Category: Health

Tips for healthy living

Journaling for Self-Discovery

Journaling is something women do very naturally. However, most often men, when they were boys, were in general discouraged to keep a journal. Journaling is thought to be expressing our inner most secrets and feeling, and boys are in general taught, “Real men don’t really express their feelings and it is only suitable for women.” There are always exceptions in this as it is for everything else. You probably don’t keep a journal unless you are a writer or work in a creative field like art. If you are in scientific fields you probably keep a research notebook recording your...

Free Will According to Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj

I have been contemplating about the concept of free will for a while. I looked back into my life, into all that happened and all that I accomplished. When I contemplated on things that just happened it felt like I had no control over them. However, when I looked at things that I felt I accomplished—at least felt that way at the time of their accomplishment—initially, I felt I had done them out of my own will—free will. […]

A 10 Minute Ujjayi Pranayama, Victorious or Ocean Sound Breathing Technique

In yOga (see sanskrit transliteration scheme), prANAyAma (control of life-force through breath) is an important and ancient conglomeration of techniques to promote physical, mental and spiritual well-being, and enlightenment. In a previous article in this series, I have discussed a 3-part deep abdominal breathing technique. In this article, I will discuss ujjAyI prANAyAma or Victorious Breathing technique. This breathing technique can also be done in either “sitting up” or “lying down on back” positions. As you gain experience, you should do this in the sitting upright position. Ocean Sound, Victorious Breathing or ujjAyI prANAyAma Technique This technique builds upon the...

A Powerful 3-Part Deep Abdominal Breathing Technique

In yOga (see sanskrit transliteration scheme), prANAyAma (control of life-force through breath) is an important and ancient conglomeration of techniques to promote physical, mental and spiritual well-being, and enlightenment. In this article, I will discuss a powerful deep breathing technique that is very healing by itself. This can be used whenever you feel stressed, or just want to get into that calmer state of mind. This breathing technique can be done in either “sitting up” or “lying down on back” positions. 3-Part Deep Abdominal Breathing If you observe babies and very young children, you will notice that their abdomen expands...

Simple Techniques for Busy People to Help Access Inner Peace and Joy

Most of us are incessantly bombarded with random thoughts. We end up connecting these random thoughts to create a story. We create an identity for ourselves based on these stories. We don’t even realize that we derive our identity from these stories. The stories could be coming from feelings of dejection, rejection, defeat, fear or those of elation, happiness, victory and courage. Still they are thoughts. Some we label as good and others as bad. We do not realize that our true identity is not, “I am happy, I am sad, I am courageous, I am lonely.” We identify ourselves...

Fasting for Health and Healing (Series): Breaking the Fast

As you know I started the Lemonade Fast on June 18, 2007. As you read in Day-3, I have decided, after listening to my body carefully, to break my fast after these three days. I broke my fast by drinking a glass of orange juice. After an hour, I felt quite hungry and had rice with some daal (Indian lentil dish). I am happy to report that I feel lighter than before I started the fast. This experiment helped me conquer some of my fears about my physical body. Especially fears like, “If I eat this, my health will go...

Fasting for Health and Healing (Series): Day 3

As you know I started the Lemonade Fast on June 18, 2007. This is my report for Day-3, June 20. I slept very well the night before. The day started off quite well. I had no headaches or any body pains as I did on Day-2. I had a total of 8 glasses of the lemonade. My energy level was good throughout the day and was able to handle work stress quite well, though by evening about 5 pm, I felt that I needed some rest. As I observed my body the whole day, I realized that my body was...

Fasting for Health and Healing (Series): Day 2

As you know I started the Lemonade Fast on June 18, 2007. This is my report for Day-2, June 19. I slept very well the night before. The day started off quite well. As the day progressed, I developed severe headache. However, that headache was not continuous. It would be there for a while, then go away or subside significantly for a while and then come back. The aches were localized to different parts of the head at different times. I have been quite sensitive to whatever went on in my body for a few years now. So, I could...

Fasting for Health and Healing (Series): Day 1

As you know I started the Lemonade Fast this morning. Officially, it started after my dinner last night when I took a herbal laxative tea before going to bed. However, I slept at a rather unusual time for me, at about 1:30 am. Possibly because of anticipation of this experience. I woke up this morning at usual time of 7:00 am, brushed my teeth and had herbal laxative tea. After the usual ablutions, I prepared the lemonade and drank it. I wanted to see if I can go with the minimum 6 glasses of it for the day. Day was...

Fasting for Health and Healing (Series): Lemonade Recipe

The Book, “The Master Cleanser by Stanley Burroughs” (aff.) calls the diet, to be followed during the fasting period, “The Lemonade Diet.” This is a diet to be followed only during fasting. No other food is to be taken except this lemonade drink. This is basically lime/lemon juice mixed with “pure” maple syrup and a pinch of cayanne pepper in 10 Oz., of medium hot or cold water. Six to twelve glasses of lemonade made this way need be taken per day. A herbal laxative tea should be taken as the last thing before sleeping at night and first thing...