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5 Essential Ayurveda Diet Tips

By
Mike Arnold
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Originating in India, Ayurveda is the practice and science of well-being. Whether you’re focusing on your doshas or your diet, Ayurveda is renowned for its positive effects on the mind and body. However, as with most practices, there’s a few things you should do and a few things you should avoid. Diet is one of the most important aspects of practising Ayurveda, so it pays to know what’s good and what is not. Whether you’re practising Ayurveda or not, your diet should be one of the most important aspects of your life. This is because it gives you the fuel you need to get your through the day efficiently.

To give you a helping hand, here is a list of five Ayurveda tips for maximising the benefits in your diet. If practised properly, you can expect to enjoy benefits such as more energy, more productive days, better sleeping patterns and a higher state of awareness.

Avoid Honey in Cooking

Honey is renowned for being one of nature’s most beneficial products. Countless scientific studies have proven its positive effects on your skin and your general well-being. However, heated honey, or cooked honey, has been suggested as being harmful to your health. The healing properties of honey are only present in the raw form. When cooking honey, the heat is actively changing the chemical compounds in the substance, rearranging the delicate natural balance.

According to Ayurveda practices, if you overheat honey, it becomes very much like glue. As the honey becomes extremely sticky, molecules can stick to the inside of your digestive tract. This will cause other bits of food to become stuck, causing it to digest and break down in the wrong part of your body. This can cause toxins within the body which, in turn, can cause illness.

Drink Warm Water in the Morning

Water is known for being the lifeline to all good health. After all, up to 90% of our body weight is water! Our bodies thrive on it which is why it’s important to drink around 2 litres a day. This also equates to 6-8 cups. Ayurveda practices state that drinking a warm glass of water in the morning can also be extremely beneficial to your body. If you get up and drink this warm glass as the first thing you do, you’re effectively helping your body to flush any built-up toxins.

Furthermore, Ayurveda also advises that you avoid drinking cold water during or after meals. However, during meals, it’s suggested that sipping on warm water and boost your digestive functions.

Sit & Drink

While on the subject of water, it’s highly advised by Ayurveda that you sit while drinking water. As water is so important, you’ll want to maximise the efficiency in which you absorb it. By necking an entire bottle or glass of water, you’re actively restricting your body’s ability to replenish your water deposits. While standing, your muscles support your body weight, so your muscles are tense. Again, this affects the absorption rate of the water into your muscles.

Stay Away from Banana Milkshakes

A childhood favourite, no matter what store or supermarket you enter, you’re bound to see some kind of banana milk shake product. Loved by many, Ayurveda guidelines suggest that this combination can have detrimental effects to your health. According to the practice, milk and bananas together produce Ama, known as a toxic substance. This Ama is considered to cause an imbalance in the body and can cause illness and sickness.

Avoid Watermelon After Meal Times

Finally, the last diet related tip involved an extremely popular fruit. Watermelon is not very digestive-friendly. Due to its slightly acidic properties and its overwhelming levels of natural sugars, watermelon is best consumed in the day. This means avoiding it in the evenings, especially after your final meal of the day. The body is renowned for having lower digestive functions at night and finds it difficult to break down the watermelon in your sleep. This means when you wake, you’re likely to have an upset stomach or mild bowel problems. Not the best way to start your day!

Summary

By practising Ayurveda dietary methods, you’re taking your first step towards a happier, healthily and livelier lifestyle. Once implementing these techniques, it won’t take long for you to feel the positive effects, usually after a couple of days!

Do you have any tips on Ayurveda practices to share with us? Making you’ve tried some of these techniques and you want to share your experiences? Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below!

Using Meditation to Deal with Shock & Trauma

By
Mike Arnold
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Over the weekend, a friend of mine experienced one of the most surreal and potentially devastating experiences they have ever lived through. In short, it was around 2 in the morning, and they were driving home after taxiing a friend home from the airport. On the way home, they were involved in a serious car accident in which an individual had proceeded to run into the middle of a dual-lane motorway which caused the collision. They were pronounced dead at the scene. My friend was in shock, but unharmed.

Now, as you can imagine, this incident occurred completely out of nowhere and there is no way that anybody could have prepared for it. It’s safe to say they were shaken up, at the very least, and the entire experience still feels like a blur. My heart and sincere condolences go out to the family and their friends through this extremely difficult time. Although still unclear on what happened, pending investigation, after conversing with my friend, one thing is very clear.

