Did you know that low-impact exercise can be just as good for our health as more intense physical activities?

If you’re a student of medicine who is studying to attain a relevant qualification in the field – such as an online PhD nursing, for example – you would likely already be aware of the many advantages of gentle movement for our overall well-being.

Did you know that low-impact exercise can be just as good for our health as more intense physical activities?

If you’re a student of medicine who is studying to attain a relevant qualification in the field – such as an online PhD nursing, for example – you would likely already be aware of the many advantages of gentle movement for our overall well-being.

Let’s discuss the many health benefits of slow, low-impact exercises in further detail.

Slower-Paced Physical Activities: Examples of Low-Impact Exercises

Before we dive into the health benefits of participating in slower-paced physical activities, let’s explore some examples of low-impact exercises.

Yoga

With origins in ancient India, the modern-day practice of yoga has risen in popularity over the years. There are many different types of yoga to try, including:

• Hatha yoga – a slower and more gentle form of yoga characterized by deep breathing while holding static poses. This practice can be an excellent starting point for beginners. 
• Vinyasa yoga – incorporating fluid, dynamic, and relatively upbeat movements, this style can be more of an intense workout than other yoga practices. As such, it is best for more advanced or experienced yogis. 
• Bikram yoga – involves practicing yoga in a heated room, allowing yogis to quite literally sweat out bodily toxins while performing gentle, flowing motions. 
• Yin yoga – not for the faint of heart, yin yoga requires a yogi to hold static poses for extended periods of time. For this reason, it is particularly beneficial for restoring connective tissues and strengthening muscles.

Pilates

If you’re interested in taking up pilates, you’ll need to decide which type. For example, you can choose to partake in floor or mat pilates, which can be practiced in virtually any space – even in the comfort of your own home. Alternatively, reformer pilates requires the use of purpose-built equipment – such as reformer beds, which are box-like apparatus strung up with various ropes, weights, and pulleys. Reformer pilates is most often performed in a dedicated pilates studio. 

Tai Chi

Originating in ancient China, tai chi focuses on performing slow, flowing continuous movements in line with the breath. Are you keen to try tai chi for yourself? The ‘Body Balance’ group fitness classes often held at local gyms will usually incorporate elements of traditional tai chi, making them a great way to try it out for the first time.

Gentle Walking

Finally, let’s not discount the many health benefits of a slow, low-impact walk. The best part? A walk around the block or a local park is almost always a free-of-charge activity – unless you stop to pick up a takeaway coffee at the corner coffee store, that is. If you’re paying for a gym membership, you can enjoy many of the same health benefits as walking around the block with a gentle indoor stroll on a treadmill or cross trainer instead.

The Benefits: Reasons Why Slow, Low-Impact Exercises Are Good for Us

So, what are some of the health benefits associated with slow, low-impact exercises? Some of the advantages include:

Enhanced Heart Health

Slow, low-impact exercise improves the health of our internal organs, in particular, our heart. How? Aerobic activity – even at low to moderate paces – aerates the levels of oxygen flowing through the blood, which has benefits both for the respiratory system and for the heart.

Better Brain Health

As well as being good for our mental well-being by aiding us to release stress and increase our serotonin and dopamine production, low-impact exercise is also beneficial for the health of our brains. For older adults in particular, engaging in gentle movement can even ward off the likelihood of developing dementia.

Reduced Risk of Developing Diabetes

The risk of developing diabetes can also be minimized through low-impact physical activities. Gentle walking has been found to be particularly effective, with diabetes studies demonstrating that combining gentle exercise like walking with changes in diet can reduce the risk of diabetes development by as much as 58%.

Possible Weight Loss

Another benefit of partaking in gentle exercise regularly? You could potentially lose weight. Decreasing our body’s storage of excess weight – especially, our visceral fat – has a multitude of benefits for our health, and can see us enjoying a better quality of life.

The post The Health Benefits of Slow, Low-Impact Exercises appeared first on InnoHEALTH magazine.

No matter what your child’s age, you’ll always be a little worried about their development and if you’re doing enough. When they’re babies and toddlers, you check over their milestones regularly and stress if they aren’t aligning exactly. As they grow older, you see them struggle to learn sports or watch as they somehow trip up the stairs. These examples are merely instances of natural growth and development, though they can be a constant struggle for anxiety-ridden parents. 

Simple, everyday practice is the most important tool here, so let go of the parental guilt. You’re doing enough. Most coordination skills will come on their own over time. That being said, learning more and growing your toolbelt of fun activities can increase your children’s opportunities for practice.  

