20 Jul
yogahealthfoundationadmin Others

Self Care, Meditation and Self Realisation

The highest form of Self Care is Silence!

Why Silence?

 

It only takes the most casual of glances at the pace of life around the globe as we enter the third decade of this millennium to see that the world is full of activity, busy-ness, noise, striving, all kinds of suffering and dis-ease.

How did we get here? By not stopping and listening the very source of life itself!

Where is this to be found? We all know the answer in truth. It is in the silence of our hearts.

 

Our hearts know.

Yet we listen to the conditioned mind instead and end up ceaselessly striving, for mind is never ultimately satisfied. It can never trust that we are enough in our pure innocence and being.

So how to resolve this? By opening to, and recognising, the fundamental importance of silence.

Being in Silence is Meditation. Meditation is ultimately, Infinite Silence.

 

Meditation is so much more that sitting in the lotus position in a cave somewhere in the Himalayas. Life is a Living Meditation if we only allow that inner silence to take front and centre stage as opposed the constant activity of the conditioned mind.

There’s an old quote often attribute to Zen that takes various forms that goes something like this:

“Meditate for an hour every day and if you have a busy day ahead, meditate for two.”

To the mind this seems crazy. To the heart it makes perfect sense. Why?

It is simply because the mind will always, as we have noted, be striving, reaching and thus full of activity. It will tell you there are huge lists of things more important for you to be doing than sitting or lying down in meditation. It can wait it will say… and wait and wait some more until we are so stressed out, ill, in dis-ease we are forced by life itself to stop. To look. To listen inside.

If you were to genuinely sit in two hours of quality meditation life would take on a whole new perspective. All those things that seemed so important will look much less so and your priorities will change. Dramatically!

 

Mostly, we don’t give life a chance. We give activity a chance. Endless amounts of it. Look at where it has got us.

Whilst there has been undoubted and accentuated suffering in the world in many ways as a result of the Covid-19 Pandemic it is very important to remember that there was vast suffering beforehand. We were mostly too busy to stop and notice.

 

If there’s one thing lockdown has brought to many is the invitation to STOP. Live life in a different way and different pace.

 

Mind may want things to return to normal. Heart is inviting us to return to natural! There’s a huge difference.

 

The first is born of mind and full of constant activity which is how most of us currently live, the latter is born of the heart and leads to inspired action.

Which would you rather have? Endless busy-ness or Inner Peace and inspiration?

 

No contest, not even close. It’s common sense.

 

What is the highest meditation? Silence which, by the way, is also ultimately Spiritual Self Realisation as Infinite Awareness or Infinite Silence. The inner Buddha in us and that is us all, now.

 

The mind instantly wants to know how?

Be still and know.

 

Your essence is already this Infinite Silence in the inner infinite dimensions of life. When people say to me but I can’t meditate or still my mind. I smile with compassion and in the loving knowing that they are already the Living Meditation and Silence. It’s a matter of where your attention is placed.

 

Meditation is not about stilling the mind. It’s about realising one is Infinite Awareness or Infinite Silence. This will automatically and effortlessly lead to stillness and ultimately Self Realisation.

It’s also not about the length of the meditation its about the quality of it. Though to get true benefit you will have to commit some regular time not just a few minutes here and there.

Much of what is promoted as meditation, whilst of good intent, actually promotes mind based activity and visualisation. The Infinite Silence meditation which I’ve included below (33 minutes long) and emerged as part of Self Realisation is about recognising the awareness that is already present. It has had profound benefits for people around the globe. It can, with practice, be used in all parts of life not just sitting or lying down.

 

You are worth it.

 

Silence will lead to the highest choices in every area of your life if you but embrace it. You don’t need to believe me on this, you will see. You will however be called to commit. Your heart already knows.

 

What does it have to say about this?

 