Me and my friend, who will remain nameless, both started meditating around the same time. We had spoken about it for a while, and after receiving ridicule from some friends and family about the practice being spiritual mumbo-jumbo, we decided to give it a go anyway. This was about 6-7 months ago. We have practised every day, exploring different books, apps and practices to find the most effective methods.

During this time, we have discussed the benefits and the struggles of the practice. For any of you that have tried meditation before, clearing your mind of all thoughts is a challenge, to say the least. However, having spoken to my friend in detail about the event that occurred over the weekend, they state that meditation has single-handedly changed their life.

During meditative practices, especially during guided meditation, you’re told to do several things. These include; passing no judgement on your inner thoughts, remaining calm and assessing situations from a neutral perspective and remaining positive. Without practising these skills, the situation that occurred over the weekend would have had a much more detrimental effect.

Of course, the initial shock of the event was devastating, and he describes shaking, crying and difficulty to breath. However, these effects were short-lived. Once the emergency services arrived, the friend was able breath deeply. Their mind was able to remember his training and exercises that allowed him to remain calm. Using these techniques, he was able to collect and organise his thoughts, letting go of any irrelevant thoughts at the time and focusing on what was important.

While discussing this process, I was stunned by the effectiveness of the techniques. It was mind-opening how, even in such an unexpected circumstance, the months of practice had automatically kicked into effect. Searching online, it’s easy to find stories in which mediation has been recommended to deal with traumatic events. This is especially present for conditions such as PTSD. It has also helped countless people who suffer depression, anxiety or urges to self-harm.

Help Where You Can

These states of mind are considered quite a taboo subject. Many people won’t know what to say in response or how to deal with the information they have received. This means receiving support can become quite difficult which can lead to the individual feeling alone or excluded. This will only make matters worse. If you know someone who is suffering from a similar ordeal or may need support, talk to them about it. Be kind, open and honest and, most importantly, listen to what they have to say.

If they are finding life hard to deal with at the moment, consider advising meditating. Explain the many benefits such as clearing the mind and the ability to maintain a present mindset. When explaining to a friend or family member, a great place to start is ten minutes a day. If practised for a week, the individual will already start to see the benefits.

Have you got any advice for people that have witnessed similar experiences? Maybe you’ve gone through something similar and would like to share your experiences? Here at Antaryami, we are always here to help, to listen and to be there for you. One step at a time, we can help to make the world a better place. Leave your thoughts with us in the comment section below.

Increasing Self-Awareness Through Writing

By
Mike Arnold
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Writing is renowned for being a meditative practice. Whether you’re listening to music, sitting in silence or watching television while jotting down some notes, writing is considered a fantastic way to express yourself. Continuing with my series of articles on developing self-awareness through meditative practices, today I’m exploring the concept of writing.

There are many ways you can approach writing. You may not have written anything in a long time maybe not even since leaving school. Obviously, we write emails, checks and letters for work but when was the last time you wrote anything for your own self-benefit. There are multiple ways you can start writing for yourself. You could write notes on thoughts and feelings you have throughout the day in a notebook. You could start writing a diary or a journal. Maybe you could even start keeping a dream diary that you write in the morning after you wake up. Personally, I prefer blogging and writing articles.

The Benefits of Writing

So, why is writing so beneficial? Imagine you’re in discussion with someone. If you’re engaged in conversation, trying to prove your point and your side of the story, it can be difficult. Do you have all the facts and figures you needed to discuss your point of view accurately? Now consider you’re having that conversation in your head.

Whether you’re going through a break-up, a difficult time or even the best time of your life, thoughts are hard to process. If you’re trying to make a big decision, you may be weighing up all the pros and cons in your head trying to decide what to do next. Get these thoughts down on paper. This makes it so much easier to decipher what’s going on in your head, giving you enough thought power to make a rational decision.

Even if you’re not making a big decision, it’s easy for the mind to become overwhelmed with emotion. Some parts of the day, you may find your mind racing with a million thoughts a second for no reason. This makes it extremely difficult to concentrate on what you’re doing and even more complicated to process what your mind is telling you. By writing down your thoughts and feelings, you’re able to clear your mind, dumping down all the emotions you’re feeling in an easy and clear way.

As you can see, these benefits, regardless of your situation, are very similar to the positive benefits of yoga and meditating. Through writing, you can express yourself publicly, or in a way where no one else will see what you have written, it’s completely up to you and your personal preference.

