February 8, 2022

Chakra Meditation: 7 Chakras Of The Body

Author By - Carol Penn Categories chakra meditation fitness health meditation mental health
Chakra Meditation

The term ‘chakra’ refers to ‘wheel’ in Sanskrit and is a part of an energy system inside our bodies. There are a total of seven points in this system and each point is known as a chakra. Chakra meditation has its origin in ancient Hindu scriptures known as the Vedas. The chakras have been said to be shaped like lotuses and are connected with distinct chakra sounds. Namely, the seven important chakras are as follows. 

  • Muladhara (Root chakra)

This chakra is situated at the base of our spine and it helps to maintain inner peace and stability.

  • Svadhisthana (Sacral Chakra)

With an energetic function of regulating our desires and emotions, this one is located in our pelvis. 

  • Manipura (Solar plexus chakra)

Situated in our belly button, it provides us with the confidence we require to process things and let go of those that do not serve us a purpose.

  • Anahata (Heart chakra)

This one focusus on unconditional love and is located at the middle of our chest.

  •  Vishuddha (Throat chakra)

This chakra at the base of your throat is going to help you express yourself in the most authentic way.

  • Ajna (Third eye chakra)

Knowing ourselves is extremely important. You should strive to know yourself mentally, physically, and spiritually as well. This is exactly what this chakra located in the middle of your forehead helps in doing. 

  • Sahasrara (Crown chakra)

This point is at the top of our head and guides us in becoming a better version of ourselves by developing a connection with all and functioning in an enlightened manner. 

The objective of chakra meditation is to enhance your emotional awareness and to maintain mental balance. Your chakras need to open up and be in line with one another. If all your chakras are not aligned and in sync with one another, there might be some negative physical and emotional symptoms such as excessive sadness, fear, discomfort, headaches, digestive issues, etc. There are three distinct ways to go about chakra meditation. You can begin meditation on energy, meditation on chakra colors or meditation on a specific chakra.  

What Is Root Chakra Meditation?

Root chakra meditation is an example of meditation on an individual chakra for improving the emotional or physical areas that are associated with that particular point. When you opt for root chakra meditation, your focus would be to acquire chakra elements such as stability, security, and basic needs in general. You could also be targeting emotional requirements such as responsibility, and interconnection as well as basic needs such food, shelter, water, and safety. Whichever point you decide to focus on, your ultimate goal would be to ensure that your chakras are open, thereby allowing the free flow of energy throughout your body. This would lead to a strong and stable connection between your body and mind. 

December 22, 2021

Bikram Choudhury And Hot Yoga

Author By - Asmita Bhattacharjee Categories bikram yoga fitness health yoga
Yoga Session

There are currently over 1650 Bikram yoga studios around the world. Bikram yoga is a type of yoga that was introduced in the 1970s by Bikram Choudhury in California. In this practice devised by him, one is required to perform the same 26 hatha yoga poses for 90 minutes. Furthermore, this must be done in a hot room with a temperature of 41 degrees Celsius (105 degrees Fahrenheit), hence the name “Hot Yoga.” While any style of yoga performed in a hot room can be called “hot yoga,” Bikram yoga rooms are the hottest.

Bikram Choudhury has chosen eagle posture, tree pose, cobra pose, and other classic hatha yoga poses. One of the most significant aspects of Bikram yoga is that the poses cannot be performed in any random order. When doing Bikram yoga, you must follow a precise sequence. According to Bikram Choudhury, the main man himself, the poses are designed in such a way that new and fresh blood reaches all regions of your body in a methodical manner, including every fiber and organ. If the precise order is not followed, the same benefits will not be attained. Bikram yoga has a number of advantages, according to its practitioners. Because it’s done in a heated environment, you’ll be sweating from the beginning to the end of your session. This guarantees that toxins are removed from your body through sweat. Furthermore, the high temperature promotes blood flow and allows oxygenated blood to reach muscle tissue. This increases overall flexibility while also assisting in weight loss. Bikram yoga is also good for people who suffer from back pain or low blood pressure. It sharpens the mind and enhances physical and mental well-being. In some people, Bikram yoga can help with glucose tolerance, bone mineral density, blood lipid profile, arterial stiffness, mindfulness, and stress perception.

While there is evidence to support the benefits of Bikram yoga, there are also some risks associated with it. Many people believe that being in a hot environment for too long might cause dehydration, dizziness, and nausea. As a result, if you’re a beginner, you should practice under the guidance of an expert. At no point should you overwork yourself. The key to achieving the best results is to follow your trainer’s directions.

December 18, 2021

Techniques Of Zen Meditation

Author By - Debbie Gobin Categories fitness health meditation mental health therapy zen meditation
Meditation

Zen meditation is a branch of mediation that is associated with spirituality. In this form of meditation, one needs to be in sync with the authentic nature of his mind. It involves decoding the true powers of your mind. The purpose of this form of meditation is to clear the mind of evils such as anxiety and depression by providing you with the actual perspective of how the human mind functions. Zen meditation has originated from the Tang Dynasty of China that existed during the 7th century. It is a Buddhist practice but with time, it spread to several parts of Asia such Japan and Korea. “A special teaching transmission outside the teachings; not established upon words and letters; directly pointing to the human heartmind; seeing nature and becoming a Buddha” are the words of Bodhidharma, a Buddhist master while he described Zen meditation. It does not simply involve the reduction of stress and anxiety, but it is connected to the deeper questions of life that often have no solid answers. These questions are explored to find out the nature of the mind. Some techniques of Zen meditation are mentioned below. 

