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Yoga, Meditation and Ayurveda- India’s three invaluable gifts to the world

InnoHEALTH magazine digital team — Wed, 02 Feb 2022 05:24:23 +0000

Yoga, Meditation and Ayurveda are three of India’s invaluable gifts to the world. These are part of the ancient wisdom passed down from generation to generation for thousands of years and today have become an integral part of Indian culture and tradition. One can be curious about how these ancient old practices have still managed to remain relevant in today’s time. The answer lies in their deep-rooted connection with the life process which is directly proportional to nature’s functioning. Recent studies and scientific research have shown several benefits in physical fitness and mental health by including the trio in one’s life. Here is an in-depth understanding of Yoga, Meditation and Ayurveda and their importance in our daily routine

By bringing flexibility in the body and controlling the regulation of the breathing sequence can cure many common diseases like Diabetes, Blood Pressure, Osteoporosis, Arthritis, Asthma, to name a few.

Yoga

Although there is no proof of who discovered this unique style of exercise, its origin can be traced to the Indian civilization over five thousand years ago. The word Yoga comes from the Sanskrit word Yog which means union. It is said by making Yoga part of our daily routine we unite our consciousness with the universal consciousness.

Pranayamas and Asanas are the two fundamental components to make the practice effective. The inhalation and exhalation of breath is known as Pranayama and the body position in which the breathing pattern takes place is known as the Asana. By bringing flexibility in the body and controlling the regulation of the breathing sequence can cure many common diseases like Diabetes, Blood Pressure, Osteoporosis, Arthritis, Asthma, to name a few. It also brings strength, endurance alongwith a youthful body and a glowing face. In ancient times Yoga was taught as an ascetic discipline in India but today it is getting famous around the world and being practised by every section of society for its impeccable results.

Regular practice of meditation can bring tremendous changes within us.

Meditation

Meditation is a unique practice to strengthen the ability to concentrate and awaken the consciousness long lost in the chaotic circles of thoughts. It emphasises the importance of the ‘power of now’ i.e the importance of being present at the moment. Regular practice of meditation can bring tremendous changes within us. Not only does it help in reducing all sorts of mental illnesses and heart ailments but it also opens the door to new possibilities in terms of finding a perspective in life, realising our full potential, and most importantly liberating us from the chain of negative thoughts which are the root of all our downfalls in life.

For thousands of years, monks of the east have been practising meditation to deepen their understanding of life and penetrate through the clouds of mystical forces. Great sages and peers have always said that meditation is a key to opening the third eye. While giving clarity in perception, strengthening intuition, improved concentration and decisiveness, the third eye can bring you to the state of blissfulness away from desire & sadness and unlock the door of spirituality.

Ayurveda

Ayurveda is the oldest form of medicine coming from the roots of ancient India. Based on the integrated approach of creating a balance between body, mind and soul, the treatment of Ayurveda begins with the treatment of Internal purification. It is the amalgamation of organic remedies that involves Yoga, meditation, massage therapy and a herbal diet. Just like a unique fingerprint, every individual has a particular pattern of energy that lies in the mind, body and soul. Ayurveda works in the direction of proper regulation of these energies. Vatta (the energy of movement), Pitta (the energy of metabolism and digestion) and Kapha (the energy of the structure) are the three basic energy forms, the imbalance of which causes diseases according to Ayurveda. Many people use Ayurveda as a complementary treatment in combination with allopathic treatment to heal completely from a particular disease.

The ultimate goal of Yoga, Meditation and Ayurveda is to help one lead a healthier and balanced life. They may not give instant results but will surely bring a positive change within.

Composed by: “Riccha Arora is a homemaker and a mother of two year old. She has had a passion for writing from a very tender age and also writes in blogs on parenthood & travel.”

Photo from Unsplash

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Exercise in big parks can reduce depression

InnoHEALTH Magazine — Wed, 11 Apr 2018 08:51:44 +0000

Those who exercise in large parks in cities are less prone to depression

Availability of large neighbourhood parks encourages people to increase their physical activity, and those suffering from chronic conditions who regularly exercise in these parks are less prone to major depression, a new study has found. Besides increasing physical activity, regular exposure to outdoor green spaces improves cognitive functioning and lowers mortality risks. This is significant for those with chronic conditions like arthritis, diabetes, asthma and heart diseases as they are the most vulnerable to depression.

