Yoga for Life

Coinciding with #Navaratri, today is the #WorldMentalHealthDay, an #international day when everyone talks about #mental #health. Should we not talk do (something) about it? Enough talking! But having one day devoted to the #mental #health at least will turn everyone's attention to it and maybe the #governments will #issue their stance on it. But that isn't enough! In England, #therapies such as #yoga and #meditation, are still considered as "alternative" and not suitable for national health or part-funded cost. However, the effects of #yoga, #meditation and #mindfulness on #mental #health #illnesses are far much better than those of some #medication. Don't get me wrong! I don't advocate stopping medication, I am merely in favour of some 'alternative' solutions to solving the problems, since the #mentalhealth problems can be very deep and very complicated. One size never fits all - therefore why doesn't the government explore these #alternativ...

Often, when we go to Yoga classes the teachers talk about yoga philosophy, some will mention Patanjali (The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali), some won’t (and you may leave the class wondering what on earth they were talking about or may be curious and study further; like me. So what is yoga? And how do we control our minds? The direct translation of the second sutra – Yoga citta Vrtti Nirodhah is, according to TKV Desikachar: "Yoga is the ability to direct the mind exclusively toward an object and sustain that direction without any distractions". So, by controlling the mind, one manages to achieve peace and quiet. Or, perhaps the complete opposite – by not being able to control the mind we become more disturbed! Which one is it? Only you will know! By controlling one's mind and achieving the peace with oneself, it is possible to control the world and our surrounding – or at least have the perception of controlling it. I recently received an angry email from a fitnes...