Now we have a New Name & New Blog

Dear Friends, Students & Yoga Enthusiasts,

We have migrated our blog to a new address: http://www.wiselivingyoga.blogspot.com/

Our new Official Website will be: http://www.wiselivingyoga.com/
And as you can see we'll be also operating under a new name: Wise Living Yoga Academy.

We continue providing the same Yoga training and workshops, but in addition we have now Certification Courses. Please have a look at our Yoga Teacher Training Course (TTC) 200 hours Certification Program website:  http://www.teachertraining.wiselivingyoga.com/.

Our best whishes that you continue growing in Yoga.

Daniel & Jeena

Thai Green Curry

It’s time to relish Thai food again. It’s has been a few days that I have been already missing Thai food after returning from Thailand. I love cooking for fun and therefore I took a cooking class from May Kaidee Vegetarian and Vegan Thai food Cooking School in Chiang Mai. And I have also been also missing the lovely city of Chiang Mai too!!


Well, so in the memory of beautiful Chiang Mai I am posting some of the recipes that I learnt over there 



Thai Green Curry

Ingredients

Oil - 2 tablespoon

Green curry paste – 1 tspn

Mixed vegetables like carrots, baby corn, cabbage, steamed pumpkin, mushrooms and onions – a handful each of them

Shallow fried tofu cut in small cubes – a handful

Coconut Milk - 6 tblspn

Sugar - ½ tblsp

Soy Sauce - 2 tblsp

Water - ½ cup

Sweet basil - a handful

Fry green curry paste with vegetables in hot oil on medium flame. Add coconut milk and steamed pumpkin. Add light soya sauce, dark soya sauce and sugar. Let it cook till the vegetables are soft. Add three tablespoons of coconut milk again. Put sweet basil and turn off the heat. Garnish with a tablespoonful of coconut milk and serve hot with rice.

Surya Namaskara

Surya Namaskara is a series of yoga asanas comprehending a total of twelve postures (including repetitions) performed in flow. They provide a alternate backward and forward bending exercise, flexing and stretching the spinal column and limbs of the body. But Surya Namaskar can be considered more than just and exercise of the body. As per its name Surya means Sun and Namaskara means Salutation, then Surya Namaskara is the practice of Sun Salutation.

It is know that many ancient cultures from immemorial times adored and worshiped the sun. Many ancient traditions had incorporated various solar symbols and deities, but in the Vedic Culture this traditions have been preserved till these days and, in fact, sun worship is still practiced as a daily ritual in many parts of India today.

Before presenting you the 12 postures of Surya Namaskara bear in mind the following: (i) only practice it alone if you are completely health; (ii) first try to become familiar with the postures individually and then after as a whole; (iii) while performing the sequences, synchronize the breath with the movements by inhaling with each backward bending and expansion of the chest and exhaling with each forward bending and compression of the abdomen; (iv) do not repeat the practice so many times in the beginning, starting with 2 repetitions and increasing it up to 10, gradually, in few weeks, is enough for the maintenance of health for the average man; (v) at last but not the least, try to bring bhava (feelings) to the practice, performing it slowly, preferably at the early hours of the morning, facing towards the east, along with the rising sun.

So here they are:

Pranamasana (Prayer Pose)

Hasta Utthanasana (raised arms pose)

Padahastasana (hand to foot pose)

Ashwa Sanchalanasana (equestrian pose)

Parvatasana (mountain pose)

Ashtanga Namaskara (salute with eight parts)

Bhujangasana (cobra pose)

Parvatasana (mountain pose)

Ashwa Sanchalanasana (equestrian pose)

Padahastasana (hand to foot pose)

Hasta Utthanasana (raised arms pose)

Pranamasana (prayer pose)

Keep health and enjoy your practice of Surya Namaskara. Keep in touch for more yoga techniques. Namaskar :-)

Get Set Go!!

With the ups and downs of life, turns and twists, often we find ourselves lost and low. The best thing is to not to allow yourself get stucked in this turmoil thats harpens personal growth. I think success is always there, waiting to embrace.... However we have to believe in Success. I think quotes are such a great way to express positivity. Short and simple. I am a fan of quotes. I just go searching for some best quotes and trust me sometimes they just shake me up. Have a look at few of my favorite quotes!!

