15 Jun
#yogahealthfoundation2022 #YogateacherVancouver #YogaclassesVancouver #VeganproductsVancouver #VeganfoodVancouver #adityatawatia #yogahealthfoundation #clearthekitchen #govegan #SHOP #GREENISTHENEWGLAM #TRAVELLIKEALOCAL #localisvocal
yogahealthfoundationadmin Self Awareness, Vedic Knowledge, Veganism, Vegetarianism

10 Best Vegan Protein Sources

Gone are the days when only meat was a good source of protein. Plant-based proteins are just as nutritious and are even concluded to lower chronic illnesses! Variety is key to a well-planned vegan diet and eating a combination of these 10 vegan protein sources can easily provide your body with complete protein to meet its intake requirements. Take a look:

 

SEITAN

A popular protein source for many vegans, seitan is produced from gluten – the main component of wheat. It is one of the richest plant protein sources and can be incorporated into a variety of recipes as a meat alternative. However, vegans with gluten-related issues should steer clear of seitan.

 

LENTILS

A staple in South Asian cuisine, lentils (or pulses) are known as some of the most important sources of protein in the vegan diet. They are also great sources of fiber and promote good gut health. Brown, green, black, red, French – there is a plethora of options you can include in your diet.

 

BEANS

Packed with protein and fiber, beans are a cost-effective and rich source of proteins. Whether you’re fond of black bean, pinto, kidney, or cannellini, there is much to choose from. Chickpeas are another source that falls under beans and is highly nutritious in protein. It is also rich in carbs, so you get your full dose of both protein and carbs!

 

QUINOA

Known as the superfood seed, quinoas are easily a must-eat for a vegan. It is one of the rare plant protein sources that provide all nine essential amino acids – a protein diet’s dream! While quinoas are exponentially eaten in salads, you can add them to burgers, and wraps, and can also ground them into flour!

 

OATS

The perfect balance of protein, fat, and carbs, oats are a whole-grain food that finds its way into a vegan’s breakfast and snack choices. This grain can be used in baking, hence making it an ideal vegan alternative for baking! Oat milk is another great way to get your protein of the day in.

 

NUTS AND BUTTER

Any product derived from nuts, be assured that they are excellent for protein intake. They are also great sources of healthy fats and fiber. You can eat nuts butter and spreads (they’re delicious, convenient, and varied!), but make sure to go for organic options instead of highly processed counterparts.

 

PEAS

If you are familiar with the vegan diet, you would know pea, especially pea powder is a popular ingredient as a protein source. This can be eaten fresh, frozen, or canned. One serving of green peas also covers a large portion of your daily fiber intake, so make sure to include this green haven in your daily intake.

 

TOFU

Originating from soy, tofu is a given must-eat for vegans. You can choose from its many textures: silken, soft, medium, firm, and extra-firm. It is considered a whole source of proteins and remains one of the most experimental ingredients for a vegan since it easily absorbs the flavor of its paired ingredients and makes for a tasteful dish.

 

EDAMAME

A prominent part of Japanese cuisine, edamame is immature soybeans that need to be steamed or boiled before eating. An excellent protein snack, edamame can be best enjoyed either on its own or in soups, salads, wraps, stir-fries, and more.

 

TEMPEH

Made from fermented cooked soybeans, tempeh is a rectangular cake that can be cut into slabs to eat along with your vegan meals. With its robust flavor and high protein input, it is easy to enjoy for its nutty flavor and smooth texture.

 

Established in Vancouver, Canada, the Yoga Health Expo 2022 will be a one-day festival celebrating the joys of good well-being through a holistic approach to the Yogic way of life including Yoga, Veganism, and Vegetarianism in our lifestyle. The celebration shall welcome famous yoga teachers Vancouver, interactive yoga classes Vancouver and a platform for vegan products and vegan food Vancouver.

 

For more information on our upcoming International Yoga Festival & Health Expo, please visit: https://yogahealthfoundation.com/.