Blessings in Infinite Silence,

Philip Wade

33 Minute Infinite Silence Experience

www.gatewaylocation.org

https://www.facebook.com/InfiniteSilenceSelfRealisation

19 Jun
yogahealthfoundationadmin Meditation, Yoga

The wonderful world of Yoga

  1. On 21 June, the world will once again take a deep breath and stretch to celebrate the International Day of Yoga. This year’s celebration holds greater meaning; an inward journey may be the best antidote to the external checks placed on us by a confounding virus. A planetary lockdown with social distancing norms means that we wouldn’t experience the collective energy of a yoga congregation. But this year’s defining theme of Yoga at Home and Yoga with Family, will ensure respect for public health measures, while encouraging yoga with family bonding, in the security of our homes.
  2. Just five years ago, in 2015, the longest day in the northern hemisphere was designated the International Day of Yoga by the United Nations, recognizing that yoga was not just a holistic path to health and well-being, but was a beloved global phenomenon. India’s Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, introducing the initiative to the UN General Assembly emphasized the need to take India’s ancient tradition to and people across the world and particularly the youth. He said:
    “Yoga is an invaluable gift of India’s ancient tradition. It embodies unity of mind and body; thought and action; restraint and fulfilment; harmony between man and nature; a holistic approach to health and well-being.”
  3. Rooted in ancient Indian wisdom and heritage, yoga does not represent any religion or region. This universal appeal of yoga led to 177 UN states supporting and co-sponsoring the resolution.
  4. In the Indian Ayurveda system of medicine, good health is seen not merely as an absence of disease, but as overall well-being- physical, mental and spiritual. Yoga focuses on the human body’s natural tendency toward self-healing. Since yoga can be gentle, almost anyone can do it, regardless of age or fitness level. Some yoga styles can indeed be intense and vigorous, while others relaxing and meditative. No matter which type one chooses, it is a great way to de-stress, strengthen the body, focus the mind, and rejuvenate the spirit.
  5. Yoga is in fact an ancient technology validated by modern science. Clinical research around the world has documented the benefits of yoga in controlled trials. The Osteopathic Association of United States, for instance, weighed in for yoga and declared that the relaxation techniques incorporated in yoga can lessen chronic pain, such as those in the lower back, arthritis, headaches and carpal tunnel syndrome, and that yoga can also lower blood pressure and reduce insomnia. Other physical benefits of yoga include increased flexibility, increased muscle strength and tone, improved respiration, energy and vitality, a balanced metabolism, weight reduction, circulatory health, improved athletic performance and protection from injury. The World Health Organization mentions yoga as a means to improve health in its global action plan on physical activity 2018–2030- ‘More active people for a healthier world’. Yoga is now a key element of integrative medicine as research in yoga therapy conclusively establishes its efficacy as a non-traditional medical system.
  6. Yoga help us manage mental stress, which can otherwise have a debilitating effect on the body and mind. Yoga builds mental resilience, sharpens concentration and has a calming effect. It can be very effective in developing coping skills and reaching a more positive outlook on life.
  7. While yoga appears like a long stretch, it has a deeper impact on your body. It helps change the way you feel, look and move. Yoga builds strength, flexibility and confidence. Long term yoga practitioners are documented to lose weight, relieve stress, improve immunity and enjoy better health. The immunity boosting effects of yoga are particularly relevant in these pandemic times.
  8. The global journey of yoga began relatively recently. North America was introduced to this word by Swami Vivekananda, when he spoke about the benefits of yoga at the 1893 Parliament of Religions in Chicago. Fifty-four years later Indra Devi opened a yoga studio in Hollywood, in 1947. Yoga became established on the US West Coast in the mid-’50s. In 1958, Indian-born Swami Vishnu-Devananda, a disciple of Swami Sivananda Saraswati, arrived in San Francisco, sponsored by the artist Peter Max. His 1960 book, The Complete Illustrated Book of Yoga, which he famously presented to the Beatles, became an essential guidebook for many practitioners. He founded the Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centers, headquartered in Montreal, which became one of the largest networks of yoga schools in the world.
  9. In the 1960s, led by publication of B.K.S. Iyengar’s definitive ‘Light on Yoga’, meditation and yoga practice boomed across America. By the late 60s, yoga was well established in Montreal and was growing rapidly in British Columbia, which became a hub for yoga development in Canada. Vancouver is now home to some of Canada’s most cutting edge yoga studios.
  10. The iconic images of mass yoga practice on Parliament Hill, or besides the Niagara falls, define the immense popularity of yoga in Canada. It is certainly the most yoga-curious country in the world. According to Google search analytics, the overall trend from 2004 to the present shows a consistent upward incline in yoga searches with Canada regularly in the lead for most searches on yoga.
  11. A survey published by Statistics Canada showed that next to walking, activities such as yoga are among the most popular form of exercise in Canada. Yoga is loved in Canada. A leger360 poll last year reported that about 21 per cent of all Canadians reported that they practiced yoga and that more young Canadians aged 18-34 (35 per cent) practice yoga compared to older generations. The Canadian Yoga Alliance was formed in 2004 and now has over 15000 Canadian yoga teachers. At least three online Canadian yoga directories are in place with a combined listing of over 3000 yoga studios and trainers across Canada. There is also an effort to list yoga as a recognized sport in Canada. Many Canadian celebrities and professional athletes are committed yoga practitioners.
  12. This year has seen humanity face the unprecedented challenge of a global pandemic. The physical and mental stress and anxiety associated with the threat of infection and the isolation of quarantine have brought back focus on yoga as a powerful tool to deal with the stress of uncertainty and isolation, as well as to maintain physical well-being.
  13. While social distancing norms put in place due to the pandemic have limited the access to organized yoga studios sessions and other community spaces, yoga practitioners have inventively turned to home practice and online yoga resources.
  14. Yoga’s virtual avatar makes it more accessible. India’s High Commission in Ottawa and Consulates in Toronto and Vancouver have a range of online yoga activities lined up for the entire fortnight leading up to 21 June. These involve a galaxy of experts and gurus with live and recorded yoga sessions, yoga tutorials, conferences on the benefits of yoga and various competitions that Canadian yoga enthusiasts can participate in.
  15. Yoga is going viral. So, go online, take a deep breath and begin that inner journey.

