversation. With specific meditative techniques Yoga can help you listening mindfully.

Fighting Fatigue: Practicing yoga regularly can help you to be more energetic and efficient at your workplace

Enhance Logical Thinking: Yoga combined with some meditative techniques can improve your logical mind that is what most of the lawyers need. Research has proven that yoga’s emotional impact can help people handle stressful situations better.

Relieving pressure: The benefits of yoga practice include physical health, strength, flexibility and balance,yoga can reduce the pressure and easy the process

Relaxing the subconscious: Yoga works beyond your and helps you filter the thoughts that you don’t need to have can, in turn making you a more positive being.

De-stress: Lawyers can learn to art to adjust their emotional reactions in accordance to the stress their career brings along, with regular Yoga practice. Breathing exercises form an integral part of Yoga practice and combined with meditation techniques it gives you a complete package of relaxation that you can practice anywhere when you need to unwind

Self confidence: Yoga builds your inner confidence and teaches you to deal with uncomfortable situations with level headed approach.

Discipline: Discipline is the key to success for any thing you do in life. A disciplined yoga practice can help to reach any goal, especially for those for whom discipline does not comes naturally.

Why every yoga class should include meditation!

Yoga, today, due to various influences and theories is a rather misunderstood term. However, for the 21st century to understand the art and stick by it, variety is imperative. So be it your energy packed class of Power Yoga or the reflective session on Mindfulness, Yoga as you know it is meant to cleanse – internally and externally. So, if you’re class isn’t doing that, you know, exactly, what needs to change in life!

An effective Yoga class will work both on the body and mind, thus cleansing the spirit. So even if you have a weight loss routine, unless you control your mind to do so, the results will be minimal. Here is when meditation comes into the picture. However, unlike popular belief, meditation isn’t merely sitting cross legged with eyes shut. It is a process.

Sumit Manav, the dynamic yoga coach of Lifestyle Yoga, swears by its positive effects. It starts off with easing your body into a comfortable posture, relaxing the breath and observing it through the duration, he says.

Just like your body, the mind needs variety too. So meditation could also be done with chants, music, visual imagery etc.Manav, a student of the Osho principles of Meditation believes that the process though aims at concentration, healing and focus, is nothing but a sense of thoughtless awareness. It makes you aware of all the energies and elements within and outside you, which you would have otherwise neglected.

Benefits of Meditation:

  1. Body: Benefits of meditation to our body are multifold. The peaceful mind is the first step to curb palpitation, head ache, blood pressures (High and low) etc. Over the years its positive effect on controlling diabetes, heart disorders, digestion and chronic pain have also been observed.
  1. Mind: A healthy mind is the key to well- being and meditation helps maintain that. It reduces anxiety, stress, insomnia, fatigue etc. It is also widely known to work positively on patients of ADHD, short temper etc, thus creating a balance of sound body and mind.
  1. Lifestyle Benefit:It becomes easier to pan out your day, put in more clarity in each chore, sleep better, relax etc. By cutting out vices like smoking and drinking, you are urged to work better on your body, relationships, outer and inner environment as well, thus bringing forth a holistic development.
  1. Creativity: From your thoughts, aspirations to your actions, novelty and creativity merge in seamlessly. Solving problems becomes easier. Meditation deepens perspective, thus coaxing you to think and create better.
  1. Spiritual Growth: While spirituality may have different connotations for different people, the end goal is the same- self-realization, increased awareness and overall peace. With meditation, your spiritual needs are fulfilled and you find the inner connect, the intuitive powers, and a fine balance between the Shiva- Shakti or the Ida-Pingla.
  1. Personal Growth: Once the three ideals are attained, personal growth isn’t far away. Your decision making improves, confidence boosts up and there is an overall personality molding.

Thus, including meditation in your Yoga class will not only make it a holistic experience, but also add variety to your Asanas and complement it!

Yoga and Men – An Evolved Relationship?

Our childhood lays the foundation stones of society for us, and as we grow older, other stones stack up on this base, constructing a solid structure of our conscience, thoughts and beliefs.  One such common stone that makes up most of our lives is that of gender specific norms. So when someone or something rebuffs it, it seems like a crack in that building you’ve constructed.

