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Corporate yoga : Flavours of Yoga

 

 

“Yoga is a light, which once lit will never dim. The better your practice, the brighter your flame.” — B.K.S. Iyengar

Offices are slowly reopening as people are getting fully vaccinated and workers have returned to their respective workplaces. Corporates have realized that the struggle is real. Covid 19 or not, companies worldwide have already started implementing corporate wellness programs – one of which is introducing yoga in the workplace.The person who work in corporate culture can understand that how tiring is sitting in long time in front of the laptop. So because of these problems body becomes more stiff .

Balancing the personal life with office life leads to stress. How to get rid from these problems and health issues.The concept of Yoga in the workplace is based on the holistic merits of Yoga to improve physical and emotional stability of employees.

 

Flavours of yoga

Flavours of yoga means the essence of the practice . This includes the techniques in it.

1.Sukshma vyayama

Sukhshma vyayama otherwise called as loosening exercise. This is very mandatory for all the employees for relaxing the stiffness of joints.Yogic Sukshma Vyayama techniques are considered to be extremely powerful, as they activate the subtle pranic body. Their benefits include developing memory, intellect, willpower, and sharpening the senses.

2. Yoga Nidra

 

Yoga Nidra other wise called as yogic sleep. It helps to relieve from stress and anxiety.Yoga nidra, or yogic sleep as it is commonly known, is an immensely powerful meditation technique, and one of the easiest yoga practices to develop and maintain. While the practitioner rests comfortably in savasana (corpse pose), this systematic meditation takes you through the pancha maya kosha (five layers of self), leaving you with a sense of wholeness. No longer do you have to dread spending hours sitting on the floor waiting for liberation.

3. Relaxation techniques

These are techniques used to relax body and mind . It includes deep relaxation technique, quick relaxation technique , Instant relaxation technique.Relaxation techniques are practices to help bring about the body’s “relaxation response,” which is characterized by slower breathing, lower blood pressure, and a reduced heart rate. The relaxation response is the opposite of the stress response.

4. Pranayama

Breathing is something we do on a daily basis. The body, in a living state, breathes involuntarily whether we are awake, sleeping, or actively exercising. Breathing is living. It is a vital function of life. In yoga,  this is called pranayamaPrana is a Sanskrit word that means life force and ayama means extending or stretching. Thus, the word “pranayama” translates to the control of life force. It is also known as the extension of breath. Every cell in our bodies needs oxygen to function properly. So it’s no surprise that research shows that a regular practice of controlled breathing can decrease the effects of stress on the body and increase overall physical and mental health. It is used to improve the lung capacity and helps to improve oxygen supply to be brain.

5. Asanas

An asana is simply a physical shape that you do with your body. Asanas are performed to improve flexibility, strength, and balance. Asanasor yoga poseshelp the body’s joints , ligaments, and muscles strengthen through movement. A regular yoga practice can, over time, increase flexibility and mobility, lubricating the spine and alignment to aid in everyday activity.

6. Meditation

Meditation has been practiced for thousands of years. Meditation originally was meant to help deepen understanding of the sacred and mystical forces of life. These days, meditation is commonly used for relaxation and stress reduction. It is considered a type of mind-body complementary medicine.

Meditation can produce a deep state of relaxation and a tranquil mind. It is a practice in which an individual uses a technique such as mindfulness, or focusing the mind on a particular object, thought, or activity  to train attention and awareness, and achieve a mentally clear and emotionally calm and stable state.

 

Mental benefits of yoga

  • Help reduce depression
  • Decrease perceived stress
  • Reduce anxiety
  • Importance of yoga
  • Regular yoga practice creates mental clarity and calmness
  • Increases body awareness
  • Relieves chronic stress and relaxes the mind
  • Centers attention
  • sharpens concentration

Do’s and Don’ts in yoga

Do’s

  • Do yoga in a clean and ventilated space
  • Do under expert guidance
  • Keep yourself hydrated

Don’t

  • Don’t do yoga in full stomach
  • Don’t hesitate to tell to the instructor when you are not comfortable.

