Why Tikka and ash on forehead?

We follow cerain rituals and practices, but we do not know the logic behind them.

For instance, applying tilak (sandalwood, kumkum or sindur) on our forehead stimulates our pineal gland (located near the centre of the brain between the two hemispheres) which controls the entire nervous system.

Some people put ash on their forehead: reminds us that we will also turn to ash one day.

Source:Art of living

desi but effective

Rub your hands with mustard oil and then wash them with soap. This will not only remove filth, dirt from your hands but also make them supersoft. Keep a small bottle of mustard oil on the wash basin. Hands can be washed this way as many times as needed especially after gardening, household chore or any job that makes your hands filthy. Men usually prefer to wash hands this way because they are not much interested in using various hand creams n lotions to soften their hands.

We have seen older people in our house using mustard oil to massage their head and body. Mustard oil keeps our body warm in winter, helps reduce hairfall through improved blood circulation in the scalp. It is also called bitter oil, is anti-fungal keeping away rashes and itches.

Proteins minus stress for good hair

Normally the body sheds 100 hair per day and 100 take their place. But if the body sheds more hair than it produces, it is hairloss.

The hair is comprised mostly of protein, so to encourage hairgrowth take a diet rich in proteins especially soy proteins. Soy proteins can be consumed in any of the forms:
*tofu
*soy milk
*soy chunks/granules/ flakes
*soyabeans (soaked overnight, steamed & can be eaten with other sprouts in breakfast). Grind soaked soyabean, mix water, and strain. Consume this milk which also protects against osteoporisis.
*soy flour mixed in wheatflour in the proportion 1:10 i.e. 1 kg soy flour mixed in 10 kg of wheatflour.

Other good sources of proteins are low-fat cheese, eggs, beans and yoghurt.

A diet rich in iron, calcium and silica found in green leafy vegetables, oats, dried fruits, beet root is also beneficial.

Avoid fatty foods, cold drinks, animal protein and go for amla(Indian gooseberry),nuts, seeds,raisins, coconut, olive oil on a regular basis.

In this 24/7 world, there is lot of stress; indulge yourself in hobbies, outings and exercise to keep away petty worries, tension and stress.

Low-fat diet can slow down the balding process of man!

High fat, salt, meat-based diet adversely affects the hair follicles. A recent research has shown that baldness is increasing substantially among the Japanese as they are now turning to more fatty, westernised diet. Even in India, we are increasingly consuming high-fat, high-salt and high- animal protein diet which damages the kidneys and creates acidic blood,which harm the follicles. Eating low-fat foods may not stop hairloss but can slow it down.

Stress can also make you fat!

When you are under stress, a harmone called 'Cortisol' is released by the body. This induces the liver to produce more sugar, your appetite increases and you tend to eat more, thus gaining weight especially at the middle section.

Daily exercise of your choice, taking up a hobby and pranayama for a few minutes will calm your mind keeping stress at bay.

Pranayama helps u in altitudes, in water

When you go to hill stations, there is lack of oxygen as you climb up the trekky, rugged area of the hills. This is where practice of pranayama comes to your help: you will not fall short of breath, and will be filled with energy. It is never too late, pranayam can be learnt(under the supervision of a trained teacher) even while you are planning for a holiday. Practice daily and your hard, wearisome journey can become a pleasure.

Pranayama is referred as the art of breath control. Practice of pranayam helps you in swimming, diving, floating and under-water as it helps to increase your capacity to hold breath for long, providing you good stamina.

Why do Muslims have green flag and Hindus saffron

There are historical, geographical and logical reasons:

Muslims originated from deserts and saffron colour is not visble in a desert, so they chose the green flag!

Hindus originated from forests and green flag cannot be visible in a forest, hence the saffron flag!

Do you know why Muslims bury the dead body and Hindus cremate it?

Simple, Muslims cannot cremate in a desert, so they bury. Hindus have abundant firewood to cremate in the forest.

Source: Art of living

Yoga can help you in the following ways:

Stay fit and healthy always. Daily practice asanas and pranayam that suit your time and energy. Ex. Few rounds of Suryanamaskar will keep you fully charged till the next day.