 

#yogahealthfoundation2022 #YogateacherVancouver #YogaclassesVancouver #VeganproductsVancouver #VeganfoodVancouver #adityatawatia #yogahealthfoundation #clearthekitchen #govegan #SHOP #GR

15 Jun
yogahealthfoundation2022, Yoga teacher Vancouver, Yoga classes Vancouver, Vegan products Vancouver, Vegan food Vancouver, aditya tawatia, Vegan foods, health, way of life, plant based, plant based food, yoga, local is vocal, awareness, mental health awareness, healthy lifestyle, healthy food,
yogahealthfoundationadmin Announcements, Ayurveda, Environment, Meditation, Message, Others, Recipes, Sattology, Self Awareness, Vedic Knowledge, Veganism, Vegetarianism, Yoga

Is Reducing Meat Consumption Really Helping the Environment?

With issues of climate change and sustainability finding urgency all around the world, many experts advise us to try and limit our consumption of meat – owing to the environmental impact of the global meat industry. We find out if reducing meat consumption helps the environment, and how vegan foods are replacing the traditional meat industry.

We have more choice than ever before to choose what we eat. But are we making the right ones? With issues of climate change and sustainability finding urgency all around the world, many experts advise us to try and limit our consumption of meat – owing to the environmental impact of the global meat industry. But is it making any difference, and is meat consumption really destroying our planet? Let’s find out.

The global meat industry is nothing less than immense. In 2022, the global industry is worth over $2 trillion! With its presence so prevalent, the scale and intensity of meat production combined with projected population growth estimates show that current practices are bad for the environment.

Here is why:

IMPACT OF EATING MEAT

Health Risks

Diets high in red and processed meats, high-fat dairy foods, processed foods, and sugar are associated with diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cancers whereas diets rich in fiber, fruit, and vegetables are associated with a reduced risk of these diseases.

 

Biodiversity Loss

Livestock production accounts for roughly 30% of current global biodiversity loss! With the need for more land to produce more meat, we are losing the lush flora of our planet for specifically animal rearing, only to have them killed in the end. The meat industry is causing an irreversible loss to our planet to produce meat.

Global Warming

According to studies, meat production is responsible for generating about 14.5% of total global greenhouse gas emissions. Moreover, an astounding amount of meat is gone to waste both before and during the manufacture of meat. These practices are extremely harmful to our ecosystem, especially global warming which is directly caused by these greenhouse gas emissions.

Water Usage

About 29% of the total water footprint of the agricultural sector in the world is related to the production of animal products. By not purchasing meat products and avoiding such companies, you have the power to reduce the demand for meat, and thus – save water and conserve the planet.

IMPACT OF NOT EATING MEAT

 

If you’re looking to reduce your impact on the environment, going vegan is one of the best choices you can make. Here is why:

 

  1. Plant-based options high in protein and, alongside a well-balanced diet of plenty of fruit and vegetables, will mean you aren’t going without the vitamins you need. You will find equal amounts of natural nutrition in a vegan diet without hurting your

 

  1. Producing plant-based meat emits up to 90% fewer greenhouse gasses than producing conventional meat. If more people were to adopt veganism as a diet, the impact could cause a major shift in the ecosystem and help slow climate change.

 

  1. The global meat industry is notorious for polluting our oceans. When we leave land animals and fish off our plate, we are contributing to stabilizing the marine ecosystem as well as giving marine life a chance to thrive once again.

 

Reducing demand is the most significant factor in taking a stand against meat production. Ease your diet’s burden on the planet and choose veganism.

 

Established in Vancouver, Canada, the Yoga Health Expo 2022 will be a one-day festival celebrating the joys of good well-being through a holistic approach to the Yogic way of life including Yoga, Veganism, and Vegetarianism in our lifestyle. The celebration shall welcome famous yoga teachers Vancouver, interactive yoga classes Vancouver and a platform for vegan products and vegan food Vancouver.

 

For more information on our upcoming Yoga Festival & Health Expo, please visit: https://yogahealthfoundation.com/

20 Jul
yogahealthfoundationadmin Others, Self Awareness

Go Vegan-It’s Easy

It’s Not Difficult To Be Vegan

 

The very first lesson in Yamas, that first limb of yoga, is ahimsa. Ahimsa can be translated as non-killing, non-violence, or non-harm. To hurt another being is to hurt oneself. As a long-time vegan, my mission and vision to create a healthy world for all who live here is what makes me jump out of bed every morning.

