TAKING EDUCATION BEYOND THE CONFINEMENTS OF A CLASSROOM IS THE NEED OF THE HOUR. LET’S INTRODUCE A CURRICULUM THAT ALLOWS THE CHILD TO FOLLOW A DIFFERENT PATH OF LEARNING THAT IMBIBES VALUES LIKE TOLERANCE, FORBEARANCE AND HARD WORK SO THAT THE CHILD ATTAINS MORE THAN JUST AN ACADEMIC DEGREE.

What comes to your mind when you think of education? School buildings? Libraries? Textbooks? Curricula? Teachers? Examinations? Most of us, in all probability, associate education with at least one of the above-mentioned things, and surely many more could be added. But does education take place outside of such formal settings? Can curricula be found beyond that of the normal course of study? Can we find teachers who are teaching outside the classroom? Does education always needs be in a specific pattern? Is education only limited to textbooks and examinations? The students mind is programmed to pass the class with higher percentage so as to get admittance in good colleges.A profound analysis is required to understand the real meaning and essence of education.

From the time a child is born, the parents usually decide the career that their child should take when he grows up. The beautiful dreams on which every parent lays a foundation of their child’s future begins from the time the child goes to a playschool. This is the first encounter of the child to formal education. Here, they are taught how to eat, recite poems, pray to god, respect their parents and elders and lots more in a splendid environment. The costlier the playschool, the better it is considered. This practice continues when the child grows up and enters a world of superfluous competition, fallacious learning and superficial knowledge as he advances from Playschool to Gurukool. It has now become fashionable for parents to declare loftier goals for their children but their dreams are shattered when their children want to become a DJ instead of a doctor or want to take up the job of an Event Manager instead of becoming an engineer.

The difference between school and life? In school, you’re taught a lesson and then given a test. In life, you’re given a test that teaches you a lesson.
Tom Bodett
Real education must ultimately be limited to those who insist on knowing, the rest is mere sheep-herding. Ezra Pound

It is very essential for every individual on this earth to realize that the sole purpose of education is not merely to open doors for students to earn fat pay packages or to be technology savvy. True education begins at home. Let us not limit our education to books, Internet and newspapers. Someone once said, “The highest function of education is to bring about an integrated individual who is capable of dealing with life as a whole.” India has been known as the Land of Gurus and Gurukuls.

The Gurukul was where the students resided together as equals, irrespective of their social standing. The Guru was more than merely a teacher. He was a father, a guide and a role model for all the students. The students of the Gurukul lived a life of tutelage and obedience. They would leave their homes and their loved ones and come and live at the Gurukul for years to learn the lessons of life from their Guru. Life at the Gurukul was tough but at the end of their training, the students emerged as responsible individuals that were well learned and capable of facing the toughest challenges of life.
It was the time where the only source of learning was the Guru and where degrees didn’t matter – only knowledge did. The Guru (teacher) and the Shishya (student) shared a spiritual relationship based on the ideals of the student’s respect, commitment and devotion. The Guru’s duty was not only to teach the student a particular subject but develop the entire personality of the student. The Guru tried to develop the student’s character, versatility, strength and overall vision of life. Acquisition of knowledge was helped in a value-rich environment with focus on the development of the entire self. Learning, as understood from the Upanishads, is a journey on which the teacher took the disciple, from the familiar to the unfamiliar, from the known to the unknown and from the concrete to the abstract.

Today, we have confined our learning merely within the closed boundaries of institutions that we refer to as schools and colleges but often forget that human learning happens outside the classroom and people continue to learn throughout their lives. Only securing the highest marks in the most difficult subject or attaining a degree of the most contemporary course has become the sole motive. The teacher “teaches” and the students “sit and listen” and believe that the books and the teachers are always right. There are a very few lucky souls on this earth who get a chance to experience education beyond boundaries and then there are others who often find something ‘missing’ in their lives. Even when they have achieved the heights of material influence, often end up asking the question: “Is that all?” Inspite of living in a mad rush, they detect emptiness and the pace of their lives soulless.

The only way to bridge up the gap between the two is to educate every individual to be fully awake. If children are taught about mindfulness from the beginning they would have a better understating of whatever they do. No curriculum in any school or college recognizes or seeks priority to the inner life or seeks a balance between the child’s/students inner and outer lives. Even if some schools have taken a step towards this, it is only regarded as ‘extra-curricular’. Why can’t such things be a part of the routine without adding the burden of the ‘extra’ to it? It’s not only schools but the whole culture which tends to ignore this aspect.

It is disturbing to see children suffering from ailments like stress and depression and their visits to the psychologists and psychiatrists at such a tender age. Most of us think that childhood is the time of happiness and innocence but the bitter truth is that even they are under as much pressure as the adults. Born into a mercilessly hectic and noisy world, children may find that the only quiet moments they experience are when they are asleep. Let’s make them learn the power of being at peace even when they are awake through meditation so that they can automatically enjoy everything surrounding them.

There are many institutions that claim to provide comprehensive and holistic education but no examples are required to attest the current scenario. No high funda jargons or techniques are required to imbibe the indispensable wisdom into the students. Let’s teach and learn to enjoy the beauty of nature, train them to be tough to face all the challenges of life…be able to pray unconditionally, make world a better place to live for the children.

It would be wrong to only hold the schools and colleges responsible for the children’s education beyond the classroom. The academic education is also very essential. It gives an individual a better perspective to think broadly as it opens many doors and minds to provide a platform for the children to develop their own abilities and talents and realize their potential in some form or the other. If there wouldn’t have been academic education we wouldn’t have had engineers, computer professionals, mathematicians and so many other qualified people without whom our lives would be very difficult to imagine.

It entirely depends upon us whether we prefer being literate or believe in being educated. If only children could be made to meditate they would have an added quality of attentiveness, awareness within them. This would make their mind sharper, analytical and enhance their observation power as well. A calm and consolidated mind gives them the best possibilities of learning and growing with knowledge. Knowledge from books can never bring transformation, life as a whole should be our learning. Changing knowledge into knowing should be the ultimate agenda for education system.

May teachers and students sit together to meditate in every school of every city and village of India. So that teacher gets his/her capacity to teach and help students to move on the path of neo education system and grow mentally, intellectually and spiritually.
So, does education take place beyond the classroom? Certainly! May God guide us to help students learn the proper lessons. It would be wise to sum up with the very famous Chinese proverb:

“What I hear, I forget.
What I see, I remember.
What I do, I understand.”