Skills Involved in Coordination 

Most skills associated with coordination boil down into one of two categories. 

Fine Motor

Fine motor coordination is the ability to control movements in the hands and wrists. Fingers should be able to demonstrate a wide range of motion. It also involves the capacity to know how hard to grip objects across scenarios.

Example: using scissors

Gross Motor

Gross motor coordination involves the rest of the body, including arms, legs and trunk. These skills are necessary for almost every movement and even remaining upright. 
Example: walking

Ways to Develop Gross Motor Coordination

Your children need gross motor coordination to accomplish most of their daily movements, like walking and giving you a hug. Incorporate these activities into your routine to give your kids plenty of practice.

1. Swimming

Swimming requires dramatic arm and leg movements, supported by a strong core. Getting your child into swim lessons early will help prevent injury and increase coordination between these body parts.

2. Kicking and Throwing

Children as young as two can begin learning to manipulate a ball. Try rolling it back and forth at first, then work your way up to moving the ball in different ways. As they get older, your kids can practice more complex movements by participating in sports or practicing throwing, catching and kicking skills at home.

3. Dancing

Dancing is fun for all ages. Get little ones used to movement early on by playing music and demonstrating bobbing your head and moving your arms. Once they’re older, you can dance your heart out in the living room to their favorite jams or enroll them in a dance class.

4. Taking the Stairs

Once your child has sufficient balance, between 18 months and 2 years, get them to the playground. It’s possibly the best way for your kids to work on their gross motor coordination. They have opportunities to hang, climb, jump, slide, crawl and many other excellent movements. They’ll enjoy the outing, and you can rest knowing how much their little brain is developing.

5. Yoga

Yoga is a mind-body exercise requiring slow, carefully controlled movements of the entire body. Yoga used to be primarily a practice for adults is now inundating daycares, schools and family homes. Jump on the train by playing kid’s yoga videos at home or attending a class open to all ages. 

Board games are a staple for family fun, making a serious comeback in homes nationwide.

Ways to Develop Fine Motor Coordination

Fine motor coordination is also essential to your children’s daily lives. As they progress, they’ll become more independent with tasks like dressing themselves and completing school or daycare activities. Use these ideas to support your kids’ natural development.  

1. Baking

Baking requires various fine motor skills — measuring, kneading, decorating, separating and pouring. Young kids should always have parental assistance when using the oven and handling potentially harmful ingredients like raw eggs. You can slowly release control as they develop in maturity and skill. 

2. Making Crafts

Crafting is an extremely broad activity. You can go in whichever direction you and your kids’ interests lies. Little ones just starting can use jumbo crayons to doodle. Older kids can practice sewing by hand, working with clay, stringing beads for jewelry and painting to practice different types of grips and finger movements.  

3. Playing Board Games

Board games are a staple for family fun, making a serious comeback in homes nationwide. You can work on many skills simultaneously, including reasoning and basic math. However, many overlook the fine motor skills necessary to roll dice, move pieces on the board, hold cards and grab small items. 

4. Independent or Assisted Self-Care

Parents longingly wait for the day when their children become responsible for their own self-care. Instead of doing everything for them and waiting for them to take over, give them the opportunity now. Expect a steep learning curve. You’ll need plenty of patience, but practicing feeding themselves, getting dressed, tying their shoes and brushing their teeth are all steps toward independence. 

4. Building with Legos

For kids who may not be interested in other hobbies like art and baking, building blocks and Legos are an ideal pastime. Let your children explore their imagination while working on pincer grips and fine motor manipulation. 

Yoga used to be primarily a practice for adults is now inundating daycares, schools and family homes.

Proper Coordination Takes Time

Sometimes, a child may not be developmentally ready for a form of coordination. Their neural pathways and body parts may still need time before physically being able to accomplish a skill. Follow your child’s lead and encourage them where you can. 

Even if your child delays with a milestone, you can rest easy knowing most kids will catch up suddenly and progress normally. However, if you notice an increasing lag, talk to your doctor. Occupational and physical therapy are beneficial tools for kids who need extra help developing these skills. Early intervention can get them back on track developmentally. 

Composed by: “Ava Roman is the Managing Editor of a women’s lifestyle magazine. Her interest lies in learning yoga, advocating for body positivity, or exploring her culinary skills. “

The post How to Help Your Child Develop Their Coordination Naturally appeared first on InnoHEALTH magazine.

