Before you start on Yoga...

As all of us know how difficult it is to do and continue yoga on your own. Ask yourself a few questions before you join yoga or any other fitness classes.

First question should be "Why do you want to do Yoga?" It tells you the reason as to why you are starting and also the results you are expecting from it.

Second Queston is "How long?" This will help you determine how many days or months or year are you going to practice it, you are now fixing your target.

Recall all the silly reasons you might use to skip the classes, and compare how important are they than your goal of learning yoga and its results.

Everyday recall your aim and reason to have joined the classes.

Tell to yourself "If Not Now Then Never".

With these questions and thoughts start into your yoga or fitness class, and then see how you will enjoy the daily practice and achieve your results. At the end of the day, its all about developing positive attitude within ourselves.

Just as they say 'All is Well That Ends Well"

Ayurvedic Regimen for Winter

As we all know apart from curative medicine ayurveda also talk about preventive care for all seasons. With the winter season in, here are some references where ayurveda talks about what to do, what to eat, etc., during winter season in order to maintain a good health.

Ayurveda says, during Winter:
-  We should preferably take food that is spicy, pungent, and sour in order to maintain the body temperature within our body and thus manage the cold climate.

- If you are a non-vegetarian, you are advised to have non-veg which has lot of oil, bit salty, and sour to taste, viz. fish, any sea food, poultry meat, etc.

- As the digestive fire within us is very strong and any can digest any heavy food easily, try to eat more during winter. Try and eat as much as possible, the pulses available during the season.

- Try to take honey and warm water. You can also consume alcohol in limited quantity.

- Should take more milk products like curds, butter, and cheese, sugar cane and its products, oily food, freshly harvested rice.

- As the moisture in body dries off causing  dryness in the body,so external supplement of  oil should be applied.

- Should go for oil massage and steam bath, sauna bath etc,. You can try an external application of agaru drug or any moisturising cream to avoid excess dryness of the skin.

- Cover your body with thick warm clothings.

- Indulge in sexual activity.

 

How to Get A Glowing Skin

It is dream of everyone to get glowing skin and to look beautiful. Some supportive ways to achieve that glowing skin are:
- A regular practice of deep breathing
- Wash your face with normal as you return from outside
- A simple ice massage before you leave your home
- Good, regular sleep of at 6-7 hours
- Intake of healthy food and sufficient water regularly
- A smiling face (just being happy)
- Drinking and applying tender coconut water

Some of ayuvedic preparations like Kumkumadi [an applicant], Multhani Mitti, Raktha Chandanadi Churna, and Manjistadi Kashaya can help bring a glow into your skin always. It is preferred that an ayurvedic physician gives you directions in using these various medications.

Gas Trouble - Some Simple Home Remedies

Gas trouble though sounds simple, is one of the most irritating problems in our daily routine. It all the more affects us:
- if there is a frequent passing of gas.
- if there is sudden pain in stomach, on and off (commonly known as colicky pain).
- if there is aching or stiffness in arms, neck, calf muscles, and back - this pain is not continuous and usually gets releaved with slight massage.

If the pain is acute and not chronic, you can solve it from your spice jar itself. Jeera and Ajamoda [Ajwain in Hindi] are the two simple ways to get rid of these problems.

In case of body aches or colicky pain arising due to gas trouble, you can use the decoction of jeera along with a cube of butter. This gives an immediate relief as the gas is released as a burp or flatus.

In case of flatulence, colicky pain, and unsatisfied bowel movements a decotion prepared from two tablespoons of ajamoda, one tablespoon of anise seeds, with little sugar for taste, will help.

if the problem is chronic a detail examination is to be done, and can go for some ayurvedic preparations like Asthachurna, Trikatukadi Churna, Triphala Churna, Vyoshadi Churna, Jeerakadhyrista, and Bhunimbhadi Kwatha. Precaution: All these medicines should be taken under the supervision of an ayurvedic physician.

Ayurvedic Coolant - Khus Khus Grass

Khus Khus Grass is a dense shrub, easily available in the market or at ayurvedic medical stores as ushira. It has a very cooling effect, and slightly sweetish in taste. The khus khus grass is used in two forms - infusion and powder.

Khus Khus Grass as infusion is used in the treatment for the following medical conditions:
- fever
- inflammation
- irritability of stomach
- heavy menstrual bleeding
- menopausal syndrome
- urinary tract infection
- and for someone who complains excess heat within the body

Khus Khus Grass is used externally in the powder form for:
- burning sensation of feet in diabetes
- hot flushes in conditions like hypothyroidism
- acne (used along with raktha chandana).

Khus Khus Grass is also an important ingredient of some of the ayurvedic preparations like
Ushirasava, Shathavari Guda, Lavangadi Churna, Nasika Churna, Arvindasava, etc. But all these medicines should be taken by the prescription of an ayurvedic physician.