Keeping a Daily Journal

One of the best ways to get into writing is by starting a daily journal. Get yourself a nice book that relates to you with lined or plain paper. Through this book, you can put down anything you want. You can try writing poetry, short stories, long stories, list or passages, like a diary entry. It’s whatever is best for you. Date your work or don’t date it. Whatever you feel comfortable with. There are only two things you’ll want to remember. Write what you want to write and do it daily.

By writing down your thoughts and feelings, you are actively clearing your mind. However, by writing them down, you have the ability to read back what you have written. For example, if you’re writing down how you feel and you notice that most of the words are negative, ask yourself questions. Why are you feeling negative? What has happened to make you feel like this? Maybe you’re anxious about something in the future? Maybe these are feelings you haven’t addressed until now. By writing them down, your thoughts become a reality, a reality that you can address.

The second part is to make a habit out of it. You don’t even have to spend that much time doing it. A couple of minutes a day is fine if that’s all you want to do. If you want to set aside an hour, for example, before bed, then do just that. By regularly writing down your thoughts and feelings, you will get better and better at expressing yourself. You’ll, therefore, see more and more benefits from the practice.

Conclusion

There are many things you can do to express yourself through writing. Do your research online to see what other forms of writing you can get involved in and what best suits your personality. With practice and time, you can learn to better yourself, and you’re almost guaranteed to fall in love with the practice. Do you have any thoughts and feelings on the process for self-awareness? Let us know in the comment section below!

 

A Brief Yet Comprehensive Guide To Doshas

By
Mike Arnold
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Following on from the previous Ayurveda article, now that you’re up to date with the concept and practise of Ayurveda, it’s time to find out what dosha best describes you and how to move forward in creating a better, happier, healthier, most positive you.

If you are still unsure on what dosha you are, you can take a quick, free online quiz to find out which dosha best relates to and describes you.

There are three doshas explaining what kind of person you are and by following the guidelines of each dosha, you can balance your life, enabling you to live it to the fullest.

What Are Doshas?

‘Doshas’ is the term used to describe the biological energies that can be found throughout the human body and mind. This energy is used by the body to govern every aspect of the physical and mental activity that takes place within you every single day and acts almost as a blueprint or guideline that enables you to live a life of satisfaction. These doshas originate from the elements found on this Earth, refined to Air, Space, Fire, Water and Earth.

Each dosha has two representative elements, each with their own qualities and personality traits. Without further ado, discover your dosha today and start to live the life you deserve.

Pitta Dosha – Fire & Water

To begin our list, the Pitta dosha is given to individuals of a predominant variety. Usually, these individuals are of a medium physical build but are renowned for being strong and possess the ability to concentrate extremely well and have incredible mental abilities.

Pitta individuals are famous for their focused and self-confident attitudes which will always benefit them when dealing with everyday situations. They approach obstacles and life problems in a tactical and logical manner and always strive to get things done.

The actual term, Pitta, translates to ‘that which cooks’, meaning that Pitta individuals can become out of balance when they are problems with the digestive system or metabolism. This is evident as Pitta energies can be found in internal organs such as the small intestine, liver, stomach, pancreas, blood and other vital bodily systems. If a Pitta individual becomes unbalanced, the results cannot be ignored as the Fire of the mind becomes clear.

Most of the positive traits of a Pitta can quickly be replaced by rage, anger and even an aggressive ego which, physically, can lead to symptoms such as illness, infection, heartburn, fever, ulcers and inflammation. As a Pitta, there are some key things to remember to stay balanced. It’s easy for Pitta’s to want to get ahead and so they should always be mindful to stay calm in stressful situations and drive forward the logic aspect of their personality.

Some great ways for a Pitta individual to stay balanced is to focus on what food they are consuming, ensuring they eat a Pitta-balancing diet and consume food at their own pace in a comfortable and relaxing environment. Pitta’s can massively benefit from spending time in calming environments such as being out in nature, by meditating and practising relaxing exercises such as yoga, tai-chi or casual walking. Some things to avoid as a Pitta include smoking, which can irritate the mind and body, eating whilst angry and overworking. Remember to take breaks and stay calm, keeping your internal fire lit, driving you forward, without it turning into an inferno.

Vata Dosha – Space & Air

The Space and Air elements of a Vata individual translates together to become the element of Wind, again translated into ‘that which moves things’. Often referred to as the ‘King of the Doshas’, Vata individuals are thought to give motion to both Pitta and Kapha individuals.