Learning should broaden horizon – Dr Umesh Sharma Clinical Psychologist

I certainly do not believe in just sitting in a classroom – which is unnatural, unhealthy, and should be limited. To educate the individual as a free individual is to understand and use critical thinking skills for determining the truth for themselves. All our knowledge, our clothes are produced by others. Thus we owe to the society and have a responsibility to give back something to the society.

There are many reasons why children should participate in these details. It broadens horizons. Participating in activities enriches children’s life experiences and promotes physical development. From playing video games to surfing the Web, today’s society lures children towards sedentary activities like these. Playing a sport gets children off the couch onto the field.

Activities encourage team spirit and social skills. Parents and teachers must not only discuss activity options with children, but give them the power to decide which activities to sign up for. At the end of the season, get together again to re-evaluate whether or not to continue the activity. Moreover, I believe that when children practice meditation, they come in touch with the self and their thought patterns; they come to understand the inner dialogue. Then, they learn to discriminate and finally, they learn how to work with the self. These seeds should be sown in childhood. Instead, believers of all faiths, clinging to external rituals, impose their ideals on their children and force them to participate in their time-honored customs. This will keep them physically, intellectually, emotionally, socially and spiritually healthy.

Meditation and Yoga are essential for child’s growth – Mrs M K Maan, Director, Doon International School

The emphasis on academic achievement has had a by-and-large positive effect on student’s development. However, it tends to ignore individuals who may be different from the others, i.e. those not necessarily good at academics but brilliant at other things like music, dance, sports, computers, spoken skills, writing skills. Creative activities play a significant role in shaping a student’s personality. However, they must be well planned, keeping in mind the child’s inclinations, interests and abilities.

Another absolute essential is meditation and yoga as part of the training program for the child’s growth. I have been doing both meditation and yoga since the past three years and it has made a huge difference in my mental and physical health, fitness, my attitude and has turned me into a positive human being. I feel these must be made part of the school program in all schools.

I would like to change the prevailing education system to make the syllabus broad based with weightage for varied abilities as music, dance, sports, computers, spoken or writing skills etc included in assessment rather than just academic achievement.

There is something strikingly spiritual about this place. The loftiness of the mountains, the expanse of the undulating hills, the depth of the ravines, the softness of the wafting breeze and an endless sense of being – all these factors happen to touch the heart and the mind. These are the mountains that have beckoned, from long, long ago, a stream of wandering ascetics, religious scholars, devotees and travelers to their laps. There is a mention of these mountains in the Mahabharata when Pandavas ascended the slopes of a peak called Swargrohini or Ascent to Heaven. Just 4 kms away is Mana, where there is a cave where Vyas is said to have written the Mahabharata.

It is in these mountains that rishis, munis and yogis did severe austerities – some saints still are residing here in remote caves and sandy banks of the gurgling rivers. It is here that Goddess Ganga happens to descend to Earth from Heaven at Gangotri – the symbol of India’s culture and civilization, ever-changing, ever-flowing, and yet ever the same Ganga. It is here that Yamuna commences at Yamunotri; and Bhagirathi starts to trundle down fearlessly from Kedarnath; besides Alaknanda which meanders downhill from Badrinath. No wonder, then, this region is probably the most sacred in the world.

The water of the Ganga, especially at the source, contains no impurities and remains uncontaminated even after being kept over several years. While Hindus attribute this to its holiness, geologists say it is because of the minerals in it and scientists to the secretion of herbs.

This region consists of these four major pilgrim sites – one of them being part of the four major important temples of India established by none other than Adi Shankar himself centuries ago. Remember, these are holy towns, venerated by the people who come visiting on a pilgrimage and scarcely populated by simple-minded hill-folks, who are always under the influence of the positive vibrations of the region. And after you have finished your journey into this sacred region, you’ll come back a changed person.

Of all the four sites in this circuit, Badrinath is the most venerated. But this is not the first spot which you would probably go to. Your journey would start from Haridwar. You would obviously head for Yamunotri via Rishikesh. Since Yamunotri is a full-day’s journey from Haridwar, so start early in the morning. This place is the seat of goddess Yamuna as well as source of the river, and stands at the western flank of the perpetually snow-covered Bandarpoonch Peak (20,730ft). It is famous for thermal springs, including the Surya Kund, a tank full of boiling water into which rice and potatoes are cooked and taken as prasad. The source of Yamuna is at the difficult-to-reach Saptrishi Kund, said to have been venerated by the austerities of the seven rishis – Kashyap, Atri, Bhardwaj, Vishwamitra, Gautama, Jamadagni and Vashitha. The actual temple is six-kms-walk from the town of Hanuman Chatti. It houses the deity of goddess Yamuna, carved from black stone. She is the daughter of Surya and two sister of Yamraj.

After having touched the soils of the source of Yamuna, you’d head towards the source of probably the most venerated of rivers – Ganga. The seat of the goddess Ganga is at Gangotri, a two days’ journey from Yamunotri. This is a small town and the town as well as the life here is centered around the temple dedicated to goddess Ganga. This temple was built by the Gurkha General Amar Singh Thapa in the 18th century. The aarti ceremony is impressive as is the temple that sits on the banks of the gushing river. There are a few guesthouses and restaurants here which serve the pilgrims and the adventurous. A large number of tourists make an overnight 17-km trip to the actual source of Ganga at Gaumukh. Gangotri glaciers that start from Chaukhamba cluster of peaks extend up to Gaumukh. And river Ganga starts her long journey from within these glaciers. It is called Bhagirathi at the source and acquires the name of Ganga from Devprayag onwards where it meets Alaknanada.

The water of the Ganga, especially at the source, contains no impurities and remains uncontaminated even after being kept over several years. While Hindus attribute this to its holiness, geologists say it is because of the minerals in it and scientists to the secretion of herbs.

From Gaurikund, Kedarnath is accessible after a steep 13-km trek. Untrained persons can take up to one day on this paved path and spend the night at Garurchatti. As you approach from Garurchatti, the magnificent temple of Kedarnath becomes visible even halfway through. With the stunning background of towering white dome mantled with snow, the temple presents an enchanting sight.