 

In our combined ninety years’ teaching human ecology, my husband Bill Tara and I have high hopes we can all come together and make a better world, a healthy vegan world where humans and non-humans alike live in harmony. Success can only be achieved through education, understanding and, ultimately, action. Let’s face it, back in the time of Copernicus, most would have thought it impossible if you said that you were going to convince everyone that the Earth revolved around the Sun, rather than the other way around, but it did eventually happen! So, the past teaches me to have hope for the future.

 

Going vegan is simply a choice you make. Many people waste a lot of energy pondering this as if it were a complex issue, but the only difficulty

lies in making the decision – it’s easy. Remove all the animal-sourced foods and replace with delicious plant-based foods – the choice is yours. You can do it right now. It may take you a few weeks to locate your best food sources and become comfortable with your new way of eating, but it’s worth it.

 

When we reflect deeply on our relationship with the outer world, our environment, we realise that we are never independent of its influences. Food is the link between the inside and the outside world. Our Human Ecology Diet is abundant in every vitamin and mineral required for good health, vitality and longevity.

 

Rethinking Protein

Protein is a subject that always comes up when discussing veganism. When you think of the biggest animals on the planet – elephants, giraffes, buffalo – these are huge mammals; they don’t eat meat, so where do they get their protein? They eat what grows out of the ground and that is where they get their protein; it’s as simple as that. We have all been sold a mythology that only animals have protein, without asking where they got it from. Plants are the source of all protein. There are many foods in the plant kingdom that are especially rich in protein. All the legume family – anything that grows in a pod, lentils, beans and chickpeas – and whole grains are full of protein, and many vegetables are rich in protein too.

 

Plants are high-energy foods, and it’s good to note that an increasing number of athletes are switching to a vegan diet. Recent winners of long-distance events like triathlons, marathons and bicycle events are eating a vegan diet. These athletes recognise that they get injured less often, recover more quickly and have more stamina when they eat a diverse plant-based diet.

 

Animal meat is not required to build muscle or bone. This is a myth that is based on limited and biased science generated by the livestock and dairy industries.

 

Many years ago, I was listening to a webinar by my friend Dr John McDougall and it reminded me of some of the things I learned as a twelve-year-old working at the veg, fruit, grain and bean shop. Here I am fifty years later, having so many of these same lessons gaining notice. It is mentors such as Dr McDougall, Dr Barnard and Dr T. Colin Campbell who brought these simple truths to light again. Here are just some of these gems:

 

Vegetables are easy to grow – any gardener can grow potatoes, carrots, greens, etc. – and they are inexpensive; rice and beans are also

inexpensive (especially when you buy in bulk).

Animal meat is not required to build muscle or bone. This is a myth that is based on limited and biased science generated by the livestock and dairy industries.

 

Plants are lower on the food chain, so the environmental pollutants that are so prevalent in our food are in lower concentrations in plant-based foods. Animals are fed food grown with pesticides, herbicides and chemical fertilisers, and drinking water exposed to industrial pollution. These contaminants are stored in the fatty tissue (including the milk) of the animal. They can concentrate 1,000-fold as they go up the food chain. This concentration of toxic products affects all animals on land or at sea.

 

Plants are environmentally friendly. You can grow 17 times more nutritional energy on a piece of land if you grow vegetables than you can if you raise animals for food. The difference between growing potatoes and raising beef is 100-fold.

 

We are all living on a planet that is food-stressed. There is a real risk of food shortages and security. We need to grow more healthy food. There are close to one billion people (our brothers and sisters) starving to death, while nearly one billion people are eating themselves to death.

 

85% of non-communicable diseases are related to the modern high-fat, high-calorie diet that is low in nutritional density.

Vegetables don’t grow microbes that are pathogenic to people. They don’t grow E. coli; they don’t grow mad cow disease; they don’t grow listeria. If a vegetable or grain does have a contaminant on it, then it originated from an animal. Animal faeces are a major agricultural

pollutant.

 

Vegetables taste amazing. Sweet potatoes, fresh corn on the cob, rice, and so on, are full of natural sugars and a broad range of taste without any added sauces.

 

Vegetables store well – you can dry and store rice, beans and grains in a cool place for years. Tubers, roots and cabbages can last months and retain their nutritional vitality.