The word YOGA is derived from the Sanskrit (The Ancient Indian Language) YOG/YUJ meaning “to yoke,” or “to unite”. The practice aims to create union between body, mind and spirit, as well as between the individual self and universal consciousness. Such a union tends to neutralize ego- driven thoughts, Stabilize mind and behaviours, creating a sense of spiritual awakening. There are different types of YOGA like Raaj Yoga (Ashtanga Yoga), Hath Yoga etc, and each of them have their own limbs/Components. For example limbs/Components of Raaj Yoga (Ashtang Yog) are:-

1. YAM (Moral Code)
2. NIAYAM (Disciplines),
3. ASAN (Yoga Postures),
4. PRANAYAAM (Control over breathing),
5. PRATYAHAAR (Withdrawal of Senses),
6. DHARANA (Concentration),
7. DHYAAN (Meditation),
8. SAMADHI (Salvation/ Super Spiritual Position)

There are Total eight limbs of Ashtang Yog. In Sanskrit “Ashta + Anga ” is ashtanga. “Ashta ” means Eight and “Anga ” is limbs so it means Eight Limbs. These limbs are actually the steps to reach the super spiritual awakening related to that particular type of yoga. But we can follow only some of the limbs of any type of yoga to live a healthy and peaceful life like ASAN, PRANAYAAM, and MEDITATION. This is what people are doing. The practice of Yoga started with the ancient Indian civilization. The science of yoga has thousands of years ago. Shiva, The Hindu GOD, called the Aadi Yogi (Means the first one or the initiator who achieved the super spirituality) OR Mahayogi (who achieved the biggest/Highest level of all types of YOGA).

Adiyogi poured his knowledge into the legendary Saptarishi which means “seven sages”. These sages then carried this science to different parts of the world. Later On the great Sage Patanjali systematized and codified the existing practices of Yoga, its meaning and its related knowledge through his Yoga Sutras known as “Patanjali Yog Sutra”. After Patanjali, many Sages contributed greatly for the preservation and development of this science through their well-documented practices and literature.

Ayurveda this body is made up of 5 elements — Space, Air, Water, Earth and Fire

Nowadays many people follow Yoga-Posture (ASAN) and PRANAYAAM (Breathing Exercise) to keep themselves healthy. It is true and it works. According to YOGA and AYURDEDA (Ancient Indian Medical Science) you cannot reach a super spiritual position without having a healthy body and a healthy mind. As we all heard, “A sound mind lives in a sound body”. So these ASAN and PRANAYAAM help you to heal your disease, Stabilize mind and senses and help you to live a healthy life.

The ancient Indian literature VEDA including YOGA and Ayurveda given the concept as :- “Yatha pinde tatha brahmande, yatha brahmande tatha pinde” The translation of this quote is as “All that is in the universe is within you, and All that is within you is in the universe. Means your body is a miniature universe. Also as per the Ayurveda this body is made up of 5 elements — Space, Air, Water, Earth and Fire.

It means YOGA and ARYURVEDA help us to connect with nature and with the universe. The simple concept is:- if you keep in touch with nature, you will stay healthy. There are many things that we should know in depth before practicing and teaching YOGA to others so that we can achieve all the benefits of this great science.

Composed by: “Ravi S. Mishra is an Instrumentation and control engineer. He has done research on ancient Indian literature, Science and History including Astrology, Ayurveda, Yoga etc for many years.”

The post The Real Definition, History and Principle Behind YOGA appeared first on InnoHEALTH magazine.

There is a very intriguing relation between the two where a peaceful mind gives the solutions to a problem and a sustainable environment can only thrive with a balanced mindset. The amount of pollution created by us, the humans, has invariably led to the rise of various diseases and thus a chaotic situation as witnessed through the COVID-19 pandemic. The sedentary lifestyle, surrounded by concrete jungles and unhealthy consumption of food is often making a person sick, people are now in dire need for a healthy living and through Yoga this is often controlled. The self created environment of man has become the root cause of diminishing his very existence and one cannot escape the present lifestyle but a new lease of hope can be culminated through the practice of yoga. 