More to Tai Chi

So let’s continue with Tai chi, in my previous post I had mentioned about the various Tai chi movements. But Tai chi is more than this.

I learnt the Yin and Yang breathing, it’s very interesting. It involves some visualization and right concentration. Such gentle exercises improve delivery of the oxygen to the body cell.

I also learnt the Six Healing Sounds. It also required a lot of visualization. I think it really helped me. I have always experienced that visualizations has a healing effect on the body. Let me tell you more about these healing sounds. Each organ can be healed with the visualization of a colored metallic light entering the body and after emitting a particular sound simultaneously feeling negative feeling coming out from the organ and positive energy coming into the organ.

For example, I was explained that an emotion like aggression can affects the liver adversely. For this I had to visualize a metallic light of emerald green color entering the liver, simultaneously I had to bend sideways stretching the right side of the waistline, and feel peace coming into you and anger getting out of you by emitting a sound like SHHHH… from the mouth.

Similarly, I practiced all the healing sounds for Lungs, Kidney, Heart, Spleen and the Pineal gland. Wow, it was really healing!

Anther great thing was Chi Massage! Again for all the above six mentioned organs, I learnt different ways to massage. This massage revitalizes the body, tones and beautifies the face, and helps in free flow of Chi.

Wow, this was a great experience. I am going to continue to learn more Tai chi on Saturdays with Sir Christopher at the Holy Family School:-)

I will be back with many interesting things!! Love and Peace!

Tai Chi

I went for a Temple Style Tai chi – Level I workshop organized by Sevangi to a nearby hill station in Lonavala. Our Tai chi teacher was Sir Christopher Fernandes.

Personally, I felt that Tai chi had a very tranquilizing effect on me. It demands high level of concentration and one pointedness. In fact, the beauty of this technique is that it does not allow you to get distracted for even a moment. The focus comes in very naturally while practicing the movements. It’s an amazing combination of breath, body and mind.

(Jeenal practicing different Tai chi movements)

Tai chi chuan is an internal Chinese martial art often practiced for health reasons. Tai chi is practiced as a soft martial technique and to keep good health and fitness levels. Tai chi means Supreme Ultimate force or fist. Today, Tai chi has spread worldwide. Now a days both traditional and modern form of Tai chi exists, aiming for the same above mentioned benefits.

(Jeenal and Daniel with thier Tai chi teachers and students)

I learnt the Tai chi walk, Tai chi kick and the basic of Tai chi form in the first session. The slow graceful movements are quite surprising as they cause sweating and an increase in the heart rate. It’s various forms are really powerful and extremely beneficial. I personally felt my flexibility improving in the first day itself. Apart from it there was a feeling of lightness and well being at the end of day.

I am sure that my sleep was deeper and wholesome. Western science says that Tai chi is beneficial in controlling high blood pressure, in reducing stress, to increase bone density, strengthening the immunity. Tai chi helps in delaying degeneration, bringing energy and vitality. People having stiff joints, low libido, low energy levels and poor concentration levels can be benefited from Tai chi.

(Daniel practicing Single Whip)

(Daniel Practicing the step of punching the opponent's ears)

(Press)

(Recoil)

Coming back to the various forms, I and Daniel learnt some forms like- Grasping the Bird’s Tail, Brush knee Twist Step aside, Wave Hands like Clouds, Snakes creeps low, Kick and Double punch, Fair lady works at the Shuttle and Repulse the Monkey. It was not just fun, but a great learning experience. I felt that the these various forms were having a great impact on my stamina .

(Jeenal practicing the closing form, Lifting the Kun Lun Mountain)

(Jeenal trying to recorrect her posture, Brush Knee step aside)

(Jeenal practicing Left Heel Kick)

(Jeenal practicing Repulsing the Monkey)

(The complete video of Jeenal practicing the entire 24 Steps Combined Beijing Short Form)

Apart from this we practiced Chi harnessing and Chi cultivating early morning during sunrise. It involves step by step instruction to sense the Chi, Chi gathering, Rolling the Chi ball, Pushing the Kun Lun Mountain and a few more.