 

Wholefoods (not processed junk food) are great foods for weight loss. Remember, they are low in fat.

 

Everything that breathes wants to live – killing animals for our pleasure must stop. Please Go Vegan and love all of life is my mes

sage and has been for decades.

Making the Change

 

Don’t make a shift to a healthy vegan diet be a trauma (or a drama). You are already eating vegetables, grains, fruits and maybe even beans in your diet. You are simply removing the animal-sourced foods and the simple sugar. Your body will thank you. The key is diversity.

 

People around you may be amused or even sceptical about your new choices. Don’t worry – when they see that it can be do

ne, and that you are happy with the results, they will become more interested (or not). Don’t expect everyone to support you; simply stick to your plan. Some people recommend that slowly introducing the new way of eating is the best. Everyone has to choose their approach for themselves, but our experie

nce is different.

 

We always suggest that our clients and students make a commitment to adhere to their new eating plan for at least a three-week period to start. There are practical reasons for this.

 

As you change your diet you will find that your tastes change. When you remove some of the foods you are used to you may miss them for a short time – but remember your reasons for change. You will find that your new way of cooking opens up a different appreciation of plant-based foods. We call

this period ‘creating a new normal’, and making veganism the new normal is my mission, so stay with me on this.

Changing our food habits is usually an eye-opening experience. How you feel, your energy levels and your food satisfaction will a

ll improve. When you feel great on your new approach to eating why would you want to change? Simply make sure that your food is tasty, and your meals include a diversity of grains, beans and vegetables.

 

Marlene Watson- Tara

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

01 Jun
yogahealthfoundationadmin Self Awareness, Vegetarianism

Where do you get your protein from?

Often people ask you “where do you get your protein from?” or “won’t you lose a lot of weight?”. However, much to their surprise, I am the fittest I have ever been, and I eat a vegan diet. In fact, a trainer at the gym once asked me what I was doing differently, because I seemed a lot stronger – and he was completely shocked when I told him I had only stopped eating animal products. This was around the same time as the Game Changers came out on Netflix, and a lot of people then began realising that reducing the intake of meat and animal products is not only crucial for the health of our planet, but also for our own health. Increasingly, more and more professional athletes are reducing their consumption of inflammatory animal products and seeing the benefits of a plant-based diet. They are reporting faster recovery times, greater endurance and improved strength. So, you do not need meat to get enough protein to build muscle – the animals that we farm get their protein from plants. Veganism simply cuts out the middleman.

07 May
yogahealthfoundationadmin Announcements, Ayurveda, Environment, Meditation, Message, Self Awareness, Vedic Knowledge, Vegetarianism, Yoga

6th Online International Yoga Festival & Health Expo

We are pleased to announce that we are organizing 6th International Yoga Festival & Health Expo virtually. As we know that from last few months the entire world is facing the outspread of Coronavirus, but that would not dampen our spirit. We have successfully hosted 5 festivals in the past, and we are proud and blessed to organize our 6th festival with the same enthusiasm and energy. Our idea is pious and we promote a healthy organic lifestyle for everyone through Yoga, Meditation, Veganism, and Vegetarianism. We feel blessed to support and connect with the global community and strengthen our ties amid dark time. We are happy to invite everyone to our 6th online yoga festival & health expo on 20th June 2020 from 11 am to 2 pm. We will soon share the program highlights and other details.

Have a blessed & soulful day!

09 Jun
yogahealthfoundationadmin Environment, Meditation, Self Awareness

Mindfulness: a Tool for Increasing Happiness and Reducing Stress in Recovery

Mindfulness is the practice of fully immersing yourself in the present moment, without thoughts about the future or the past. It encourages you to direct your attention inwards, and consciously experience the feelings, thoughts and sensations that are happening right now. This is how mindfulness can promote stress relief and acceptance, and pull you away from the destructive thought patterns that may tempt you to use a behaviour or substance to numb discomfort.

Let’s take a closer look at the benefits of practicing mindfulness in recovery, and how being mindful in each moment can translate to more fulfillment, peace and enjoyment in your everyday life.

How Mindfulness Can Soften the Hardships of Recovery

  1. Mindfulness Reduces Emotional Cravings

Addictive behaviours are used as coping mechanisms to numb painful or uncomfortable thoughts and feelings. When faced with these thoughts, cravings can manifest as a protective mechanism— an emotional and mental escape.