The best part of yoga is its existence in the environment. Meditation calms the mind and it gives the option to hear the music of nature (chirping of birds) which is otherwise lost in the honking of the horns. Research has shown that touching the soil with your hand elevates your mind as the microbes present in soil have effects on the brain in the same way as any antidepressant drugs. Our five senses as depicted in Yoga are connected to Nature and one of the most vital role is played by Water. The first pollution was witnessed in water and through the book ‘Silent spring’ written by Rachel Carson on the spread of harmful pesticides like DDT in water, this problem was known to mankind. The reason behind the celebration of June 5 as Environment day is the starting of the Stockholm Conference in 1972 for awareness about the environmental pollution to all the 152 and more participating nations. The first environmental law was the Water Act that came in force 1974. Water thus is the most integral part of our existence.

Yoga also depicts water in various forms like ‘touch’ witnessed by cold water therapy which controls the anxiety, improves the circulation, enhances the immunity and provides better emotional and physical resilience, uplifts the mood and clears the toxins from our body. The ‘taste’ of sweetness or salt is enhanced by the digestive juices secreted in our body and they are controlled by the drinking water. After a heavy shower the earthy smell of soil known as ‘Petrichor’ comes which enriches our smelling senses and uplifts our mood. After rainfall the trees and plants also liberate beneficial natural chemicals known as Phytoncides which have a very positive impact on our immune system and mood upliftment. Researchers have found that there is a strong correlation between the sound of the waves and serenity in the mind. 

The intermingling of both gives a clear picture that if we are causing harm to the environment it will cause an impact on our physical and mental well-being. The world Yoga day as witnessed on June 21 is also the same day when the sun appears at its highest elevation to mark the solar solstice and there are so many yogas related to sun hence this day was unanimously declared by the United Nations as ‘Yoga day’.

The five elements of Yoga like Air, Water, Fire, Earth and Space are connected to the Environment. The imbalance in any of them will cause problems for mankind. We need to preserve our earth by leading a sustainable lifestyle where the importance of Yoga is known to everyone. The answer to our good health lies in our environment and this reminds me of the lyrics of Bob Dylan that  says ‘The answer, my friend, is blowing in the wind. The answer is blowing in the wind’. 

Composed by: “Dr Debleena Bhattacharya is presently Assistant Professor in Marwadi University (MU), Rajkot, Gujarat. Prior to joining MU, she has worked as Project coordinator for BIRAC-SRISTI PMU, a joint venture of Govt. of India and NGO located in Gujarat. She received her doctoral degree from IIT Dhanbad and her area of interest is wastewater treatment, environmental biotechnology, and molecular genomics. She has authored a book published by CRC Press, U.S.A alongwith scientific papers & book chapters.”

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Whatever fell beyond this boundary was probably not considered Ayurveda. In recent years, with newfound pride in its legacy, Ayurveda has regained its vitality to reclaim its rightful place.

In recent times, people seem to have regained interest in discovering different ways to stay  healthy for a long time into their old age. In sickness too, people often face a dilemma of choosing treatment from two available systems: modern or alternative. The former has built  its foundation on biomedical experiments and the latter has evolved from a lived human  experience of centuries. Alternative, which is also known as complementary medicine,  includes an array of systems ranging from scientific to folklore. It includes Yoga, acupuncture,  traditional Chinese medicine, and AYUSH. The AYUSH systems, which stands for Ayurveda,  Unani, Siddha, and Homeopathy, have an established conceptual framework – proven and  unproven – about the working of the normal human body, etiology of diseases and their therapy.  

Ayurveda, a tradition of India for over 5000 years, reached its zenith around 100 BC by which its earliest stalwarts had created a cogent system, which had a logical strong foundation, a  well-constructed edifice, and a demarcated boundary. Whatever fell beyond this boundary  was probably not considered Ayurveda. The authors, Charka, Susruta, Vagabhat and others compiled experience, gained over previous centuries, in well-defined texts like Charka  Samhita, Susruta Samhita, Ashtang Hridaya and others. Their intuition, observations, logic, and ethics set high standards for the pursuit of knowledge, which guided this tradition for a  long time. 

The treatises of Susruta and Charaka were translated into Chinese language in the 5th century  and into Arabic and Persian languages in the 8th century. The Arabic translation reached Europe  by the 12th century. The British showed some interest in Ayurvedic systems but after 1835, with  the passage of the English Education Act, they discouraged Ayurvedic and other native  systems and gave preference to practice of western medicine. For the past many centuries, the  system was not able to maintain original vigor and the knowledge withered or remained static.  

In recent years, with newfound pride in its legacy, Ayurveda has regained its vitality to  reclaim its rightful place. Many institutions have been working on different paths to reach a  common goal: seek the truth in ancient knowledge, preserve what is known and unravel the  unknown. After centuries of dormancy, multiple paths are reasserting the relevance of  Ayurveda. 