It's not yet over!Have a look at my next post!!

Ajanta Ellora Tour Report

In the second week of Jan'09 the Yoga couple Dani and Jeena (that's me) had organised a Buddhist tour to Ajanta Ellora which are world famous destinations listed as World Heritage Sites of UNESCO.

The Ajanta- Ellora Buddhist tour held in January was a super success!! Thanks to our participants Andrea (Brazil), Bruna (Brazil), Carlin (USA), Michael (Ireland) and Margita (Germany) for making a lovely group. I and Daniel escorted the group throughout the tour.

The 3 day tour consisted of discussion on Buddhism and Yoga. In the early morning during sunrise there was an Asana and Pranayama session conducted in the open lawn followed with breakfast and caves visit. I had also arranged for a small session for the participants to learn Hindi. It was fun!

The caves of Ajanta with different paintings depicted various stories of Buddha, and this added more light on the life of Buddha. The caves consisted of Chaityas with stupas and the Viharas with beautiful carved images of Buddha and other figures related to this period. It was a real opportunity for the participants to understand Buddhism more clearly. It was also an opportunity to experience India, and also Indian people.

Ellora with its interesting and vast layout of Buddhist, Hindu and Jain caves and temples had mesmerized both of us and our participants. We decided to do some OM chanting in one of the Chiatya of Ellora, it was great to sit in the caves and do some chanting. The vibrations were peaceful and we all felt really relaxed after it :-)

The enormous Kailash temple was very helpful to know more about Hinduism. The beautifully carved designs and images gave a dramatic effect to the temple.

Apart from this there was a lot of chit chat and fun time on the dinning table. It was so good to see different people coming from various countries exchanging ideas and their experiences. I was all the more happy to help them in selecting Indian dishes for their meals. Well, everybody relished the Indian food.

It was also an experience for the participants to travel by Indian Railway. We had time to talk and share, to have some chai (Indian tea) and snacks and have some fun!! It was really niceJ.

All of us took a lot of photos, did some shopping, played with monkeys....hehe, had good food, exercised and walked a lot. And above all this, we educated ourselves with the ancient history of India.

I am glad that we had an amazing trip and all the participants went back happy with sweet memories. I hope even you had fun reading this!

So do join us for our second tour to Ajanta and Ellora. For details call us on +91 9821231306 or +91 9821505029.

Paryankasana

Hey friends.. Let's do asanas !? How about Paryankasana !? I want to share my experience of this Asana. Initially it was really difficult, but with practice I am now able to do it easily. I have experienced great benefits of this asana. My legs seem more toned, flexible and stronger. Let me share with you the benefits and the method.

Benefits

Paryankasana gives a full stretch to the anterior and antero-internal muscles of the abdomen and the pelvic. The inner thighs as well get a good stretch. There is a deep pressure on the uterus and abdominal organs as well as the urinary organs and genitals. There is an increase in blood circulation around the abdominal and sex organs. It also leads to a better muscle tone. This deep pressure on the sex organs is very beneficial to a woman during pregnancy and to have a painless childbirth. It is advisable to avoid Paryankasana after the fourth month of pregnancy and during the first three days of menstruation. It is also extremely beneficial for women suffering from menstrual cramps. When done throughout the month, the cramps might reduce or even disappear.

Muscles that are exercised.

Leg extensors, hamstrings, quadriceps, medial rotators of hip. Plantar flexors, knee flexors and hips extensors as well as elbow flexors are exercised.

(Jeenal practicing Paryankasana)

How to do it?

First kneel down on the floor and sit then on your calves and place your feet under your buttocks. Now adjust to let your calves get positioned next to your thighs and your feet on the side of your buttocks. While keeping your knees together, slowly lean backwards while supporting your upper body on your elbows and forearms. Gently lie on your back with your body straight on the floor. Let your head and your neck rest on the floor. Keep both your hands and keep it on your abdomen.

Breathing pattern.

