Exercise
I would like to thank all the Gurus who have helped and guided me. I look at Yoga primarily as a means of practice. Yoga has been scientifically proven to work very well for chronic illnesses (as opposed to infectious diseases). I follow Raja yoga or the yoga of Self Discipline. My practice includes Austerities like Meditation, Exercise, Cold Showers, Pranayam and Fasting.
My Gurus include (in no particular order)
- Sri Paramahamsa Yogananda
- Sri Yukteshwar Giri
- Sri Lahiri Mahasaya
- Sri Gorakshanath
- Sri Matsyendranath
- Sri Mahadeva
I also follow the youtube videos of Sri Peter Marchand, Sri Rohit Arya and Sri Wim Hof.
Meditation is the art of Chilling Out. Meditation will bring up all issues from the past, present and future. Meditation is the technique of making your mind go silent. Once that is done we move up to awareness and try to lose our awareness. I practice Shoonya meditation or meditation on Nothingness or the Void. There are many techniques that can be used including visualization, counting breaths and chants. We start with 2 to 3 minutes of meditation and try to do upto 4 hours of continuous meditation.
Breathing exercises balance out your parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous system. Holding your breath for upto 2 minutes boosts your stamina. Power breathing helps oxygenate your entire body. You are as old as the number of breaths you have taken. Animals that live for 100+ years take 2 or 3 breaths in a minute. Your breath is connected to your mind activity, your body, your mood etc. We will harness the breath to control the energy in your body.
Nothing in yoga will work unless you understand the theory behind it. Yoga is being scientifically proven to work. Many terms and concepts are currently beyond the scope of science to prove. Take everything with a pinch of salt and test it yourself to see if it is true. We will be going over chakras, doshas, koshas and vayus.
Cold Showers - Wim Hof
Pranayama - Breathwork
Cold showers boost your immunity and your inner fire. You will stop getting colds, allergies and other infectious diseases. You will be cool in the cold while your friend's teeth are chattering. We will start with a little bit of cold and ramp up the showers till you can handle a full cold shower with no heat at the peak of winter. Then come ice baths. This also includes breathing exercises. Cold showers are also very good for your skin and hair. It does not dry you like a hot shower.
Fasting
Meditation
The body is the temple of your soul. It is your first and last friend. When your body gives up the game is over. Exercise burns the body. It helps tighten the body and bring balance to its functions. This includes strength, endurance, speed, balance and flexibility. We will work on each of these aspects in your fitness regiment. Fitness also includes diet. So eating for your type is very important. We will practise weights (8-10 reps), isometrics, stretches and drills.
Ayurveda - Indian Medicine
Fasting cleans your bloody supply. It destroys and rebuilds your body. It cleans out your digestive system. You loose unnecessary fat. We will practice intermittent fasting to day fasts and water fasts. You are what you eat. We will experiment with vegetarian food, juicing and raw food.