H.E. Ajay Bisaria
High Commissioner of India to Canada

11 Jun
yogahealthfoundationadmin Sattology

Vegetarianism – A natural choice for a human being

Vegetarianism is a natural choice for a human being. Recently Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM) quoted American Medical Association (AMA), with a report on plant based meals in American Hospitals. Report. In this report they advocated Plant based diets for patients in the hospitals. Vegetarianism is a natural choice for a human being because the intestines of a human are the longest as a percentage of its body size with respect to all other animals. The longer intestines means that food stays longer in the stomach. As we have experienced that whenever we eat stale food, we get sick. If the same food stays in the body for such a long duration, then it gets stale and produces carcinogenic substances. The non-vegetarian meal stays an average of 8-9 hours in the stomach before it is digested. The strain that it produces in the body is proportionately many times higher for a human as compared to carnivorous animals. Carnivores intestines are much smaller than the intestines of herbivores. In the case of Carnivores, food stays for a much shorter duration in their stomachs. The vegetarian food gets dissolved quickly in the body because the acids produced by the body break those foods easily. The body also has to exert less energy to digest a vegetarian meal. This is the main reason why the world is experiencing a greater movement towards Vegetarian meals irrespective of their faith. The ancient Ayurveda and Yoga have always maintained vegetarianism as a more healthy way of life.

When some faiths give scriptural notification to their followers to eat meat, then we must understand that those notifications go against the well established principles of scientific reasoning towards diets. World history has shown that humans were always encouraged to follow vegetarian diets. All the great sages, gurus and famous prophets have encouraged humanity to eat vegetarian meals. The reason is that vegetarianism brings three essential qualities to human beings:

  1. Kindness
  2. Cleanliness
  3. Good Health
  4. Morality

Roman Warriors were known to eat the majority of their meals in the form of Bread, Milk, Honey and Salads. The reason was that those armies will remain healthy and will have more strength to fight long battles. The non-vegetarian meals will make them lazy and lethargic to continue fighting. Greek Army was known to be majorly vegetarian because they didn’t have enough resources to run a slaughterhouse for their large armies. The armies of Chandra Gupta maurya were mostly vegetarian because they didn’t want to kill animals for food. Even a large number of athletes and sports people such as Mike Tyson, Lewis Hamilton and Venus Williams are avowed vegetarians. Vegetarian meals give more strength than meat based diets. Large Bulky bodies doesn’t mean strength. The strength of the human body comes through muscles. Plant based diets build the best long lasting muscle power.

One of the essential aspects of a Yogi is a vegetarian diet. Because it cultivates a kinder heart. Vegetarians are known to have higher satisfaction in bed than non-vegetarians. Many sexologists also recommend vegetarian diets to their patients. In fact, majority of doctors today recommend Yoga and Vegetarianism to their patients. In the kitchen also, a vegetarian meal is pleasing to the eyes and heart and also it takes less time for cleaning after the meal. There are many more benefits both social, political and environmental attached to vegetarianism.

Indian doctors have also found out recently during their COVID19 pandemic that vegetarians had higher immunity against the pandemic. More meals based on plants helped patients recover faster. Vegetarian food is itself a medicine. Vegetarian meals also help us protect our environment. A kilogram of meat protein uses 1000% more water than a kilogram of plant protein. In addition to that a kilogram of meat protein consumes 10000% more energy to produce than a kilogram of plant protein. And a kilogram of meat produces 10000% more greenhouse gases than a kilogram of plant protein. Just imagine, how much damage a kilogram of meat protein does to the environment than a kilogram of plant protein.

What is the difficulty?

The biggest difficulty is our mindset and our own egos. Throughout centuries the dealers of faiths have drilled into our minds to externally look healthier than internally. Meat was falsely propagated to be  the food of the strong against healthier vegetarians. Another fake propaganda was meat protein was the food of the rich. More rich people died due to the meat protein as compared to plant proteins. This propaganda stands decimated in the face of modern scientific research.

In the end, the Yoga based vegetarian diets have proved to be universally healthy. I hope the rational minds will accept a far more healthier vegetarian diet. Vegetarians, Ahoy!