A classic case in point would be the sphere of exercises – Heavy weights, extreme fitness training for men and gentle, softer fitness training for women. But because it is a sphere, what goes to men, goes to women too!

Yoga and Men share a deep relationship. Since its inception in the pre-vedic ages, Yoga has been practiced and taught by men widely. Most of our Yoga gurus today are men, including Lifestyle Yoga founder and curator, Sumit Manav.But years of stacking your stone may lead you to believe otherwise. Other reasons why men do not particularly take to Yoga are inflexibility, archaic body bends that may deflate their egos and a common misbelief that it doesn’t work on endurance and strength. That is why the art form, even today, is considered to be a largely female dominated one – one of the few rare exceptions in today’s patriarchal world. A research conducted by Mediamark Research and Intelligence, USA, showed that 77% of yoga practitioners were women. However, the study also affirmed that men had slowly started taking to the form as well.

Yoga is not strenuous, it won’t make you writhe in pain (unless of course you do it wrong). So easing into the form is gradual. If you are a man who has recently discovered the joy on the mat, these postures may just incite you to stick by:

  • TADASANA
  • VRIKSHASANA
  • UTTANASANA
  • VIRABHADRASANA
  • ADHO MUKHA SHVASANA
  • NAVASANA
  • SALABHASANA
  • SETU BANDHA SARVANGASANA
  • SUPTA PADANGUSTHASANA

The best thing about Yoga is – there is something in it for everyone. Common benefits for men, through Yoga are:

  • Increases Flexibility
  • Builds endurance and good health
  • Internal and external cleansing
  • Energy flow
  • Controls health risks like Coronary Heart diseases, cardiac problems, diabetes, and Bloodpressure etc.
  • Helps with other workouts and prevents injury
  • Focused mind and heightened concentration.
  • Makes you look and feel younger
  • Increases libido
  • Reduce body pain especially in areas like – lower back, legs, head, neck etc.
  • Builds immunity and strengthens productivity
  • Control cravings

Will you be the one hitting the studio today?

An unforgettable trip to the Land of the Gods

By Ram Ramnath

Nestled in the Himalayan foothills of Tehri Garhwal is the picturesque town of Rishikesh..justly famous as the Yoga capital of the world. And Rishikesh is much more than just that. While India herself has drawn seekers of spiritual solace over the centuries, Rishikesh occupies a special place, perhaps the epic center of this quest. The meditations of a million ‘munis’ (sages) has cast what can only be called a spiritual spell over this land and it’s not for nothing that the locals call it the ‘punya bhumi’ (blessed land) or the ‘dev bhumi’ (land of the gods). The Himalayas begin their ascent here to reach their snowy heights a few hundred kilometres to the north and to the east while the river Ganga begins her descent here to the vast gangetic plains to the south. It’s fashionable to talk of strategic locations these days but if spirituality, ageless nature and timeless culture were to come together to form a ‘strategic’ confluence, that would indeed be Rishikesh.

Just what the doctor ordered for a stressed, city slick group of yoga enthusiasts from Dubai looking for an escape from the rigours of humdrum urban living! And when Sumit Manav, the energetic founder of Lifestyle Yoga suggested a yoga retreat to Rishikesh, it was gratefully accepted. The group that left Dubai with Sumit was indeed a motley one – a middle aged man, four young women and a housewife, joined in Dehradun by another gentleman and a married couple. Motley it may have been, but united by a strong desire to rejuvenate and discover some hidden gems from the treasure troves of yoga and spirituality in Rishikesh.

The sense of excitement was palpable as we checked into Rishikesh Sadan – a small family run hotel cum yoga shala (school)  in a quaint little street . After a simple but refreshing lunch, the family arranged a ‘havan’ (prayer)  ceremony to mark the start of the programme. In true Hindu tradition, Lord Ganesha (the God of all good beginnings!) was invoked to bless this group followed by prayers to Shakti, the embodiment of woman power, the fount of humanity itself. The evening Ganga ‘aarti’ ( singing  devotional songs and lighting of lamps)  on the banks of the river opposite the Paramarth Niketan brought about a sense of inner calm , opening up the mind  to receive the inclusive warmth of one of the great pluralist traditions of the world – Hinduism.