The path of the purists and preservationists:

The purists believe in the divine wisdom of  Ayurveda, which originated from Brahma who passed it to Prajapati who in turn handed it to  Atreya and so on. Among the Vedas, it is Atharva Veda, which describes diseases and therapy in a systemic manner, though there are references to diseases in the earlier Rig Veda. The purists follow the Ashtang (eight-fold) system of Vagabhat, which includes Kaya Chikitsa  (Internal medicine), Shalakya Tantra (Head, Eye and ENT), Shalya Tantra (Surgery), Agada  Tantra (Toxicology), Bhuta Vidya (Psychiatry), Kaumara Bhritya (Pediatrics), Rasayana  (Antiageing therapeutics) and Vajikarna (Fertility, aphrodisiacs). The classic practitioners  follow the ancient practices in letter and spirit, which they consider perfect and need no  modification.

Traditional practice:

The followers of this path are Ayurvedic doctors who get training from  government accredited Ayurvedic medical colleges. Their training includes curriculum like 

1. anatomy, physiology, and microbiology, which later culminates in learning Ayurvedic texts  from ancient masters like Vagabhat. They use traditional Ayurvedic methods and biochemical  tests and radiology to arrive at a diagnosis. Many traditional practitioners have no  compunction in using western medicines to treat their patients even if they are forbidden. 

Commercial:

In recent times people from all societies seem to have rediscovered the benefits  of plants and herbs in health and disease. Two reliable market reports estimate that the herbal  market size of the world could reach between 168 billion USD and 428 billion USD by 2026.  WHO estimates that approximately 3.5 billion people in developing countries use plant-based medicines. At present, half the medicines in the market have natural origin. 

Profit drives the followers of this path. The marketing campaigns make generous use of well meaning words like organic, natural, herbal, antioxidant, detox. Market compulsions lead to  claims that these products promote health, wellness, strength, cure diseases and are harmless  without side effects. Such claims may not be Illegal but are often unsubstantiated.  

Currently, India has a small share of the world market, partly because of poor R&D and  quality standards. For international acceptance, recourse to clever marketing is essential but  not sufficient. Integration with international markets would be possible if Ayurveda pursues  intellectually honest research through established scientific methods to establish its veracity. The seekers of truth in ancient times used analytic methods available then and in modern  times we should not be reluctant to use the tools of science available now. The integrated  R&D could extend to manufacturing to match international quality. This could yield  enormous economic benefits.

Public health:

Ayurveda has inherent strength in its philosophy to contribute vastly to public  health. Unfortunately, this strength remains underutilized. An Ayurvedic public health  system, with its holistic approach, could lead common folks to a healthier lifestyle. With its  development and investment, an effective Ayurvedic health system could lead many public  health functions: prevention of the preventable diseases, improving nutrition, promotion of  physical activity, Yoga, mental health, and rehabilitation of the disabled. A dedicated public  health system based on Ayurvedic principles will go a long way to reduce disease burden.

Advocacy:

Activists and believers have pursued this path to persuade the government to  become enablers of an AYUSH eco-system. Their efforts have succeeded in opening new  organizational structures, institutions, and funding for various avenues of growth. More needs  to be done in basic research, standardization of therapy, patent laws, consumer protection and  integrated education.

Integrative medicine:

Healthcare will flourish when we harmonize the biomedical system  with Ayurveda; for too long these two have been running on parallel and often antagonistic  tracks. It helps vested interests to keep the two systems in conflict; it is time to find synergies  between them. The results of such merger should be quantifiable, replicable, and verifiable.  Making the impact quantifiable avoids inscrutable jargon which is a part of intuitive claims. Two myths prevail about Ayurveda. One held by biomedical doctors, who decry Ayurveda as  quackery and the second perpetuated by Ayurvedic practitioners that their treatment has no  bad side effects. Both are wrong. Here are two true stories from real life to counter both myths. 

A close friend had severe vertigo; his head would swirl unless he lied down immobile. These  episodes affected his personal and professional life. He spent a few years in treatment from  many modern medicine doctors including one at a reputed academic center but got no relief.  Out of desperation, he went to a prominent Ayurvedic clinic and under their therapy he got  considerable relief.  

In contrast, another friend was treated by an Ayurvedic doctor for abdominal pain, which  worsened despite the caring diligence of the doctor. After many months, when she switched to  a modern medicine doctor, it was too late. She succumbed to her disease and died soon after,  partly due to her disease and partly due to toxicity of the herbal drugs. The implication of these stories is that modern medicine should discard its smug superiority  and Ayurveda should shed off its halo of holiness. None of them can claim to be a panacea.  