Aditya Satsangi

Inventor of Sattology
Founder of Everydaychant.com | sattology.org | sattology.com
Follow him on Parler @adityasatsangi | Twitter @sattology
Author of 5 best selling books on Sattology on Amazon

11 Jun
yogahealthfoundationadmin Others

You are not (only) what you eat

I don’t want to share yet another “perfect diet” that will finally make you healthy and happy because I don’t think it exists. To my current knowledge, there is no one diet that fits all. We are all individual beings with individual needs and bodies. So please do yourself a favour and don’t buy into what all the “diet gurus“, celebrities and diet magazines make you believe you need to eat in order to lose those 10 extra pounds / look young / finally be happy / etc. .
All it does is – creating short term happiness and success but most likely it won’t have long lasting effects and will leave you disappointed again later.
I know that all the diet information out there is overwhelming. Often times we are flooded with conflicting information and it is hard to understand what of it is “right“ and what’s “wrong“. I want to bring some light into the darkness and start rather simple: If there is one thing I learned consistently in my different trainings as a nutritionist, it is that “everything starts with the gut“. Once you have a healthy digestion, many “problems“ will naturally resolve themselves. This is why today I want to share a few simple tips on how to aid your digestion, so you get the most energy & nutrients from whichever foods you’re choosing to
eat.

How can you assure a healthy digestion?
Hunger: First things first, ideally try eating only when you are actually hungry. This is your body ingling you “I need energy and I’m ready to receive it now!”.
I know this isn’t always possible, life comes in the way sometimes: we have a work schedule and kids and a dog and important meetings and yoga classes, etc., you name it.

So sometimes we can’t eat when we would like to eat.
The right environment: Nevertheless, even then there are things you can do to ease the digestive process. You need to know that digestion actually starts already before you’ve put any bit of food into your mouth. You might have noticed this before: Once you think about, see or smell your favourite meal, the amount of saliva in your mouth immediately starts to increase. This is your body preparing for the food to arrive, moving into “rest and digest mode”. So the next crucial step for a healthy digestion is to create the right environment for it to take place. You can do that by connecting to your food. It can be as simple as smelling it, giving thanks or blessing it. Then sitting down to eat, setting time aside where there are no distractions or stress through phone, newspaper or TV for the entirety of your food break.

Chew: Next up once you actually ingest food, chew your bites properly until you created a soupy consistency. I don’t want to give a number on “how many times one should chew“ because I personally think it takes the fun away from eating, plus I want you to be with your food not in your head. Proper chewing means less work for the stomach and more surface area for nutrient breakdown. It ensures that the enzymes, aka little helpers in your stomach and intestine, can do their job decently – so no digestible food is left behind. Enzymes are essentially deconstructing food into its smallest building blocks which can then be absorbed from the gut into the bloodstream. They are then distributed to all your body cells where they are converted into energy.

Fiber rich foods: However, the digestive process doesn’t stop with the uptake of the tiny building blocks. You might have heard before that you need to eat “fiber”. Have you ever wondered what that actually is and why it is so important for a good digestion?

There are different kinds of fiber with various actions, but the bottom line is they are all indigestible, no matter how well you chew on them, they will not make their way into your bloodstream. This is because we humans don’t have the type of enzymes we need to break them down into an absorbable form. Nevertheless these fibers – which by the way can only be found in plants (aka veggies, fruits, legumes, grains, nuts & seeds) – are little helpers themselves. There are ones that increase stool bulk which makes the bowels move, essentially preventing constipation. Another type of fiber escorts excess cholesterol, fat-soluble toxins, drug by-products, hormone residues and other waste products out of our bodies by binding to them. In addition to that, fiber is the food source for the gut microbiota (mainly bacteria in your colon) which helps to protect you against ingested pathogens, overpopulation of “bad” bacteria and it even produces certain vitamins.

Bowel movements: You might be wondering by now what a healthy digestion is supposed to “look” like. Now, the problem I see, is that we love talking about what we eat but rarely do we mention what comes out later. Bowel movements is such a taboo topic, although it is natural and we all know everyone has to “use the washroom”. Bowel movements can be a really important indicator of your overall health. If you are already grossed out, I’m sorry, but I promise I
won’t go any further than this: Ideally you’re going 1-3 times per day without having to strain. If you are more curious about the consistency you’re aiming for, type “Bristol stool chart“ in google.

Water:
The last tip I want to give is to make sure you drink enough liquids throughout the day. Fill up your 1 litre bottle with water or unsweetened tea and put it on your bedside table every night. First thing in the morning drink at least 250 ml and the rest throughout the morning/early afternoon, ideally away from meals.

Fill your bottle again in the afternoon and carry it around with you, so in the end of the day you drank at least 1.5 litres of water. This helps to achieve the right bowel movement consistency, prevents constipation, keeps your skin hydrated and ensures your cells get their nutrients. Unfortunately there is only so much I can say in one article and I have already exceeded the maximum amount of words but of course there are plenty more tips for a healthy digestion, so I hope you can join my short talk on digestion at the international Yoga Day and don’t hesitate to reach out to me for more information and help.