Mindfulness encourages you to stay attuned with your present state of being, instead of running, covering or trying to escape these feelings. In essence, mindfulness is the opposite state of addiction. Through the process of awareness, you learn to accept and potentially transform these feelings and allow them to pass, which is the only way to heal and move on from them.

  1. Mindfulness Encourages You to Pause Before You React

You cannot always control what happens to you, but you can learn to control how you respond to life’s circumstances. When you ground yourself in the present moment by being mindful, it’s easier to pause and process a certain situation or feeling in a healthy way. Over time, this can actually change how your brain responds to emotional stress, which results in less anxiety and negative emotion over time.

For example, let’s say that when thoughts arise about the relationship you have with your mother, they instantly trigger you to crave a drink. But when you practice having awareness in the present moment, you’ll notice that you learn to pause before reacting to a specific thought pattern— and instead, become aware of the emotion you’re feeling.

When you allow yourself to feel , sit with, and recognize this emotion— rather than avoid it— the craving has a chance to pass and you can move on with your day. The more you practice this form of mindfulness, the less strong and intense your cravings will become, until they eventually disappear.

  1. Mindfulness Can Help Transcend Pain and Suffering

The desire to retreat from negativity is normal. Nobody wants to remain in a suspended state of suffering. And according to Buddhist views, pain and suffering are an essential part of life.

We have the opportunity to transcend our pain by accepting this truth, and recognizing that our suffering is determined by how we respond to it. Mindfulness brings awareness to the present moment, where we can realize and accept that everything is exactly as it should be: our pain can be used to fulfill our highest potential.

Putting Mindfulness into Action

The wonderful thing about mindfulness is that no specialized equipment or training is required. You can practice it right now. All you need to do is take a quiet moment to connect with your breath. Inhale and exhale to observe all that is going on in your mind and body. Focusing on your breathe anchors you to the present moment, and helps eliminate distractions of the past and future.

What Does Mindfulness Look and Feel Like?

When enjoying your next morning cup of tea, practice wrapping your hands around your mug. Feel the sensation of the hot mug against your fingertips, smell the fragrant leaves and observe the steam rising from your cup. Feel the calming sensations that ripple throughout your body when you take a long sip of your tea.

Where are you in this moment? How do you feel right now? What thoughts are arising in you? Be present and stay with this moment, and simply observe how you feel. Remember that you are exactly where you need to be, and nowhere else.

Mindfulness Meditation

You can also practice mindfulness through meditation, which may allow it to become second nature easier in your everyday life. By closing your eyes and focusing your attention on your breath, feel the air flow through you as you inhale and exhale. Allow your mind to slow down, and avoid judging or responding to thoughts as they arise, simply observe them and allow them to pass, imagining they’re like floating clouds in the sky.

This conscious practice, when done for just a few minutes per day, can increase the acceptance and satisfaction in your everyday life.

As you can see, mindfulness is a powerful tool to harness your thoughts and emotions (and how you respond to them) during recovery and any time through your life. By practicing mindfulness and remaining in the present moment as often as possible, you’ll be able to manage your stress levels easier, and heal any emotional trauma that’s been holding you back from living a fulfilling life, and may have been too uncomfortable to face and overcome in the past.

14 Mar
yogahealthfoundationadmin Self Awareness, Yoga

Finding Deep Connection Through Yoga

With the increase of cellphone use and social media by means of communicating, we as a generation are becoming more and more disconnected. There is group chats where there was once group hangs, mindless scrolling where there was once literature, video games where there was once walks in the park, and virtual reality where there was once reality. This blurred relationship with our true selves and with the world and the people around us can make for a lonely existence. Through practice, discipline and mindfulness, Yoga can help us find that lost connection that we so desperately seek.

At One With Nature

 Before society put us indoors and in clothes, nature was our home. The cold of the raindrops on our nose and the feel of the grass on our backs – this was our truest form of existence. All too often now we see the nature that surrounds us as separate objects rather than part of our being, forgetting that we are with it and not just in it. In yoga there are many poses that force us to stay grounded by mindfully grounding our backs to the earth below us. There are poses that force us to reach towards the sky and feel that it is not so distant, and others that force us to balance and allow us to become rooted deeply into the earth like a tree. By teaching us how to stop, be still, and listen, yoga helps us to reconnect with nature and become friends with the earth.

