International Yoga Day

A brief background to the International Yoga Day

It was on September 27, 2014 while addressing the 69th session of the United Nations General Assembly our Honorable Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi proposed the world community to adopt an International Day for Yoga. In his words, "Yoga is an invaluable gift from our ancient tradition. It embodies unity of mind and body. It is not just an exercise but a holistic approach towards our health and well being". This resolution was endorsed by 175 member states and 21 June was declared as the International Yoga Day.

What is Yoga?

Yoga is a mental, physical and spiritual practice that originated in India. It is an ancient practice. The word Yoga means Unity which symbolizes the unity of mind and body. It works on all the levels of the body including mind, body, energy and emotion. It is an easy and safe way to stay fit and healthy forever. It just need to be practiced regularly with right body movement and breathing. It regularizes the functioning of all the organs in the body and prevents our body to get disturbed due to some unhealthy situation. This is the message that the International Yoga Day wants to spread between people.

Ideally practicing yoga regularly in the morning provides outer and inner relief. It keeps away the countless ailments at both physical and mental level. Practicing the various Asanas strengthens the body and mind creating a feeling of well being. It sharpens the mind, improves brainpower and help in high level of concentration. The feeling of well being enhances the social well being. Improved concentration level creates inner peace to the mind. Yoga is a philosophy which develops self-discipline and self awareness within regular practice.

5 basic Yoga poses for beginners to do on this International Yoga Day:

Balasana (The Child's Pose)

Kneel and bring your chest down onto your thighs and your forehead to the floor. Your arms should stretch by your side with your hands next to your feet. Slowly breathe in through your nose and notice the back of the chest expanding and the ribs widening. As you exhale try to sink the buttocks back down toward the heels feeling the spine gently bend over the thighs. Stay here for 5-10 breaths, or however long feels good for you.

Benefits:

Releases tension in the back, shoulders and chest

Helps ease stress and anxiety

Flexes the internal organs and keeps them flexible

Regulates circulation in the body

Cools the mind and body

Bidalasana (The Cat Pose)

Move into a tabletop pose with the wrists directly below the shoulders and knees below the hips. Push the palms into the mat to make sure your shoulder blades are broad.

While inhaling, look forward and reach the tailbone toward the sky. While exhaling tuck the chin to the chest and reach the tailbone to the floor. Continue through this movement. Allow the breath to lead and feel the entire spine being massaged. Try to keep the creases of the elbows facing each other to protect the joint from hyperextension.

Breathe through 5 rounds.

Benefits:

Develops posture and balance

Strengthens the spine

Stretches the hips, abdomen and back

Increases body synchronization

Massages organs like stomach, kidneys and adrenal glands

Adho Mukha Svanasana (Downward Dog Pose)

Take the palms a little wider than shoulder width, tuck the toes and lift the hips into the air. The chest moves back toward the thighs. Relax the head and keep the arms straight. Roll the shoulders away from the ears. Bend the knees and start to walk with one heel down at a time. It is important to keep the hips high than to get the soles of the feet to the ground.

Benefits:

Builds strong bones.

Fights slumpy-posture syndrome

provide a great ankle and calf stretch

Increases blood flow to face and brain

It opens up sinuses and clears nasal congestion.

Uttanasana (Standing Forward Bent Pose)

Walk your feet toward the hands and let the upper body hang. The neck and head should be relaxed and the knees should be bent to start with. As you inhale find stretch through the spine and while exhaling move the head slowly towards the feet.

Breathe 10 rounds here.

Benefits:

Stretches hips, hamstrings, and calves.

Keeps the spine strong.

Releases stress, anxiety, depression, and fatigue.

Calms the mind and the nerves.

Activates the abs muscles.

Trikonasana (Triangle Pose)

From the standing position, widen your to about a leg-length. Turn the right foot out to the side, so that the heel is aligned with the centre arch of the left foot. Keeping the arms parallel to the ground reach out to the right side. Keep both legs straight with the thighs engaged. When you can't reach any further, align the arms so that they are in one line. The chest remains open and the torso stretches. Breathe 5 rounds here and then repeat on the other side.

Benefits:

Improves the function of blood through body.

Strengthens the hips, back, arms, thighs and leg.

Reduces blood pressure and stress.

heal indigestion.

Calms the mind and reduces anxiety.