The positive attributes of a Vata dosha include massive amounts of creativity who possesses the fantastic ability to communicate with others and is extremely active in all aspects of life, whether undergoing a project alone, working alongside a team and active in the sense that they enjoy physical and mental activities. This is evident as Vata energy is found in the thighs, bones, joints, skin, brain and bones of an individual. Vata individuals flourish when they live to a certain routine and are renowned for being very down to earth people.

Vata individuals can stay balance, enabling to live a life of satisfaction by eat a Vata balanced diet, by enjoying active exercises such as yoga, running or walking and by following a certain day to day routine which includes going to bed and getting enough sleep and balancing how they spend their days, for example, spending time at work, being sociable and spending time with themselves.

Unbalance in the Vata individual is obvious as they will become depressed and even anxious. Physical stimulates such as coffee and alcohol can also cause imbalance, as will going to bed during late hours of the night and not sticking to a routine.

Kapha – Earth & Water

Finally, a Kapha dosha individual contains the energy that is necessary to build. These energies can be found throughout the body in areas including the lungs, the chest, the head, muscle tissues, tendons and ligaments. In a balanced individual, the primary attributes include personality traits such as love, forgiveness, patience and is very talented at managing temptations such as greed as well as balancing imbalanced Pitta and Vata individuals.

Kapha individuals can become unbalanced for a number of reasons including overeating, laziness, spending the majority of their life indoors and by not challenging themselves mentally. As you can see from this list, the water element of a Kapha individuals thrives when it flows freely and feels repressed when they become weighed down or grounded. Imbalanced Kapha individuals are prone to ailments such as obesity, laziness and conditions such as colds and flu.

Kapha individuals can find balance in their lives by keeping things simple, avoiding the urge to become materialistic and giving in to the temptations of greed. Other positive activities include taking part in regular exercise, balancing and regulating their sleeping patterns and making time for themselves and their family and friends. Due to their loving nature, it’s important for a Kapha’s health to be aware when they may be being taken advantage of.

Summary

Now you know the ins and outs of each Dosha, you can slowly begin to regulate and manage your life in the best way to suit you. By following the traits that best benefit you, you’ll quickly notice you start to feel more positive in life. You’ll start to appreciate the things and people around you more and more and you’ll begin to feel a lot more satisfied with your existence.

For more information, or if you have any questions on your particular dosha, leave a comment below to spark the conversation which could change your life for the better!

Study Shows Why Yoga Classes are Essential

By
Mike Arnold
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A new study released earlier this week found a surprising result.  The study shows that 1 in 10 people suffer some injury when practising yoga. These injuries can occur throughout the body from wrists, backs, shoulders and elbows. During the study, nearly 5,000 yoga enthusiasts were monitored for a year in which 10.7% of people reported new kinds of pain from yoga practices.

Out of the 5,000 individuals, only 15 reported that they had stopped practising yoga as a result of the pain received. However, the risk of pain wasn’t determined by age, gender, weight or experience. For a practice that is designed to heal and replenish the body, these results are rather staggering.

So why are so many injuries occurring? Well, to start with, it’s worth noting that the study was conducted in one yoga studio in one suburban town in the United States. The trainers of the class have over 200 hours of training which is why the study has made such an impact on the online communities.

With this in mind, the results of the study must be taken with a pinch of salt. Not all yoga teachers are taught to the same level of experience or the same degree. One trainer could have 500 hours yet still not know the correct technique compared to a trainer with 100 hours. It all depends on the actual individual and their unique experience.

Always Be Safe

However, the study has revealed that yoga is not a risk-free activity. There are risks to practising yoga that is commonly overlooked, especially by beginners. When someone begins to practise yoga, they may feel inclined to follow a set routine or may try their best to achieve certain positions. As we all know, for some poses, this is simply not achievable. It takes time to perfect some of the poses and training is essential for improving flexibility.

Only over time and with dedicated practice can you optimally achieve all the poses in the yoga inventory. Furthermore, with the rise of yoga apps, many people are starting to practise at home. Without the guidance of a professionally trained yoga instructor, the risk of injury is much greater. If you were to sustain an injury at home, you are much more likely to quit the practice, robbing yourself of the many benefits.

This is why yoga classes are so important. Although the study examined in one yoga studio, there are thousands of yoga studios around the world. Each one has a different technique, practises and experience levels. To minimise the risk of injury, home practisers should consider joining a class, even on a temporary basis. Taking a class allows you to receive expert feedback on your posture allowing you to practise yoga while honing your techniques safely.

