Practice Surya Namaskar

"One of my most important rules in life is to take time to soak in the morning sun. I have been talking about the incredible benefits of being in the sun for more than 15 years now, and I encourage people, especially those burdened with excessive thoughts and laziness, to wake up, go out and stay under the sun, with no distractions. Not only does the sun create life, but it also nourishes life. It helps us thrive. We were born under the sun, we grew up with food made by the sun and we ourselves cannot survive without sunlight. So why do we give it such less importance in our lives?", says Radhika Iyer, founder of Anahata Organics and Raa Foundation. Surya Namaskar is the first thing done in the morning in yoga as a salutation to the sun, showing respect to "the giver of life." The sun is revered in Indian culture for its ability to provide energy and lift our spirits. Consider this: you've been in a dark room for two days, and on the third day, you open the window to let in some sunlight. What happens to your disposition? You most likely feel more awake, conscious, and energetic. Sun exposure is crucial for our body to have a good regulatory system. "Our circadian rhythm, or the biological clock, determines our mental and physical health. Your body's clock responds to light as a signal to be awake and dark as a signal to fall asleep. When you go under the sun, your body starts working to provide your conscious mind with more energy to go through your day. This has an effect, as mentioned before, on your health as a whole", adds Radhika, "Another crucial thing the sun provides us with is Vitamin D. Our body produces it naturally when exposed to the sun. Vitamin D is what enables the body to build and maintain healthy bones. Your body can only absorb calcium when Vitamin D is present. It also facilitates your normal immune system and is linked to improved resistance to certain illnesses such as hypertension, heart stroke and IBS. It is also linked to lowering the effects of depression and helps regulate our mood." You can take control of your health by doing something as simple as getting 5 minutes of sunlight right after you wake up. The sun is a life-giver, and once you realise how interconnected we are with the universe and with nature, you can open your eyes to a new, more vibrant life. (N. Lothungbeni Humtsoe) Read More► Type 2 Diabetes Accelerates Brain Ageing, Cognitive Decline

When you hear the term "self-love", images sheet masks or spontaneous road trips in films and spa days come to mind. However, self-love is more than this. It can take different forms for each of us. A rigorous pilates workout can be as relaxing as a spa treatment. Self-love entails accepting your true self with all of the flaws and imperfections that make you unique as an individual. Smytten lists down five ideas to kick-start your self-love journey! Clean and Organise: There is nothing better than getting something done first thing in the morning. Starting your day with a win can instantly boost your mood and self-esteem. You will end up getting more done than usual as a subconscious attempt to replicate that feeling. Devoting some time to organising your room can also significantly aid in the decluttering of your thoughts. Meditate: Meditating allows you to quiet your mind and refocus your attention on the present moment. While there are numerous approaches, here's one you can try: spend at least three minutes doing a slow, breath-work meditation that focuses on your inner strengths. Finally, express your gratitude for a fully functional body. And, while it may seem counterintuitive, complimenting yourself aloud can be a game-changer! Experiment With Self-Care: The internet is flooded with self-care tips that can confuse a reader to the point of doing nothing. This is where experimentation comes into play! Find what works for you, whether it's the viral Moroccan Argan Oil Facial Kit or taking a bubble bath. Although it may appear time-consuming and tedious, trying something new is always rewarding. At the end of the day, when you find the perfect match, it will all be worth it! Maintain A Journal: Write as if you were writing to a friend. Document your dreams, goals, dilemmas, or even a single day in your life. Simply put, allow your thoughts to flow. Proactively writing allows you to set intentions that lead to positive thoughts, self-image and overall happiness. Buy Yourself Flowers: Break the stereotype of waiting for someone else to present you with flowers by representing a tangible form of love. Shower yourself with fragrance and love by selecting the right flowers and bringing freshness to your home or office. Alternatively, you could treat yourself to the ideal floral perfume the choice is entirely yours! Finally, choose to love yourself on a daily basis. It's simple: hydrate, eat at least three meals a day, get eight hours of sleep, limit screen time and avoid activities that are harmful to your physical and mental health. Read More► Here's How to Optimise Stress, Sleep and Immunity

