Well-Being: Snacking (May 2017 Newsletter)
Everyone is always talking about diet and eating right. Actually it's simple. Just remember to think carefully before consuming anything. Eat well at mealtimes and have a filling meal. Snacking becomes unnecessary. Most snacks like pretzels, crackers and cheese, chips etc. are best avoided.
If you eat well at mealtimes, you don't need to snack. Don't buy snacks that are not so good for you. You will not have them around when you feel you have to snack on something. Don't add additional salt, sugar, butter, cream, or hard cheeses except to season your food.
With fresh food seasons coming up, enjoy fresh fruit and vegetables even for a snack. Still feel like you want to munch on something? Try a few nuts.
Drink plenty of water flavored with lemon or fruit flavors, if you don't like it plain. Avoid pop during, after, or between meals.
You have heard this before. Now just do it. Consistently.
A Calm Mind (May 2017 Newsletter)
Patanjali statue in Haridwar
Credit: Alokprasad, Wikimedia Commons
Yoga in its ancient and infinite wisdom (truly!) directs us step by step on how to conquer life and conquer death. Whatever our belief system may be, take what wisdom you can from it. Patanjali's Yoga Sutras, which we discuss every Wednesday in the Fundamentals Class (now moving to 6 PM), make us question what we think we know and what we believe through simple mind-opening aphorisms or brief sayings. Much of it is advice for practical behavior that we can model and use in our daily lives. We are currently working on Sutra 1.38, or the 38th thought in Chapter 1; several maxims prior to it help us learn to focus and silence our uncontrollable minds.
We are all familiar with the uncontrollable ruminating over a single negative experience or fear. At other times, many, many thoughts pour through our minds without direction or limit. Suggestions from Patanjali deal with both the problems and resolutions for the fickleness of the human mind.
All of the methods used are meditations. First, there are our attitudes towards others - staying consciously away from negativity. Keep them always loving and kind, compassionate, full of good wishes, and neutral when we can't quite get to feeling positive about another. (Sutra 1.33)
In the following five thoughts, the Yoga Sutras provide specific focal points for controlling the mind: awareness of the breath and awareness of the rising and dropping away of physical sensations, locating 'inner luminosity' or focusing on a point of brightness in the center of the chest, seeing the mind as rock steady, and, finally, just following where the mind leads you, one thought at a time to its conclusion. Finally, it suggests contemplating on one pleasant thought. Such simple advice, but not so easy to do.
My personal practice of mantra meditation has helped me calm the mind. It is a practice to be done daily, and often. It is never omitted and never abbreviated. Relentless and constant till the mind bows and bends to your impersonal, superior Self.
Join our Mantra Meditation on Mother's Day, May 12. Bring your mother or your child for free.
Namaste,
sipra
NIYAMA: COMMITMENT TO ONESELF
Niyama: Commitment to Oneself
In the October newsletter we considered commitment as a philosophical concept according to Patanjali's 'Yoga Sutra'. Life is all about commitment and surrender. 'Commitment to the cause and surrender to the result.'
In a practical sense, our commitments make us who we truly are. Do we value our own word? Often we will do all we can to follow through on what we have promised others, but just as often we drop the commitment to ourselves. How can we do our best for others if we don't practice it on ourselves first? How can we feed the hungry when we ourselves are starved?
Start by being your best self! In the study of yoga one learns that it starts with Niyama in Ashtanga (or the Eight Limbs of Yoga) which is the second step in physical, mental and spiritual growth. Niyama (the commitment to daily observances relating to oneself) consists of keeping oneself morally pure in body, mind and spirit (shaucha); being content (santosha); persistently practicing self-discipline (Tapas); self-study/self reflection (Svadhyaya); and focus on the Ultimate Reality or spiritual transformation (Ishwarapranidhana).
Commitment is a conscious decision made by us to/for ourselves. It is made with full awareness of the goal in mind - to be better, and to ultimately be the best we can be in this lifetime. It is a commitment to connect with our better Self, and connect to the world around us in loving and giving ways. It is not at all about how we look or how we present ourselves to the world. Nevertheless, self-care is very much a commitment to ourselves.
Hold your head up high, friend, and breathe deep. Make heads turn in wonder at the majesty of your Being.
Namaste,
sipra