Incorporating yoga into your employees’ lives can improve their mental and physical health. The poses of yoga can help reduce physical pain, workplace stress and also decrease absenteeism.With energy levels increased, your employees will be more productive and motivated to work. Moreover, a yoga program is a cost-effective one that will require only 10-20 minutes of your employees’ time daily to reap its full benefits.So, waste no time to incorporate and reap the benefits of yoga at work.

THE TASTES OR RASAS

taste

One of the important concepts in Ayurveda is Rasa or taste. You might think what impact, the tastes have on us. Let us see in detail.

THE TASTES OR RASAS

There are six types of tastes:-

  1. Swadu or sweet
  2. Amla or sour
  3. Lavana or salt
  4. Tikta or bitter
  5. Ushana or pungent
  6. Kashaya or astringent

These rasas or tastes are dependent on the substance.

HOW DOES THE TASTES AFFECTS THE DOSHAS

Yes, the tastes have a great influence on the doshas. 

  • Vata:- 

The tastes that alleviate or decrease the Vata are Sweet, Sour and Salt. Whereas those result in the aggravation or increase of the dosha are Bitter, Pungent and Astringent.

  • Pitta:-

Astringent, Bitter and Sweet are the tastes that result in the alleviation of the doshas. At the same time, Sour, Salt and Pungent tastes cause the aggravation of the dosha.

  • Kapha:-

Kapha gets increased by Bitter, Pungent and Astringent tastes and gets decreased by Sweet, Sour and Salt.

ANURASA

Along with a primary taste, a secondary taste may also be present and that taste is called as Anurasa.

Along with Anurasas, various combinations of tastes can be found in different substances.

This is the wonder of nature and this is why we say food should be the medicine and not the other way. According to your body condition you can decide, the type of food you should take, thus can make an equilibrium among the doshas.

Hypertension And Ayurveda

hypertension

Hypertension or High blood pressure has become a common condition. Long term medication is needed to manage the blood pressure. Let us see what results in the increase in blood pressure.

WHAT CAUSES HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE?

The factors that determine the blood pressure are:-

  • The amount of blood your heart pumps.
  • The amount of resistance in the arteries to blood flow.

Now you may understand what results the high pressure. if your heart pumps more amount of blood or if the arteries become narrow, your blood pressure increases.

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS

A person with high blood pressure may not have any symptoms for many years. Even though there may not be any symptoms, the condition may continue causing damages to blood vessels and heart. Eventually the variation in the pressure can be detected.

A few may develop the following symptoms:-

  • Headache
  • Shortness of breath
  • Nose bleed

If uncontrolled this may result in heart attack or stroke and usually most people only get to know about their condition when they fall sick.

CAUSES

Primary hypertension

The cause is unknown. This type gradually develops over years.

Secondary hypertension

There will be an underlying cause that results in hypertension. The conditions that may cause hypertension are:-

  • Kidney problems
  • Thyroid issues
  • Obstructive sleep apnea
  • Adrenal gland tumors
  • Congenital defects of arteries
  • Illegal drugs
  • Some medicines etc.

RISK FACTORS

Many factors increase the risk of hypertension. They are:-

  • Age:- The risk of getting hypertension increases with the age.
  • Family History:- high blood pressure tends to run in families
  • Obesity
  • Less physical activity
  • Tobacco usage
  • Including too much salt in your diet and absence of enough potassium.
  • Alcoholism
  • Stress
  • Certain chronic conditions

During pregnancy, some may suffer from high blood pressure.

COMPLICATIONS

If uncontrolled for long period of time, the condition may cause:-

  • Heart attack 
  • Stroke
  • Aneurysm
  • Heart failure
  • Affects the functioning of kidneys
  • Affects the health of eyes
  • Affects memory etc.

HYPERTENSION AND AYURVEDA

The history of the person is studied to understand the type and cause of hypertension. Internal and external medications can help in the management of the high blood pressure. Rest is an important factor that helps in this condition. Some of the treatments that can help are:-

  • Talam
  • Siro dhara
  • Siro lepa
  • Nasya
  • Raktamoksha
  • Rasayana chikitsa etc.

Yoga and meditation helps in controlling the blood flow and thereby helps in reducing the blood pressure.

The treatment is determined by the qualified physician after determining the root cause