As the next day dawned (a crisply cool 18 Deg C), the Dubai dwellers could hardly contain their smiles. Peak hour traffic and e-mail updates were replaced by serene, green mountains and the twitter (the real one, for God’s sake!) of a million birds. Sumit began the morning yoga session with a brisk warm up followed by a series of surya namaskars (sun salutations) and some Ashtanga poses to open up the joints and strengthen the core, rounded off by a pranayama series to improve breath control.

The main purpose of the retreat was indeed to get better in all aspects of yoga practice but we had plenty of time to enjoy the local culture and pursuits. Among them was a session of white water rafting in the swift flowing Ganga…an exhilarating experience , as the group bonded together , helping each other to keep the raft steady in the turbulent rapids of the  river flowing through a gorge ( even helping to pull out two of us that tipped into the water …great fun, no injuries !).

We also travelled to nearby Hardwar ( literally, the Gate to God’s abode !) to tour the Shanti Kunj, an institution created by  the Late Pandit Sri Ram Sharma that is serving society by spreading knowledge of the main tenets of Indian culture besides helping the needy by providing free schooling and health care. Adjacent to this is the  Dev Sanskriti  Vidyalaya , a  University  dedicated to scientific education in  Indian traditions , especially yoga  and  ayurveda . We were given an introduction to ‘yoganidra’ (technique for improving awareness and concentration) by Dr Kamakhya Kumar, a renowned scholar from the Bihar school of yoga in Munger. As he explained, Yoganidra is a part of ‘Pratyahara’ (one of the 8 pillars of Ashtanga yoga) and an essential gateway to ‘Dhaarna’, ‘Dhyana’ and ‘Samadhi’  (flow, meditation and renunciation) which represent the ultimate inner quest for truth of every serious yogi.

As for the yoga sessions in Rishikesh, Sumit was increasing the intensity with every passing day, in a calibrated manner! The morning sessions focused more on ‘core building’ Ashtanga series to strengthen the back and abdomen while the evening sessions devoted plenty of time to pranayama (breath control) and techniques to activate the chakras , helping regulate the endocrine and nervous systems. These were conducted on a beautiful balcony abutting a hill …at one with nature in the Dev Bhumi !  After several rounds of ‘bhastrika’, ‘kapalbhati’ and many variations of ‘anulom-vinulom’, (different and powerful breathing exercises) all of us could vouch for lighter bodies and relaxed minds, free of the nervous tensions that have become a part of city life.

The highlight of the trip was indeed the visit to Kunja Puri temple, at a height of nearly 1700 m above Rishikesh. It was a cool and overcast morning as we spread our mats out in the temple courtyard, in an indescribably beautiful setting. Perched on a hilltop, the courtyard was ringed by a balustrade before plunging into a valley and rising again to other lower mountains in the distance. Talk of strategic location again …a point from which one could witness a spectacular sunrise in the morning and an equally spectacular sunset in the evening. The atmosphere was so magical that it was impossible not to feel a spring in one’s step as Sumit put us through the morning’s session.

At this point the rain Gods welcomed us with some sharp showers, adding to the ethereal charm of the morning. We headed to the tiny teashop in the courtyard- and sipped from a simple clay cup, the most satisfying cup of steaming hot tea!

Internal cleansing is an important aspect of the holistic science of yoga. One day of the programme was devoted to a sequence of postures designed to cleanse the digestive track. A simple diet of ‘khichdi’ (rice and lentils) was followedby a brisk Vinyasa series(a flowing sequence of postures in harmony with breathing rhythm)  in the evening.

All good things have to come to an end  … and so it was with this retreat as the last day was rung in with a sequence of stretching postures , setting the stage for a deeply relaxing session of yoganidra involving opening up the chakras and pulling the energy aura from the heart chakra to the crown chakra. The climax though, was the celebration of the Hindu festival of colours as everyone let their hair down in colourful revelry. As the legend goes, Holi is the perfect setting to celebrate friendship ( ‘Holi Milan’) and an occasion for even enemies to put aside rivalries and celebrate the ‘connectedness’  of all humanity.  A perfect ending to a memorable week.

How to mediate in 4 easy steps!

Meditation is a systematic method of connecting the self-consciousness to the supreme consciousness .It’s a science that you have to follow and practice regularly to achieve best results.