There is an aura of peace and purity. Here, the unholy are said to become holy and the holy, holier still. The temple is built on a morainic ridge jutting out at right angles from the snowy range. Besides its affiliation with Lord Shiva, Kedarnath is believed to be the site of Adi Shankar’s samadhi.

Remember, these are holy towns, venerated by the people who come visiting on a pilgrimage.

Your last halt on this circuit would be Badrinath, a two-day long journey from Kedarnath. Interestingly, badri refers to berry which grows abundantly in this area and nath refers to Lord Vishnu. (Legend has it that Goddess Lakshmi took the form of berries to protect Lord Vishnu from inclement weather while He was doing penance.) According to The Bhagwad Gita, “In Badrikashram, Lord Vishnu in his incarnation as the sages Nara and Narayana, has been undergoing great penance for the welfare of all entities.”

The most visited site here is the Badrinath Temple, established by Adi Shankar in the 9th century. Of the several murtis here, the most important is the black stone statue of Lord Vishnu as Badri Narayana, depicted sitting in a meditative pose, rather than in His reclining posture. The temple is magnificent in its style and architecture. It is built on a ridge jutting out at right angles from the snowy range. It stands adjacent to the site of an earlier temple built by the Pandavas. Outside the temple door stands a large statue of the Nandi Bull built of large, heavy and evenly cut grey slabs of stones. How these were handled in those times remains a mystery.

Pay no attention!

Carrying home a load of delicate glassware, Mulla Nasruddin dropped it in the street. Everything was smashed. A crowd gathered.
‘What’s the matter with you, idiots?’ howled the Mulla. ‘Haven’t you ever seen a fool before?’

Pay full attention!

Nasruddin was not sure about Court etiquettes, yet he was among the notables who would be received by the Sultan when he visited the locality. He was quickly briefed. The King would ask him how long he had been living there, how long he had studied to become a Mulla, and whether he was happy about the taxation and spiritual welfare of the people.

He memorized his

answers: but they started in another order.
‘How long have you studied?’

‘Thirty-five years.’
‘How old are you, then?’
‘Twelve years.’

‘This is impossible! Which of us is mad?’
‘Both, your Majesty’
‘You call me mad, like you?’
‘Of course, we are mad, but in a different way, your Majesty!’

True lies!

‘How old are you, Mulla?’
‘Forty.’
‘But you said the same last time I asked you, two

years ago!’

‘Yes, I always stand by what I have said.’

Catch your rabbit!

People were talking about strange, sometimes mythical beasts, and someone iin the teahouse told Nasruddin that there were monsters to be found even near his own village.
As he was on his way home, the Mulla saw a new animal. It had long ears, like a donkey, but it was brownish, furry and chewing. So preoccupied was it that Nasruddin was able to steal up to it and catch it by the ears. He had never seen anything like this before. It was, in fact, a rabbit.
He took it home and tied it in a sack, forbidding his wife to open it. Then he hurried back to the teahouse.
‘I have found something’, he announced bravely, ‘which has ears like a donkey, munches like a camel, and is now in a sack in my house. There has never been an animal like this seen before.’
Immediately the teahouse emptied, and everyone ran to the Mulla’s home to see this wonder.
Meanwhile, of course, his wife had opened the sack, unable to restrain her curiosity. The rabbit bounded out of the house and away. She could think of nothing better to do than put a stone in the sack instead, and tie it up again.
Soon the Mulla arrived with his friends clamouring to see the monster.
He opened the sack, and the stone fell out. There was a dead silence. Nasruddin recovered himself first.
‘Friends, If you take seven of these stones, they will be found to weigh three-quarters of a pound.’

New Economic Law

During a crusade, Nasruddin was captured and set to work on the ditch near Aleppo citadel. The work was backbreaking, and the Mulla bemoaned his lot, but the exercise benefited him.
A neutral merchant passing by one day recognized him, and ransomed him for thirty silver dirhams. Taking him home he treated him kindly and bestowed his daughter upon him.
Now Nasruddin lived a life of fair cofort, but the woman turned out to be a shrewd.
‘You are the man, remember,’ she said one day, ‘that my father bought for thirty dirhams and gave to me.’
‘Yes,’ said Nasruddin, ‘I am that man. He paid thirty for me; you got me for nothing – and I have even lost the muscles I gained digging ditches.

Health is the buzzword. With changing lifestyles, every individual wants to stay healthy and look fit. With today’s scalating awareness pertaining to healthy means of living, comes the concept of ’smart cooking’. Gone are those morose days when no oil free food only meant boiled, tasteless and bland khichdi and daliya meant only for patients. We bring you recipes that are wholesome, lower cholesterol, reduce calories and are easy to make.
Come, let’s savour the flavour!

Nugget Satay

Ingredients

• ¾ cup nutri nugget granules – soaked in hot water for 20 minutes, strained and squeezed well
• 1 tsp jeera (cumin)
• 1 tsp ginger – garlic paste (½ inch piece of ginger and 4 flakes of garlic – crushed to a paste)
• 1 onion – chopped
• 1 capsicum – chopped very fine
• ¼ tsp haldi, ¾ tsp salt, ½ tsp red chilli powder
• ½ tsp garam masala, 1 tsp dhania powder (coriander powder), ¼ tsp amchoor
• ¼ cup readymade tomato puree
• seeds of 3 chhoti illaichi (green cardamoms) – crushed
• 1-2 tsp lemon juice or to taste
• 1 green chilli – chopped finely
• ½ potato – boiled and grated
• ½ cup dry bread crumbs
• few wooden or bamboo skewers/sticks

Method

Heat a kadhai (wok), add 1 tsp jeera. Let it turn golden. Add ginger-garlic paste and onion. Cook till light brown on low heat. Remove from fire.
Add masala – haldi, garam masala, red chilli powder, dhania powder, amchoor and salt.
Return to fire. Add tomato puree and chhoti ilaichi powder. Stir. Add nuggets and stir for about 10 minutes. Add 4 tbsp water and cook for 1 more minute. Add capsicums and cook further for 2 minutes. Remove from fire. Cool. Add lemon juice and green chillies.
Add the potatoes and bread crumbs.
Flatten a ball of this mixture on a wooden skewer. Do not keep the mixture on the skewer too broad as it falls, if done so. Cook from both sides on a nonstick pan till brown specs appear. Serve with tomato ketchup or green chutney.