The study was done in Delhi, which has several public parks in residential areas. “Large parks in Delhi have diverse landscapes and are more likely to receive regular and frequent visitors, providing an opportunity for regular socialization,” say researchers.

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People who used large-sized neighbourhood parks walked for more than 150 minutes per week, the study found. For overall health, fitness and cognitive maintenance, the World Health Organization recommends adults to engage in 150 minutes of physical activity per week.

Dr. Debarati Mukherjee, lead author of the study says,” High levels of exercise encourage birth of new neurons which aid memory functions and learning.”

Researchers measured the association between park availability and major depression in 1208 adult park-users in Delhi. Major depression was measured using a structured clinical interview. Compared to residents exposed to large parks, major depression was 3.1 times higher among those exposed to small parks. They also showed that large-sized parks reduced stress and increased satisfaction with the immediate living environment.

“There are several mechanisms by which mental health is enhanced by physical activity. This is largely by increasing levels of endorphins in the brain” said Dr Dorairaj Prabhakaran of Public Health Foundation of India and one of the researchers. Endorphins are a group of chemicals that are natural mood elevators.

Dr. Mukherjee says that high levels of exercise encourage birth of new neurons which aid memory functions and learning. Physical activity is also thought to reverse cell and tissue damage as seen in Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s.

Researchers point out that negative impact of shrinking green spaces due to rapid socio-economic development in metropolitan cities has not been studied, stressing the need for more studies on the matter. In addition to health benefits, urban green spaces reduce air and noise pollution. They also function as an important habitat islands for urban wildlife.

Certain neighborhoods may enable behaviours that promote mental health, while other residents may find it more restrictive to follow a healthy and happy lifestyle.

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Dr. Mukherjee says, “Our study provides the first empirical evidence of the benefits of availability of parks in the Indian context. It highlights the importance of having large parks near people’s living quarters”. The study could be a model for similar studies in other cities across the country.

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The scientists also recommend inclusion of urban green spaces in city planning to increase overall health of people. Their findings come at an important time whena largescale development in major cities is being undertaken in the country. “This is an opportune moment given that development of sustainable cities is ongoing in 109 cities selected in the SMART Cities Mission. Allocating municipal land for large urban parks should have a high priority,” adds Dr. Prabhakaran.

Altogether, 11 scientists from India, America and United Kingdom contributed to this study. Participating institutions include Centre for Control of Chronic Conditions, Public Health Foundation of India, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Rollins School of Public Health USA, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine UK. The findings were recently published in journal Health and Place.

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Read all the issues of InnoHEALTH magazine:
InnoHEALTH Volume 1 Issue 1 (July to September 2016) – https://goo.gl/iWAwN2
InnoHEALTH Volume 1 Issue 2 (October to December 2016) – https://goo.gl/4GGMJz
InnoHEALTH Volume 2 Issue 1 (January to March 2017) – https://goo.gl/DEyKnw
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InnoHEALTH Volume 2 Issue 3 (July to September 2017) – https://goo.gl/MCVjd6
InnoHEALTH Volume 2 Issue 4 (October to December 2017) – http://amzn.to/2B2UMLw
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AYURVEDA: MOTHER OF ALL HEALINGS

InnoHEALTH Magazine — Mon, 27 Nov 2017 09:27:56 +0000

The fundamentals on which the Ayurvedic system is based are essentially true for all ages and so can be easily adopted time after time, century after century – By Indu S Arya

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Ayurveda is generally understood as ‘Science of life’ translating ‘Ayuh (r)’as life and ‘Veda’ as science. Ayurveda is an ancient system of life and also the oldest surviving medical system in the world. Dating back almost 5000 years, it is also considered to be an ancient science of healing that enhances longevity. It has evolved from the quest to have a happy life, through a deep understanding of creation and its maintenance, perceived and conceived by the rishis or seers of ancient India. Ayurveda emphasizes upon life in general with bit more emphasis on human life.

Its influence can be found in many ancient traditional methods of healing including Tibetan, Greek, and Chinese medicines thus making it the ‘mother of healing’.