11 Jun
yogahealthfoundationadmin Environment, Meditation

Slow Down To Stabilize, Synthesize & Synchronize

COVID-19 has forced us to slow down. What yogic principles advocate has now become a forced reality. It is important that we empathize with the millions in some countries that are stranded or not supported by the government. However, we can also take time to see the back handed benefits that have risen for the environment and for those who have embraced a different pace. This time can be utilized for emotional processing as trauma and fear is likely  to come to the surface to be seen and healed. We need appropriate tools so  that emotions are not suppressed or projected.

Less Is More When We Slow Down

When we savour food and eat it consciously we will find we need much less than when we unconsciously binge eat, comfort eat or eat in a rush. We prioritise quality over quantity. If we are conscious, these times can create space for our true needs rather than greed.

Slowing Down Heals The Earth And Nature

All our sources of nourishment and the elements are getting a chance to regenerate. How can water nourish us when it is polluted and depleted of prana. Living in some major cities, like Delhi, is like smoking over 10 cigarettes per day, due to the poor air quality. Beijing as well is known for its poor air quality. Thanks to satellite imagery, the impact of the virus-imposed lock down on China’s pollution levels can be seen. There has been a wonderful increase in air quality.

The Wisdom That Is Revealed By Slowing Down

Science is showing us why we need to slow down. In yoga and tantra we practice slowing down to savour the senses. This allows for beauty and wisdom to be transmitted through us. We can experience the glory and graciousness of the universe within our being.

Slow Down To Stabilize And Realign

Speed is usually glorified over stability. Align the body, emotions and mind with the cosmos for better stability and less wear and tear. Realign the chakras.

There are minor to major signs of misalignment. They can start with headaches, feeling anxious, overwhelmed and restless. There can be an underlying sense of doom, unresolved disappointments, low self esteem or not feeling enough. One can become a bully, lacking empathy or being vicious and attacking others or themselves.

The Arkaya practices that I teach help realign the vertebral column as well our subtle bodies. A misaligned vertebral column can cause many issues like back pain, respiratory problems, joint stiffness, sciatica, fatigue and hip pain. So imagine what will happen, if there is misalignment between the body, heart and head as well as with the collective.

Slow Down To Synthesize

To synthesize means to combine or put together. Like plants, during photosynthesis, we have the capacity to build things that seem much greater than their individual components. These are life giving and nurturing and feed not just our bodies, but feed our energy, mind and soul.

Slow Down To Synchronize

When there is coherence between our personal and universal fields it enables many synchronicities, where our thoughts manifest into reality. Hence it is important to slow down and be aware of the quality of our thoughts.

As we evolve and unfold we see that consciously slowing down enables us to speed up our evolution and manifest a more harmonious reality.

Yogacharini Maitreyi is the founder of Arkaya Awareness Centre. For more info about her & various online programs, go to www.arkaya.net or email infoarkaya@gmail.com.

11 Jun
yogahealthfoundationadmin Vegetarianism

3 Ways a Plant-Based Diet Can Help You with Addiction Recovery

The American Institute for Cancer Research says that health experts agree; putting mostly plant-based foods on your plate is the healthiest diet you can consume.

However, we believe a plant-based “diet” isn’t so much of a strict diet, as it is a chosen health conscious lifestyle for many— and it’s one of the best ways to support a healthy mind and body in recovery.

Plant foods (aka: the unprocessed foods found in nature) provide your body with healing anti-inflammatory compounds, fiber, and essential vitamins and minerals. All of these nutrients are crucial for healthy liver function, which in turn promotes restful sleep, fewer cravings, and a happier mood.

As you may know, your liver is the primary organ of detoxification and is responsible for eliminating harmful toxins from drugs and alcohol from your system. While your liver is an extremely capable detoxifier, eating plant based foods that are rich in nutrients and support healthy liver function can accelerate your healing, and make a huge difference in how well your digestion and elimination functions overall.

Heavily processed, deep fried, fatty and oily foods can slow your liver function down, which is why choosing to eat a plant-based diet that eliminates these foods is a huge step towards feeling your best.

What is a Plant Based Diet?

When you eat plant based, you simply focus on eating the nutrient-rich unprocessed foods found in nature such as fruit, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, seeds and legumes, while limiting— or ideally— completely removing processed foods.

Most processed foods contain very few nutrients and are known to cause inflammation in the body, which prevents you from healing. These foods include refined sugar and flour, caffeine, dairy products, and heavily processed oils.

Eggs, meat, poultry, dairy and fish are typically not part of a plant based diet, however, plant based diets can vary depending on a person’s unique needs. For example, some people may eat plant based 90% of the time, but choose to consume small amounts of high quality, organic animal products if they are weak, deficient, or may need certain nutrients in animal products for therapeutic reasons (such as bioavailable iron and vitamin B12).

