Water. Wasser. Eau. Agua. Tubig.

I am borrowing this article from Ananda Marga Wellness Center for everyone's info. We have to know how important it is to drink looooots of water and how we drink impacts our health.

Ever since I got back from the wellness center in 2007, I changed my water drinking habits. I don't drink cold water anymore and try not to drink anything during my meals. I used to be really good in drinking hot lemon water every morning when I worked at Bloomberg but since I don't have my ready cut lemons at home, I have lagged a bit in that aspect.

Do's and Don'ts of Drinking Water

1. Drink water not only when thirsty.

2. In the early morning, on an empty stomach, drink a good quantity of water.
Instead of plain water, lemon with a pinch of salt is better, as it has an alkaline effect on the body and, hence, greater purifying powders.

3. Drink a glass of cool water one hour before eating.
This helps to make the system more clean. At the same time the quantity of saliva will increase and one will have more appetite. It is sometimes advisable to eat a little later, in order to increase the appetite and digestive powers.

4. It is better to drink a glass of water one hour before meal and not to drink again until one hour after the meals.
At the time of eating or just after eating, if one drinks water, then that water remains inside the body for a long time and dilutes the saliva and digestive juices. Drinking water one hour after meals helps the digestive processes because the liquid helps the food to pass though the intestines.

5. Drink lemon water both in the morning and evening.
This helps the small intestines remain free from accumulating and creating poisons.

6. One should drink in a sitting position.

7. The daily intake of water differs per person.
A healthy person should drink 3 to 4 litters water daily, a sick person 4 to 5 liters daily and a person suffering from skin disease 5 to 6 liters daily.

8. Drinking a lot of water at a single time is harmful, especially for cardiac patients.

9. It is not good to drink ice water.
For people in normal health, the ideal temperature for drinking water is 90 degrees Fahrenheit (32 degrees Celsius).

10. While drinking water one must keep one’s mind positive.

How do we meditate?

Whenever we hear the word meditation, most people would instinctively say "I can't do that." But meditation is actually not that difficult. Take me for example - I used to walk around like a headless chicken (I still sometimes do), doing a million things at the same time and thinking of my imaginative list of more tasks ahead! The thought of stopping or slowing down was unimaginable. "Breathe" is what most books say when we are stressed. "Yeah, right!" would be my reply.

Since I started slowing down and being more observant of the things going on around me, I became more conscientious in my dealings with myself, others and the environment. All I had to do was take a few minutes from my daily routine to sit and observe. 

What is meditation anyway?

It will be a big disappointment to expect to completely shut off and still the mind. So we should not expect to be able to this in the beginning of our practice. The mind, in its nature, is easily distracted by external objects. It is up to us to re-train the mind to free itself from any distraction and focus on its true nature. Besides, contrary to popular belief, we do not have to sit in a cross-legged position on the floor to meditate.

Based on Wikipedia's definition, "meditation is a mental discipline by which one attempts to get beyond the thinking mind into a deeper state of relaxation or awareness. It often involves tuning attention to a single point of reference."

For us folks, it simply means to focus our attention on a single object.

Instead of shutting off completely, let us try to observe our thoughts and let them flow, not dwell on each of them. Once we have focus and awareness, we can start with a simple visualization practice.

Sitting comfortably on a mat or on a chair, relax your whole body. Let the breath flow through your nostrils in a wave-like motion. Begin by imagining your favorite place, a relaxing and private place where you can enjoy being on your own. It could be a beach, a luscious garden, a bench in the park or even a bath tub full of bubbles. Place yourself in that place and notice how you feel. Are you relaxed, calmer, and more secure? Let these feelings sink into your deeper self and feel the calm relaxing peace of your solitude. 

You can always return to this special place anytime. Do this a couple of times during the day; you will feel refreshed after each practice. Gradually you can move on to a deeper meditation as you improve your focus and attention.

 

Pose of the Month

Vasisthasana

(Side Plank Pose)

Vasistha is the name of several well-known sages in the yoga tradition. 