The fundamentals on which the Ayurvedic system is based are essentially true for all ages and so can be easily adopted time after time, century after century. The philosophy of Ayurveda teaches a series of conceptual systems characterized by balance and disorder, health and disease. It teaches that am person’s mental, emotional and spiritual being are all interconnected and any kind of imbalance between them results in health disorder and diseases. Therefore, to be healthy, harmony must exist between the purpose for healing, thoughts, feelings and physical action.

Health and disease are defined in a very special way in Ayurveda. Ayurveda’s central tenant is that life is a manifestation of mind, body, soul and spirit. Body and mind are prone to suffering while the spirit is free of any such trappings of life. Thus to remain healthy and happy, efforts are required to be made in the direction of maintaining harmony among all these elements and only then can one get closer to the goal of longevity and disease free life.

Science of Ayurveda

Ayurvedic science is not merely a traditional Indian form of medicine but a perennial naturopathic system of healthcare that has survived the test of time as well as onslaught of modern science and methods of treatments. Based on wisdom acquired through the centuries, the main aim of Ayurvedic science is to achieve perfect health by creating an equilibrium of perfect harmony between human body and the environment it habitats.

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Ayurveda is also known as the science of living a healthy and disease free life. It is built on the premise that in olden days, man used to live close to nature and whenever he got exposed to some disease, he used to cure himself using resources and material provided by the Mother Nature. It therefore would not be wrong to say that Ayurveda charts out a health patter based on nature and its natural resources.

The Vedic philosophy believes that human beings are all a part of nature. Just as animals and plants are interdependent on each other to create balance within their beings, there is a concurrent and inherent connection between the universe and human beings. The complex world that the human beings reside in, is perpetually exposed to environmental changes. Any amount of change in weather, lifestyle, diet, work, emotions and relationships can easily tip the balance and negatively influence an individual’s state of mind, body and soul.

Ayurveda calls for a complete harmony of human body with the elements of nature and the surrounding environment for a stress free and healthy life. The Ayurvedic science does not merely deal with medical science but its scope goes much beyond the universe of the conventional science. It also includes factors like herbal medicine, body works, and surgery apart from social, psychological, ethical, spiritual and intellectual life of human beings.

Ayurvedic Body Types

According to Ayurveda, each one of us has a unique mix of three body principals that constitutes our mental, physical and spiritual well-being. These three principals are known as doshas, which are further classified as Vatta (air ether), Kapha (water-earth) and Pitta (water). But each individual has its own unique constitution that is usually governed by one or two of the doshas predominantly. It means that that our Ayurvedic constitution is mainly be either of these doshas or a mixed constitution of two doshas like Vatta & Kapa, Kapa & Pitta or Vatta & Pitta.

Kapha:

Kapha governs all structure and lubrication in the mind and body. It is the principle that holds the cells together and forms the muscle, fat, bone, and sinew. It controls weight, growth, lubrication for the joints and lungs, and formation of all the seven tissues — nutritive fluids, blood, fat, muscles, bones, marrow and reproductive tissues. It helps build excellent stamina but when it goes out of balance it can also cause a person to become overweight, sleep excessively, and suffer from the problem of diabetes, asthma and depression.

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Pitta:

Pitta dosha controls digestion, metabolism, and energy production. The primary function of Pitta is transformation. Those with a predominance of the Pitta principle have a fiery nature that manifests in both body and mind. Pittas have a lustrous complexion, perfect digestion, abundant energy, and a strong appetite. When out of balance, Pittas may suffer from skin rashes, burning sensations, peptic ulcers, excessive body heat, heartburn, and indigestion.

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Vatta:

Vatta dosha is known to govern all the movements of mind and body. From controlling the blood flow to elimination of the waste and harmful toxins to breathing and the flow of thoughts in the mind; the vatta dosha is like a predominant force that minimizes stress and feeds the creativity within you. If the vatta dosha is in balance, you will feel energetic, enthusiastic and lively, but the moment it becomes imbalanced, it manifests in the body problems like constipation, hypertension, fatigue, digestive challenges and restlessness among others.