When searching for a suitable class for you, read the reviews and question the trainer on their experience. If they have a good level experience behind them, they’ll be more than happy to share it with you. With attentive and coordinated instructors, you’ll have the best chance of fully enjoying the practice safely with minimal risks.

Hopefully, new studies will be conducted that are more diverse and can give a more accurate set of results. In the meantime, it pays to be wary of what you’re doing and how you approach your practices. Always remember to be safe and if something doesn’t feel right, such as a certain pose, stop. This will give you time to access your abilities, ensuring your health is a priority.

Have you sustained an injury from practising yoga? Were you in a class or practising at home? Let us know your experiences by leaving a comment below!

Using Vedic wisdom to transcend Ego-consciousness

By
Richard Oldale
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The Hindu Vedas teach countless lessons about how man must transcend ego to touch the divine. The gods represent aspects of human nature and contain the wisdom we must adopt to dissolve ego and experience inner peace.

Ego-consciousness often prevents us from experiencing pure bliss. The ‘wisdom’ we receive with each higher conscious thought becomes polluted by the information stored in the lower conscious compartments of the subconscious mind. The ego-centric self takes over and the immature mind always think we’re right.

But the subconscious only has partial information. Consequently, we are conditioned to be blind to Absolute Truth. Until we break through the mirth of delusion (maya) the ego mind is fraught with mistakes and bad luck. ‘Bad luck’ is bad energy.

Transcending ego requires individuals to be consciously aware of thoughts, emotions and actions. To connect the divine Self, atman, with the superior cosmic intelligence, Brahman, involves raising conscious awareness. To release the ego from maya we must forget everything we think we know.

Understanding consciousness

Scientists admit they do not understand what consciousness is. Multiple studies in psychology and cognitive science are exploring the concept of consciousness, but because consciousness cannot be measured, quantified or framed in a mathematical equation, it seems modern science is always destined to fall short of rational explanations.

However, psycho-analysts are able to provide us with some insight into the psyche. Pioneers such as Sigmund Freud and Carl G Jung in the early part of the 20th century created the topographical model of the subconscious mind and the ‘shadow self’ which enables us to understand the three personalities of the mind; ego, id and super-ego.

The ego is the mind we are consciously aware of everyday. Hence, most people believe it is the ego mind which forms thoughts and makes decisions. Only the latter is true.

Thoughts come to us from the subconscious; the id, which is concerned for our survival, and the super-ego which assists us with our personal development and wants us to evolve. Furthermore, it is the super-ego that is the higher conscious mind the Vedas say connects us with the divine.

Understanding how the subconscious mind works is key to understanding the phenomenon of consciousness. The Vedas express this concept by describing wars between Gods (super-ego) and demons (id). Raising conscious awareness is only made possible by transcending ego.

10 levels of consciousness

The Vedas describe five sheaths of existence from which 10 levels of consciousness arise. The five sheaths are; Anna-maya kosa (physical), Prana-maya kosa (vital energy), Mano-maya kosa (mental), Vijnana-maya kosa (intellectual) and Ananda-maya kosa (bliss).

The 10 levels of consciousness that emerge from this template are:

  1. Reflecting and experiencing life through the five senses and perception
  2. Emotional and sensual levels that give rise to libido and instincts
  3. Symbols, fantasy and ego-centric thinking
  4. Programmed experiences we take as concrete truth (stubbornness, arrogance)
  5. Flexible thinking and the ability to analyse
  6. Visual logic which promotes synthesis and integration
  7. Physic and clairvoyance levels of consciousness
  8. Experiencing the subtle energies of astral realms
  9. Causal levels of divine spirit
  10. Understanding of non-duality and pure bliss

The spectrum to which our levels of consciousness arc are defined by our thoughts, emotions and actions. In order to evolve consciousness and shift to higher levels of awareness, introspection of the self is necessary. On a practical level, we must identify our weaknesses and cultivate the discipline to overcome emotions.

Divine consciousness

It is possible to have divine experiences at any stage of consciousness. However, unless your awareness is tuned to higher levels of consciousness, any spiritual experiences will not be fully or understood or appreciated.

On the contrary, such experiences are more likely to be considered weird and confusing. Individuals with a higher level of conscious awareness are not only able to understand the deeper meaning of these experiences, but are also able to initiate them in order to understand more about themselves and their worldly experiences.