While getting down in the posture begin to inhale for 4 seconds. The inhalation should be deep, slow, gentle and rhythmic. The exhalation should also be equal as inhalation. Abdominal breathing is the most beneficial. If it is not possible to inhale and exhale for 4 seconds then 2 seconds or 3 seconds is also fine. The pose can be maintained in static as long as possible, but not more than two and a half minutes.

A few tips to make the posture easier.

Paryankasana is a difficult posture for people with less flexibility should first try to just flex the knees and sit for some days for a minute in the beginning. After, one can attempt to lay down with one leg flexed each time for a minute or depending on the capacity. If keeping the knees together when lying on the back is difficult, one can keep it away. After regular practice the pose can be accomplished and remaining in static will get easier. Initially lie supine for a few seconds and keep increasing the time span according to the comfort level.

Limitations.

-Pregnant women and menstruating women should not do as mentioned above
-People with knee pain
-People with any kind of back problem
-People with injured ankle

I hope this post was informative for the beginners who wish to get better with this asana. I will soon be back with more interesting posts. Do let me know if this post has helped you!!Take care!

Merry Christmas!!!

I dream of a star,
I dream of a moon,
And the next morning when I wake up,
I watch my dreams come true…
(My song)

Dear friends, I dreamt of something so beautiful and I made a painting of it and now I am gonna to share it with you. Let me explain the meaning of my painting…

The above lines inscribed are:

The babies are asleep in thier warm blankets,
The night is so quiet and the moon and stars shine out,
Tomorrow morning the sun will rise again,
The birds will chirp again,
The flowers will bloom again,
The life will go on,
We will live again....
(My poem)

The buildings show that people have shelter (I have also explained in my poem that all the babies are safe and fine). There are windows decorated with colourful lights showing that the people are happy, healthy and wealthy. There is a small factory and an office building conveying employment. The factory is actually a small bakery with a chimney emitting smoke, showing that there are some people working for us even at night so that we get fresh bread to eat for breakfast. I mean to show gratitude for people whom I don’t know, even though they have contributed to mu life, no matter if it’s even in a small way. With this office building I mean to convey that there is economic welfare in the world and people are well employed.

There are lampposts and a well maintained road showing modernisation and infrastructure for the welfare of the people. However, at the same time there is harmony in nature (I have expressed it by mentioning that “the birds will chirp” and “the flowers will bloom”). The night and the dark sky with shining stars and moon convey peace – GLOBAL PEACE in the world. Everyone feels secured. There is also a church with a holy cross that looks so beautiful! With this I mean that religion is understood in its true sense and it is preserved in a truthful way. People understand the true value of it, and it teaches us to love and respect and bring equality between all humans coming from different backgrounds. It is no longer abused to spread hatred.

I further write that “the sun will rise again, life will go on and we will live again” conveying the message of HOPE. Life is so divine, its our teacher. Value it. Sometimes in midst of chaos, crowd and pollution I still see that there are always so many good things happening. I feel a sense of togetherness at times.

This is my dream. Of hope and love. Merry Christmas!!!

Shawshank Redemption

A movie worth wacthing!!

It’s one of the best movies that I have seen till now!. Shawshank Redemption is a story about a young vice president of the Maine Bank who gets wrongfully convicted of murdering his wife and her lover. It’s a carefully constructed story that shows the life of Andy (the person convicted) in the prison. He learns about life in a better way in the jail while teaching to others as well.

It shows about how the lives can be so cracked and worn in the jail. Insipite of 19 long years in the jail, Andy does not stop dreaming. His determination, conviction and willpower put me into thinking. There many interesting parts in the movie that convey a message of hope and faith in a beautiful and dramatic way. Finally, Andy gets redeemed and free from the prison life with his own efforts that took him 19 long years. It’s a very striking scene when Andy escapes, and as the scene unfolds the mystery of his escape, the movie becomes more interesting. I am sure you are going to feel more alive after watching this movie. It teaches us in the most amazing way that there is no word like impossible.