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Ayurvedic Herbs

Ayurveda understands health as a reflection of a man living in harmony with nature and disease arises when this harmony gets disturbed. In the ancient times, rishis and sages believed in Ayurvedic herbs as the solution to cure a number of health problems and diseases. The conducted thorough studies and experimented with these herbs before arriving at any conclusion regarding the accuracy of the medicinal values of these herbs and their effectiveness in treating various ailments and diseases. Due to their natural Ayurvedic herbs are considered to be free of any side effects and thus enjoy a global appeal.

Ayurvedic medicines are mostly formulated using a mix of herbs and other plants, including oils and common spices. By combining several kinds of plants and herbs to get benefit of the drug or therapeutic value, Ayurveda has proven itself capable of overcoming various health problems that occurs in the human body. Today, Ayurveda is being widely used in modern medicine systems. This was triggered by a number of research-conducted by scientific research and has proved how effective and positive the role of plants or herbs can be on human health.,/p>

Herbs play a vital role in the Ayurvedic system and a small herb is known to dissolve stones in the kidney, bladder and gall-bladder easily and effectively. Apart from timely cure, Ayurvedic herbs are also know to provide permanent relief from a disease by removing the metabolic toxins from the body. Know more about the various Medicinal Plants and Their Uses.

Ayurvedic Home Remedies

Ayurvedic home remedies are considered safe as they are natural and herbal in nature, therefore, free from any side effects. They have an advantage over other methods of treatment as Ayurvedic remedies are known to cure the disease form the root, effectively. Treating an ailment or a disease using Ayurvedic remedies will not only help you get rid from it permanently but also aid you in leading am healthy life in the long run.

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Some of the major benefits of using homemade Ayurvedic remedies include:

• Ayurvedic remedies are preventive as well as protective and curative in nature.

• As the emphasis is on using herbal and natural ingredients or things that can be easily found in the kitchen, it does not pose any danger of being toxic.

• These remedies are free of any side-effect and provide long term or permanent cure from the disease.

• The remedies also emphasize on the need for a lifestyle change with modification required in one’s diet, sleep pattern and other basic everyday activity. Therefore, the holistic approach towards the overall well-being of a person is much effective as compared to other conventional forms of modern day science.

Ayurvedic Medicines

Ayurvedic Medicines are fast gaining popularity across the world. One of the major reasons for it being that Ayurveda seeks to normalize body functions with varied techniques including advice on food and activity, internal herbal preparations, purification treatments (panchakarma), and surgical methods (shalya chikitsa).

Ayurveda is based on the belief that the delicate balance of mind, body and spirit determines health and wellness of the body. The goal of Ayurveda is prevention as well as promotion of the body’s own capacity for maintenance and balance. Ayurvedic medicines are non-invasive and non-toxic in nature and therefore are free from any side effects.

Using Ayurvedic medicines in your daily life enables you to re-establish balance and harmony in body’s system, aids in detoxification and cleansing of the body by removing accumulated toxins and normalize body’s functions. Products made using Ayurvedic plants have a stronger action on the body as they help in stabilizing the doshas.

Tulsi, Guduchi, Ajwain, Brahmi, Shilajit and Ashwagandha etc., are some of the most commonly used herbs in Ayurvedic preparations. Each of these herbs or spices hold a multitude of benefits — for the mind, body, and spirit and can be easily used internally or externally, depending on the need.

Ayurveda to the rescue

The daily activities of life in the modern world systematically wear us down and speed up the aging process. Ayurveda maintains it is crucial to practice daily rejuvenative regimens to counteract the stressful wear and tear of everyday life. According to Ayurveda the most important rejuvenative routines for your life are:

Going to bed by 10:00 PM. This simple habit is one of the most powerful techniques for health and longevity, according to Going to bed by 10:00 PM. This simple habit is one of the most powerful techniques for health and longevity, according to Maharishi Ayurveda.

Meditate daily any meditation that does not involve concentration (which has been shown to increase anxiety) can be very helpful. I highly recommend the twice-daily deep rest and enlivenment of the Transcendental Meditation (TM) technique, whose benefits have been verified by over 700 published research studies.

Eat organic, whole fresh food that is freshly prepared. There is an Ayurvedic saying: “Without proper diet. Medicine is of no use. With proper diet, medicine is of no need.” Be sure to avoid those leftovers, processed and microwaved foods for better nutrition and vitality.

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