तू चालता चल .......

तू चलता चल.....

I love walking. And enjoy it in all moods of life. May life present me happyness or sadness, joy or pain.

In a fit of nerve I walk spontaneously.  Or one can say it is a reflex action of mine to a tough situation. Walking brings me feelings of pleasure, tranquility, and well-being and help relieve the pain of depression.

Scientists have proved that walking encourage the production of the body's natural opiates, called endorphins. These endorphins are chemicals; related to morphine family  and are responsible for the feeling of euphoria called "runner's high."

So walking is a kind of meditation for me. "When no one responds to your call, then you go on your way alone" Ekla chalo 're.... Recalling Rabindranatha Tagor's line; I can walk miles and miles.

j

It's the best time to converse with your inner soul . Otherwise where do we get time to introspect in this sppedy, mechanical life?Many times I get solutions to unsolved problems while walking. Really walking keeps me going. That's the reason why I walk regularly.

Besides this there are "N" number of physical benefits of regular brisk walking. Ayurveda also mentions walking (chankramanam) as the best exercise among all.

And about benefits of walking ...  To list them down -

1. Brisk walking maintains a healthy weight

2. It prevent or manages various conditions, including heart disease, high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes

3.Walking Strengthens your bones

4. As already discussed it lifts your mood

5.Walking Improves your balance and coordination

6. It the simplest physical activity which on regular practice helps you live a healthier life

7.The faster, farther and more frequently you walk, the greater the benefits

8.The greatest benefit of brisk walking is that you don't have to spend anything for it! It comes absolutely free ...  Isn't it great?

Then what are you waiting for???

"The now" is the time to take good decisions. So start walking.

Better late than never...

Makarsankranti & Rathsaptami

As new year bingins we celebrate numerous occasions and celebrations like Makar sankranti, Vasant panchmi and Rathsaptami.

Makarsankranti is a holi transition of the Sun in the zodiac Makar (caprocorn). It is celebrated on 14 th or 15th january.

Makara Sankranti identifies a period of enlightenment, peace, prosperity and happiness followed by a period of darkness, ignorance and viciousness with immense sorrow. The six months of northern movement of the sun is followed by six months of southern movement.

In Maharashtra the Makara Sankranti celebrations starts from this auspicious day and celebrated till Rathsaptami which is the 7 th day of Magh. It is celebrated as birthday of the god Sun.

On the day of Makarsankranti People exchange Til-Gul Laadoo (sweet balls made from sesame seeds and jaggery and ghee) and multicoloured Halwa (sasame coated in sugar syrup). While exchanging til-gul as a token of good will; good wishes are exchanged.  People greet each other with the words " til-gul ghyaa, aani goad-goad bolaa" meaning ‘Accept this til-gul (sweet) and speak sweet / soft words’.

This custom has spiritual, social and health related importance.

This festival is celebrated when winter is in all it's glory. According to Ayurveda Makarsankranti falls in Shishir ritu (winter). During winter the people are strong, their digestive fire becomes powerful, because it gets obstructed from flowing outward due to external cold. Like fuel consumes the things that it comes into contact, digestive fire may digest body tissues cause emaciation of tissues if proper fuel (food) is not provided.

At the same time there is severe cold (sheetatva) and extreme dryness (rukshatva) in the atmosphere. Hence Vata dosha which has similar properties starts accumulating in the body during this season.

Hence food which are of opposite qualities should be consumed regularly in extreme cold season. One should consume heavy (guru), snigdha (unctous), ushna (hot) and nutritious(balya) food in nature which pacifies vata dosha and increases strength of the body.

Laddus made of " til = sesame" ( which have snigdha, ushna and guru properties) and "guda = jaggery" ( madhur, snigdha and ushna properties) is perfect a combination to pacify vata dosha. They should be consumed not only on the day of Makar sankranti but regularly through out the Shishir ritu ( extreme colds).

Every one should resort to Abhaynga with til tel (oil massage) which have Vata balancing properties through out the winter season.
The importance of sesame seeds is it keeps body warm and also provide good quantity of oil, which is needed as winter dried up the moist from body.

One more underlying thought in the exchange of til-gud is to forget the past ill-feelings and hostilities and resolve to speak sweetly and remain friendly. These warm greetings help  to alleviates dryness in relations & society and enhances warmth in relationship.

The significance of wearing black on Makarsankranti is that Sankranti comes at the peak of the winter season and black colour retains and absorbs heat, helping keep warm.

In Maharashtra this festival ends with worship of lord Surya on the day of Rathsaptami.

Rathasapthami begins with a tirthsnan (purification bathing in a river or sea) by holding several Arka(Calotropis Gigantea) leaves on head while bathing and chanting a verse to obtain blessing from the lord Surya ( the Sun) for rest of the year. Argyam (water held in the palms) is offered to the Sun God on this day while chanting hymns are performed to the Sun God. Doesn't it help devoties to spend more time in sunlight?

In ayurveda Arka patra or calotropis leaves are commonly used to treat vata disorders, to alleviate pain which is the main symptom of vata disorder.

According to Ayurveda asthi dhatu
(bone) is the one of the major seat of vata dosha. Do I need to explain the importance of "sun light" & "vitamin D" and it's role in formation of bone and in depotsition of calcium in bones??

Winter care

Hi friends,

Happy Republic Day to every one.

It is 26 th January today. Still winter is on it's full swing. It is the most hilarious time of the season.

According to ayurveda the "Hemanta" (November - December :beginning of winter) and "Shishira"(January - February: late winter) seasons together, are referred to as the cold season (“sheeta kaala”).

Shishira marks the onset of aadaana kaala (the period of dehydration). Acoording to Ayurveda physical strength and appetite is highest in winter.

In winters, the body retains heat and protects itself from the cold weather. This strengthens the digestive system and makes it capable of digesting large amounts of food. Seasonal food available in this period is also rich and nutritious. This season is particularly good for enhancing immunity (ojus).

But with falling temperature dryness intensifies further. Occasional clouds, wind and rainfall are also features of late winter which we all witnessed it today in the capital during independance day celebrations.

Though it is joyful season many  people are seem to be down with cold, cough and sniffles.

You can avoid theses irritating health problems just by follwing simple tips like -
1. Avoiding cold food, cold water and cold drinks

2. Avoid vata-increasing diets (bitter, astringent and pungent tastes)

3. Eating reacher food, but care should be taken not to over eat

In case you're already down with a cold and a cough you can use home remedies to treat it!  Here's how:

1. Take 1 tsp of Tulsi  juice and honey

2. Take warm water or ginger tea

3. Saute flaxseeds. Add water and boil it.Add 1 small piece of cinnmom, 1 clove, sonuf (aniseeds) and small size onion. Boil until it remains 1/4 and then strain it. Add a few drops of lime juice and honey.Consume the mixture for cold and cough relief

4. Take fumes of ajwain (carom seeds)  and haldi (turmeric)

So take the help of ayurveda and stay healthy...

।। वंदे मातरम् ।।