Prevent diseases. Practice important asanas, pranayam or kriyas daily. Ex. Doing jal-neti or Udgeeth pranayam will keep cough, cold, acidity at bay, clearing the respiratory pathway and bringing immunity in the changing seasons.

As a therapy. For instance, if you feel a problem in your ear, start practising "Karna shakti vikasak"(development of hearing power) or if you have started putting on flab on your waist, go for "Kati chakrasana or trikonasana.

Deep breathing will help .........

--before you go to the podium/dias/stage to
speak,
give a presentation,
perform.
--before appearing for an exam, oral test/viva/ interview.
Taking slow, deep breaths for a few seconds/minutes will relax and calm the nervous body & mind. It will bring back your confidence and you will be able to perform really well.
--when you are angry; let go your anger within seconds.
--while waiting outside the loo desperately, when it is occupied.
Try and see for yourself how the technique of deep breathing has helped!

Do not eat too hot food

Many people are fond of eating very hot food-- piping hot soups, chilli paneer, sizzlers etc..etc...Occasionally very hot food can be eaten but it should not be made a habit. Regularly eating too hot foods may lead to the following problems :

* Mouth: Eating too hot food is harmful for the teeth and their roots. It may also cause Micoza, the cavity in the mouth.
* Stomach: There is a possibility of more flow of acids in the stomach leading to acidity. Gastric ulcers may be formed in the stomach (those who eat hot food are also fond of spicy food).
* Intestines: Eating hot food over a long period of time may affect the flow of digestive juices causing ulcer in the intestines too. As a result a person may suffer from digestion related troubles like gastric and constipation.The membrane of the intestines may also get damaged.
The temperature of the food should be moderate-neither very hot nor very cold. Enjoy your food keeping good health in mind.

General instructions for doing Yogasanas:

1. The best time of doing asanas is the Brahma mahurat (early morning) in fresh air or near a window.
2. These must be done after the bowel- movement.
3. Clothes worn while practising asanas should be loose and light.
4. Asanas must be practised bare-footed, on a mat spread on hard floor.
5. Bath should not be taken atleast for an hour after doing asanas. It can be taken before.
6. Asanas can be practised 3 to 4 hours after meals.
7.Food may be taken half an hour after yoga.
8. No asana is perfect at the beginning, perfection can be got only after practice.
9. Old people should not be forced to do any asana.
10.The movements/postures should be smooth, without any jerks.
11.The practice of yogasanas should be started under the supervision of a trained teacher.

Shavasana: the relaxation technique

In this world of tension and stress, it is very important to do Shavasana. Lying down in shavasana for 5 - 15 minutes calms & cools the mind; removes fatigue and stress from the body and rejuvenates you.

Shavasana or corpse pose can be done after exercise, or whenever you are tired or stressed out.

How to do Shavasana: Lie on your back,arms open about 45 degrees from the side of your body, palms upwards,fingers half-opened, legs about a foot apart(app.the lengh of your shoulders) heels inwards, toes outwards. There should be no tension in any part of the body, if you feel any, move the particular body part and relax the whole body. Close your eyes taking slow deep breaths through the nose. Concentrate on your stomach; how the stomach expands on inhaling and contracts on exhaling. You can also concentrate on each part of the body, the toes, feet, legs, arms, back, stomach, neck, cheks, eyes and so.... the aim is to completely relax each and every muscle of the body. The body becomes motionless as a dead body or shava or corpse and is thus named so.

Recharge your batteries!

Relaxation rejuvenates our body, mind and spirit.

You relax when you are
tired,
after exercise or
mentally tensed.

You can relax while sitting at your desk by:
~ simply closing your eyes
~ deep breathing with eyes closed
~ concentrating on your breath; how the inhalation energises you and exhalation removes all
impurities, worries and tensions.

If you have the space, lying down in SHAVASANA can do wonders to recharge your batteries.

I have found that.....