It is a common trait for us to believe that our experiences in life are the only truth. Until we experience something for ourselves, we typically lack the ability to integrate alternative perspectives. Furthermore, the ego-centric mind can be opinionated, stubborn and arrogant.

But even individuals that are raising their conscious awareness can be mistaken by experiences they believe to be the whole Truth. Swami Vivekananda points out: “Whenever a prophet got into the super-conscious state by heightening his emotional nature, he brought away from it not only some truths, but some fanaticism…which damaged the world.”

Because the immature mind fails to fully and completely transcend ego, the connection with the divine is distorted. During such practices, initiates experience the “rapture” and believe they have attained samsara. But in most cases, they have only tasted the feeling or pure bliss for a brief moment.

Modern Hinduism

Whether modern religions are designed to help believers raise conscious awareness is highly debatable. The wisdom is clearly defined in the Vedas. First of all, there are 1.1 billion Hindus in the world. How many Hindus or followers of any religions do you know that can be considered a Buddha, or even have developed a higher state of consciousness?

You can say the same for every religion on the planet. Look at the commentary on such subjects and there is a distinct lack of understanding, agreement and consistency among scholars. Consider the tragedies and atrocities committed by world leaders and religious institutes throughout recorded history and it is clear to see that humanity has learned nothing from the wisdom in ancient records.

As science advances and the understanding of heightened psychological development becomes more understood, there is hope for the world. More and more people are consciously aware that a higher state of consciousness can be achieved. Some dedicated individuals are even putting ancient knowledge into practice.

The key to understanding the Vedas is by decoding the symbolism that is rife throughout the texts. It is the meaning behind the symbols that hold the answers to the subconscious, energy and our innate connection with the cosmic intelligence.

What is Story-time-Yoga

By
Mike Arnold
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Getting your children to partake in physical exercise is one of the hardest things to do as a parent. When you have extremely entertaining devices such as iPads and televisions, indoor and outdoor playtime finds it difficult to compete. However, one library in the United States is implementing a new way to get children back on their feet.

The Keene Memorial Library has recently implemented a new program which has changed the game when it comes to story time. Aptly named Story Time Yoga, children of any age can visit the library to hear some compelling stories while becoming active at the same time. Sounds a bit crazy, doesn’t it?

But not as crazy as you think! Keene Yoga instructor, Kai-Helin Cooper, originally visited the library during the winter season last year. Cooper, alongside the library staff, devised a new program to get children active again while engaging them mentally through stories.

Once the program was in place, the first session commenced over the Memorial Day weekend. There are more planned throughout the first of the year. During each session, a new book is chosen to be read. The assistants, alongside Cooper, then devised a yoga routine that can be implemented as the story is being told.

Storytime Yoga?!

For example, the June theme for the story was ‘kindness’. This involved a book relating to kindness and yoga poses that physically made children to open their heart area of their bodies. The popularity of the program is increasing with every session. Children as young as 3 and as old as ten have been attending which is fantastic news for the library. Library assistants have explained that Cooper is fantastic with the children. It’s been noted that she can even change the program mid-session, depending on whether the children are enjoying it or not.

This is such a unique and engaging way of telling stories to children, especially while getting them physically active at the same. Only time will tell whether this latest trend will take off but there’s no reason for it not to. With the current levels of obesity, especially in some parts of the Western world, getting children active has never been more important.

We’d love to hear your thoughts on the matter! Do you think this is a great idea? Do you have some more ideas of your own that you’d like to share? Let us know in the comment section below!

Ayurveda Practices Becoming Increasingly Popular

By
Mike Arnold
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According to recent interviews with India Times, Ayurveda practices are gaining in popularity quicker than ever before. Traditionally, it was known that Ayurveda was a popular form of treatment for simple diseases or conditions. These included indigestion problems or other simplistic conditions such as heartburn. However, things are rapidly changing.

Over recent years, it’s been known that patients are more commonly making visits to Ayurveda doctors for more serious conditions. These include chronic diseases including diabetes and thyroid problems. When patients were asked why they visited an Ayurveda doctor, rather than an allopathy doctor, the answers were fairly consistent. Patients reported that Ayurveda practices had little side effects, especially when taking prescription drugs to treat illnesses. The risk of side effects is a common problem when it comes to taking modern day pharmaceutical drugs.

Increased Number of Patients

One Ayurveda doctor interviewed, a Dr Manoj Kumar Veda, owner of a clinic in Machua Toli, explained. He stated that, traditionally, many people would always go straight to a traditional allopathy doctor with their ailments. However, since the government has begun investing in creating awareness for Ayurveda practices, the visitation count is increasing. In the past, Dr Manoj reported that he would usually treat around 10-20 patients a day. However, this has steadily increased to around 40-60 patients.

