Take Care Of Your Mental Health In Covid time!

2020 has been a turbulent year for many of us. Over a course of a few months, our lifestyles changed drastically. Going to the office which was a drudge, turned into a wistful yearning once working from home became a regular routine! How many of us enjoyed it? Initially it had its charm, after few months some, if not all, were ready for life to return of normalcy.

 

Social distancing was necessary to contain the spread of Covid. However, for people staying alone or did not have a support system to rely on, social distancing was traumatic. They felt lonely and isolated. This added to their stress and anxiety.

Each of us reacts to fear and anxiety in different ways. Constant stress and anxiety can lead to

A steady-state of mind, coupled with a healthy lifestyle practiced regularly considering all the standard precautions put forth by the Health Authorities are measures to ensure that some of the above fears are countered.

During these tough times it is very important to take of yourself and your loved ones. The first step would be to take care of your body first.

Remember the security announcement during every flight (during the pre Covid times that we all used to take regularly)? The security announcement and demonstration will ask to take care of ourselves first before tending to others. Which is why it is of paramount importance to ensure to take care our of physical and mental health in order to help others to attain the same state There are simple ways to take care of your body thus unwinding ourselves. All it takes is 15 minutes of our time.

Stay Connected: Stay connected with people important to you. Your friends and immediate family are people who will stand by you at all times. Ensure you maintain a healthy relationship with them.

No News: Do not be hooked to social media and read the news every hour. Watching the news every hour about the Pandamic can prove harmful. Take breaks from listening and watching the news.

Rest Enough: Ensure you take enough rest. Good quality sleep is very important. Have a routine and keep up to the routine. Change the routine every two weeks to break the monotony.

Eat Healthily: Eat healthy meals that are well balanced. Drink plenty of water that can flush out toxins daily.

Work On Your Hobby: Take up a hobby or interest which you had no time for before the Pandemic. It would be painting, drawing, knitting or solving jigsaws. These activities will keep your mind agile as well.

Talk about your worries. It is normal to feel concerned, scared and helpless in the current situation. Share your concerns with others you trust. They might face similar concerns. You can help each other out by talking about them.

Remember the saying. Tough times don’t last, Tough people do.

Love

Lifestyle Yoga Team

Yogic Lifestyle in Covid-19

All of us are facing the current effects of Covid19. In its aftermath, it has affected some of our social behaviour patterns, forcing us into solitude and isolation. This blog intends to try to make use of the “me-time” effectively and efficiently, thus uplifting morale and inducing a happier frame of mind that would eventually result in a healthier You!

Looking back, it seems that lockdown was not new for Indian Civilization as it was a part of Lifestyle.

Truth seekers, Yogis and spiritual gurus lived a self-isolated life to realize the ultimate truth or to have liberation. During this period of living with silence, surrounded by nature in its glorious form, it allowed to self-realize and self-purify the body, mind and energy with different Hatha & Tantric Yoga practices.

The human life is divided into 4 stages (Ashrama) – each one occupying ¼ or 25% of human lifespan.

1.The First Ashrama: “Brahmacharya” or the Student Stage
2.The Second Ashrama: “Grihastha” or the Householder Stage
3.The Third Ashrama: “Vanaprastha” or the Hermit Stage
4.The Fourth Ashrama: “Sanyasa” or the Wandering Ascetic Stage

Bhramacharya: This is the first stage of life and is the most transforming because it is here that a person starts to learn the value of discipline. You can associate this stage with trying out and beginning the practice of Yoga through Asana. The Asana requires to develop skills, focussed thought, balance and daily practice. It is the beginning of training the body and mind in order to allow it to achieve a higher purpose passing on through the other stages of life.

Grihastha: The second stage of life is where one armed with the discipline attained in first stage steps into the householder stage. Here one has to perform the duties of raising family. The material pleasures associated with raising a family is balanced with a continued spiritual outlook. In order to develop a balanced outlook, the practice of Yoga, Dhyana (meditation) is helpful so that one serves the needs of family and also pursues an inward journey required to seek the true self.

Vanaprastha: This stage can be related to a ‘retirement’ from active work life. It is a process of letting go of the past moment, week, month, year or any other time frame of one’s life when one strived to discharge the Grahastha duties. Letting go helps one to prepare the mind for the next stage as well as create the environment for others passing through similar stages of life to occupy what you let go, in a way. During our practice of mindfulness in yoga sessions, we constantly prepare the mind to let go.

Sannyasa: The wandering recluse.
The 4th type of ashram is type of ashram where the dharma and realization takes place. This is the stage where person is totally devoted to seek ultimate truth. He is known as Sannyasi. In this stage he has no home, no family and no other attachment, no duties and responsibilities. He is actually merging here with god. At this stage all the desire almost died, and concern of life becomes one that is moksha or to release from the circle of birth and death. (Very few Hindus has reached this stage of moksha)

Our ancient rishis and yogis were master’s in it, now it’s time for to learn this science. Yogis have always done action without association, they were able to detach easily, because they are following the simple principle, Abhyasa (Practice) and Vairagya(non-attachment).
It’s for all of us the practice.

This COVID 19 is great opportunity for humanity to attain peace within through the practice of Abhyasa (Practice) and Vairagaya (non-attachment).

 

With Love,

Bala Arvind