A plant-based diet isn’t meant to be restrictive. It is simply a sustainable way of adopting healthier eating habits to provide your body with maximum nutrition.

Let’s take a look at three reasons to transition to a plant based diet during your recovery (and beyond).

3 Ways a Plant-Based Diet Can Help You with Addiction Recovery 

  1. A Plant Based Diet May Help You Address the Root Cause of Addiction Sooner

A diet that is focused on whole, unprocessed foods eliminates the foods we find most addictive, such as caffeine, refined sugar (candy and sweets), and processed carbs (bread, cakes, donuts, pastries, pasta). These foods can become addictive because they can cause a rapid surge in dopamine levels.

While these foods may seem like the lesser of the evils during the recovery process, they are merely a band-aid solution and substitute for more harmful substances, and all the same, they serve as a distraction and provide comfort when challenging emotions surface— which prevents you from getting to the bottom of your addiction.

On the other hand, certain plant foods such as nuts, seeds, bananas and raw cacao can gently boost dopamine levels (which makes them less addictive) while also providing several essential nutrients that aid in liver function.

It’s also worth noting that a predominantly plant based can help reduce your risk of stroke and heart disease, which are risk factors for those who heavily consume alcohol (1).

  1. The Fiber From Plant Foods Improves Gut Health, Which Can Directly Improve Your Energy and Mood

When you think of healing from addiction recovery, your gut may not be the first thing to come to mind. However, the gut and the brain are interconnected (this is known as the gut-brain axis), and this connection explains how your gut health can directly impact your mood and cravings for addictive substances (2).

For example, serotonin is produced in the gut— the neurotransmitter that helps you feel good. When your serotonin levels are low, depression, anxiety, and cravings for addictive substances can increase. This is only one example of how your gut health impacts how you feel on a daily basis.

All fruit, vegetables and whole grains contain fiber, which supports healthy digestion and elimination by keeping your bowel movements regular. Fiber also acts as a prebiotic, which feeds your body’s natural stores of healthy bacteria, called probiotics — which rule the health of your entire digestive system. As you can see, fiber is a critical nutrient for a healthy gut.

Plant foods are the most fibrous foods on the planet— so luckily, eating an abundance of fruit, vegetables and whole grains on a plant based diet makes it easy to meet your daily fiber requirements. If you’re a woman between the ages of 18-50, you’ll need about 21 grams of fiber per day, while men require around 30-38 grams.

  1. Organic Plant Foods Provide Up to 40% More Antioxidants Than Conventional Produce

Plant based diets also focus on the quality of foods, which means choosing local or organic whenever possible because they’re lower in pesticides and higher in nutrients. While it is not always realistic or affordable to choose organic year round, you can follow the Clean Fifteen and Dirty Dozen List to see which foods should be purchased organic whenever possible.

Studies have found that organic produce contains higher levels of antioxidants and significantly lower levels of metals such as cadmium, which can lead to mood and neurological disorders. Scientists discovered that organic crops lack the synthetic chemical pesticides of their conventional counterparts, which helps organic plants to produce greater amounts of polyphenols and phenols. These antioxidants help prevent diseases caused by oxidative stress, which can be caused by excessive alcohol consumption, cocaine and other recreational drug use.

By switching to organic plant-based produce, you can increase the amount of antioxidants in your diet by 20- 40 percent. These antioxidants support both phases of liver detoxification, which neutralize harmful  drugs and toxins to be eliminated safely from your body.

Tips for Transitioning to a Plant-Based Diet Today

1.Start Simple With Having One Green Smoothie Per Day

Your first step to starting a plant-based diet is to establish a healthy eating routine. People in early recovery need to develop a foundation for healthier eating. Your diet has a big impact on your recovery.

Not sure where to start? Keep it simple. Choose to begin your day with a green smoothie as you search Pinterest for easy and delicious combinations with fresh fruit, vegetables, coconut water, and greens. If you’re pressed for time in the mornings, wash and chop your ingredients the night before so that all you need to do is throw your ingredients in a blender, and pour into a to-go cup.

  1. Don’t Forget To Snack on Fruit (Nature’s #1 Fast Food)

Aside from providing essential nutrients, fruit offers a quick burst of energy and soothes sweet cravings. Plus, fruit is nature’s ultimate “fast food” that you can grab from a fruit bowl on your way out the door— no meal prep, clean up or elaborate gourmet cooking necessary!

  1. Stock Up on Leafy Greens

Leafy greens are one of the most powerful foods for liver health, especially when your body is going through a more intense detoxification period. Leafy greens include spinach, collard greens, baby kale, arugula, romaine lettuce and butter lettuce. You can easily add a handful of these to your smoothie, have a small side salad with your dinner each day, or steam in a small amount of unrefined coconut oil and pure sea salt, which makes a tasty side dish to any meal.