The movie is a great example of Yoga. It’s all about retaining faith in oneself and having a never-die attitude. It’s all about human capacity and the extent that a human being can rise up to. Andy uses all the opportunities to its best and gives a complete justice to the time. It shows that how important is time and sometimes we taking it for granted. If a human wants then he has the power to change misfortune into happiness. The inner strength and desire of Andy allows him to right the injustice that has occurred to him and he finally escapes form this adversity and gets his freedom and his life back. There are many interesting things that give a deeper meaning to the movie. I have thoroughly enjoyed it and I can say that I am not the same.

In short this movie is filled with a lot of energy and I completely adore the strength of this character called Andy. It’s a must see and a lesson for life. Well, it has shaken me up, so if you wish then try to get yourself shaken too :-)

Go ahead and watch it!!Yeah!

Cooking Rajma Chawal

Healthy Vegetarian Cooking !!!

– Easy to cook, great in taste –

It’s so easy and quick to cook some nutritious vegetarian recipe. And, they taste so great and its light on the stomach too. So friends, today I will share with you a delicious recipe of Rajma Chawal (Indian dish of kidney beans with rice) that I had cooked the previous day for my family.

Kidney beans are rich in soluble fibre, so these are good in controlling cholesterol. They are a good source of protein, foliate, manganese and zinc. Kidney beana are also a good source of iron and potassium, thiamine, riboflavin, phosphorus and copper. The high soluble fibre in kidney beans helps to eliminate cholesterol from the body and helps to cleanse the digestive tract.

So I soaked around 350gm of kidney beans in water for overnight for around 10 hour. In the morning the beans were double the size and had turned soft but not chewable. Next step is to put the beans in a pressure pan with some salt and 6 cups (750 ml) of water for around 12 to 15 minutes on medium to low flame.

COOKING TIME (30 minutes)
INGREDIENTS (serves 4 portions)
· Rajma cooked in the pressure pan after overnight soaking
· 2 Medium sized onions (finely chopped)
· 8 Medium sized tomatoes (finely chopped)
· 5-6 big cloves of garlic (crushed or grinded)
· ½ teaspoon of red chilli powder (optional, only if you want it slightly hot)
· 2 tablespoon of Milk cream/ whole yoghurt
· Salt to taste
· 2 pinches of turmeric powder (if available)
· 2 tablespoon of peanut oil (or any other oil that you regularly use)
· Coriander leaves for garnishing

METHOD
1. Put oil in a deep pan and heat it, add onions and sauté them on a medium flame until they become golden brown in colour.
2. Add garlic and mix it well for a minute, lower the flame while mixing.
3. Add tomatoes and mix it well for 2 minutes on high flame and then let it cook for next 10 minutes on low flame until they are completely soft and mashed.
4. Add the boiled rajma along with the remaining water and stir well on high flame for 2 minutes. Add salt and turmeric powder and mix well.
5. Lower the flame and let it simmer for next 10 to 15 minutes to allow the flavours to mingle well.
6. Put a little milk cream to make the texture smooth and creamy and garnish it with coriander leaves.



And serve hot with some rice (you can drain the starchy water from the rice for a healthier option) and salad and some green vegetables!!



Nutrition values of Kidney Beans
Serving Size 1 cup (185 g)
Calories: 241
Protein: 15.1 g
Total fat: 0.8 g
Saturated Fat 0.2g
Polyunsaturated Fat 0.3g
Monounsaturated Fat 0.1g
Carbohydrate: 45 g
Fibre: 9.8 g
Calcium: 98 mg
Iron: 2.2 mg
Sodium: 442 mg
Potassium: 801 mg
Cholesterol: 0

Can you believe that such tiny beans from nature are power packs of nutrition!? So do try cooking it yourself!!

I will be back with some more interesting recipes for you guys!! Take care till then!

What is Yoga?

After so much travelling :-) .. let’s discuss a bit of Yoga Philosophy? So, what do you think about starting by the definition of Yoga?