One basic way to start this off would be to sit in a relaxed and comfortable position, without any physical botheration. The next step would be to control and relax your breath. Both your body and breath are integral to successful meditation. The third stage would be to control the brain, to do which you’d need a controlled body and breath- thus making it a cycle of basic needs!

The process of successful meditation is 4 fold:

RELAX THE BODY: For achieving the calm of mind, it is essential for your body and breath to feel so. So, start off with a simple Shavasana. This will not only help you increase body awareness, but also bring the chaos of your mind to a near still. Once you are aware of each part of your body, it will be easy to shift focus on the mind and reign it for meditation.

COMFORT: For you to achieve the perfect meditative state, it is essential to keep your body in a comfortable stance. The posture you hold should not affect or distract your body or breath. There are a few asanas in Hatha Yoga that would help you do so.

During these asanas, ensure your spine is erect by aligning your back, neck and trunk in a straight line. This facilitates better energy flow. You could always use chairs, cushions etc. to achieve this.

RELAX THE BREATH: After aligning the body, it is time to work on the breath. Irregular or haphazard breathing is bound to distract you- something that you do not need while meditating. Thus it is integral to breathe in a controlled, yet comfortable manner.

Start this off by observing your breath for 5 to 10 minutes. This will calm your mind as well. Slowly, you will observe it shifts from its regular pattern to a smoother, soundless trail of breath- an aspect that is also working on calming the body now!

OBSERVE THE BREATH: After you have observed your breath for 10 minutes, it is time to notch it up!

Nostrils play a very important role in meditation and yoga. The right and left nostrils are considered to be the Eda and Pinga (Sun and Moon Nadi)- two of the most important elements in achieving complete heightened consciousness.

The first step towards this would be to inhale from the left and exhale from right, thus shifting awareness. Do not block your nostrils as in pranayama. This is called NadiSodhan. Once you are done with 5-10 minutes of this, shift to pranayama with the same observation technique. You’d soon notice the change in your mind patterns. A compelling practice of NadiShodhan and Nadhan Pranayama will be the final stage towards a controlled flow of thought and consciousness!

Yoga, a must in our fast-paced and ultra-competitive world

It won’t be an exaggeration to call Yoga a must in our fast-paced and ultra-competitive world. One needs his mental and physical faculties functioning at their best to get the desired results while slogging it out almost every day to stay ahead of the competition. And that’s what yoga does — keeps a person on top of his mental and physical abilities, giving him the head-start over others.

So while the benefits of yoga are well known and appreciated, the challenge lies in getting started. But once one takes the plunge, it takes just a couple of classes for the body and mind to revel in the unlimited advantages of this ancient science.

People generally turn to yoga for fitness, more energy and leaner frame.  But what they take back, in addition to all this of course, is peace of mind and far more positive outlook and approach towards everything in life. Anxiety and stress keep us from giving our best, and yoga is the perfect antidote for the twin problem.

The biggest malady afflicting even the best today is a distracted mind, the inability to focus entirely on a task at hand. But meditation, an integral part of yoga, work wonders on our focus and concentration and enables us to give our undivided attention to the job at hand.  And we can only imagine what difference a fit body, a buoyant heart and stress free mind can make to our lives and those around us.

Effectiveness of Yoga

Yoga is a Sanskrit term which is mainly practiced to attain physical, mental, and spiritual peace and the disciplines have originated from Ancient India. Yoga is popularly defined as ‘the stilling of the changing states of the mind’ or ‘union with the divine’ in other contexts and traditions.

Just as the term suggests, Yoga can be effective in a lot many ways and is practiced all over the world. Let’s have a look at the effectiveness of Yoga:

Reduction of Stress: In a busy work schedule stress is a major problem for most of us. Yoga can help to overcome such problems as it emphasizes on deep breathing which offers immediate health benefits by lowering blood pressure, heart rate and a significant improvement in the delivery of oxygen to vital organs.

Flexibility: Yoga involves a lot of stretching which most people forget to include in their daily workout routines. Stretching helps to avoid injuries and can be very effective for athletes.

Poses like the cobra, downward dog and the butterfly are especially effective in improving flexibility in the hips, back, shoulders and hamstrings.

