Midnight marathon 2011

Race seems to be expensive with no freebees, but it was a charity run so we decided to run. I and Gangesh (a friend of mine) enrolled for Mid-night marathon about 3 weeks ago.

KTPO was crowded with various stalls of food and other items, people enjoying the run venue with family and friends.  Gangesh was telling that “yeh tau mela laga hai” and it was like a Mela like environment. “One Night Stand” Band was adding the charm to night of Moon eclipse. I took no photos myself, will tag photos of some friends.

With no practice on running front I was not sure of putting put a proper performance, so was thinking of making it a practice run for next Big run. And it was some food that made me extremely lazy in the race week, or last 2 days of stomach upset, I was sure of running only 4-10 kms.

I reached there around 11.30 in the night; prize distribution was going on, and no surprise that all the prizes went to bravos from Ethiopia. They really know how to do it right, Kudos to them.

I did only 4 km- 2km of sprint and 2 km of walk and then headed home. There was flyer on windshield of my car of “wags and wiggles” that made me laugh a lot, it is a pet saloon and spa.  Seems like less or too many humans are going to spas that spas are diversifying to pet segment as well. I liked the business Idea and will give 15% discount coupon to someone who has a pet.

Gangesh called up to tell that he finished the run in 2hrs and 23 mins, Bravo!

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Aashi Yoga Research Academy
http://www.AashiYoga.com/
Hatha Yoga, Pranayama, Meditation
Yoga classes in Bangalore
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Yoga: A science for world peace conference at Art Of Living Ashram

I was not very keen on visiting Ashram till few years ago. I never actually thought of going to some Ashram earlier but this time I decided to go and see what’s happening in spiritual world. Some sort of curiosity took me there. I was happy to get invitation for Yoga conference in art of living Ashram; probably some volunteer noticed my yoga website and sent me the invitation.

Art of living international center is a big Ashram very near to city with peace like village. Every volunteer was very courteous and friendly in his/her behavior. After asking few volunteers of direction I reached Yoga Conference in the Big Dome of Ashram.

“Who is who” of yoga and spiritual world were present in the stage.  BKS Iyenger, Swami Sivanand from Portugal, Swami Amruta Suryananda, Chairman of Yoga bharti, S-VYSA university chairman and few more biggies whose name I couldn’t hear properly.

Every one talked about Yoga and its potential in improving present society, they talked about need of teachers in order to spread Yoga in every corner of world. Some talked about pure soul, meditation, karma yoga, raj yoga,….. importance of packaging of yoga………. and so many things.

I had food in there, attended some sessions and then came back.

It was motivating to see so many learned people at one dais, and volunteers working selflessly in service of humanity.

A Sunday well-spent!



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Aashi Yoga Research Academy
http://www.AashiYoga.com/
Hatha Yoga, Pranayama, Meditation
Yoga classes in Bangalore
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Diabetes - Yoga in prevention and cure

According to WHO facts published, 346 million people are suffering from diabetes worldwide. Of these more than 80% are in low- and middle-income countries (India is also called diabetic capital of world). The causes are due to rapid increases in overweight, obesity and physical inactivity.   WHO facts also talks about Yoga and its role in diabetes control in short.

Type 2 diabetes is preventable and risk can be reduced by healthy diet and lifestyle (some sort of physical activity and stress control). However if someone is diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, can still control it using same (healthy diet, some sort of physical activity and stress control) and Yoga.

Yoga asana with focus on various glands (Pancreas, adrenal, pineal, thyroid and other glands) are beneficial in diabetes control. In general Asanas with focus on abdomen, spine and neck area are beneficial for diabetic patients. Pranayama is also very beneficial for diabetes as it helps calming of mind.