  1. Add Protein and Healthy Fats to Every Meal

While fruits and vegetables are a great source of antioxidants and energy boosting carbohydrates (and they do also contain smaller amounts of plant protein), you still need to incorporate higher protein foods to repair damaged cells.

Protein and healthy fats also help balance your blood sugar levels which can reduce sugar cravings, fatigue and irritability, and keep your appetite satisfied for longer periods of time. A few examples of plant based proteins and healthy fats are lentils, beans, wild rice, quinoa, and tempeh, as well as hemp hearts, avocado, nuts and seeds.

When it comes to eating for addiction recovery, it’s not about focusing on which foods to stay away from and feeling restrictive with your diet, but rather focusing on adding in more nutrient dense foods to it. Nutrition should never seem punitive, but rather a helpful and important component of your healing and recovery process, and overall healthy lifestyle.

10 Jun
yogahealthfoundationadmin Meditation, Self Awareness

What does Self Realisation look like in daily life?

The archetypal image that many people have of a Self Realised being is likely to include some or all of the following:

A Buddha sat in the lotus position deep in meditation somewhere out in nature.

A Master in cave somewhere in the Himalayas.

A Master surrounded by there disciples and devotees at an Ashram somewhere in India.

They somehow live this life totally unmoved by the world and worldly affairs, have no income and yet somehow by divine intervention all is provided for them.

A Monk in a Monastery in a remote mountainous location.

Such beings not functioning in the normal world.

Finally, another myth is that they have ascended to some higher dimension and look down upon this plane with light emitting from their body.May be you could add some of your own images.

Whilst some of these archetypal roles are very much in existence Self Realisation or Enlightenment is not the preserve of the East. It has long since reached the Western World and the model that applies there doesn’t translate so well into the West.

Time to dispel the myths. There are an increasing number of Self Realised beings spread around the Globe and this is great news for the world is undergoing a great shift in consciousness that some refer to as the Golden Age.

The likelihood is these days that you would not, at first glance, not recognise such a being from the next person on the street unless that is you were paying attention to what was happening in their presence.

There’s a much quoted Zen saying: “Before Enlightenment chop wood, carry water. After Enlightenment chop wood, carry water.”

Pointing to the practicalities of Life being the same both before and after Self Realisation. The other key part of this is that in the first case there will have been suffering in life, in the second that has come to a halt and now although looking broadly similar will be much more of a harmonious flow.

One will constantly be aware of ones true, permanent and unchanging essence of Infinite Silence whilst yet still being able to function as a living, breathing human being with all that comes with that. There will still be the practicalities of life to manage and that is perfectly natural.

This change in model is very important to understand and embrace. The world is benefitting greatly from this shift that is taking place and the more such beings engage with life in ways that are unique to them all will benefit.

So, its not essential to sell all your possessions, have only a loin cloth for clothing or live only in cave or ashram, have no family etc etc. What is crucial is to have dissolved the belief that you are not already this permanent essence of the Universe and all the attachments to people places and things will have also dissolved.

Fundamentally, once the Realisation is truly anchored life is not going to be triggering you, making you upset at some turn of events and there will be a compassion and reverence for all of life. This compassion will be a source of inspiration for how your unique gifts will manifest in the world. Your joy will be untouched by events.

It’s important to note here that for true anchoring of the Realisation the emotional triggers or emotional body energy will have to be dissolved very much beyond the point where it causes any interference in life. There may, for some dependent on their life experiences, and what stage in their life the Realisation has flowered a considerable period of integration and growing into living from this space that includes being able to function in a useful way in society. The world may still have some folk sat in caves but since Realisation is here for all there needs to be a practical side to the living of the Realisation. These will often be quite mundane life skills in things like relationships, work, family and yes finances. There have been cases where this hasn’t happened with sometimes disastrous consequences particularly when it is coupled with an incomplete dissolution of the emotional body.

As all this is integrated the unique expression of the Infinite Silence that is your gift to the world will naturally emerge and flow from your being and this can take many forms from quite an apparently ‘normal life’ to sharing the Realisation with others. None of these are more or less important than the others.

How life unfolds will then be unique to the particular way in which the Universe is expressing itself in your form.

www.gatewaylocation.org
Infinite Silence Experience
Facebook: Philip Wade

09 Jun
yogahealthfoundationadmin Environment, Meditation

SELF Time is the most precious gift you have

SELF Time is the most precious gift you have. It is the Gold you have been looking for.

YOU, are already it. Your TRUE SELF.