Maintenance of Weight: Yoga can be effective in preventing weight gain. It might not burn as many calories as compared to more traditional aerobic exercises but certainly keeps an individual in good shape. It might not lead to immediate weight loss but definitely a beneficial form of exercise which can have things under control

Pain Management: There are a lot people who suffer from chronic pain. Constant stress can lead to a lot of health related problems or a variety of painful diseases and conditions. As discussed earlier Yoga helps in reduction of stress which in turn makes an individual immune to stress related pain

Yoga helps to relax and release tension which can deal with chronic pain that leads to a healthy life. One can achieve a greater sense of well-being by just adding Yoga to their daily workout routine.

By Sumit Manav

Lifestyle yoga

Heal your workplace through Yoga!

10th mug of coffee. 25th roll of tobacco gone up in smokes. Perspiration trickling down your forehead as you pace around frantically, looking for the best solution. Your lungs gape for air, but it seems impossible to breathe. Your head is constantly bubbling with ideas, but nothing seems too good.

Seems like a situation you know too well?

A 2014 survey by Monster.com, a popular online employment search site, found that a surprising 42% quit their jobs due to increasing levels of stress at workplace, as compared to the 35%who contemplated on doing so. The sample set of 7000, majorly comprised of working individuals associated with multinationals, dabbling in highly competitive and fast growing work environments.

The survey took companies by a storm. While most big corporates with stronger HR units looked at employee vacations as the cure, some others introduced their employees to a healthier lifestyle choice. Introducing Yoga and its different styles, fitness routines like Zumba, aerobics etc; corporates not only ensured the employees stayed fit on the outside, but also healthy on the inside.

Why Yoga?

Practicing Yoga regularly is found to have multiple benefits. The most common among them being an increase in confidence, concentration and efficiency, flexibility and agility, resistance to sickness and an active soul. It is known to reduce anxiety and stress thus enhancing productivity. It reinforces positive energy and minimalizes health risks,that would otherwise be common.

Yoga and the workplace:

Now realizing the value of yoga and the benefits it will bring to their workforce, many companies have incorporated it as a part of their stress reduction and corporate wellness program. While some designate particular time of the day for it, some opt for shorter sessions concentrating on focal points like meditation and breathing. According to Yoga Journal companies like Forbes, HBO, GE and some Fortune 500’s like Nike, Motorola, Google, Apple etc focus on bringing their employees a happier, healthier life through yoga- thus leading way for many others to follow suit.When Super– a matchmaking mobile application for jobs- launched their Bombay edition, they ensured their employees were introduced to yoga sessions thrice a week.

What is it about yoga that makes big corporates and start-ups take to it, alike?

The answer is simple. Yoga is known to be the most effective way to cleanse your body, spirit and mind. A good session would not only leave you energized but also infused with the right amount of confidence, calm and positivity. Exercising together builds bonds and fosters closer relationship between colleagues, thus creating a fortified workforce. It is common knowledge that people who like and understand each other, work better as a unit.

The other key benefit of yoga is good health. The Monster.com survey brought to light that 61% of its respondents believed that work related stress brought them illness. So now along with vectors, bacteria or viruses, corporates had stress to beware from.  Every employer dreads those massive bunch of sick leaves that his/her employee may take, if at the brink of ill health. Yoga evades, (or atleast tries to) that possibility, thus reinforcing more output.

Regular practice of yoga also improves posture, body balance and confidence- all adding to your overall personality. Having a clear head is always great- be it professionally or personally. Employers usually love an employee who is confident, calm, energetic and motivated to work well- and thus encourage perks, raises and other key benefits for them. Happy workers lead to happy outputs, thus making the employers the happiest.  As sensitization to the workers is increasing, taking care of their health, well- being and most importantly ‘happiness’ has become requisite.

With an increasing number of takers, corporate yoga aims to bring good health to people- something that they forget or overlook in their daily hectic life. Staying healthy is essential, not just to be a good worker but also to be able to lead your life to the fullest- even if this means being with the family, taking a vacation with friends or investing in a hobby. If your health fails you, there is very little you can do.

So jump on to the bandwagon of good health, and the next time stress hits you- your lungs will be feasting on Pranayamainstead of breathlessness!