Ignorance is a curse and women have to put the act together to be free from all ignorance. Women have been spoon-fed with this myth that when menstruation happens they must cut themselves away from hectic life and hide in the bedrooms – in some homes in the store room! Even in this modern age, there are homes where women are untouchables.

Apparently, society at large and women in particular don’t know a thing about what menses are.

Menstruation is a natural monthly cycle in women. The discharge consists of blood and cells which sheds from the lining of the uterus. The bleeding can last from two to seven days and signifies that no conception has taken place. The main hormones involved in controlling menstruation are estrogen and progesterone. The cycle begins when a dormant egg cell within an ovary begins to ripen. The cells around this maturing egg cell then release estrogen which prompts the lining of the endometrium to thicken as preparation for the receipt of fertilized egg. When the egg matures, ovulation begins. In ovulation, the matured egg will burst from the ovary and go down to the fallopian tube to the uterus. The cells that are left behind after ovulation will then begin the production of progesterone. This hormone, the progesterone, is responsible for the further growth of the endometrium.

Menstruation is experienced by women between puberty and menopause – between the age of 8 and 18 and last until between ages 40 and 60. The menstrual cycle of most women is about 28 days, though it can vary considerably from one month to another.

Though menstruation is normal, some women experience some dilemma during this cycle, like Menstrual Cramps or Dysmenorrhea, or Pre-menstrual Syndrome. They are normally asked to rest – probably the reason why elders asked them to stay in their room and forget home chores. But how this changed into banishment is a mystery.

Dysmenorrhea is a Greek word which literally means “Painful Menstruation”. These are abdominal and pelvic pains experienced before and during menstruation. Menstrual Cramps may last for hours or up to three days. The cramps may be mildly or severely painful and can be debilitating and interfere in regular activities, sometimes leading to absences from work, school or other functions. It is caused by uterine contractions and can be aggravated by emotional stress. It can be classified into Primary and Secondary Dysmenorrhea.

Primary Dysmenorrhea is the more common form that occurs with no underlying cause. It can be caused by platelet aggregation, vasoconstriction, or dysrhythmic contractions with pressure higher than systemic blood pressure. It is also believed to be caused by prostaglandins, a hormone-like substance produced by the uterine tissue, which triggers strong muscle contractions in the uterus during menstruation.Genetics, stress, obesity, cigarette smoking and body type also play a part as women have high prostaglandin levels but do not experience Menstrual Cramps.

Symptoms include headaches, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. The pain usually occurs a few hours before bleeding, comes to a peak within a few hours, and subside in one to two days. Rest, heating pad on abdomen or back, aerobic exercise, nutrition, and medication are common therapies. A balanced diet which includes adequate amount of calcium, fluids and Vitamin B6 can help prevent or alleviate pain. Medication may include non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as aspirin and ibuprofen, and hormonal alternation of the menstrual cycle. Hormonal alternation includes the use of oral contraceptives to prevent ovulation and decrease the thickness of the uterine lining which result to lesser prostaglandin production.

Secondary Dysmenorrhea is related to the presence of pelvic lesions such as endometriosis (implant of endometrial tissue outside the uterus), adenomyosis (benign growth of endometrial tissue in the uterine walls), pelvic inflammation, congenital uterine or vaginal abnormalities, leiomyoma, or cervical stenosis. The use of Inrauterine Device can also cause Secondary Dysmenorrhea. Pain starts a few days before menstruation and usually lasts several days after onset of flow. The onset of the peak period does not happen as clearly or quickly as Primary Dysmenorrhea. The pain may also occur at other times of the month. Symptoms include continuous pain, tenderness of the pelvis, nausea, vomiting, headache, diarrhea, quivering, rapid heartbeat, and sweating.

It can be treated with the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen or acetaminophen. Birth control pills can also be effective. However, the treatment of this kind of Dysmenorrhea depends on the cause. Surgical or medical treatment may be needed.

Though menstruation is normal, some women experience Dilemma during this cycle, like Menstrual Cramps or Dysmenorrhea, or Pre-menstrual Syndrome. They are normally asked to rest – probably the reason why elders asked them to stay in their room and forget home chores. But how this changed into banishment is a mystery.

Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) Another form of menstrual disorder is the Premenstrual Syndrome or PMS, characterized by uncomfortable mental and physical symptoms that can occur up to two weeks prior to the onset of menstruation. Though most experts believed that it is caused by the estrogen level, they also consider that a combination of psychological, genetic, nutritional, and behavioral factors are likely to be involved. Some psychological manifestations of PMS include anxiety, depression, irritability, anger, confusion, forgetfulness and the exacerbation of existing psychiatric ailments. Physical symptoms include tenderness of breasts, migraine, nausea, changes in energy level, swelling of arms and legs, feeling bloated, back pain and difficulty in sleeping.

Treatment includes the intake of vitamins and minerals like calcium, Vitamin B6 and magnesium. The person will also need a deeper self-knowledge and social support in order to cope with the changes in mood and behavior. Changes in lifestyle and diet will also help in dealing with PMS. Healthy diet will alleviate irritability, fluid retention, joint aches, breast tenderness, anxiety, fatigue, and depression. Caffeine, alcohol, simple sugars, salt, and fats should be avoided to decrease bloating, fatigue, depression and tension.

Several yoga poses are proven to ease Menstrual Pain. They can also help mind and body adapt with stress, anxiety and depression making you feel relaxed and calm, and enabling you to cope with psychological symptoms of PMS. Having a generally relaxed mind and body can also help in alleviating the Menstrual Pain. A healthy yoga diet can help supplying the body with the necessary vitamins and minerals to counteract the symptoms of PMS. However, it is important to recognize the need to slow down and practice yoga gently. The abdomen should remain soft and inactive throughout the practice so that the menstrual flow can continue unobstructed. Twists and inverted positions are not suitable as this may reverse the flow or squeeze the abdominal area and interfere with the natural discharge. Kapalabhati: This is a breathing technique used specifically for cleansing. If you have a lot of mucus in the air passages or feel tension and blockages in the chest it is often helpful to breathe quickly.

Do these yoga aasnas and be free from pain and cramps. Women have to run the house, run to catch the bus, run behind naughty kids and run after this and that. Who has the time to lie down on bed with cramps.