Asanas beneficial for diabetic patients are:

1)                  Surya Namaskar

2)                  Janu Sirsasana

3)                  Pashchimottasana

4)                  Sarvangasana

5)                  Halasana

6)                  Dhanurasana

7)                  Bhujangasana

8)                  Matsyendrasana

9)                  Salamba sirsasana or Ardha Salamba sirsasana

10)               Anuloma Viloma and other pranayama

11)               And Meditation(dhyana)

Disclaimer: These are my notes solely for my study on Yoga Research. Kindly consult your doctor before using any of them.

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Aashi Yoga Research Academy

http://www.AashiYoga.com/

Hatha Yoga, Pranayama, Meditation

Yoga classes in Bangalore

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Impact of cheer up on speed

:-) is one of the most widely used symbol in the world. Cheering up others fuels energy in self; I experienced this in Bangalore ultra. How exactly this works is something that needs another blog but this works very effectively for sure!

My preparation for this run was not very well organized. I was just doing my regular run of 3 kms on Saturday, and Sunday. I woke up 3 weeks before the run, so it was just 3 weeks of preparation.

Minus 3 weeks:  6 kms in Ulsoor lake, wanted to do more but it was dark and had to come back. And 5 kms in nearby park during alternate week days.

Minus 2 weeks:  9kms in UIsoor lake; again stopped at 9kms due to dark.  And 5 kms in nearby park during alternate week days

Minus 1 week:  15 kms in Ulsoor lake, 5 kms run in nearby park on Thursday and rest for rest of the days.

One of my friend who does full marathon regularly, suggested replenishing energy while running, with sports drink or candy bar. I couldn’t get candy bar nearby area but got Gatorade in nearby superstore, so used Gatorade in practice sessions.

On the run day, I got up at 3.30 and took one banana and few Parle G biscuits and then got myself ready for the run. Drove to Hessarghatta Our Native Village, and realized that Gatorade bottles I was planning to use during the run are left in home. Went to flag off place, organizer said that there are people who would be running 100kms, would be on their 3rd or 4th lap while u are on 1st lap, so please make a way for them and cheer them up.

I started at fast pace and after some time pace came to default automatically. I was trying every second to increase the pace, but was not able to run for a larger distance at faster pace. I took first very small quantity of electrolyte at 6th kms mark and orange (took only juice and spitted out solid). My earlier experience told me that immediate energy comes just after taking orange juice. And going forward I took orange juice and half cup of electrolyte at every water station.

I realized at after 8 kms I was slowing down, I tried to put my mind of fast pace but it was difficult, so I diverted my mind to somewhere else. Suddenly saw that one old person is coming in purple color bib, I cheered him up “wel l done, well done, run run run…” . And I do not know out of where energy came inside me that I started running faster. I over took many people for another 10-15 mins before coming to default speed again. I cheered up every single person who came from front during this time. After at default speed for some time, I thought of cheering up few more people, and realized that I am again running faster. And it didn’t take much time to realize that cheering up others is refilling energy in me. So I started doing this every now and then, cheer up runner coming from front with: well done, go, go , go..”. So “cheer up, run faster, default speed and cheer up again” became the mantra; did the same thing in whole run again and again.

At some 16th km I stumbled upon a stone, almost fell down but saved myself from full fall. Looked like my ankle is gone for a moment, but it wasn’t anything, very next moment I was on run again. Orange juice at every water station was helpful and in the last 1 km I was humming “run run run”, to myself as no one was coming from front. I was trying to speed up with full of my energy and humming “run run run” to myself. Was thinking of going for 37.5 kms lap also when some 3 kms were left but when I reached the finish point people clapped, photographers clicked and one person came with a medal and I stopped?  Only after resting for 3-4 minutes and taking water I realized that I didn’t try for extra lap. I will try next time with proper training. I was happy with new discovery and fact that I was not tired after the run.

Cheering up helps, not only to person who is cheered up but also to the one who cheers up. This is the best findings of Bangalore ultra that I will keep using in upcoming runs. :-)

Before the Run

After the run

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Hatha Yoga, Pranayama, Meditation
Yoga classes in Bangalore
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Getting a faster weight loss

Many people are looking for weight loss now-a-days; some get it easily, some get it with very hard work and some don’t get it all. So what makes someone to get results faster is in everybody’s mind.