Start in samasthiti, inhale and raise your arms above your head; exhale and bend forward from the hips. Inhale, lengthening the spine. Hold your breath, jump your feet back to a plank and come down to a staff pose on an exhale.On the next inhalation, curve your upper body forward into upward-facing dog, bringing the shoulders down and opening the chest. Exhale, push your hips up to the ceiling into downward-facing dog. As you come into the vasisthasana, take a deep inhale, shift your body onto the outer edge of your left foot. Place the right foot on top of the left. Move your right hand onto your hip and turn the torso to the right at the same time supporting the weight of the body on your outer left foot and left hand. Straighten the arm and strengthen the thighs; align the entire body into one long diagonal line from the heels to the crown. If you are ready, you can reach the right hand up to the ceiling, parallel to the shoulders. Keep the head in a neutral position.

Stay here for a couple of breaths and come to downward-facing dog. Repeat on the other side. Then return to downward-facing dog for a few more breaths, and finally release to child's pose.

Rise and Shine the Ayurvedic Way

I found this article, which I find very helpful and true. Enjoy!

July 7, 2009

Article Headline                                Good Morning! The morning is the start to our day, and when we get a good start, it's likely that we're going to have a great day!  Yet waking up can be a challenge for some.  Here are tips for how to wake up the Ayurvedic way: -Wake up before sunrise.  This is Vata time, and because Vata deals with movement, it helps to get your body going.  Once the sun comes up, it's Kapha time, time to exercise!  If you're already up, this is much easier to do.  Start with some breathing exercises, and easy yoga, or begin your morning meditation. -Drink a glass of warm water with some fresh lemon or lime.  The warm water stimulates the GI tract, and the citrus helps to loosen up the ama, or toxins, in thedigestive tract. -Splash your face with cool water.  This helps to disperse leftover Pitta and prepare the skin for the day ahead.  Morning hydration is very important.  Rinse your mouth with cool water to get rid of the trapped heat that has dried out the mouth during the night. -Brush your teeth.  Massage your gums.  And use a tongue scraper to get rid of built up ama on the tongue.  Ayurveda also recommends rinsing your mouth with warm olive or sesame oil - spit it out, don't swallow it.  The oil strengthens the teeth, gums and jaw and also helps to protect the voice. -Massage the circumference of the ears, starting at the top of the ear, with the thumb and index finger.  Rub a few drops of olive or sesame oil just inside the nostril to help moisturize and clean the sinuses. -Exercise the eyes.  Roll the eyes up and down, side to side, and also diagonally.  Rotate them clockwise and counterclockwise.  Squeeze shut, then release.  Repeat several times.  Splashing open eyes with cool water helps to balance the doshas.  If your eyes are puffy, cover them with slices of cucumber. -Aromatherapy.  For Vatas, ginger, cardamom, or orange are most balancing.  For Pittas, choose sandalwood or lavender.  Kaphas are most balanced by the scent of eucalyptus, rosemary or sage.  Massage a little bit of aromatic oil onto the third eye point in a circular motion.  Breath slowly and deeply.  Lightly massage the temples with the four fingers. -Eat breakfast.  The morning meal is important for getting your metabolism started, so never skip.  But don't overindulge, either! by Lissa Coffey

Money or principle?

The last few weeks have been devoted to drafting my teaching schedule ready for next term. Children will go back to school in September. Adults will want to keep fit in time for winter, to prepare for the early dark days ahead. 

I came across an issue, which has been hounding me for the last year. To take a job simply because it paid the bills. Last year, I didn't have much of a choice. I resigned from my boring 

8-6 job and had to take all the teaching jobs available at that time. Although it was fun and I love the kids, there was a voice at the back of my head saying I was being treated unfairly. 

This year, I am a bit more courageous. Probably more discerning with the workload I take on board. However, it means if I get too picky, I run the risk of losing out on some assignments for the whole term. Ergo, less money. 

Money or principle? Not so easy sometimes. But I always look at the brighter side of life - once you close a door, a window opens.