....the yellow chilli powder (which the chaat walas use on the tikki, dahi-gujhia etc.) is real good for health. It is less spicy, tastes good and much better than red chilli powder. This is available in the market as yellow chilli powder. It can be tried atleast in our regular curries; can be used alone or along with any proportion of red chilli powder.

....when I apply the aloe vera pulp from the freshly plucked leaf from my garden pot, it gives my face an instant glow. Peel the leaf, apply the pulp/gel, and wash the face after it dries.

You'll get immense pleasure while doing exercise/yoga

* when your stomach is empty.

* when you imagine that you are getting energy with every breath you take in; letting out all the impurities and toxins out of the body with every breath that you exhale.

* when you relax in between. Get all the benefits from the exercise, not fatigue.

Smog from Jaipur to Delhi, Noida and other NCRs

Since morning, there was fog....not the one we experience in the severe winter months of December and January....smoke? yes it was smog (smoke+fog) in Delhi and other regions as a result of the fire in the Oil Depot in Jaipur a week ago. According to the met. dept. it will remain for two more days.
There can be irritation in the eyes --wash your eyes a few times a day and put Rose water in the eyes before sleeping.
There can be allergies -- Boost your immunity by continuing your Pranayam (start practising if you don't) to protect yourself from common cold, cough, sore throat and fever.

U won't get a pot belly when u........

hit the snooze button atleast 3 hours after your dinner.

eat dinner like a pauper i.e. your dinner should be very light.

do not sleep on your stomach, instead u sleep on your back.

chew your food properly.

eat food containing fibre (the fat globules get caught in the fibres and are eliminated).

do not drink water with food.

do not skip breakfast.

Those swollen ankles/feet

Ankles swell up because of muscle tightness when there is no proper circulation of blood in the feet. This can be caused due to prolonged standing.

Tips to reduce or prevent swelling ankles:
1. Reduce your salt intake. Take less of Chinese foods, soups as they contain lot of salt.Make your own soups with less salt. Occasionally rock (sendha) salt can be used as it is less salty compared to the normal iodized salt and does not have effect on your BP.
2. Wearing flat chappals will help reduce swelling.If the feet are tilted at an angle, it is difficult for the heart to pump blood to and from the feet, so the blood pools up near the ankles.
3. Lift up your legs against a wall for sometime daily.
4. Do not sit at the computer seat/desk for too long (do not cross your legs while sitting). Take frequent breaks.
5. Do not push or lift heavy things.
6. Do not do any straineous exercise/yogic posture that puts a strain on your feet.

Nuts help u lose weight!

It was a myth earlier that nuts contain fat and produce body heat, but recent research says that nuts are foods that contain monounsaturated fats which are healthy and help to lose weight.

So replace those potato chips, butter popcorns, namkeens etc. with a handful of nuts while watching your favourite T.V. programmes or whenever you are hungry.
Drink plenty of water, not with the snack or meal but between meals.

H1N1 excellent advice

Tip to help you avoid H1N1

The Holy basil (Tulsi) comes to our help to avoid H1N1 naturally. Five leaves of Tulsi taken with water every day keeps the swine flu away. Tulsi has a great medicinal value. It also boosts our immunity and keeps us healthy curing common cold, cough, sore throat, respiratory problems,stomach disorders, skin problems and is a great stress reliever.

Do not chew the leaves, instead break them into pieces and swallow with water(tulsi contains little quantities of mercury and damages our teeth if chewed).

Another way to have tulsi is: Boil a few leaves in water, strain and mix little of this water in your daily beverage (tea, milk, coffee, juice etc.)

If fresh leaves are not available, dry basil leaves (available in the market) or leaves dried at home can be used in curries and snacks. Go ahead, add another important herb (basil) on your kitchen shelf and stay healthy always.

EAT BREAKFAST TO STAY SLIM

A recent studyhas shown that women who do not have breakfast tend to put on weight than those who take breakfast daily. Breakfast gives you energy for the whole day and keeps you healthy.

So break the eight-hour long fast and go for a rich breakfast -It is wisely said "Eat breakfast like a king."