Another Ayurveda doctor explained that he had started to receive patients who were requesting all kinds of treatment. Some of the conditions were relatively serious and had previously been unseen in Ayurveda clinics. He also stated that this was great news for him and his clinic as Ayurveda practices had taught him how to handle ailments such as these.

One interviewed patient, a Neha Kumari, suffers from rheumatoid arthritis. He exclaimed that he had been visited an allopathy doctor for years who had constantly prescribed painkillers. Although this was a temporary solution, his original problem remained. After several years, he continued, stated that a friend of his recommended that he visits an Ayurveda doctor. He has been at the clinic for well over a couple of months and exclaims he feels better than ever before!

Let us know your thoughts! Do you think the State should invest more money into research and Ayurveda clinics? Or do you believe that allopathy is the only way the country should move forward? We’d love to hear what you think but leaving a comment in the comment section below!

The Teachings of the Rig Veda Samhitas

By
Richard Oldale
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The Rig Veda Samhitas are the oldest surviving scriptures ever discovered. Written in ancient Sanskrit some six thousand years ago or more, their teachings still have as much significance today as they did in antiquity. And for as long as mankind lives.

There are four books belonging to the collection of Rig Veda Samhitas; Rig-Veda, Sama-Veda, Yajur-Vedsa, Atharvada-Veda. The three subsequent texts draw heavily from the oldest Rig Veda and were probably written several thousand years later.

Hindu scholars cannot pinpoint when the Vedas were written. Many of the translations into English are also believed to be unreliable. But the books still reveal profound wisdom that serve important lessons of the human body-mind-soul connection and the mysterious relationship we have with a higher consciousness.

The Samhitas are a collection of Vedic hymns, mantras and prayers. In all there are 1,028 hymns and a total pf 10,600 verses. Although the books form the bedrock of modern Hinduism, anybody with an interest in ancient philosophy, self-development and consciousness will benefit from reading the Rig Veda Samithas.

The Influence of the Rig Veda in Modern Hinduism

There is a consensus that many of the lessons to learn from the Rig Veda are not taught in modern day Hinduism. That’s probably due to a lack of understanding by the leaders of an organised religion. The Rig Vedas are rich in symbolism and the lessons to learn have been passed down orally.

Therefore, many of the lessons are still practiced privately in families that have retained the ancient knowledge rather than the information adapted for a modern audience. But traces of the Rig Veda still remain in all Hindu thinking.

For example, Hindus accommodate all religions, faith and beliefs. They are fully conscious that everyone has their own path in life and it is wrong to discriminate or argue which is right and wrong.

We are pure consciousness having a human experience and there is more than one way for consciousness to evolve. It is the energy that guides out thoughts and actions. The energy of consciousness that Hindus and all other religions call, “God.”

Rig Veda 10.14.2.8:

Yama was the first to find us our abode,
a place that can never be taken away,
where our ancient Fathers have departed; all
who are born go there by that path, treading their own.

In my opinion, the reason a lot of the lessons taught in the Rig Veda is because the true meanings are buried in symbolism. Myths are stories that draw inspiration from real life in the time of the writer. So of course, the change in lifestyle is perhaps not as relevant today as it was thousands of years ago.

But the Rig Veda teaches much more than that. The moral lessons are evident. But there is also knowledge about the body-mind-soul connection and the intricate relationship man has with energy. The Gods in the Rig Vedas and other ancient myths not only represent aspects of man, but also the mysterious nature of consciousness.

Rig Veda 10.90.1-4

Such is His magnificence, but
the Supreme Being is even greater than this;
all beings are a fourth of Him,
three-fourths–His immortality–lie in heaven.

Three-fourths of the Supreme Being ascended;
the fourth part came here again and again,
and, diversified in form, it moved
to the animate and the inanimate world.

The verse above is reflecting on how energy manifests. The reference to ‘three-fourths’ is symbolic of the evolution of consciousness. Four represents Earth, the fourth dimension in which we have an experience.

Before, energy can manifest as reality, it has to go through three earlier mechanisms of the process known as the triangle of manifestation – thoughts, emotions and actions. Thoughts only become a reality when you act on them, and to act on them you have to have the desire and motivation.

