The Secret Wisdom of Wellbeing
We are now all very aware of and focused on our health and fitness. We ensure that we have the right numbers in place: - weight, blood count, blood sugar, blood pressure and more. There is one aspect of our health which cannot be represented in numbers and that is our wellbeing. And in today’s fast-paced lifestyle, it is something we really miss out on.
Wellbeing is the true purpose and objective behind striving towards perfect health and physical fitness. It is a holistic term, a beautiful canopy that covers every aspect of our lives: - Our physical health, emotional health, mental and spiritual health. when we achieve a harmonious balance in these facets of our lives, then we don’t merely exist, we are alive. To be well is to be truly alive.
Physical wellbeing
The body or physical self is the ideal beginning. When our body is a well-oiled machine, the journey becomes far easier. The ideal way towards physical wellbeing is through a regular work out. A daily practice of Surya namaskar and other asanas, coupled with pranayama techniques is perfect to do list that will give you routinely health and fitness.
Surya Namaskar
Surya Namaskar is a set of 24 counts practised at dawn when the rays of the sun bring maximum health to the body. Begin by standing on the beginning of your mat.
1) Pranam asana : -
Stand straight at the beginning of the mat with your feet together.
Bring your palms together in Pranam mudra before your heart chakra.
Ensure your back is as straight as you face forward.
Breathe normally.
2) Hasta Utthan asana: -
Separate your palms and extend your arms over your head.
Keep them shoulder’s width apart.
Inhale as you slightly tilt backwards to form a gentle arch of your back.
3) Padahastasan asana: -
Bring your arms down towards your mat
Exhale as you bend your upper body at your hip to bring it to parallel to your lower body.
Place your palms on the mat beside your feet.
4) Ashwasanchalan asana: -
Inhale and move your right leg towards the rear end of your mat.
Place your toes on the mat and point your heel up.
Your left knee must be bent at a right angle.
Ensure that your back is not as hunched as you look forward.
5) Santolan asana: -
Bring your left leg to the rear end of the mat and place it parallel to your right leg.
Exhale and straighten your elbows and look forward.
Your ankles, knees, pelvis, back and shoulders should form a straight, inclined line.
6) Ashtanga pranam asana: -
Lower your knees, chest and shoulders to the mat.
Ensure that your pelvis remains off the mat.
7) Bhujang asana: -
Place your pelvis on your mat.
Put pressure on your palms to lift your upper body off the floor and inhale as you form a gentle arch of your back.
Make your elbows are bent and your navel is touching the mat.
8) Adhomukhi Swanasana: -
Lift your pelvis and point it towards the sky.
Place your feet flat on the mat and ensure your knees are straight and exhale.
Your back must be straight as your body forms a triangular shape.
9) Ashwasanchalan asana: -
Inhale as you bring your left leg forward and place your left foot in between your palms.
10) Padhahasta asana: -
Bring your right leg forward and place it beside your left.
Bend your upper body at the hip and place it parallel to your lower body.
Try to touch your knees with your nose.
11) Hasta Uttan asana: -
Lift your palms off the floor.
Bring your upper body back up straight.
Reach your arms up towards the sky with the palms facing each other.
Inhale as you tilt your spine back to form a gentle arch.
12) Pranam asana : -
Exhale as you straighten your back to an upright position.
Bring your palms down to hold Pranam mudra at your heart chakra.
This is half a cycle of Surya Namaskar. Repeating the same by alternating the legs will complete the other half of the cycle. Following this practice with Bhastrika pranayama and Anulom Vilom pranayama will complete your routine for physical health.
To achieve mental and emotional health and balance is a crucial need of the day. With our demanding lifestyles, the necessity for practices to calm the mind is a requirement for all.
Meditation practices such as Stithi Dhyan and Pratibhimba Dhyan are perfect to elevate the mind and emotions of the practitioner. Regular practice of these meditation techniques is ideal to bring calmness, peace, harmony and bliss to the mind and heart of the practitioner.
The health of the spirit is a divine process. Each spirit is unique, individual and different. The trigger of happiness, contentment and bliss is different for each and every one of us. It can be as simple as enjoying a hobby or as challenging as scaling mountains in search of spiritual energy hubs. The world is brimming with places where the spirit can be quenched. The Himalayan mountains, the abode of spirituality is the ideal target to strike.
When we are responsible for ourselves, our life and our goals, wellbeing is the end result. We start with physical health, move to the mind and then above all, the spirit. This holistic path towards our life’s health is true wellbeing is something we must all strive to achieve.