The fact that is so simple is, for most people, a perceived barrier that stops them from realising it.
Realising the SELF, that is SELF REALISATION. Enlightenment.
It is, in truth, the natural essence of YOU.
However, it has been forgotten and in that forgetting separation consciousness and suffering emerge as a common experience.
There may be temporary highs but most frequently there is worry, fear, sadness and a whole range of other low frequency energies present and they become a perceived reality.
They certainly feel very real.
This true SELF is however untouched, unblemished, perfect, whole and eternal.
It is only the identification, attachment and belief in anything less than the totality of your truth that causes the experience of suffering. This is what the Buddha meant when he said: “Life is Suffering” – he was referring to the identified life. Identified with smallness rather than wholeness, the Infinite SELF.
So how to change this experience? That’s been a key question for humanity for millennia!
STOP.
Call off the external search.
The search for truth, peace, love, grace and joy outside of you. They are not there.
They are instead the perfume of your essence. They emanate and flow from you.
If you let them.
It is as simple as letting go completely of all that you are NOT to allow all that you are to shine through.
This is the surrendering to the TRUTH of you.
It is NOT what you think you are.
It IS what your heart and soul already knows YOU are.
The heart never lies.

Its voice is the one that is quiet. In the stillness of your pure being it can be heard. NOW.
It speaks only TRUTH. The whole truth and nothing but the truth!
Open into that now with some true SELF TIME.
Be still and open into the Infinite Silence that you are. Practice this kind of SELF TIME regularly and with the urge that comes from the heart then it will be realised as your permanent presence. Your Truth.
This is the purpose of all spiritual practice. To move you beyond the practice into the everlasting experience of truth.

The SELF.
That practice of SELF TIME merges into the timeless SELF.
It will not be through anything you have done. It will be because you have allowed it to emerge.
You cannot do anything to become that which you already are.
It is an allowing. By becoming quiet, still, centred. Trusting in that and that alone.
Then all that you are not will come forth for release. Do not judge this. Allow it. Be witness to it but not the stuff itself.
In the allowing truth will emerge:
In you, through you as YOU!
So once again:
That practice of SELF TIME merges into the timeless SELF.

Blessings as Infinite Silence,
Philip
In the 30 min video below I guide into Infinite Silence. The Gold you have been seeking. The experience is aided at the beginning with guidance from me and some beautiful Harp music drifting into Silence.
The video draws to a close with a ding of the singing bowl/gong and some final pointings. Give yourself the greatest gift today and every day with this opportunity.
www.gatewaylocation.org

Infinite Silence Experience

Facebook: Philip Wade

01 Jun
yogahealthfoundationadmin Message

Because We Must – By Kathryn

Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states: “All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.”

I think recognizing the universality of human rights means knowing in your bones that deep down, everyone on the planet is pretty much just like you. Everyone experiences pain, joy, sadness, excitement, despair, hope, fear – just like you.

As it happens, the countries of Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, India, and New Zealand have also recognized the rights of nature as legitimate and equal to human rights.

While that might look like that recognition is for the benefit of us humans (because we need a healthy planet to survive) (which is true), it strikes me more as a humble position; a modest recognition of the sentience and right to self-determination for every walking, crawling, creeping, flying, slithering, swinging, rolling, hopping, swimming, inching, soaring, stationary, phototropic bit of life.

Of course, that’s hardly enough to stop us from abusing ourselves and dismantling the biosphere. But, flawed and challenged as we are, there are also a whole lot of conscious, compassionate people trying to fix what’s broken, and bring justice and hope and peace to the world.

The International Yoga Festival & Health Expo is, at its core, a gathering of those folks, of spiritual seekers. Whether we’re talking about spiritual practices, dietary choices, or environmental action, we are all working to release the illusion that our human hearts beat to a rhythm that’s any different from the powerful, eternal pulse shared by all life.

Now, nobody ever said this work was easy. But we do it, as Corinthians says, with faith, hope, and love. We do it, as the Bhagavad Gita says, with our hearts fixed on the divine. We do it because we must.

We do it because we are the children of an utterly miraculous planet, a tiny aquamarine jewel floating in a sea of black velvet infinity. We are her warriors and her guardians and we do this work because our hearts demand it and because there is no one else to do it. We are, as the Hopi elders said, “the ones we’ve been waiting for.”

I look forward to seeing you (albeit virtually) at the Expo!

– Kathryn Blume 

01 Jun
yogahealthfoundationadmin Message

Speaking at 6th International Yoga Festival and Health Expo – by Anna

I was extremely honoured when I was asked to be a speaker for the 6th International Yoga Festival and Health Expo. Having only relatively recently entered the world of veganism, wellness and health, I feel very welcomed into the amazing community that the organisation has created. Their holistic approach to yogic life is inspiring and has so much to offer people from all walks of life. The message they promote is especially important during the difficult times that we are in now, which is why I am so pleased that the vegan community has been able to remain so connected on social media platforms, such as Instagram and Facebook, where I personally have felt extremely supported and have even been able to inspire others to adopt a plant-based lifestyle (@vegan_werns). These platforms are where I am able to share new and exciting recipes, local businesses to support, and health and wellness advice. This is why I am certain that the 6th International Yoga Festival and Health Expo will be another platform where many people will be able to inspire and be inspired.

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