At One With Each Other

 One of the secrets to a happy and healthy life is the formation of real friendships and deep relationships with others. These types of relationships can only be formed through in-person contact and without the barrier of cellphones and social media. Simply by uplifting our mood and changing our perspective, yoga can motivate us to get out in the real world and form these valuable relationships by practicing our passion and sharing our beliefs and aspirations with like-minded individuals. Whether you practice alone or in a group setting, yoga can help break down the barriers of the digital age and facilitate more intimate connections with others.

At One With Our True Selves

The most important relationship we can have is the one with ourselves. Modern life and the establishment of a home, a family, and a career will inevitably divert our energy in a million different directions, and often our connection to our true self suffers as a result. We forget that we are there, behind the illusion of separateness and the physical body, and we become less whole. Yoga incorporates mindfulness, meditation, deep breathing, and strong poses all of which help us center our consciousness inward towards our true self instead of outward toward worldly distractions. This can help us rediscover our deepest passions and desires, and once we recognise who we are and what we want we can begin to serve our true purpose, with joy and gratitude, as our true selves.

The ultimate goal of yoga is to awaken the human self and to guide us along the path of a higher, universal consciousness. By connecting with nature, each other, and ourselves, we can break away from the disconnect of the digital age and achieve this ultimate goal, which will allow us live together in peaceful bliss and true harmony.

14 Mar
yogahealthfoundationadmin Meditation, Self Awareness

How Millennials can Find Peace and Serenity through Ancient Yoga Practices

Yoga is one of the most ancient traditions that we are aware of, yet it remains widely popular today. People all over the world continue to incorporate yoga into their lifestyles by studying, practicing and teaching it daily. It seems that the tradition has become even more prominent in recent years, often feeling like a new trend rather than one that was born in Northern India thousands of years ago. This is evident in Vancouver where you will find it almost impossible to get through a day without spotting someone carrying a yoga mat or walking by an outdoor yoga class. The reason that this practice has not dwindled with age and become lost in ancient history is because of its undeniable ability to positively transform lives by touching our minds, bodies and spirits.

Mind

In the age of information overload, we often lose ourselves amidst the chaos. Clarity is power in today’s hectic world, and yoga teaches our mind to focus our attention in the right direction. Through deep breathing and meditation, yoga allows us to reconnect with ourselves and our bodies. During this process we learn how to take charge of our thoughts and to access inner peace. Calming the mind in this way relieves stress and reduces overthinking, and this can lead to an overall improvement in our mental health. A trouble-free and quiet mind can also induce creativity, allowing us to serve our own purpose instead of somebody else’s.

Body

An obvious yet extremely important benefit of yoga is the physical strength that it builds. Practicing yoga weekly will tone and strengthen the muscles, improving our body’s physical appearance but more importantly its resilience. Deep stretching will relieve our body of tension while challenging poses will push us beyond our limits, resulting in muscles that are both stronger and more relaxed. Through this practice we can also achieve better posture, balance and flexibility.

Spirit

Creating harmony within ourselves will result in a happier experience of our outside worlds. Yoga allows us to be more present, and the ability to live in the moment can lead to a higher consciousness. With this higher consciousness comes increased awareness, allowing us to focus on the beauty by which we are surrounded. We gain a strong sense of connection to this beauty, and without the illusion of separation we are guided in becoming more sentient beings. When we achieve this state, we are capable of sharing immense love and kindness with all beings and all of nature.

The 21st century is one within which many have become lost in a fog of worldly-chaos and excessive consumerism. On the other hand, it is the century that has found us waking up and redefining happiness. There is somewhat of a barrier between the two, and the link that will connect them is yoga. This is the very mission of the International Yoga Festival which comes to Vancouver for the third time in June 2019 – To connect us to our predecessors from whom we can learn. To bring unity to Vancouver by connecting one and all. And to help the community bridge the gap between health and happiness.

“Our mission for this festival is to inspire and connect our communities to live creative, healthy, vibrant and stress free active lives through the practice of yoga and mediation.”