Doctors already in practice could be offered courses both in Ayurveda and modern medicine to enhance their skills.

Integration of the two systems could happen in the medical college or later at practitioner  level. Students enrolled in modern medical colleges could take a course in Ayurveda; those  who want to specialize could be offered advanced courses following MBBS. Doctors already in  practice could be offered courses both in Ayurveda and modern medicine to enhance their  skills. Over the long run, the two-track medical education of Ayurveda and modern  biomedical medicine could be integrated into a single track; synthesis of the two systems  could evolve into a modern Indian system for healthcare delivery. The consumer would  benefit if she were not faced with the dilemma of choice.

Biomedical model:

Last two centuries have seen marked advances in understanding health  and disease by studying the human body as a biological machine. Investigators of the biomedical  model have developed a molecular basis of understanding the normal and abnormal  functions of the human body in health and disease. New diagnostic technology has evolved in  tandem to understand what was mysterious before. Therapeutic knowledge has exploded in  this field of biomedical models so that humans now live longer and healthier than even before  in history.  

There are groups of investigators, who are diligently using modern tools to unravel the  ancient knowledge. Some excellent work has been published in scientific journals and can be  searched in medical knowledge data banks like PubMed and others. To globalize the  knowledge and products of Ayurveda, we should meet international standards of research and product approval. The current gold standard is publication is a high impact peer reviewed  journal and approval from the FDA, USA. A serious inquiry into the ancient may reveal  kernels of truth and some fallacies. We should be bold to discard the fallacies and welcome  the truth. 

Like many others in this field, our group, Atrimed (Named after sage Atreya, teacher of  Charaka and Susruta) has also been working on an integrated Ayurvedic-biomedical model. Since 2003 we have been investigating the molecular basis of ancient therapeutics. We  believe that plants, which have evolved for over 2 billion years, can inspire new drug discovery. Plants are factories of nature. Phytochemicals and secondary metabolites can lead to new  bioactive compounds. 

In the last two decades, Atrimed group has diligently built a library of all previously published  Phyto-molecules and established a repository of real extracts from plants mentioned in  Ayurveda. Atrimed also experimented in preserving endangered plant species in tissue  culture. The virtual and real library could possibly be one be the largest in the world.

Such research necessitates the use of trans disciplinary teams to use technology from many  labs. Some examples are recombinant technology to produce target protein; molecular  biology to study biological reactions; tissue culture to study the effect of investigational  molecules on living cells. Atrimed uses computational chemistry and a docking software to  study these phytochemicals and has developed a software to predict absorption, distribution,  metabolism, excretion, and toxicity. To understand the therapeutic value of nutrition we are  developing software to see the effect of food at molecular level, which may help in  understanding the poly-pharmacology of various Ayurvedic drugs. Atrimed has also succeeded in developing plant molecules with verifiable anti-viral activity both in lab and clinical setting. 

Atrimed has collaborated with many reputed institutions. Some of them are Rajiv Gandhi  Institute of Technology, Bangalore Bio-innovations Center, Rastriya Vidyalaya College of  Engineering, Nitte center for animal studies, Nitte Gulabi Shetty Memorial Institute of  Pharmaceutical Sciences, Institute of sciences Bhubaneshwar, Regional Center of  Biotechnology Faridabad. Our company Atrimed has been awarded by Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC) and recognized by many government and  private organizations. 

The work of the Atrimed group has led to development of over one hundred effective products,  which meet international standards of safety. Some products have been retested for safety in  European labs to ensure they are free from toxic metals and pesticides. Manufactured in C GMP or FDA approved facilities, some of the products have been registered with FDA. As a  result of high-quality work, Atrimed products are selling in India and many countries abroad. 

Regulators and consumers:

The recent Ayurvedic resurgence forms but a minuscule part of  the health and wellness universe. The private and public initiatives can expand only if  enabled by the government and accepted by the global consumer. From the regulatory  authorities in becoming enablers to people becoming informed consumers, all intermediary  stake holders need to participate in rejuvenating this tradition. The regulators could help evolve the market with a multi-pronged initiative, which would  include new laws for intellectual property, new integrated medical training, funding of  original research and controlling fake claims in marketing. 