Meditative Postures

Asanas or yogic postures are of two type: Meditative postures and Cultural postures

Meditative postures are 1.PADMASANA 2.SIDDHASANA 3.SWASTIKASANA 4.SUKHASANA
All the other postures are Cultural postures.
Uses of Meditative postures :
1. An erect postition of the spine will keep it in its natural curve.

2. Training the body to sit for long periods (one to two hours) without movements reduces its metabolic processes to a minimum. When the body is kept in a steady position for a long time, the mind becomes free from all physiological disturbances caused by physical activities of the body.

Moreover, a straight spine helps the students to concentrate because in the straight position there is a steady flow of nerve current or nerve energy through the body.

For luscious lips

1. Drink plenty of water.

2. Take lots of fruits, green vegetables and milk. See that there is no deficency of iron, Vit.B in the body. If your lips crack at sides that means there is a deficiency of Vit.B2.

3. Apply mustard oil on the navel before bath or at night.

4. Home made scrub for the lips can be made by mixing 2 pinches of sugar and 2 drops of olive oil; rub gently and wash.

5. If lips have been affected by sunburn then nothing better than applying aloevera juice.

6. Try to get rid of stomach related problems otherwise lips tend to dry and crack.

Yess ! U can do it ! You can lose 1/2 gm weight in one second !

One stroke of "KAPALBHATI" Pranayam takes one second and reduces half gram of excess weight !

Sit in any position...... back straight.......empty stomach or 3 hrs after meals.

Exhale forcefully, inhalation being normal. This is one stroke of Kapalbhati and takes 1 second.

Start with 10 strokes......slowly increasing to 20...30 and so on.......practice daily for atleast five minutes (maximum fifteen minutes).......[1min=60times, 5min=300times].....taking rest in between (always listen to your body).

'Kapal' means forehead and 'bhati' means shining. Daily practice will give a glow on your face and make you parmanent healthy....... Try for a week and see the results!

Lean or obese, anyone can do because it reduces only excess fat.

Kapalbhati is also beneficial in Thyroid, Diabetes, Obesity, cholestrol,snoring, stomach problems, bronchitis, allergies, constipation, acidity, asthma, liver, Hapitisis B, cysts and concentration.

Those with high blood pressure or heart problems must avoid or do very very slowly.

Breathe Right !!

When we breathe in, your stomach should expand and contract while breathing out. Our stomach is like a balloon, it inflates when we inhale and deflates when we exhale. This is because when we inhale, our lungs expand pushing down the diaphragm (a great, strong, flat, sheet-like muscle, between the chest and abdomn) and the stomach expands. When we breathe out the diaphragm goes up and the stomach contracts. Just check if you are breathing the right way.

Also, breathe through the nose as the air gets filtered and warmed up in the nose.

When U cannot sit on Vajrasana after meals...

When you have no time or you are in your office/college, then make it a point to sit straight in your chair after your meals atleast for five minutes. The purpose is to keep your spine straight so that the food is very easily and quickly digested. Once you make it a habit, then it will not be difficult.

But when you have time and place, do sit on Vajrasana because it will also make your back, legs and feet firm, toned and strong increasing your concentration power too (because you are keeping your back straight ) Unless and until you practice, you will not know the wonders of this asana. While sitting in this posture, (you can sit on your bed) you can read a book or watch T.V ; make your family members also sit along with you.

Still, if you cannot sit, lie on your left side ( called Narayan pose ). This helps the liver (situated on the right side of the body) to secret bile which dissolves fats and aids in digestion.

If your kids / grown-ups do not eat vegetables

Children are very fussy about eating gourds and pumpkins (Kaddu, lauki, tinda, turai, petha), arvi and other such vegetables. These, combined with carrots, beans and tomatoes can be used to make the following :

1. BHAAJI can be made from ( finely chopped, boiled and mashed ) all kinds of veggies and eaten with pav or bread roasted on griddle with ghee (Children can afford to eat ghee).

2. MANCHURIAN BALLS made from chopped/grated vegetables of the sort.

3. STOCK (the nutritious water got by boiling vegetables) can be used to make :

Gravies of Manchurian, koftas or any other curry the child loves to eat.
Dough for chappathis.
Rice, fried rice, biryani.
Sambhar, Upma, Chilli paneer etc.
Batter to make idlis, chillas, dosas, utthappams etc.

