HealthFitness

Healthy Foods for Summer Season Image by  ExplorerBob  from  Pixabay Summer heat is already beating down many of us. Heat waves are hitting in. We cannot fight nature but can make small changes to our diet. Here is a list of food items that keeps our body cool from within. We can stay hydrated in this summer by including all or at least few in our diet. Melons Melons are coolest, juiciest and healthiest foods. They can be used in salads, desserts, smoothies, milkshakes and even salsa. They are good for stomach. Melons propel weight loss and prevent many common health problems such as cancer, high blood pressure, heart disease, common colds and flu. Bottle Gourd or Lauki Bottle Gourd or Lauki is extremely popular for weight loss. It might not be favourite vegetable of everyone. But it is rich in calcium, magnesium, Vitamin A, C and folate. This vegetable works well on high blood pressure and keeps heart healthy. It is considered as excellent blood purifier. Waterme

 Kapalbhati Pranayam – Steps and Benefits Kapal means forehead. Bhati means shining and Pranayama means control of breath. Kapalbhati pranayama is a very powerful breathing exercise that not just helps us lose weight but also brings our entire system into a perfect balance. When we do pranayama 80% of the toxins of our body are released through the outgoing breath. Regular practice of Kapalbhati pranayama detoxifies all the systems our body. Kapalbhati means shining forehead. This is what happens when we do practice it regularly. Our forehead glows and intellect becomes sharp, refined with regular practice. How to do Kapalbhati Pranayama Sit comfortably with spine erect in Vajrasana or any comfortable sitting pose. Place hands on the knees (if sitting in sukhasana)or thighs(if sitting in vajrasana). Take a deep breath. Exhale continuously through the nose. As you exhale the stomach goes in. Exhalation should be forceful and active. Inhalation happens automatically.

Bhastrika Pranayam – Steps and Benefits Bhastrika pranayama is a breathing technique which generates heat in the body. As per ayurveda it is especially beneficial for people who have Kapha body composition or are water dominated. Bhastrika pranayama looks similar to Kapalbahti but is different from it in two major ways. Kapalbhati breathing exercise involves stomach and mimics sneezing. Bhastrika on the other hand involves chest and lungs. In Bhastrika Pranayama both inhalation and exhalation are forced. It is like post running panting. Benefits of Bhastrika Pranayam It is good for giving oxygen to brain. It benefits the nervous and the motor system. It is great for energizing the body and the mind. It is good for people with depression and anxiety. It helps in treating fibrosis. It is great for lungs and people who suffer from repetitive cough, flu, respiratory issues, allergies or breathlessness. It helps to strengthen immunity. It checks sleep apnea as well.

Health Benefits of Gyan Mudra Gyan Mudra is often used while meditating. It is one of the most important mudras that promote physical and mental health. It is also called as Chin Mudra. In Sanskrit chin or cin means “consciousness”. Mudra means “gesture” or “seal”.  So gyan mudra may be translated to mean “gesture of consciousness” in English. How to perform Gyan Mudra To do Gyan Mudra bring the tips of the thumb and index fingers together and form a circle. Sit in a cross legged position. Keep your hands on the thighs with elbows bent or straight. Remaining three fingers are stretched and palms are facing upwards. It can be done for 45 minutes at a stretch to gain maximum benefits or three rounds of 15 minutes each. It is advisable to do this mudra at same time every day. Gyan mudra is used in meditative yoga poses. It is used in certain breathing techniques including nadi shodhana pranayama and ujjayi pranayam. It can be practiced while in padmasana also. This m

Vayu Mudra Vayu Mudra Vayu means air.Vayu hand mudra takes care of all the diseases and irregularities that occur due to air imbalance. Vayu mudra takes care of the air element in the body. This mudra will control or regulate the movement of air inside our body. This will make our body healthy in the long run. How to do Vayu Mudra Wear loose and comfortable clothes. Relax yourself. Sit in a comfortable position on a yoga mat or bed. Place the tip of your index finger at the base of thumb. Apply little pressure on your finger with thumb. Thumb represents fire element and index finger represents air element. Benefits of Vayu Mudra Vayu mudra is linked with Ayurvedic  vata dosha which is associated with air element. It is useful for people who are of vata dosha or who suffer from aggravated vata dosha. It helps balance and regulate air element in the body. It reduces the tremors in people who suffer from Parkinson’s disease. It helps to calm people who are

Vajrasana Vajrasana Vajra means diamond and asana means pose. People who sit in this asana have a steady firm pose. It is also known as Thuderbolt Pose, Diamond Pose, Kneeling Pose or Pelvic Pose. Most of the asanas are done on an empty stomach. Vajrasana can be performed immediately even after eating. It can be done in Vayu Mudra also. It aids proper digestion. Vajarasana helps us melt belly fat. Vajrasana can be practiced daily for 15-20 minutes. Even people who are slim can practice it to maintain their figure. How to do Vajrasana Take a Yoga Mat. Sit over your heels. Your buttocks should be on the heels and thighs on the calf muscles. It you are uncomfortable sitting down or yoga mat is not available, do it on the bed. Sit straight with your head facing forward. Your hands should be on your knees or in Vayu Mudra. Close your eyes. Focus on your breath. Observe air coming in and going out of your body. Practice this position for 5-10 minutes in the beginning.

Apana Mudra for Digestion and Body Detoxification Apana mudra is also known as purification mudra. It is a hand gesture that detoxifies and purifies the body. It balances the elements of space and earth within it. It eliminates water, toxins and chemicals in the body. It prevents diseases and illnesses. As per Hindu and Buddhist philosophy whole universe, human body is made of Fire, Air, Space, Earth and Water. Our Five fingers represent all these five elements. Thumb denotes Fire, Index Finger denotes Air, Middle Finger denotes Space, Ring Finger denotes Earth and Little finger denotes Water. Imbalance in any of five elements can disturb our immune system to make our body an easy target for various physical and mental disorders. By doing hand mudras, we can re-establish the balance among these 5 elements in our body for health and happiness. Hand Mudras direct the flow of energy in our body in a manner to produce the desired therapeutic benefit. How to do Apana Mud