The growth of Ayurveda also requires an informed consumer who is equipped to utilize Ayurvedic or modern medicine. As many diseases are self-limiting, either one may suffice but  the decision is critical when the disease demands an expert’s help for recovery. Ideally, the  treating physician would keep the patient’s best interest foremost and guide her towards the  best available treatment. But it gets muddled due to financial incentive the physician gets by  providing treatment. In both modern and AYUSH systems, the practitioners range from  altruistic to commercial, from competent to charlatans. Perhaps the ethics of ancient  physicians are as important as modern technology. Ethical partitioners and empowered  consumers probably provide are the best guardians for reinvigorating Ayurveda.  

In our euphoria of novel discoveries, the ancient wisdom has been,  unfortunately, relegated to an inferior status because of perceived low utility. But discarding  ancient wisdom of our inheritance may be inimical to achieve the target of a healthier and happier human life. The rejuvenation of Ayurveda needs a new impetus, which integrates the  traditional intuitive method with the analytical reductionist method of western science. The  tradition of Ayurveda deserves neither derision nor worship; it needs honest investigation to  establish its validity globally.

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The benefits of yoga are solicited by the amount of balance, body awareness, and concentration, incorporated in one’s life and further promotes healthy aging.

Holistic wellbeing strikes a balance between physical and emotional well-being. It focuses on various aspects of life. If one adopts a holistic health strategy in their life, they will notice improvements in their emotional, psychological, and spiritual well-being. After learning about the holistic health method, many have been able to overcome stress, sadness, addiction, and low self-esteem. The benefits of yoga are solicited by the amount of balance, body awareness, and concentration, incorporated in one’s life and further promotes healthy aging. The balanced mind helps us in understanding the needs of our mind and body, and also the propensity to develop a disease-free, healthy and beautiful body. A body free of disease and discomfort, both physically and emotionally.

It is a therapeutic method that frequently entails the use of a variety of complementary medicines and alternative healthcare methods. This method assumes that a person’s environment has an impact on him or her. As a result, it is preferable to choose nutritious foods over junk food or an unhealthy lifestyle over natural remedies. People want immediate results at the expense of long-term consequences. They do not live a complete and healthy lifestyle and do not benefit from the pure energy, vigour, and tone that god offers.

Researchers have proven that lifestyle decisions, whether made deliberately or unknowingly, cause illness or early mortality.

Any person’s mental attitude is influenced by what he chooses to hear or see, as well as what he wants to learn from the experience. Researchers have proven that lifestyle decisions, whether made deliberately or unknowingly, cause illness or early mortality. Consumption of excessive sugar, coffee, or embracing unfavourable mental attitudes such as anger, stress, or the use of drugs, alcohol, cigarettes, or a lack of exercise on a daily basis will degrade one’s personality in the long run.

Holistic health therapies take into account a variety of conditions and gradually but steadily enhance various levels. Holistic health is a continuous process that involves a variety of lifestyle factors such as diet, sleep, exercise, and daily routine. It assists the individual in supporting the body’s natural healing system and allowing them to begin living happily. It creates a state of equilibrium in which a person begins to accept responsibility for his or her own optimal health.

Composed by: “Javleen Girdhar has a passion for holistic health approaches that extends beyond fitness. She is an educator and trainer for dieticians and nutritionists.”

The post How do Yoga and Holistic Health correlate? appeared first on InnoHEALTH magazine.

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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It is said that the first yogi or ‘ADIYOGI’ was Shiva, and he is also the king of dance Nataraja. Maybe that’s why the Classical dances of India have their roots in Yoga, and their goal is union with the supreme consciousness through bodily transcendence. Thankfully, most of the reputed performing arts institutes and gurukuls have incorporated yoga in their curriculum.

I was drawn to yoga right from childhood as both my parents were classical dancers. It is hard for me to pinpoint when I started Yoga as it has always been there for as long as I can remember. But my formal introduction to Yoga (as it was a mandatory subject) was when I joined National school of Kathak, fondly known as Kathak Kendra, New Delhi under the tutelage of Nisha Mahajan.

So my first formal yoga session was as a Kathak student. We were told to sit in “Nispanda bhava” which is sitting with legs stretched out, taking support of a wall, hands resting on the thighs, and just passively listening to any sound. Gradually I started to feel that my senses were getting heightened.

Interestingly, though I was sitting in a passive state I was actively aware of the minutest movement, faintest of the sound, smells, and even touch. So, when I came out of it I was completely rejuvenated, fresh, and ready to go.