मकर संक्रांति के पर्व को और अधिक खास बनाने के लिए आयुष मंत्रालय ने इस बार बड़ी तैयारी की है। केंद्रीय आयुष मंत्री सर्बानंद सोनोवाल ने बताया कि 14 जनवरी यानि मकर संक्रांति के दिन 75 लाख लोग एक साथ सूर्य नमस्कार करेंगे, जिसमें देश-विदेश के लोग भी शामिल होंगे। इस अभियान में विभिन्न मंत्रालयों के साथ-साथ योग एवं सामाजिक क्षेत्र की बड़ी संस्थाओं का सहयोग लिया जा रहा है। सोणोवाल ने कहा कि कोरोना के बढ़ते मामलों को देखते हुए आम लोगों की रोग प्रतिरोधक क्षमता को मज़बूत बनाना बहुत जरूरी है, इसके लिए अधिक से अधिक लोगों को सूर्य नमस्कार करने के लिए प्रेरित किया जाएगा। प्रतिदिन सूर्य नमस्कार करने से कई शारीरिक और मानसिक समस्याओं में लाभ पाया जा सकता है। सोणोवाल ने कहा कि हम सिर्फ सूर्य नमस्कार ही नहीं बल्कि योगासन, आयुर्वेद, होम्योपैथी, सिद्ध, नेचुरोपैथी और यूनानी आदि के माध्यम से आम लोगों की स्वास्थ्य देखभाल कर रहे हैं। इस दौरान सोणोवाल ने आयुष मंत्रालय द्वारा हालही में जारी की गई गाइडलाइन का पालन करवाने की अपील भी की। आयुष भवन में केंद्रीय आयुष मंत्री सर्बानंद सोणोवाल और केंद्रीय राज्य मंत्री आयुष मुंजपरा महेंद्रभाई ने आयुष मंत्रालय के अधिकारियों के साथ बैठक की और कोरोना के बढ़ते मामलों को देखते हुए आयुष अभियानों को और अधिक विस्तारित करने के निर्देश दिए। गौरतलब है कि कोविड-19 की पहली और दूसरी लहर में आयुष मंत्रालय ने राज्यों के साथ मिलकर आम लोगों के स्वास्थ्य को बेहतर बनाने के लिए आयुष क्वाथ (काढ़ा), आयुष-64, कबासुरा कुडिनीर और प्रतिरोधक क्षमता को बढ़ाने के लिए स्वास्थ्य रक्षा किट और आयु रक्षा किट को तैयार किया था। जिनसे आम लोगों को बहुत फायदा हो रहा है। प्रधानमंत्री नरेंद्र मोदी ने भी कोविड काल में आयुष मंत्रालय के कामकाज की तारीफ की थी। इस दौरान केंद्रीय आयुष मंत्री सर्बानंद सोणोवाल और केंद्रीय आयुष राज्य मंत्री मुंजपरा महेंद्रभाई के साथ आयुष सचिव वैद्य राजेश कोटेचा और आयुष विशेष सचिव प्रमोद कुमार पाठक भी मौजूद रहे। बैठक के बाद सभी ने आयुष भवन की कैंटीन में आयुष आहार का स्वाद भी लिया। यह भी पढ़े► आयुर्वेद विज्ञान में अनुसंधान के लिए सीसीआरएएस ने ई- कार्यालय की शुरुआत की

In the world we live in, life can be challenging. For most of us, waking up early, working late at night, daily commuting, exercise etc is a lot to balance with so much on the mind, it's easy to feel stressed for anyone. Stress is present on a daily basis which can be mild and sometimes unbearable resulting to hypertension, depression etc. Thus, finding ways to relieve stress and stop it from creeping deeper into your life is imperative and one way to shake off the stress is to practice yoga. We all need an effective solution that helps us overcome mental disturbances and allows us to live peacefully with a healthy mind and body. For any stressed individual, yoga can be a game-changer, especially meditation and physical asanas are magic to overcoming stress immediately. The practice is mood and energy-boosting but it seems to be ideal to help reduce levels of stress in day-to-day life. If you need help managing stress and anxiety, yoga may be a great solution and self-care ritual. Here's how yoga reduces stress and manages these issues effectively: Ultimate Relaxation Yoga reduces stress and promotes relaxation, which is the natural opposite of stress. Yoga can benefit three aspects of ourselves that are often affected by stress: our body, mind, and breathing. By practising yoga, a little bit daily can drastically affect your well-being in a positive manner. It induces positive energy to your body making one calmer, focus, balance and relaxed. Whether you are at home, work or somewhere in between, yoga is always here to help you relax. Imbibes Mindfulness When we're under stress, we often start thinking more about the repercussions of things that we do or wander about what will be the future instead of being in the moment and enjoying for the time being. Sometimes practising yoga lets you think introspect yourself and makes you be in a moment of mindfulness. For instance, focusing your body with yoga indirectly makes you notice a lot of things about yourself, allowing oneself to be just rightly present in that particular moment. Being in the moment like this helps you build your ability to focus and concentrate, which helps in all aspects of life. Helps you know yourself a little bit more Yoga is nothing but uniting mind, body and soul and therefore, one of the best reasons to add yoga in your daily kitty is that it helps you find out more about your mind, body, and emotions. Reduces symptoms of anxiety and depression A number of studies have shown that yoga may help reduce stress and anxiety. Yoga can enhance your mood and overall sense of well-being. Yoga might also help you manage your symptoms of depression and anxiety that are due to difficult situations. If you are performing Yoga outdoors, experiencing the vibrant colours, sounds and feel of the outdoors during your yoga practice can provide a positive energy boost. Improves mental strength A common benefit most people recall is that yoga improves your strength and flexibility for your body as well as mind. Yoga exercises improve mental toughness as it pores in confidence with the body movements and forces the mind to be more focused. When one is doing yoga, the mind gets busy taking care of the coordination of the muscles or making the body stay in a particular posture or form. The staying power as it develops in the mind with its efforts to keep the body still is what is called mental stamina. Yoga is one of the most effective natural ways to improve brain power. After all, a strong mind is definitely linked to a healthy brain. Boosts Confidence Yoga helps move the body in directions and ways which one would have never moved before, these new experiences and how one master the new maneuvers lifts the confidence of the practitioner related to the unknown. A boost in the confidence level is necessary to remain persistent on any path chosen by an individual. Rebuilding Focus Yoga help gather the scattered mind from everywhere, and focus its energy on one thought, action or task. The concentrated energy provides additional power to do what is desired, scattered mind is a weak mind. Practising yoga meditation regularly helps habituate the mind on remaining focused and concentrated.(By Abhishek Otwal) Read More► 10 Minutes Daily Yoga Can Help Improve Mental Health Problems