  • Silent Awareness 

A very important aspect of Zen mediation is to just let the mind be. This is called “shikantaza” in Japanese that refers to “just sitting”. In this practice, you would have to allow your mind to simply be a passage wherein thoughts flow in and out, instead of reacting to them. You would have to let the thoughts pass without any sort of judgements, either positive or negative. You would simply have to refrain from any sort of feeling. Your goal would be to be free of all judgements and practicing meditation. This is important if you want to know how clear your mind can truly be and how freely can it function. 

  • Observing The Breath 

You would be expected to sit on a cushion, chair or mat while you are performing this meditation. You would have to hold the Seiza pose, Burmese or half-lotus before channelizing all your energy on one particular aspect of the meditation process, namely, breathing. You would have to focus all your attention on your breathing and the completion of inhalation and exhalation with your belly playing an important role. The more accurate your effort is, the faster would you notice desirable results. The motive of this is to make your mind feel more alert and attentive, thus regulating your emotions better. 

December 14, 2021

3 Yoga Asanas For Beginners

Author By - Asmita Bhattacharjee Categories fitness health meditation power yoga restorative yoga yoga yoga asanas yoga poses
Tree Pose Or Vrkshasana

If you have just begun yoga, you would soon notice its benefits such as muscle balance, flexibility, etc, as well as the reduction of stress and anxiety. While there are several exercises and postures to begin with while you are starting out, in this article, we are going to talk about some common and popular exercises for beginners that are recommended by experts for a holistic development of your mind and body. Read along to know more!

  • Cat-Cow Asana

If you have issues with your lower back, chest or shoulders, the cat-cow asana is going to be extremely beneficial for you. It helps awaken the spine and get rid of back and shoulder ache. All you have to do is sit on your knees and hands, with the fingers rested wide apart. Your weight should be distributed evenly between your both hands. Next, take a deep breath and push your back upwards while bringing your chin towards your chest. You would be able to feel the stretch right from your neck muscles to the end of your spine. Complete the posture by exhaling and lowering your back gently to form the shape of a scoop. Your head should be tilted upwards before releasing it back. With regular practice, you are going to notice a considerable difference in the flexibility of your spine. 

  • Vrksasana or Tree Pose 

This is one of the most effective postures of yoga. Start by standing straight with your hands on your sides. Next, move your hands upwards and join them above your head to form the prayer position. Keep one leg stable and tilt the other leg upwards to rest your feet on the inner thigh of the fixed leg. Hold the position for about 30 seconds before repeating the same with your other leg. This is a great stretching exercise for your whole body. It would help stabilize your body and maintain body balance. 

  • Sukhasana

This is one of the easiest yet beneficial asanas for relieving your stress and refreshing you both physically and mentally. You would simply have to sit straight with your legs crossed. Place your hands on your knees, palms facing upwards. Next, close your eyes and do deep breathing. This is a very essential part of meditative yoga as well. You can start by holding the asana for a duration as short as 10 minutes. With time, you should extend the duration of the meditation for better results. This would have a positive impact on your body and mind as a whole.

December 8, 2021

What Is Dialectical Behavior Therapy?

Author By - Asmita Bhattacharjee Categories DBT fitness health mental health professional help psychotherapy therapy
Practicing Core Mindfulness

Dialectical Behavior Therapy or DBT was initially meant to treat patients with BPD or borderline personality disorder but with time it has been modified to cure certain other mental health disorders as well like PTSD or post-traumatic stress disorder, eating disorders, or substance use disorders. It is a branch of CBT or Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and its main goal is to mend the way people view their relationships with the people who surround them, improve the way they communicate and deal with stressful situations, and how they choose to carry themselves in the present time. 

Important Techniques Of Dialectical Behavior Therapy 

  • Distress Tolerance 

This is a way of therapy that allows patients to handle themselves effectively in crises. The key to maintaining sanity is the ability to accept situations and act according to them, without disrupting your mental balance. You would be coached to deal with extremely intense emotions that tend to overpower you. You would learn to stay calm and have a positive attitude, no matter what. Some very important ways of distress tolerance are self-assurance and belief, distraction, and thinking about objects or people who make you feel at peace. 

  • Core Mindfulness 

One very important aspect of DBT is the development of mindfulness in an individual. Practicing mindfulness would enable you to live in the present and experience moments as they come to you. It would help you focus on yourself and your emotions in accordance with whatever happens around you in a way that wouldn’t harm anyone, including yourself. This is a technique that’s capable of preventing impulsive decisions and actions that people subject themselves and others to, as a coping mechanism. 

  • Interpersonal Effectiveness 

More often than not, people face issues in their relationships because they’re unable to speak their hearts out to the other person and showcase their true feelings. They tend to normalize bottling up their emotions to avoid problems. However, this is a very unhealthy way of dealing with problems. Interpersonal effectiveness is a part of DBT that enables individuals to stand up for themselves and express their views while maintaining peace. It would help you respect your own as well as others’ opinions more than you used to. 

  • Emotion Regulation 

This is a way of being able to identify your own emotions and the root causes of those emotions, to regulate them in difficult situations. Once you’re able to recognize and analyze your actions as a reaction to certain emotions, you would be in a better position to deal with them.