4. VEG. FOR SALADS can be grated, mixed with cream or hung curd and used for sandwiches

Drink water in a proper way !

1. It is best to drink water in the morning as soon as you get up (beneficial in migraine too).

2. Drink plenty of water between meals--between breakfast and lunch and between lunch and dinner. Do not drink much water before you hit bed (you may get puffinness under your eyes). It is good to follow the adage : "Water in the morning; buttermilk in the afternoon and milk in the night".

3. Do not drink water with meals. Water dilutes the digestive juices and the food is not digested properly. Glass of water can be kept on the table, you may need it (people often talk while they eat). Drink water after an hour and you will feel thirsty after every hour. Making a habit of drinking water every hour will help you drink sufficient water throughout the day. Helps you in parties.

4. When you drink water, keep in your mouth for a second and then take in, following the maxim : "Eat liquids". The salivary glands too need water.

6 ways to blast the belly fat

1. Keep your posture straight -- shoulders pushed slightly backwards and tummy in.

2. In between meals, do not snack on chips and popcorns; instead munch raisins( they are mild lexative) and nuts( they are cholestrol -free).

3. Melt the fat by drinking a cup of hot water with 1 tsp honey and 10 drops of lilme juice whenever you are hungry.

4. Eat food containing fibre like nuts, sprouts, fruits salad and boiled vegetables. The fat globules get caught in the fibres and are thrown out of the body.

5. Practice Ajgar Mudra 5 times daily - Exhale, taking the tummy in as if it will go and touch your back (it will not ofcourse, but just imagine). Inhale back slowly.

6. Do not drink cold water post-exercise. A hot herbal tea or honey & lime in warm water can be had.

A maxim of Hatha Yoga

" It is not what a man eats, but the amount that he assimilates, that nourishes him."
Eat nutrious and nourishing food, extracting the maximum amount of nourishment from the minimum amount of food.The stomach is a pear -shaped bag with a capacity of about one quart (1.136 litre or 2 pints). Fill your stomach 1/2 with food, 1/4 with water and leave 1/4 for the air. Miss a meal once a week to give rest to the digestive system.

Yoga in our day to day life

India is a great country and our culture and heritage given by saints and yogis are unparalleled and we must be proud of it. Yoga is a part of our heritage. It offers a dynamic plan of harmonious living and is very helpful in our physical, mental and spiritual advancement.

Health is the natural state of man, and Disease is simply the absence of health. Various kinds of asanas are for general health and can cure many diseases. For instance, Vajrasana, which makes our body firm and strong like a vajra (meaning a stone). The toes, calves, knees and thighs are toned, become active and healthy. It helps in quick and proper digestion of food -- only asana which can be performed after meals. It helps the students to concentrate and improve memory, because when the backbone is kept straight, there is a steady flow of nerve current or nerve energy through the body. Vajrasana keeps many diseases at bay—constipation ,indigestion, tonsils, cytica etc....

Hunger Vs. Appetite ---HEALTH

Hunger and Appetite are two entirely diiferent attributes of the human body.


Hunger

1. Hunger is the normal demand for food.

2. It is like the rosy hue upon the cheek of the healthy child.


Appetite

1. Appetite is the abnormal craving.

2. It is like the rouged face of the woman of fashion.

Dietary Habits

Follow the rule: "EAT LIQUIDS, DRINK SOLIDS"

    How can u Drink solids ? I'll tell u ... Chew your food so well and then swallow.. this way you are drinking solids.Well chewed food is digested properly.

    How can u Eat liquids ? Whatever liquid u drink, say water, keep in your mouth for a while and then take in..quench the thirst of the salivary glands first.

Welcome to Gita Pal's Blog.

Hi, This is Gita Pal..... writing my first ever post........... thanks to my sons, Shrey and Hans who are the bundles of encouragement...........have taught me how to make a blog and many other new things on computer. I am so delighted, I will be able to keep myself busy now with so many new and exciting things to do. Thanx kids !