Weight loss is a highly customized thing for every person. Everyone has a different metabolism rate, and a different lifestyle, even people with similar lifestyle have different rate of weight loss as their metabolism rate differ. However there are some phenomenon that are common.

Some of the popular tools that can be used for weight loss are:

·        Gym: cardio, stretch, weight training

·        Aerobics

·        Yoga and Pranayama

·        Sports

·        Other activities e.g. dance classes

Any of the above activities can induce weight loss if done smartly and with proper food. Using combination of some of above activities is generally more productive.

One of phenomenon I have observed in gym and running sessions is that people do these activities excessively and do not get results. Some complain that they have put on weight immediately after few weeks of not going to gym or run sessions.

Once body gets adapted to one type of exercise, weight loss rate may come down drastically. Once an exercise provides no more challenge, it’s time to change it or do variations in timing or speed, e.g. reduce timing but increase speed or difficulty level.

Important thing in all of above is proper healthy food; that is also sometimes called diet food. Diet food has got a very negative connotation as people do not eat and stay hungry to get a slim body. However, staying hungry is one of the most dangerous phenomenon; that can have very negative effect on health. Diet food means healthy food that doesn’t get stored in body as fat but provides all the necessary ingredients of a diet as protein, carbohydrate, fat, minerals and vitamins. There is nothing that needs to be completely avoided, quantity and frequency can be reduced or increased as per need. Key to healthy food is balance of all ingredients that comes with proper quantity and frequency.

Watching the progress also is very important, it may so happen that someone is doing lot of workout but there is no result, this may happen due to various reasons e.g. excessive one type of exercise or improper food. So if someone is facing such problem it is a good idea to look both exercise and food.

Last thing is about choosing the activity, generally great results are produced by activities that one loves to do, not because someone is doing to get weight loss. So if someone chooses activity that he/she really enjoy doing, results are bound to be better and faster.

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Aashi Yoga Research Academy

http://www.aashiyoga.com/

Hatha Yoga, Pranayama, Meditation

Yoga classes in Bangalore

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Can one start Yoga on his own? Myths about risks in Yoga

Many people avoid Yoga as they are not able to find an accomplished yoga teacher, so they remain away from such a useful science of remaining healthy, happy and content. Is it a must to have an accomplished teacher before someone can start practicing Yoga? is it fruitful to sit in the fence and wait for accomplished Yogi to come home and teach?

In ancient time, there were very less means of knowledge transfer, education was Gurukul based, and there were no options for common people to have a school at nearby places. There was also lack of print media, even though scriptures were used for some of ancient literature, most of it was handmade and distribution was not so easy. Due to above limitations, all the knowledge was passed on person to person, so was Yoga.

However, in today time with advancement of print, TV and internet media, Yoga knowledge should also pass on using these methods as any other form of education.

Some people advocate that one must have a teacher and then only he/she can start Yoga, Many people spread the word that doing Yoga without a teacher is fatal. The fear or extra cautiousness may have come from the fact that Yoga was passed on person to person in ancient times. But common sense says that doing some simple exercises cannot be anywhere near fatal or harming. Doing stunts or unnecessary exercises similar to a nut can be fatal, but not Yoga.

Importance of an accomplished teacher cannot be played down even in today world and person to person knowledge transfer would remain most efficient way of learning something. Advance poses would require a teacher as any other advance form of study.

Simple Asanas, simple pranayama and simple meditation cannot be harmful in any way for a common person if person doesn't use any force to accomplish a pose or breathing. People do some sort of meditation every day while doing Puja and people already do some sort of exercises without any trainer. So it is just a myth that someone have be under observation of a teacher to start Yoga. TV broadcasting Yoga programs in the morning, internet available round the clock, and with availability of good books easily; nothing should stop a person from starting Yoga on his own.