Nowadays Yoga has become well-known by the practice of Asanas (Phisical Education), and, in this sense people go on subdividing Yoga, classifying it in ways such: Iyengar Yoga, Vinyasa Yoga, Power Yoga, Bikram Yoga, Hatha Yoga, Kundalini Yoga and so forth. Therefore Yoga became reduced to a system of Physical Training or Exercise and the Yoga subdivisions are nothing but the different styles in which these exercises are practiced and are named over their promulgators and advocates. So.. is it all about Yoga?

Not really!!! Yoga is a Ancient Science and taking it as sole physical exercise is a misuse of knowledge as it is stated in the Hatha Yoga Pradipika and as we will have a chance to discuss in a future post.

The purpose here is to clarify what Yoga really is and by this, offer some basic guide-lines (in posterior articles) to allow Yoga enthusiats to become more aware about how their practices should be done if they really want to practice Yoga.

So let’s see how Yoga is defined by it’s foremost and authentic exponent, the Sage Patañjali. In the Yoga Sutras, a classical work, Patañjali has compiled and systematized the knowledge regarding to the Philosophy of Yoga. This means that he has not created anything new. He has only organized and presented the knowledge in a systematic form, so that less evolved souls could follow the disciplines and attain the benefits of their application.

The Yoga Sutras comprehend 195 aphorisms (tersely sentences, but vigorously expressive observations containing a general truth) through which the Yoga Philosophy are exponded. In the first sutra Patañjali declares that from that moment Yoga is going to be explained for the benefit of all.

And in the very 2nd sutra Patañjali gives us the definition of Yoga as follows:

Obviously the knowledge of Sanskrit is necessary for grasping the meaning of the aphorisms. For that, we the help of different commentators and scholars, we can understand the above as follows:

yoga – union or joining (implying “means or use” and also “result”)
citta – the ordinary consciousness (personality-complex, including the different aspects of the mind, intellect, ego, emotions)
vrtti – the different states, fluctuations, modifications, behaviour
nirodhah – restraint, control, cessation

Yoga is, thus, Union achieved by restraining, leading to the cessation of the fluctuations of the ordinary consciouness.

But which Union is that talked about in here. I have heard Yoga students and practitioners repeating: Union of Body, Mind and Spirit. This is not wrong, but the sentence has already become a cliché. Deeper insight into the subject is lacking. The 3rd sutra explains clearly which Union Patañjali is talking about.

The translation of this sutra is:

tada – then, at that time (of Union)
drastuh – the seer, the self, the soul
svarupe – in its own, in its state
avasthanam – abide, dwell, get stablished, settle

Then, at that time (of Realization), the seer gets stablished in its own state.

Yoga is, therefore, a result: the state of union of the soul with it’s true essence; an outcome of the continuous practice of a system of disciplines. But Yoga is also the means through which this Union is achieved. In other words, Yoga is also the application or the course of discipline itself.

The next sutra explains what happen when the seer or the soul is not established in his own.

vrtti – the different states of the ordinary consciousness or the complex-personality (its fluctuations and modifications, moods and behaviour)
sarupyam – identification of, appearance of
itaratra – not at the state of realization, at other time, elsewhere

At all other times, the seer is identified with the different states of ordinary consciousness

In this state, it can not realise its own fundamental nature which is, by the way, divine in essence. That is the estate in which we normally live. We get identified with our body and mind and do not realise that we are a divine soul.

This makes me remind my childhood when I heard someone telling me that I had a soul and I was wondering what would be that thing. Later on I heard that the animals had no souls and I also learnt that when the Jesuits arrived in Brazil they believed that the indigenous peoples who lived there did not have a soul and that they could only attain one through the ritual of baptism. Today I think of what is more absurd: to think that the animals or the Brazilian Indians would not have souls or to think that we have one? The whole concept is wrong. It is not this “I” who has a soul. Not this body or mind that has a soul. But I am the Soul who uses the body and mind to operate in this material word and who gets completely identified to them (body and mind) in the states of ordinary consciousness.

Now the question is: are your Yoga practices helping you to realise your own divine nature, to achieve union, or are they making you more identified and attached to your body? If the latter is so, what you are doing is not Yoga.

Let's us practice real Yoga and get stablished in our own divine nature!!

Namaskar !!!