Eight Tips To Combat Stress

May 29, 2007

Learning to unwind is essential to rejuvenate the mind and body. But it is not easy as it seems to be. Workaholics need to put in serious effort to be a part of the relaxation process. Here are some useful tips. These pointers are simple and common yet they are the ones most forgotten.

1) Lie down or recline in an angle or sit up in a comfortable position. Then close your eyes and take in deep breaths. Think about something relaxing – a vacation, snow capped mountain peaks or waves hitting the shore where the seagulls seem to be calling out your name. Keep the eyes closed at all times and allow the mind to drift into oblivion.

2) Change your routine. This breaks the monotonous lifestyle and things that we do mechanically.

3) Take a walk in the park. Enjoy watching the excitement in which children play or go for a swim. Being in solitude helps to focus on your thoughts. Feel the stress slowly rising, suspending in mid air and then disappearing. The mind becomes free and you feel lighter.

4) Avoid chatting up friends or long hours gossiping. It adds to the stress then eleminating it.

5) Attempt doing things that you have never done before. This creates enthusiasm and the mind is eager to learn new things. It may sound silly while you are reading this but when you are actually take part in it, you will wonder why you had never tried it before. It could be any activity, sport or a hobby.

6) Enjoy tantalizing your taste buds with fresh fruit or vegetable juices that help in detoxifying the body.

7) Recent studies have shown that wheatgrass juice is beneficial in purifying the blood, improving blood sugar level, combating toxins like pollutants in the atmosphere and even cigarette smoke. It eliminates skin problems like eczema and even dandruff.

8 ) Getting a massage at a salon or getting a shoulder rub from a loved one also unties the knotted nerves.

To be part of a stressful life is natural but being wiser and knowing how to detangle from this web is the knowing the art of relaxation.

Written by Nayna · Filed Under Fitness Quotient | Leave a Comment

The Avatars Of Lord Ganesh

May 27, 2007

Lord Ganesh The Ganesh Purana states that there are four main Avatars (Divine Incarnation) of the Lord and He manifested in the four Yugas (Era). The Gods incarnate to destroy evil and negative forces to bring back the order of the universe and Dharma (The Path of Righteousness).

Satya Yuga or Krita Yuga:

Ganesh was born as the divine son of Sage Kashyapa and Aditi. He was named Vinayaka. He incarnated to destroy the demons Davantaka, Narantaka and Dhurmraksa.

Once there was a Rishi (Sage) named Rudraketu. He had two sons Davantaka and Narantaka. They lived in the holy city of Kashi. The sons on the advice of their father performed penances to please Lord Shiva and were successful. They were blessed with invincible powers. But this boon was misused and they created endless havoc. Vinayaka appeared with a red complexion, ten arms, riding a lion to end the miseries.

The demon, Dhurmraksa tried to prevent Vinayaka from going to Kashi to slay the Rishi’s sons. In the process, he was killed. Vinayaka killed Davantaka and Narantaka. It is believed that those who die in Kashi get instant liberation. This symbolizes that there maybe many impediments in the spiritual journey but once we reach a holy place like Kashi, all evils are destroyed.

Treta Yuga:

Lord Ganesh incarnated as Mayureshwar in the Treta Yuga, riding a peacock. He has a white complexion with six arms. He came to slay the demon king Sindhu.

Dwapara Yuga:

Reddish complexioned, four-armed Gajanan rode on a Mouse in is His third incarnation. One day, Brahma was creating the Universe when he accidentally yawned and a son was born. This boy was handsome with a glowing pink complexion, so Brahma named him Sindura (Sindur – Vermilion). Sindura’s laughter was unique. Its resonance shook the three worlds. Brahma blessed him with the powers of invincibility and the ability to travel wherever he pleased in an instant.

Sindura enjoyed the boons given by his father and roamed freely from one galaxy to another. One day, he decided to test the extent of these powers. He realised his boons were unmatchable with the other gods and were equivalent to the forces of the Trinity. When Lord Brahma found that his son had an evil instinct to misuse such divine blessings, he cursed him that his end would be in the hands of Gajanan. It was during this incarnation of Lord Ganesh that the discourses of Ganesh Gita were explained.

Kali Yuga:

Ganesh will be born in the Kali Yuga (The Age of Struggle, Dark Iron Age) in the form of Dhumraketu. He will be ash-gray in color with two arms and will ride a horse. He will annihilate the degeneration of the society, eradicate the sufferings of numerous ailments and restore balance, peace and harmony.

In the pantheon of thirty-three million Hindu gods and goddesses, He is revered for being merciful and the endower of joy and success. Lord Ganesh came into being amidst numerous and unique circumstances, and continues to rule the hearts of His countless devotees in every Yuga.

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Written by Nayna · Filed Under Divine Grace | 3 Comments

The Cup Of Life

May 27, 2007

Tea In times of immense work pressure and deadlines, what makes a person work endless hours without sleep and a nutritious meal? It’s a stimulating drink.