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AashiYoga Research Academy

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Day in a healthy professional's life

Daily routine of a healthy person as described by Swami Ramdev in his book "Yoga Sadhana and Yoga Chikitsa Rahsaya" revolves around:

1. Aahaar- Food
2. Nindra- Sleep
3. Brahmacharya - Celibacy 
4. Vyayam- Physical exercise
5. Snan- Bath
6. And Dhyana- Meditation

To live a healthy life above 6 are utmost important. First 5 are important for physical health and form the basis of a healthy mind and soul. 3rd celibacy is about away from Kama (to be away from bad temptation, wrong doings etc.). And 6th Dhyana is about daily meditation for some time, in order to get a peaceful soul and mind.

Few questions that arise naturally in context of busy professional's life in era of fast food are: 

1.     Can this be followed by people easily without changing their lifestyle too much?

2.     Is this only for retired people?

After carefully examining life of professionals, I observed that few small guidelines setup by individual for him/her can make an individual live a healthy life and follow above in peak of his/ her career as well.

1.     One can pay attention to what one is eating, can try to eat healthy food, if eating something that is not so good for health, can eat in less quantity. Every fast food has something that is low calorie. Go for replacement food (replace non healthy food items with healthy food items in food) instead of remaining hungry.

2.     Sleep well. Use common sense, if one can't sleep fully in the night due to office hours, he/she can use day time to sleep in installments.

3.     Totally controllable by an individual, change habits to more toward dharma, good will and self-less society service. Or just say no to what your inner self doesn't allow.

4.     Do some physical exercise; every one doesn't have to join a gym, yoga school or some other sports club. But yes, a common person can choose some physical exercises as per his schedule and convenience.

5.     Snan is about hygiene, personal and surrounding's hygiene are important. One can have this easily.

6.     Dhyana is about meditation for some time in the day and anyone can follow this even if someone is too busy. Dhyana ensures that mind is peaceful and person becomes more effective in whatever he/she does and saves time ultimately.  

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AashiYoga Research Academy

http://www.aashiyoga.com/
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Mind! You always run so fast

Mind! You keep running so fast,
Sometimes here; sometime there,
Sometime positive; sometimes negative,
Is it difficult to control You?
Yes for some; No for some,
Where is the rein to control You?
Can that be within me?

Aashi Yoga Research Academy
www.AashiYoga.com

Excel in long distance running by using Yoga

Yoga has amazing healing power and can be used in order to stay fit and excel in other sports as well. Today I will blog about Asanas that are helpful in long distance running.

Many of my friends of Nike run club use Yoga based exercise to avoid injuries of other sports. Nike run club in Bangalore uses Yoga based stretches after the long run. Coach Beedu and Reeth Abraham take a session of Yoga based exercises after members finish their long run. Some of Asanas variations used by them are: Ckakrasana, Ardha Matseyndrasana and deep breathing(so,hmm breathing as called by Beedu),

Some of the Asanas I have found helpful in long distance running are:
• Vira-sana (The Hero's Pose) -Good for relieving stress from tired legs- thighs, knees, and ankles
• Paryanka-sana (The Couch Pose)- Relieve legs and lower back
• Ardha Matsyendrasana (The Half Spinal Twist)- Twisting of the spine have effect on entire body
• Matsy-endra-sana (The Spinal Twist)
• Bhaddha-kona-sana (The Cobbler's Pose)- Relives hips and groin
• Dhanura-sana(The Bow Pose) -Stretches ankles, thighs and groins, abdomen, chest, and throat
• Urdhva-danuara-sana(Chakra-sana, The Wheel Pose) - Stretches back and chest

Yoga breathing is extremely helpful in long runs, it ensures all the parts of body have sufficient oxygen when body is under constant repetitive work. Can be used to re-energize on the go while running.

Yoga can be used as extremely powerful tool in order to excel in other sports. Yoga can be used to prepare mind body and soul to accept the challenge of sport, build up stamina and skill, avoid injuries, heal sport injuries, and to rest.