REF:

http://www.monster.com/about/a/dangerously-stressful-work-environments-force-workers-to-seek-new-empl4162014-d3126696

http://www.forbes.com/sites/kathryndill/2014/04/18/survey-42-of-employees-have-changed-jobs-due-to-stress/

Heal yourself and the world through Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra

Om TrayambakamYajamahey

SuganthimPushtivardhanam

Uruvarrukamivabandhanath

MrityurMokshiyaMamrithath.

We Meditate on the Three-eyed reality Which permeates and nourishes all like a fragrance. May we be liberated from death for the sake of immortality, Even as the cucumber is severed from bondage to the creeper.

Very few incantations can have the power that the above verse holds. Known as the MahaMrityunjaya Mantra or the Triyambaka Mantra, it literally translates to a mantra for Victory over death. Paying ode to the Triyambaka or Rudra (Vedic Shiva) repetitions of this mantra have found to be extremely beneficial for many.Tracing its origins to the very first veda- Rigveda, the chant reappears in the secondary Yajurveda and modern Atharvaveda. Legends associated with the chant go back to the days of Prajapati Daksha – Father to Sati, Shiva’s consort. It is believed Daksha cursed the moon (Chandra) to death. The moon, distraught, pleaded to Shiva who gave him the Mantra to slow down death. Chandra began reciting it and the effects were soon seen. To prevent the inevitable from happening, Shiva then placed Chandra on his head, a position he has assumed since then!

Yet another reference comes from the legend of Sage Markandeya. Born to a sage and his wife, in a forest, Markandeya is cursed with a short life of mere 16 years. On his 16th birthday, when Yama (lord of death) comes to take him, he sees Markandeya deep in penance, holding a Shiva Linga. The reaper extends his hoop over the little one and prepares to pull him, but it also entangles the Shiva Linga within it, thus pulling the Supreme along. Enraged, Shiva rises in his Roudraroop (form) with his third eye open and kills Yama under his feet. Now, Yama being the lord of death, plays an integral role in the world’s functioning. Fearful of the adverse, the other gods and demi gods pray to Shiva. He finally restores Yama to life and grants Markandeya immortality. So as to avoid such a thing from repeating, Shiva gives the MahaMrityunjaya Mantra to the world.

This mantra refers to Shiva in his most destructive form – With his third eye open (Triyambaka means the one with three eyes). Thus the verse loosely translates as:

Oh, the one with three eyes, we adore and worship you

It is you who has granted us the fragrance and flavor of life

(Now it is) you who can relieve those riddled in pain, problems and diseases

(And it is you) who can help theirs souls detach effortlessly from their bodies and gain immortality (like a cucumber from its vine)

Repeated and regular chanting of the MahaMrityunjaya has been found to have multifold benefits. They are as follows:

Since ages, these effects have been recorded and yet continue to do so. Hence, the importance of the MahaMrityunjaya Mantra to our lives can hardly be emphasized!

Thinking of DETOX? Do the Shankh Prakshalana!

Our lives move at a speed that our insides do not necessarily agree with. Thus, it is important to calm down once in a while, and bring all the reigns in tandem. This is the essence of detoxification – delineating the toxins from your body to give you a healthy mind and spirit.

Since ages, Yogis have been prescribing a special tool for detoxification – Shankh Prakshalana. This literally means conch cleansing. An important tool in Hatha Yoga, the process refers to deep cleansing of the intestines and bowels. Yoga sciences believe the body is a hinterland of energies and each organ has a specific role to play in this energy ecosystem. The intestines, for example, are the roots that hold the entire functioning together. One rupture here, and the effects are seen all over!

Since the intestines are shaped like a conch, its cleansing is called conch cleansing i.e. Shankh Prakshalana. The process involves cleansing of the entire alimentary canal – from the mouth to the anus. Also called Varisara Dhauti, it starts off with a light meal the previous night. On the day of the actual cleansing, drink warm water with dissolved rock salt and a dash of lime. Follow the following postures in cycles of 8 after consuming the water:

  • TADASANA (Mountain Pose)
  • TRIYAKA TADASANA (Swinging Palm Tree Pose)
  • KATICHARASANA (Waist Rotating Pose)
  • TRIYAKA BHUJANGASANA (Twisted Cobra Pose)
  • UDARAKARSHANA (Abdominal Stretch Pose)

Ensure you are well hydrated before every two rounds. You may also feel the need to visit the washroom often and this is normal. Once you are through with this, do the Vamana dhauti – Cleansing of the stomach and rest in Shavasana or Yoga Nidra. The meal followed post this practice is wholesome, but without too much spice, salt or oil – this helps restore energy and lubricate your digestive tract.