Approximately 200 million people around the world practice yoga, majority of them in India, and over 20 million in the United States. With the motion for an International Yoga Day, more people will become aware of the system of yoga and will be encouraged to follow a spiritual life style, a life that is healthy. Let this be a grand opening for the world community to realize the worth of oneness.

Let's take this oath to stay healthy with peace and make this International Yoga Day a day of harmony.

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Calming Meditation Techniques for New Mothers

Everyone has advice for a new mother, even those who don't have any children themselves seem to have gleaned an opinion or two from watching their friends or sisters. Depending on your personality you may have completely disregarded all the suggestions or diligently written down each and every one. Maybe you're going crazy trying to figure out which school of parenting is really the right one, or maybe you think you've got it down pat, the whole day scheduled and every little detail taken care of. No matter where you fall on this scale of preparation, there will inevitably be a moment, when you get home from the hospital or birthing center, or your midwife bids you ado for some much needed sleep, when you'll be left in an empty, unplanned moment alone with your precious newborn baby, thinking, "What the heck do I do now?" When this moment comes, smile to yourself and know that you have joined the ranks of all the wonderful women before you who have taken on this life-changing responsibility, and that they all had the same thought.

Now, let me tell you a little secret... you already know what is best for your child. You know your child better than anyone, you will spend more time with your child than anyone else and you will make the decisions about how to raise your child the best way you know how. So, listen to advice, read books, and observe others, and feel empowered to combine all of the information at your disposal to make the best decisions you know how. When you find you've lost yourself on the rollercoaster of midnight feedings, and your great aunt's advice, take a moment to connect again with yourself and your little one and start fresh.

Finding just ten minutes a day to refresh yourself will do wonders for you state of mind as a mother. Try any or all of the three meditation techniques below, or choose something that you know you enjoy. Meditation techniques range from standing on you head in a traditional yoga pose, to knitting quietly to running. The most important thing to remember is that
you deserve this time for yourself.

Traditional meditation can be very helpful. Often insight into life's little dilemmas will show up clear as day in a quiet mind. If this type of meditation sounds like something you would enjoy, try finding a quiet place away from the noise of the house. Find a place to sit that is comfortable but will also keep you alert. Focus on your breathing and choose two phrases or words to repeat during each inhale and exhale.
Choose empowering words that resonate with how you are feeling. Some examples are; peace, strength, let go, relax, and enjoy. If your mind strays from your breathing gently remind yourself to return your focus to your breath. As you continue your practice you will notice you are able to focus for longer and longer periods of time, both while meditating and throughout the day. Also, a feeling of calm will begin to permeate your
days.

If sitting quietly doesn't seem like something you would enjoy, another option is Stream-of-Consciousness Journaling. Find yourself a blank journal, anything will do, and a good pen. Make yourself comfortable and begin to write. Write down everything that comes to mind whether it makes sense or not. Don't edit your thoughts or feelings even one little bit. Remember no one will read this but you. While writing see if you can begin to observe your thoughts as they pass through your hand. Remove yourself from the business and find a quiet serenity behind where the thoughts and writing originates. If you truly allow your hand to write without the interference of your conscious mind you may be quite surprised at the wisdom
that originates from within you. Try it, you might just enjoy it.

Another option if you are not keen on writing is to do collage work. This doesn't have to be the next Mona Lisa, you are doing this solely for yourself. Begin by collecting old magazines and go through cutting out pictures and words that move you or resonate with you. When you feel inspired, combine them into one collage. You will be surprised at the themes that emerge from this exercise because when choosing visual images we tend to react more subconsciously than when choosing words to express ourselves. These collages are very therapeutic for purging that deep desire to express oneself and are a wonderful step on the way to finding that still place in your mind. Collages made this way are very meaningful and also make great gifts if you feel like sharing.

Giving yourself a little extra time each day to reflect and settle down will make you a better parent. It is important as your child grows that she sees you caring for yourself. Children learn by example after all. So get your rest, care for your body, listen to your soul, and you will be the best
parent your child could ask for.

Ronee Parsons is a Certified Aromatherapist a Work-At-Home Mother and the owner of [http://olybaby.com].

For more information about caring for yourself and your family naturally visit the Oly Baby Website or sign up for the Oly Baby Newsletter at [http://olybaby.com/newsletter/?p=subscribe] .

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