05 Oct
yogahealthfoundationadmin Self Awareness, Vedic Knowledge, Yoga

Patanjali Yoga Sutra

Sutra means thread, formula or a principle expressed in a few words. Yoga would mean add or to connect or put together. In order to guide the humanity to spiritual discipline via meditation, sage Patanjali wrote “Yoga Sutra” some 1500 years ago, in around 500 AD.
The book of yoga consists of four chapters. Chapter 1, the Yoga and its aims, has 51 sutras. The remaining 3 chapters are: chapter2: Yoga and its practices (55sutras), chapter 3: Yoga and its powers (56 sutras) and chapter 4: Liberation or Samadhi (33 sutras).

We shall now describe, in short, the essence, meaning and the purpose detailed in each chapter. In chapter 1, the first sutra, is a style of starting a book, as is common in any old Sanskrit work. “Ath Yoganusashanam”, meaning, here begins the instruction of Yoga. Remember the word ath meaning “here we begin”. The second sutra is the key to the whole book. It defines what yoga is and possibly what it is not. “Yogah chitta vritti nirodhah”. Yoga is the control of the wavering mind. Yoga is not a hard physical exercise. A yogi is not a muscular person. His/her body would be smooth, without muscles, as yoga focuses on flow of blood in one’s arteries and veins.

Yoga is thus a method of using human psychology to align one’s mind to becoming a benevolent, kind and clear thinking person who always thinks good of others and the environment around him/her. He/she will thus attain equanimity as Krishna would say in Geeta,”Samatvam yoga uchyate”. Yoga practices consist of breathing exercises, physical postures that would lead to the final destination of the Samadhi state of profound absorption, all the time focusing on one’s inner most thoughts. As poet Kalidasa said in his Abhigyan Shakuntalam, “Pramaanam antahkaran pratyayah” meaning, the ultimate truth (God) lies in your innermost thoughts. Also, Krishna says in Geeta-“Yada samharate chayam, kurmoanganeeva sarvashah”, as the turtle withdraws his limbs at sensing danger, this is how you withdraw your thoughts from the worldly attachments.

Before one proceeds to understand the theory behind Yoga, one must keep track of three things. 1. Mind, 2. Prakriti, the physical world, made out of three gunas (characteristics) namely, satva, the pure truth, rajasa, the worldly pleasures and the tama, the dark or negative thinking; and lastly, 3. Atman, the super consciousness or spirituality which is reached by attaining the Samadhi state. That is the aim of Yoga.

Now, coming back to chapter 1, there are five kinds of thought waves. 1. Right knowledge, 2.wrong knowledge, 3. Verbal delusion, 4. Sleep and 5. Memory. (sutra 6: Praman- viparyaya- vikalpa- nidra- smritayaah). They are controlled by practice and non-attachment. (Sutra 12: Abhysvairagyabham tannirodhah). Concentration of true spiritual aspirant is attained through faith, energy, recollectedness, absorption and illumination (sutra 20: shraddha-virya-smriti-samadhi-pragya purvak itaresham). Concentration may be attained through devotion to God (sutra 23: Ishwara pranidhanadwa). In Him, knowledge is infinite, in others, it is only a germ. The word that expresses Him is Om. (sutra 27: Tasya vachak Pranavah).

There are two types of Samadhi (the ultimate absorption state), one savikara or sabeeja, with seed and the other nirvichara or nirbeeja or without seed. When the object of concentration is subtle object, the primal cause; or Prakriti, the Samadhi is called the savichara or sabeeja Samadhi. When the object of concentration is the Atman, the pure truth, it is the nirvichara or nirbeeja Samadhi. (Sutra 48: Ritumbhara tava pragya)

Chapter 2, sutra 1 says, the preliminary steps to Yoga are: austerity, study and dedication of the fruits of one’s work to God, that is, detachment. There are eight limbs of Yoga: 1. Yama: abstention from evil doing, 2. Niyama: following strict code of conduct. 3. Asana: postures 4. Pranayama: life force. 5. Pratyahar: withdrawal from sense object, 6. Dhaarana: concentration.7. Dyaana: meditation and 8. Samaadhi: absorption. (sutra 29).