How does this help?

  • Your intestines and digestive tracts can now work at their optimum best
  • Relives constipation, menstrual cramps, flatulence, indigestion, acidity as well as acne and boils.
  • Fights urinary infections
  • Keeps kidney stones at bay
  • The meal involves a simple Khichri – mixture of rice and lentils. This forms a protective coating over the intestinal walls

The Shankh Prakashalana is just one of the numerous ways of Yogic detoxification.

At the rate at which our body suffers due to our schedules, detoxification once a month is the least we can do. Happy Cleansing!

Importance of yoga in daily life

We are all constantly running – whether it is to work, to college, after our kids, family, to run errands, to make ends meet. Always. Running. It is time to take a break – for yourself.

Our busy schedules, although subtly (but surely), impact us adversely. A break that calms you down, will not only help you work on this ‘negative impact’ but also make you bounce back at life with vigor and positivity. And no, this break cannot include cigarettes!

Yoga burst into the ‘fitness scene’ over the last few decades, but it has existed since the pre-Vedic ages (Probably since the earliest civilizations). For it to have survived this long, it must be doing something right!

Over the years numerous variations of the form have been observed, but a common thread stringing them together is the intention to cleanse and bring about a holistic rejuvenation. At Lifestyle Yoga, we practice Hatha, Ashtanga and gentle Vinayasa flow Yoga. Our classes though modern in approach, focus on the traditional principles of the art form.

Working on the body and the mind, Yoga cleanses your spirit. So while the Asanas work on toning your body and adding rhythm to life, the Mindfulness routines make you worry less and think more. While other exercises like Aerobics, playing a sport, Gymming may give you instant results, they hardly focus on your mind, let alone your spiritual well- being. Yoga, can be an enhancer for each of these, and yet work on building your spiritual conscience along with a focused mind and an alert body. That is why they say, it is not a form of exercise but a way of living!

Common benefits of yoga are:

  • FOCUS: Unless you control the mind to think right, the body is in shambles. So be it losing weight, or quitting a vice – unless your mind asks the body to do so, there is only so much you can do. Yoga helps you focus and brings about productivity. It also adds perspective to thoughts and helps you make better decisions.
  • GOOD HEALTH: It is essential to be healthy, to be happy. Yoga works on the body and the mind, so as to impact your spiritual being.
  • FLEXIBILTY: If you have seen Yoga gurus bend like elastic, it is because they can! A regular practice of Yoga will work on your body’s elasticity, making it flexible and thus improving energy, blood flow.
  • CONTROL: Yoga helps you control your vices – be it over eating, junk food, alcohol, smoking or drugs. Yoga helps you control anger and depression. It works on the mind and tackles psychological problems as well.
  • AVOID HEALTH PROBLEMS: A regular practice of yoga makes you healthy, thus tackling health problems like heart ailments, diabetes, blood pressures, arthritis, spondylosis etc becomes a cake walk. It also works on stress and a constant practice can help you eliminate it completely!
  • BUILDS IMMUNITY AND STRENGTH: In your fast paced life, a constant need to fight unwarranted ailments is imperative. Yoga builds your immunity to do just that. A regular practice of certain Asanas has also been credited with building strength of the body. Moreover, because Yoga can be practiced as a complement to your already existing exercise routine, it only enhances your chances at getting fit by the minute. Studies show, injury and pain induced by workouts and sports is reduced marginally after regular Yoga practice.
  • SELF AWARENESS AND HEALING: It is important to know why you do certain things, what its impacts are and why is it essential. Yoga helps you create this awareness. It heals you from within, making you a stronger person and giving you the positivity to look at life in a new spirit.

These are only a handful of Yoga’s benefits. Unless you try it, you won’t know the magic it can stir in your life.

Will you be the one hitting the mat today?