“In today’s time when most of us are getting consumed physically, mentally and emotionally, Yoga provides the much needed servicing of our body and more importantly conditioning of our mind.”

Nispanda bhava, as I got to know later is a conditioning method introduced by Shri Yogendra ji of “The Yoga Institute”. In which all the basic five senses( Jyanendriyas/ ज्ञानेंद्रिया) gets highly activated and you are conditioned to start your YOGA practices.

Recently, when I was doing this Advance teachers training course, from the yoga institute, I could finally understand its relevance with the first sutra (code) from the book “YOGSUTRA” written by sage Patanjali. The first sutra “ATHA YOGA ANUSHASANAM” (अथ योग अनुशासनम) means “Now begins the instruction on the practice of Yoga.” One has to be absolutely present in the moment (i.e. NOW) to initiate and understand the lessons of Yoga. However, Nispanda bhava can also be practiced to relax when you are tired. In today’s time when most of us are getting consumed physically, mentally, and emotionally, Yoga provides the much-needed servicing of our body and more importantly conditioning of our mind.

The similarities between a classical dance regime and yoga session

The final talk during my Advance teachers training course (ATTC) in yoga was on the similarities of dance and yoga. It is hard for me to put it in a nutshell here. But let me try. Before going further let me tell you that Patanjali’s Yoga has eight limbs or stages called ASHTANGA Yoga. They are further divided into two groups – Bahiranga (external or physical state ) and Antaranga ( internal or emotional/ intellectual state).

The very foundation of Indian classical dance begins by following a strict timetable or routine, which includes regular practice or ‘RIYAAZ’. The ‘Riyaaz’ is only possible when you follow a code of conduct towards yourself first (health and hygiene), secondly your conduct towards others (behaviour, attitude), and then of course respecting Space and valuing the Time. There is a similarity to the first two stages of Ashtanga yoga  (the eight limbs of yoga) i.e. YAMAS, the ethical and moral values, and NIYAMAS which is virtuous habits and observances. The dance form which I am currently pursuing is Odissi, which incorporates postures and movements that find their base in KARANAS. 

The Karanas are co-ordinated movements or actions of the body. 108 such karanas or units of dance are named and defined in the Natya Shastra, the most ancient text on the performing arts composed by Sage Bharata Muni. The unit of dance is defined by the stringing of postures (angahars), movements, hand (Hastak / हस्तक or Mudras/ मुद्रा) and feet positions( pada bheda / पाद-भेद) etc. This is somewhat similar to Vinyasa yoga which is a flowing sequence of specific asanas co-ordinated with the movement of the breath. So here one can correlate dance movements and ASANA, which is the third limb of Ashtanga Yoga.

Indian classical dance movements are complex and tough. A very highly efficient neuromuscular co-ordination is required to carry out complex choreographies, not to forget that an average solo dance recital might last from 30 minutes to an hour duration. It is a fact that to last 30 minutes on stage a dancer should at least practice 2-3 hours daily. And to sustain that long on stage you need immense stamina and consistent flow of energy. This can be achieved by practicing different breathing techniques which comes under Pranayama or the fourth stage. Regular practice of Pranayama helps a dancer to maintain a steady flow of energy throughout the performance.

The above four stages described comes under Bahiranga Yoga, which enable or help the dancer to master the technical aspects of the art form i.e. Nrittya or pure dance. Then comes the interesting transitory phase, PRATYAHARA or the ego detachment. The word Pratyahara means “to withdraw”. In Ashtanga Yoga, it is known as the bridge between the Bahiranga yoga and the Antaranga yoga.

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Nivedita Joshi is a multi-dimensional person with significant accomplishment in the field of Yoga. She is imparting her knowledge about Iyengar yoga through her institute ‘Yogakshema’. Her personal ordeal with slipped disc, cervical spondylosis, an early-stage scoliosis has made her bedridden and invalid for eight long years. She even lost her ability to move her hands and legs. An inspirational road to recovery started when she joined as a patient under the tutelage of the legendary B.K.S. Iyengar, pioneer in the field of Iyengar yoga. Her twenty-two years of training and hard work has motivated her to help others through her knowledge.She has penned down her knowledge in a book on Yoga for the visually impaired in Braille. This book was released internationally during the first International Day of Yoga celebrations at the UNESCO Headquarters in Paris.

Surgeon R Admiral V K Singh, Editor in Chief of InnoHEALTH took her interview to get a glimpse of her inspirational journey from yoga to Yogakshema. This interview is important to honour her to let people know about her achievements on International Yoga Day

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