So what’s your favorite drink at the end of a tiring day? Is it coffee or alcohol?Have you ever thought that tea gives you that same refreshing effect with fewer side effects? There are essential components that make tea- the cup of life.

The Journey

In 2700 B.C Chinese Emperor Shen Nung discovered this stimulating beverage when some unidentified leaves fell into his pot of boiling water. The seeds traveled to Japan with a Buddhist priest, Yeisei and the tradition of ‘Japanese Tea Ceremony’ came into existence.

In 1618, the Russians and in 1650, the Americans got a taste of brew and in the 17th century it reached Europe.India is the largest cultivator of the world’s tea but it was the British colonizers who established their first tea plantations in the 19th century.

A Treat To The Taste Buds
The tea plant is a flowering evergreen shrub derived from Camellia Sinensis and they are categorized into three types.

1) Black Tea: The tea leaves are plucked and torn to release their natural juices and left to ferment or oxidize naturally. No additives, flavorings, colorings or preservatives are added in this. Their blend and taste vary as per the climatic conditions, the nature of soil and the altitude of their cultivation. Some popular brands are orange pekoe, souchong etc. and are widely enjoyed in Europe and USA.

2) Green Tea: It’s a non-fermented blend whose delicate, aromatic flavor makes it a staple drink of the people of China and Japan.

3) Oolong Tea: This is partly fermented and is a cross between the other two flavors.

A Brew Of A Worthy Kind

Tea contains flavonoids, a natural class of antioxidants that repair cellular damage caused due to pollution and aging. They neutralize harmful oxygen molecules called free radicals. These free radicals in the body’s cells are very unstable and tend to react negatively with important molecules like DNA causing malfunctions and injury on the cellular level.

Prevention-The Safe Option

Tea plays a vital role in curing ailments which is commonly faced around the world. They are classified into the following categories:

Enhancement of overall growth and development of the body:

1) It helps slow down the aging process, stimulates the immune system that gets diminished due to overwork, stress and poor nutrition. Its high vitamin B content helps the body to cope with stress.

2) Green tea can help to inhibit the growth of various bacteria causing diseases and effectively kills Salmonella and E-coli bacteria on contact.

3) Tea contains theanine, an amino acid unique to tea along with polyphenols (a specific element present in black tea), vitamins, minerals and methylxanthines that help in prevention of hypertension, antiviral infections and is also anticarcinogenic.

4) Nitric oxide causes inflammation in the body which is reduced and controlled by the catechins (tannin is a type of polyphenol) and theaflavins (group of compounds) in tea.

5) The catechin effectively kills and inactivates every kind of bacteria that causes food poisoning, cholera, and dysentery. It prevents Piccoli, which causes gastric ulcers and the flu virus. At the same time, it enhances the growth of beneficial bacteria in the digestive track.

6) The dental plaque is caused due to the bacterial colonies that form on the tooth surface and cause decay. Tea contains fluoride in its natural form and the catechins along with tannic acid reduce the bacterial cell membrane fluidity and helps in fighting gum diseases.

7) The alkaloid content stimulates the nerve center and enhances the process of metabolism.

8 ) Aromatic and flavored teas help in mood elevation and assist in dissolving fats and promote digestion. This makes tea important in meat centered diets.

Contribution In The Blood Content

1) Green and black tea as antioxidants help to lower the overall blood cholesterol levels and raises the good cholesterol called HDL (High density Lipoproteins). The LDL (Low Density Lipoproteins) causes the formation of plaque walls on the artery walls, so it hinders their progress.

2) When a blood vessel is injured, it forms a clot and prevents further bleeding. Tea inhibits this and helps to reduce the incidence of unwanted clot inside the blood vessel walls. It suppresses aggregation of platelets and prevents thrombosis such as heart attacks and brain strokes. 3) Tea blocks an enzyme (ACE) that is necessary for the formation of a blood pressure, increasing the chemical mediator and thus reducing blood pressure and relaxing the blood vessel walls.

Some Stimulating Researches

According to the National Cancer Institute states “Green tea can reduce the risks of esophageal, skin and many other forms of cancer by its significant antioxidant properties.” It is found that tea lowers the rate of cell replication and inhibits the tumor promoting enzymes. American Medical Association agrees that green tea can help to lower cholesterol and cuts the risk of stroke in men and also prevents blood pressure.

Australian researchers did a comparative diet studies among the Chinese and the Australian men and found that drinking green tea can reduce the risk of developing prostrate cancer.According to a Sept 9, 1999, article in the New York Times, cancer researches at Rutgers University College of Pharmacy state, “Tea is one of the few agents that can inhibit carcinogenesis at the initiation, promotion and progression stages.”

The healing powers of a simple blend of tea can be tremendous when taken properly and in the right amounts can do wonders to the human body. As Bernard Paul Heroux rightly states “There is no trouble so great or grave that cannot be much diminished by a nice cup of tea.”