Universal Truths

Ancient sages had a much more profound understanding of the world, the Universe and everything in it than they are given credit for. They had an understanding of astronomy, consciousness and building that was not discovered in Europe until thousands of years later.

Even the ‘classic’ European myths are heavily influenced by the early Sanskrit writings. Although it was elite families that congregated in Europe and established the “age of enlightenment”, the knowledge that allowed such advancement in science and technology was engineered in the East thousands of years previously.

The writers of the Rig Veda even have a theory of the creation of the world that is likened to the modern theory of the big bang. There is also a suggestion they knew the Earth is a water planet.

Rig Veda X.129 translation by A.L. Basham

Then (1) even nothingness was not, nor existence. (2)
There was no air then, nor the heavens beyond it. 
What covered it? Where was it? In whose keeping?
Was there then cosmic water, in depths unfathomed?

Then there were neither death nor immortality,
nor was there then the torch of night and day. 
The One (3) breathed mindlessly and self-sustaining. (4)
There was that One then, and there was no other.

At first there was only darkness wrapped in darkness.
All this was only unillumined water. (5)
That One which came to bc, enclosed in nothing,
arose at last, born of the power of heat.

The footnotes of the translator indicated the original Sanskrit text for this passage uses the word ‘Svadha,’ which refers to energy as an intrinsic power which makes self-generation possible. After the mass generation of heat exploded, consciousness came into being and created life from the waters.

The Gods of the Rig Veda Samhitas

Of all the gods mentioned in the original Vedas, are a handful remain in the Hindu pantheon; by name at least. They are Indra, Agni and Varuna. However, the essence of the early Gods was continued into later myths, albeit under different names.

For example, Prajapati becomes Brahma, whilst the word Prajapati is known today as a group of Hindu Gods. Brahma, and the early God, Prajapati, represent our thoughts and ideas – hence a “group” of Gods.

The Gods of the Rig Vedas are rich in symbolism, but once the hidden meanings are decoded, the lessons are much more easy to grasp. Nonetheless, the teachings of the Rig Veda Samhitas, together with all the other ancient Hindu scriptures, teach us about mind, emotions and cosmic energy.

4 Yoga Trends You Must Try This Year

By
Mike Arnold
-
0

2017 has been the year of various yoga trends that have spread across the world. Since the practice has boomed in popularity, various editions of Yoga have sprung up in various places around the world. This has captivated the attention of people, countries and the entire internet. From goat yoga to ice yoga, there are so many different forms to choose from and a practice to suit everyone.

If you’re interested in practising any of these various forms of the traditional, centuries old mindfulness exercise, here are four examples of a modern-day yoga practice with a twist.

Partner Yoga

Easily one of the most up and coming yoga forms currently infiltrating the yoga industry, partner yoga, commonly referred to as acrobatic yoga, allows two people to become involved in the same practice. This is renowned for being one of the most challenging yoga workouts and involves lifting your partner into the air, similar to gymnastics, and holding positions while focusing on the breath. There are classes, events and even festivals set up to cater to fans of this form.

Aerial Yoga

When you see the professionals in action, it may seem like it would take years to hone your skills to an expert level. However, there is an increasing number of studios setting up and launched to let you try for yourself. Aerial Yoga is a relatively new form of yoga where the practice takes place in the air. Studios are usually designed to hold users up using specially designed silk hammocks that hang from the ceilings. In these hammocks, yogis can practise a variety of poses and techniques whilst improving core strength and flexibility.

Tantrum Yoga

Yoga is usually considered to be one of the calmest of exercises, however, tantrum yoga takes this concept and flips it upside down. Imagine a toddler not getting what it wants. This will result in this throwing their arms around, screaming, crying and throwing themselves on the ground in protest. Surprisingly, this is exactly what you do in this form of yoga. Pounding your chest, yelling and screaming is apparently a fantastic way to relieve stress and rid yourself of negative feelings. The trend began in LA but is slowly catching on to other states in the same area.

Pawsome Yoga

If you’re an animal lover, this yoga practice could be perfect for you. Commonly referred to as Doga, yogis can practice they usual routines pretty much the same as they would any other day. However, the main difference here is that your dog will also be present in the practice. For example, this includes holding them in the air whilst laying on your back. It’s suggested this is good for both you and your dog and helps to improve your pet relationship.

Have you tried any of these kinds of yoga for yourself? Or maybe you’ve tried a practice even more outlandish? We’d love to hear your experiences and thoughts! Leave a comment in the comment section below!

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