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AashiYoga Research Academy
http://www.aashiyoga.com/
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How can yoga help to busy professionals

Yesterday, I was talking to one of my friend, he was very-very busy with his work, was saying that he needs a break, is tired of his work, blah, blah,.. before I could suggest Yoga to him, he said "he is averse to yoga" so didn't suggest anything.. Later on I saw his FB posts of frustration with his work and people suggesting him yoga, meditation etc. on FB.

It's quite common that many of us do not find time to re-energize ourselves(physically and mentally), and this leads to more "less productive work", fatigue etc. However, Yoga, Pranayama and meditation do not need lot of one's time. 

Yoga relaxation techniques can be used in busy schedules, someone doesn't have to get up at 4 o'clock and go to a bank river in order to do yoga breathing or stretches. Some tips on how to make use of yoga when someone doesn't have time to do it.

1) Do some yoga Astana’s in the morning before breakfast of duration of whatever time you have.

2) Use hand mudras and Yoga breathing in bus or back seat of car to do some meditation on your travel time to office. This will give quite some relaxation to you mind. You will realize in few days that you are unaffected by traffic noise and avoiding a great annoyance by closing your mind to outside noise and diverting it to constructive relaxation.

3) One of the best qualities of Yoga techniques are that they do not need any equipment, outside assistance, or a partner. Some people have practiced yoga while travelling on airports, and hotels while travelling around the world.

Yoga and deep breathing techniques increase virtual time coordinates, that makes you faster in executing things with less effort. This works for both mental and physical tasks. So over a period of time, state of not having time converts to having sufficient time for all the activities.

My experience of Kaveri Trail marathon

I wasn't sure of taking part in Kavery trail marathon, as I had a fever 2 weeks ago, and didn't do any excercise due to weekness (in back of mind was to save energy for marathon as well). I was not even sure on friday when I went to collect the marathon kit at RFL's office. I had called up many friends of Nike run club to check any one of them is taking part in marathon. I did check the RFL transport provided, but didn't use it as it was starting at 2 in the night. Finally on Saturday I decided to go to Mysore by car and stayed there overnight. I did eat some  banana's in the morning and evening in order to get some carbohydrate in the body. After having a look at young's island and asking for starting point at youngs island, and ensuring I know the start point. I went to mysore checked in the hotel. then I had some fried rice and daal fry, and went to sleep. didn't get sleep till 12, then I smsed wake up caller to give me a call at 4 am. and had set few alarms at my mobile.

I got up exactly at 3.55am, had some cakes and biskits and got ready. reached vanue around 6. after some time race started.

RFL organizer said that it was a difficult trail and he insisted in taking care of ourselves instead of looking for personal best target. after hearing him I was a bit worried about myself.

Train was beautiful next to water but most of trail was straight line, I ran fast in first 5-6 kms, I also took electrol at every aid point. I think electrol made sure that I am hydratd but it filled up stomach also. I felt pain in stomach after some 9 kms. first pain was there in lower back that I cured with one forward bend excercise. but then pain in stomach started. It was so strong that one point of time I was thinking of abandoning the race. but after completing 10 kms and taking the u turn I reliased that may be I need to urinate, I did that.
then it was less pain and then it disappeared, but keeping pace after 10 kms was difficult. but I wanted to finish it in less time, I took no more electrol, and kept on running, when ever I felt thirsty I took just one small sip from my water bottle. it was so hard after some 12kms, but I started thinking that when I have finished 12 kms what is left is just 8 kms. as I movd forward it was less kms that was left, it was becoming easy and easy after every km I was covering. and in no time I finished all 21 kms.

I did took some deep breadths in between, I would just stand and took deep breadths, that really helped. I think desire to finish fast, keep pushing, and thinking that no much is left made it happen. I was happy once I finished the half marathon.

now looking forward to Bangalore ultra in Nov where I am running 25K.