Easy Pose (Sukhasana): This is one of the classic Meditation Poses and is usually performed after doing the Corpse Pose or shavasana. The Easy Pose helps in straightening the spine, slowing down metabolism, promoting inner tranquility, and keeping your mind still.

Cat Pose (Bidalasana): The Cat Yoga Pose teaches you to initiate movement from your center and to coordinate your movement and breath. These are two of the most important themes in yoga practice. Keep in mind that the Cat Pose may not be advisable if you have any chronic or recent back pain or injury.

Bow Pose (Dhanurasana): The Bow Pose resembles an archer’s bow. It strengthens the muscles in the back area, improves posture, and helps in dealing with several gastrointestinal problems. Take note that this pose is not for those suffering from serious neck or back injury.

Cobra Pose (Bhujangasana): This improves spinal flexibility and strengthens the muscles in the arms and back. In addition, it is effective in relieving menstrual irregularities and constipation.

Fish Pose (Matsyasana): It relieves stiffness of the neck and shoulder muscles and improves flexibility of your spine. It is the counter-pose of the Shoulderstand. Hold the Fish Pose for at least half the amount of time you spent in the Shoulderstand in order to balance the stretch.

Wind Relieving Pose (Pavanamuktasana): The term Pavanamuktasana comes from the Sanskrit word ‘pavana’ which means air or wind and ‘mukta’ which means freedom or release. The Wind Relieving Pose works mainly on the digestive system. It specifically helps in eliminating excess gas in the stomach.

Anuloma Viloma: It is also called the Alternate Nostril Breathing Technique. You inhale through one nostril, retain the breath, and exhale through the other nostril.

Yoga Exercise – Final Corpse: For you to appreciate the benefits of relaxation, you should first be familiar on how it is to be tense. This is what happens when you do the Final Corpse.

Relaxation Pose: The first step in Yoga practice is to learn how to relax your body and mind. Relaxation is essential in practicing Yoga. Women have to run the house, run to catch the bus, run behind naughty kids and run after this and that. Who has the time to lie down on bed with cramps. When life doesn’t stop, then why should we? When it is period time, enjoy life and menstruation too as this very system has been gifted to us by nature, by mother god so that we can become goddess ourselves one day when we give birth to our bundles of joy.

Now, how do we enhance our power of concentration and strengthen our memory? A unique meditation technique called Tratak is an answer to this. It has many benefits. Tratak not only brings an end to the mind’s distractions but also enhances the ability to concentrate. It increases the power of memory and brings the mind in a state of awareness, attention and focus. Tratak is an ideal meditation technique for people of all age groups, especially for students who need to concentrate on studies. Older people who often tend to forget every now and then can greatly benefit from this technique. As a result of its continuous practice, you will witness an immense rise in your confidence level, stability in your thoughts, and an ability to focus on whatever task you undertake.

Method

Light a candle (or diya) in your meditation room or wherever you are comfortable, three to four feet in front of you. Sit in front of it. Remember, the flame should be at the level of your eyes so that you can see straight at it without being uncomfortable.

Posture

This is the most essential part of any meditation technique. Keep your spine erect so that inner energy can flow easily through the subtle channels of the body and render tranquility to the restless mind.

Sit with your legs crossed or in Padmasana. Sit gracefully, with poise.

Determination

You can derive maximum benefit from this meditation technique only when you are determined to practice it. Keep your gaze fixed at the flame without being distracted with the outer disturbances or thoughts.

Never give up! And do not move your body while you meditate.

Stage 1

This powerful technique of meditation is based on fixing one’s gaze at the flame of a candle or diya. The flame should burn steadily and it will do so only when we calm the air around it.
Begin with slow and deep breathing. As you inhale, let the stomach expand, and breathe out with complete contraction. While you breathe in this manner, keep a steady gaze at the flame.
Keep your eyes focused. Gaze at the flame, not the wick or the candle or the diya; just the flame. Let your vision be at the flame. If thoughts arise, simply ignore them; do not struggle to remove them. It is important to be wakeful and vigilant.

Stage 2

Imagine the flame is entering your body through your eyes and illuminating your inner being. At this stage, it is good to let the eyes close with ease. Now, try to imagine the same flame with closed eyes as you were seeing it with open eyes. If you are able to practice tratak without blinking your eye, it will be easy for you to see the flame with closed eyes.
If you are not yet able to experience the spreading illumination of the flame, open your eyes again, do tratak (fix your gaze at the burning flame), and then shut them. Gradually you will find that your gaze has grown more peaceful and tranquil.

Once you are established within, watch yourself separate from this body, and be distant from your mind. This distance will eliminate the clutter from the mind and mvake it silent, peaceful, and tranquil.

Tratak is a guided meditation technique which can help you improve your concentration, memory and intelligence. Studies have shown that Tratak meditation can significantly benefit in the following ways:

• Increases concentration, memory, and mental power.
• Develops the confidence, intelligence, and patience.
• Increases work efficiency.
• Improves motivational power and foresight.
• Strengthens the will power and decision making ability.
• Helps in getting rid of many mental, emotional, and physical ailments and diseases.
• Reduces stress and tension.
• Leads to Healthy and Balanced living.

It is only when we learn to meditate that we learn to live life meaningfully. Meditation is an experience in itself which enhances the quality of life and helps one discover the exuberant inner bliss.

With mounting pressures and endless pursuit to achieve lofty ambitions, we go on running tirelessly. Amidst all this chaos, take a deep breath and explore the benefits of Tratak meditation, an ideal meditation technique for people of all age groups.
It is highly recommended for students and working professionals for greater efficiency.

When to practice?

This technique is best done during the early hours of the morning, or in the night when it is natural dark. The idea is to let the flame of candle/diya eliminate the darkness of ignorance which is rooted deep in the mind. If you are doing it during daytime then practice it in a dark room.

Tratak with Sublime Music

In order to facilitate the seeker, the meditation technique,

Tratak -A Divine Gaze is available in the form of Audio CD and Audio Cassette. Designed and developed by Anandmurti Gurumaa, this technique is highly apt for students, professionals, and anyone with short memory.

This technique coupled with the music which paves the way to meditate with ease and be in a state of sheer thoughtlessness. Because it is only when the mind is at rest and stilled, it can be more focused and relaxed.