Chapter 2, then, in sutra 46 introduces asana, the postures, “sthir sukhaasanam”, meaning that the asana or postures is to be seated in a position which is firm but relaxed. Then after mastering posture, one must practice control of the praana (pranayama), the life force, by stopping the motions of inhalation and exhalation.
Chapter 3 relates to obtaining mystic powers (samyama) by mastering the three: 1. Dhaarna (concentration), 2. Dyaana (meditation) and 3. Samaadhi (absorption). (sutra 4: Trayamekatra samyama).

Chapter 4 is entitled “Liberation”. The very first sutra sets up the source of obtaining mystic powers. It says: Janma aushadhi mantra tapahsamadhijaha siddhyah. That is, the psychic powers can be obtained either by birth, or by medicines or by the power of words or by practice of austerities or by concentration (Samadhi). The ego sense alone can create minds (sutra 4). Of the various types of minds, only that which is purifies by Samadhi is freed from all latent impressions of karma and from all cravings. (Sutra 6: tatra dhyanjamanaashayam).
PRANAYAM- the breathing exercises. Prana means life or life force. Pranayam means that concerns the life force. The following seven pranayams can be practiced every day. They will fill energy before one goes for the asanas or postures.
1 Bhastrika: Sit down in easy pose (Sukhasana) or lotus pose (Padmasana). Breathe regularly via lungs for 5 minutes. Inhale for a 2.5 seconds and exhale for 2.5 seconds. Cancer patients should do it for 10 minutes (Yoga guru Ramdev)
2 Ujjayee: Inhale breath strongly through nose with tighten throat. Make sure there is no force on ear drums. It is good for asthma, snoring and bronchitis.
3. Anulome-Vilome: Press right hand thumb on the right nostril and breathe in, and then press right hand middle finger on the left nostril and breathe out. Then reverse the order of nostrils for breathing in and out.
4. Kapaal Bhati. Breathe out hard by forcing the air through nostrils and pumping the air by forcing the stomach and the lower abdomen. Helps in prostate cancer (Swami Ramdev)
5. Bhramari. Block the ears by two thumbs, place the two middle fingers of both hands on the eye lids, the two pinky fingers on the nostrils and the two index fingers on the forehead and pronounce OM by prolonging it on the M sound. This will create a vibration in the brain. This is an exercise for the brain.
6. Udgeet: Take a deep breath and exhale with the sound of OM, very slowly.
On top of these breathing exercises, there are locks that one places on the paths of breath for more effect on various parts of body and for various ailments.

A Jalandar Bandh: While during Bhastrika pranayam, or any other, lower the head and rest the chin on the neck and breathe in and out. This will close ida and pingla narhies (vessels) and prana enters the sushumna narhi. Good for thyroid.
B Eddyan Bandha: Stand, place hand on knees, bend down and use Jalandhar Bandha.
C Moola Bandha: Sit in the sukhasana (easy posture), breathe while region below naval is lifted upwards with every inhale. With this bandha, the apaan vayu (air)moves upwards and unites with prana (the life force). This awakens the mool (bandha) chakra and also awakens Kundalini.
D Mahabandha: While sitting in sukhasna, apply the three bandhas simultaneously.
Asana. Most asanas or postures are designed to balance the bone structure or force the blood circulation in a part of body that needs healing. Most postures in yoga are imitations from animal kingdom. How the animals stretch when the get up in the morning, how they prepare themselves to defend or get ready to pounce on their victim. I will only mention a few that I practice when I need them. Monkey or cobra poses for back problem and a frog pose for diabetes.

The Markat Asana. (The monkey posture). Lie down on your stomach, put the elbows on the floor and rest your face with the chin on your palms. Breathe in and out like in Bhastrika.

The Bhujanga Asana (The Cobra posture). Lie down on your stomach, place your palms on the floor, and raise your head like a cobra. Breathe in and out as in Bhastrika.

The Mandook Asana (The Frog Pose).Sit on your legs with knees on the floor, push your thumbs inside your index fingers, place the thumb knuckles on both sides of navel. Take a long breath, move forward to put your chin on the floor, breathe in and out.
Reference: Patanjali yoga Sutra with commentary by Swami Prabhavananda and Christophr Sherwood, Shree Ramakrishna Math, Chennai, India.

By: Chhatradhar Bhatt.

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