Sattvic Tales

29/02/2024

Hopefully you know that this description is symbolic!

And “surrender” is a way of suggesting that you need to quieten or subdue your intellect with systematic practice until your mind is like the surface of a lake on a still day.

And once you achieve that state, let the inspiration flow through in everything you do. In other words, let the work you do, no matter what it is (plumber, painter, heart surgeon, rocket scientist, et al), be inspirational.

Obviously, the work you do cannot be inspirational unless you are doing something that is innately you. So the whole process really starts by getting to know yourself. And there are a number of practices you can initiate to achieve this first objective. 🔱🪷🕉🙏

31/08/2022

On this Beautiful Ganesh chaturthi, let's have a look at the importance of Ganesha in our lives.
If we look at the idol of Lord Ganesha carefully, we will find the following symbols and their meanings are as follows -

Large Ears – Ganesh ji would have big ears symbol, listen more.

Big Head – Think Big, learn more, use your intellect to your fullest potential

Small Eyes – Concentrate, see beyond what you see, use all senses

Small Mouth - Talk less

Rope – To pull you nearer to the highest goal.

One Tusk – Retain good throw away bad

Trunk – High Efficiency and Adaptability

Madaka – Rewards of Sadhana

Axe – To cut off all bonds of attachment

Blessings – Blesses and protects on spiritual path to supreme

Large Stomach – Peacefully digest all good and bad in life

Parsada – The whole world is at your feet and for you asking

Mouse – Desire, Unless under control can cause havoc. You ride the desire and keep it under control and don’t allow it to take you for a ride.

08/07/2022

08/07/2022

Understand the basic techniques of meditation..
Here are simple ways to start :-
1) Take a seat. Find place to sit that feels calm and quiet to you.
2) Set a time limit. ...
3) Notice your body. ...
4) Feel your breath. ...
5) Notice when your mind has wandered. ...
6) Be kind to your wandering mind. ...
7) Close with kindness. ...
That's it!
🌱

02/07/2022

The easiest way to heal yourself is to sorround yourself with mother Nature.

26/06/2022

Pranayama
technique to harness and regulate universal life force energy known as prana. 

The breath is symbolic of prana, and pranayama can be understood as methods to extend and expand vital life force energy through deliberate breath control. These techniques involve breathing through the nostrils in a specific pattern of inhalation, breath retention, exhalation. Some common pranayama techniques include Ujjayi breathing (victorious breath), Bhastrika pranayama, Bhramari pranayama, and Nadi Shodhan pranayama (alternate nostril breathing), and there are many more.

Pranayama exercises help us to clear physical and emotional blocks or obstacles in the body so that the breath, and prana, can flow freely. The practice of pranayama dates back to the origins of yoga said to be around the sixth and fifth centuries BCE in ancient India. Pranayama is mentioned in early yoga texts such as the Bhagavad Gita, The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali , The Hatha Yoga Pradipika and The Gherand Samhita.

Pranayama is the fourth of Patanjali’s 8 limbed paths of yoga following the Yamas and Niyamas and Asana. It prepares the mind and body for the next four limbs of yoga.




 

23/06/2022

Yoga for good health and holistic living.

Researchers have suggested the following general health benefits of the yoga:

1. Improving the psychological wellbeing: this includes increased positive thoughts and optimism.

2. Physical health: this involves better tone and strength of muscles, joint flexibility, and physical endurance.

3. Improved functions of different body systems, such as endocrine, neurological, immunological, and cardiovascular systems.



How does the yoga work?

It is not exactly known how the yoga helps in getting the health benefits.

Yoga is believed to work through the following physiological/ neurophysiological backgrounds:

1. Stress reduction:

Yoga is considered as an effective stress management strategy. (Ref)

Researchers believe that yoga reduces stress response by:

A) Reducing the activation (‘downregulation’) of the Hypothalamic Pituitary Adrenal (HPA) axis. (Ref)

B) Increased activation of the Parasympathetic nervous system. (Ref)

Pranayama (Deep breathing exercises) stretches the lungs and the diaphragm. This stimulates the vagus nerve. This, in turn, activates the parasympathetic nervous system.

2. Increased neuroplasticity:

Neuroplasticity is a unique process of reorganisation of the nerve cell networks in the brain.

Meditation and the deep breathing exercise also thought to activate this process. This helps in concentration, memory, and cognitive functions. (Ref)

3. Exercises:

Yoga Asanas are low impact exercises and helpful in improving muscle strength, tone, and flexibility.

4. Lifestyle:

Yoga encourages to adopt a healthy and disciplined lifestyle. This includes a healthy diet, regular physical exercises, and avoiding addictions.

5. Values:

Yoga is a philosophy and a way of life. It also outlines the universal (Yama) and personal (Niyama) ethical principles and practices and moral values. This helps to develop a positive and optimistic outlook on life.

23/06/2022

Sattvic foods are abundant in prana (life-force), vegetarian, wholesome, seasonal, fresh and easy to digest when cooked properly. They are not processed, are free of preservatives and are grown in a chemical-free environment. Foods considered Sattvic include [i]:

Grains: Whole grains like aged and brown rice, millets (jowar, bajra, ragi etc.), oats, quinoa, barley, whole wheat. Bread is not considered sattvic as it is processed and has yeast.
Pulses: Moong dal, lentils, yellow peas and soybean.
Fruits: Almost all fruits are considered Citrus fruits (oranges, lemons, sweet lime, and grapes), Melons, Apples, bananas, berries, apricots, dates, mangoes, peaches, pears and plums are especially sattvic.
Vegetables: Almost all the vegetables are considered Exclusions are:
Onion and garlic which are pungent are considered rajasic in nature.

21/06/2022

Our lives become beautiful not because we are perfect. Our lives become beautiful because we put our heart into whatever we do.”

This quote depicts the yogi philosophy that we should not strive for perfection. Instead of always focusing on the outcomes of situations, enjoy the process. Let go of expectations! By putting our hearts into whatever we do, we find love in the process without expecting perfect outcomes. This philosophy can also apply to the yoga asana practice. When it comes to practicing asana, it is important for yogis to let go of how they think the poses should look. They should stop beating themselves up over what they consider to be imperfection. Instead, put the full heart into the practice and realize that wherever you are at, you are enough.