Listen to, buy and download Tratak CD at
www.mysticamusic.com or
write to sales@mysticamusic.com

It is an open secret that there is no escape from the stress and the strain of the hectic life. Migraines, tensions, headaches, skin problems, pre-mature aging and so many other uninvited evils ailments take a toll on our lives. It is quite reassuring that there are a few things which can bring immediate relief to any unpleasant condition. Personal spa care is a leader among them. A bouquet of therapies to suit the contemporary times is offered across all spas but there is one skincare treatment, ‘Oxy Therapy’ that is gaining popularity and is exclusively available at select places.

Oxygen is the major key element towards having excellent health! Oxygen is the single most important substance taken into the body. It is a necessary component in every chemical reaction important to human physiology. It nourishes the cells, it provides the energy needed to metabolize carbohydrates, it allows chemical transport, breaks down waste products and toxins, regulates the pH of body chemistry, drives the desire to breathe, strongly builds up the immune system defense and fights hostile organisms. Oxygen is the undisputed king of body chemistry, and as such is our body’s most important nutrient. Very few people are aware that oxygen keeps our skin looking young and healthy. If you are worried about the aging lines appearing on your face or want to know the secret of ever young, glowing, radiant and bedazzling younger looking skin, then the answer lies in Oxy Therapy.

We all know that oxygen is undoubtedly an intrinsic part of our lives. Let’s find out what ‘Oxy Therapy’ is all about.

Oxygen Therapy is an effective skin treatment, designed to cleanse, nourish, and revitalize every skin cell of the face pore by pore. This unique skin therapy, clinically proven for its benefits, bathes the skin with nutrients necessary for a healthy skin. Revitalizing and refreshing, the skin is blanketed with pure oxygen and nourishing antioxidants.

Our skin is much more than an outer surface for the world to see. It protects us from bacteria, dirt and other foreign objects and the ultraviolet rays of the sun, and contains the nerve endings that let you know if something is hot or cold, soft or hard, sharp or dull. Our skin also plays an important role in regulating our body’s fluids and temperature. The USP of the Oxy Therapy is the non-surgical alternative that instantly lifts, firms, tightens and erases fine lines. Oxy Therapy uses hyper baric oxygen to deliver active ingredients into the skin in the form of a serum containing Hyaluronic Acid, vitamins A, C, E, Green Tea extracts and Aloe Vera. The natural ingredients help the skin to look more youthful and beautiful.

Unlike most therapies, where you can expect a myriad of uncomfortable processes including extractions, exfoliations and cosmetic peeling solutions that burn, Oxy Therapy is a luxuriously soothing process wherein cool streams of oxygen and serum are sprayed gently onto your face.
The results are instant. Within seconds of the application one can see a visible plumping of the cheeks and mouth, and expression lines around the forehead, eyes and mouth are reduced. Such advancement of technology is fast catching the eyes of beauty conscious women of today who want to leave behind the garish years of old age.

So, next time don’t forget to breathe fresh air for that extra dose of oxygen naturally!

Tips for younger looking skin, naturally!

• Avoid excessive sun and always use a good sunscreen.
• Eat food that is rich in Vitamin C and has anti oxidants.
• Establish a good skin care regimen.
• Do not sleep with your make up on.
• Use skin care products with high amounts of Vitamin E, shea butter and aloe vera to moisturize.
• Drink plenty of water and exercise regularly.

Our life Support System – OXYGEN!

• Promotes healing and counters aging.
• Improves digestion and cell metabolism system.
• Heightens concentration, alertness and memory.
• Provides a natural remedy for headaches and migraines.
• Strengthens your heart, reducing the risk of heart attack.
• Oxygen gives you energy. 90% of the energy comes from oxygen and 10% from food and water.
• Lessens chronic fatigue.

The writer is the CEO & founder of Asian Roots, New Delhi
Kamayani Kanwar

Moisture is the skin’s basic requirement. It keeps the skin soft, healthy and youthful. As knowledge about the skin and its cosmetic needs have grown, it has been found that aged and prematurely aged skins have one thing in common: lack of moisture. The amount of moisture that the skin holds determines its texture to a great extent – whether it is soft and smooth, or dry, rough or covered with fine lines. The skin loses moisture to the environment when humidity is low, or through artificial means like airconditioning and central heating. Exposure to the sun, over a period of time, also lowers the skin’s ability to retain moisture. Even the water that you wash the face with is treated with chemicals like chlorine which deplete moisture and cause dryness. If the skin is perpetually short of moisture, it can get dehydrated and shrivel up. This makes the skin texture rough and sensitive, vulnerable to the formation of lines and wrinkles.
Oily skins can also be short of moisture. This happens during the dry winter season, when there is a superficial dryness of the outermost layer of the skin. You can identify it by the taut, uncomfortable feeling immediately after washing. Some areas of the skin may also acquire tiny white flakes.

It does not contain preservatives, artificial fragrances, colour or essences.
In other words, it is totally natural in every sense of the word. So make the most of it.

In your home and right there on the kitchen shelf is one of the most powerful natural moisturizers – honey! Actually, honey is a humectant, and attracts moisture to the skin from the atmosphere. In fact, it is one of the most versatile natural products. Everyone knows that bees make honey by converting nectar into simple sugars. That is why when we eat honey, it is easily and quickly digested, assimilated and absorbed by the body. As a food, honey has many properties. It contains several vitamins and minerals, like Vitamins B and C, calcium, iron, potassium, sodium, as well as amino acids and enzymes. Taking honey, therefore, ensures a supply of valuable nutrients to the body. It also helps provide instant energy. Honey is a wonder food. It has fewer calories than sugar, but it must be borne in mind that taking large quantities of honey will lead to weight gain. Moreover, in certain medical conditions, like diabetes, honey should not be taken without consulting a physician.

Honey has medicinal values too. It has been employed in home remedies for simple ailments for generations. As far as skin care is concerned, it has been used as a beauty aid and for its healing benefits in topical applications, for centuries. According to ancient records and texts, honey was applied on the skin to soothe and heal injuries and burns. It was also used to treat skin conditions like eczema and dermatitis. Modern scientific research has, in fact, revealed its various healing benefits in external applications, including its antibacterial and antiseptic properties.

Modern scientific research has, in fact, revealed its various healing benefits in external applications, including its antibacterial and antiseptic properties.

Its wound healing action, even in post-surgical cases, has really caught the attention of the medical world. Honey is also an anti-irritant, which means that it can be applied even on sensitive skins and for conditions like dehydrated skin sensitivity. Honey’s anti-oxidant properties increase its importance in skin care, in terms of preventing oxidation damage and delaying the manifestation of ageing signs on the skin.

All these properties of honey make it an ideal natural cosmetic ingredient. Writer Barbara Cartland, who was a great advocate of honey as a beauty aid, said: “It is the purest and most healthy cosmetic you could put on your face. And what a wonderful complexion it gives everyone who uses it.” For one thing, it suits all skin types. Being a natural humectant, it draws moisture to the skin and even improves the skin’s natural ability to retain moisture. In other words, it helps to seal in moisture and thus hydrate the skin powerfully. It relieves dryness, even in extremely dry and dehydrated skins, making the skin soft and smooth. As it contains valuable vitamins, minerals and enzymes, it nourishes the skin when externally applied. It also stimulates, tones and tightens the skin, giving it a fresh and radiant glow.

If you have dry skin, apply honey daily and wash it off with plain water after 20 minutes. You can also mix honey with a few drops of orange juice. Apply this on the face for 20 minutes and wash off with water.

For dry skin, you can also mix half a teaspoon honey, one teaspoon rose water and one teaspoon dried milk powder. Mix into a paste and apply on the face. Remove after 20 minutes with water.

Add one-quarter cup of honey to your bath water to relieve dryness and soften the skin on the body.

Honey suits both oily and combination skin. In fact, it is most useful for oily skins, since moisturizing creams and lotions can block the pores and lead to blackheads and pimples. For oily skin, mix honey with egg white and apply on the skin daily, washing it off after 20 minutes with plain water. Egg white has a cleansing effect, it reduces oiliness, while honey will soften the skin and nourish it. If you have a combination skin, apply honey by itself on the entire face, as it would suit both oily and dry areas.

Honey, with its antiseptic and healing properties can also be used on pimple-prone skins and even if there is a severe acne condition. In fact, people with acne often suffer from superficial dryness and flaking of the skin. Honey would be ideal. Mix one teaspoon honey with yoghurt (curd) and apply on the face. Wash it off after 20 minutes. It would relieve dryness and also soothe and nourish the skin. Both honey and yoghurt have a healing effect on acne. Yoghurt, which contains lactic acid, also helps to restore the normal acid-alkaline balance, so necessary in acne conditions.

Face Masks

Honey can be useful in face masks, for all skin types. Mix wheat bran (choker) or oatmeal with honey. Rose water can be also be added. Mix into a smooth paste and apply on the face. Wash off when it is dry or after 20 minutes. This mask may be used two or three times a week to keep the skin soft, supple and youthful.

Damaged Hair

Honey can also be used to revitalize dry and damaged hair. After shampoo, stir one teaspoon honey in 4 cups of warm water and use it as a last rinse, to condition the hair and add shine or, mix one teaspoon honey with sesame seed (til) oil or olive oil. Massage this into the scalp and hair, half an hour before shampoo. It would really help to soften dry hair, adding lustre.

Today, honey is an important ingredient in the formulation of products for beauty care from moisturizers, skin toners and masks, to hand creams, body lotions and hair conditioners. This most versatile beauty aid is actually within easy reach in your home, on your kitchen shelf.

The writer is herbal beauty expert, Shahnaz Husain

Shiamak, meaning ‘prince’, the ‘prince of hearts, the ‘prince’ of joy, the ‘prince’ of simplicity. Actually, everything about this ace dancer, choreographer, actor, singer and now director is highly intriguing. Dancing comes naturally to shiamak davar, and when he is on stage he is at peace, and awareness surrounds him. This man who is apparently wedded to glamour, spirituality has always been a great anchor. He, however, is essentially a performer who believes that dance, song and acting are products of a collective effort of the mind, body and the spirit. Soul curry spoke to him.

• Soul Curry: You seem to have a natural inclination of excelling in whatever you do. What inspires you to excel in all the tasks that you undertake?

• Shiamak Davar: What is created around me, inspires me. Music makes me think, create, and visualize, and yes, choreographing comes naturally to me. I do know what I’ve got – God to protect, parents to love and friends to admire. I probably am the luckiest soul alive. My wants are simple and true to me. Deep down inside me there is a sense of achievement. Dancing is my passion and talent my forte. For me, trust or prayer is not about asking things from God. It is thankfulness and gratitude for what is already there.

• SC: Singing, dancing, choreography, direction, music composer… the list is endless. What is the secret behind your never-ending energy?

• SD: I always like to learn. The thirst to do the best and give the best gets me going, and most importantly my parents’ support and the blessings of my spiritual guides. To be content is a successful endeavor in itself. Happiness seeps into life with self-realization, awareness and satisfaction. This is what serves as an endless source of energy for any individual to strive for the best. Life is full of pitfalls and problems. But these are intermingled with smiles, glee and laughter. In times of difficulty we need to be strong and chant these magic words: ‘This too shall pass’. And so it does. That’s what keeps me moving forward.

• SC: Shiamak Davar is a spiritual person. Or is he religious?

• SD: There is no religion in the spiritual world. Religion is man made. I am very spiritual and believe in karma. Being religious and being spiritual are two different things. I am a staunch believer of good words, good thoughts and good deeds. There is a God and you can’t fool Him. In the circle of life every creature, every human being has a lesson to learn at every moment of time. Spirituality should manifest itself in action. A truly spiritual person would actively engage with life, taking on the rough and tumble leveling crooked paths and making the journey easier for everyone around.

• SC: Do you believe in destiny as well?

• SD: No. Destiny is in your own hands. Only life and death are fixed, rest all are the different choices we make at our freewill. Spirituality puts everything in perspective. I strongly believe in Karma. If someone hurts you, it is pointless to sit and cry over it. I believe in God’s justice; what you do will come back to you.

• SC: Every individual shares a special relationship with the Almighty. How do you connect with him?

• SD: I pray to God and talk to him. I feel him everywhere. I am not God-fearing but I am God-loving. I’m the captain of my own ship; storms and raging waters I may face but my undying trust in God will steer me safely to the pure shores. I am a big believer in God, karma and reincarnation. Spirituality gives me a sense of balance, a direction in life.

• SC: With the world automating in every possible way, every individual is losing touch with nature. As an artist, how do you see this?

• SD: It is very sad that in today’s time, all are becoming part of a rat race. They are busy with material wants and desires. I make it a point to pray more and connect with god and love to live and spend time with nature.

• SC: What, according to you, are the three most important things required for being a good dancer?

• SD: The three most important things are talent, grace and the desire to learn. Dance can be therapeutic. There is a link between the sole and the soul. I strongly believe in “Have feet, will dance”. It is an art form that needs to be developed with a lot of aesthetic sense. The only thing that stops us from dancing is the will (or the lack of it) to express it and enjoy it.

• SC: Without music, dancing is incomplete. How do you perceive music and what music means to you?

• SD: Dance is music made visible, music makes us create and through dance we can communicate and celebrate. It is my faith in dance, as an expression of the soul, which helps me to beautify other aspects of my life. Dance is my meditation. Dance is an expression of the soul and has the knack of making you swing. Dance channelises all that destructive energy into something positive and de-stressing.

Who or what is God?

This is an interesting question because more than half of the humanity is a believer in God, and every religion has its own definition which is quite different from the definition given by the other religion. This earth is having more than 350 religions, so we can say there are more than 350 kinds of God. And in this whole jamboree of so many plural Gods, one is seemingly so different from the one. It really confuses the mind. Then sometimes one tends to say that there isn’t any God and it’s just the fabrication of the human mind. Some sociologists come out with their own definitions that God is an idea which has been concocted by the priests and by the politicians for selfish interests. For some ulterior motive, God has been created, because God is never going to come up and say ‘I am God’. I’m saying this because God in most of the religions is seen as a person, as a gracious, superman, who sits on his golden thrown. And on whim creates the world and on whim destroys the world. Most of the religions tend to accept this notion of God. So they have their own one kind of idol or an image of God and then they have their own set of rituals, which they believe in with die-hard conviction.The most important thing which is to be understood is that mind which is already over loaded with information about Gods. It seems so unreal to experience or to know really what God is. And truly speaking, most of the beautiful things in our life and in this world are beyond the category of defining in words like the scent of the best perfume – someone may ask you to describe. You may fill up volumes but in the end you would say please take a whiff from the bottle and that’s the only way to know the smell, the fragrance. These are very small things and yet the things which we have been experiencing since day one in this physical body, we find it difficult to describe because all words have limitations. So have the mind and the things which are beyond the mind that words cannot express.The moment we say, who is God, so many answers are given, readymade answers, by the scriptures, by the books, by the rabbis, by the priests. And yet the human mind is still hankering for what it really means. I would say this is something which cannot be explained by any enlightened master (living or not living). It is something which one has to delve within and know it what it is. For example, pain is something which you know. What if someone asks you to measure pain, in inches or centimetres. You can’t measure it in inches. We say I have a deep pain, but if someone asks how deep? 100 feet, 500 feet? You say you know what pain is when you experience it.Similarly, one thing which I can definitely say is that God is not a person, God is not a supreme human being or like a human being sitting somewhere up there on his golden thrown. God is beyond the limitations of the body, of the mind. God is a reality; and reality is something which can be much closer to the phenomenon or the relativity of how we perceive things. What we are seeing in this world is so different from what it really is. Similarly, when I say God is reality, this reality is the essence. And the essence is of the truth and truth over here is not that truth which we use in our day-to-day life. When I say truth, it means existence.So, if I have to put this in words, then I say God is the existential truth which can be known only by experience. And this experience will only happen to those who have a scientific aptitude and work like an explorer, who explores the depth and the breadth of the mind and explores these layers of mind. One ends up with that oceanic feeling of consciousness. Initially, it is sleeping and slowly it begins to rise and in those moments of gaps which come in between of the waves of the mind, these waves of the consciousness, something peeps up and that gives the first glimpse of what truth is or what God is but that definitely is not a form. It is not imaginative. It is as much real as you or I. We can deny the existence of everything but we can never deny the existence of our own self. So we need to know what this self is. We need to understand not just by mind, not just by words, not just by scriptures but with experience. And this experience comes from meditation.

Why are we in this world and with what purpose?

We are here because we are here! There can’t be any cause and there can’t be any purpose. Because all purposes are very calculative, selfish modes of the mind and when this selfishness creeps in, it is not higher thinking. Just look at the world around you, so beautiful, beauty in abundance, it is so luminous, so colorful, full of rainbows. It is just like a dance of a dancer, not of that dancer who is a professional because a professional dancer wants fee. It is more like a dance of a child who is just jumping around and if you ask a child what’s the purpose of your jumping? What’s the purpose of your dancing? He’ll just give a very awkward look and would like to ask you, can’t you see that I’m dancing because I’m enjoying dancing.So, this life is here and this world is here because it is the dance of the divine, without any purpose, without any ulterior motive. The scriptures provide us with many fascinating answers that God was alone and was lonely and he said okay let me do something. He got so bored of his loneliness, he created this world. So he created first Adam, then out of Adam came Eve and so on. Most of the religions say so and they always say there is a purpose of our coming here. For example, they’ll say the purpose is to know who our creator is. I find this strange. Imagine, first the creator creates us, then he separates us from himself and now wants us to go back to him. I say, why start this in the first place? rather I would say that there isn’t any purpose.We can say life is because life should be like this. In these very moments of beauty, of grandeur, of purity we are able to experience all this, then we will never ask this question, why? We never ask any one why you are happy. If someone is happy, you just join him. But if someone is sad, then you ask him, why are you unhappy? I believe those who have experienced beauty and truth never ask the purpose of life. They are already enjoying it, celebrating life.Those who are sad have loads of unfulfilled desires alwaya ask Why I am here. Have you ever met anyone who is happy and who would why I am happy? People always say why they are sad but never why they are happy. This life, this world is a celebration, a celebration of happiness. It is a sheer irony that out of all the animals, only human beings are the most sorrowful. See the birds, they are always chirping and dancing and fluffing around. See the peacocks, the cows, see the whole animal world. They are all happy, they have there innocence and somewhere their ignorance is working in their favour. They are calmer, quieter and peaceful; a human being is not. Human beings are not happy because they ask too many questions. A day when all these questions simply drop and we drop all the facades, we drop all of these blindfolds, then we’ll open up for the first time and see this world. Then we never ask this question. Here I would quote Rabindranath Tagore who said: “Why shouldn’t I be here?”mExcerpted from “God: Mystery or Reality” (VCD) by Anandmurti Gurumaa