Category Archives: Fitness

Ignite a soul to illuminate the universe this Diwali

As the festival of lights gradually transforms itself into the festival of sounds, the Indian government leads its citizens on a money splurging spree. The thousands that people burn on ear cracking crackers and environment damaging rockets are justified, as the Indian government lead the way by forking out Rs 450 crore($73 million) on a Rocket of its own. It seems that a space mission to mars will be a sign of our countries development. I believe that these two events occurring so close to each other, Diwali and the rocket launch, spur people, who care to notice, to unravel the cogs in our society.

Is it worth it? 

The money burnt on creating the visual and audible spectacle on Diwali could have been utilized to illuminate the lives of the needy around us, the echoes of their good wishes would have resonated throughout our lives, motivating us to keep working for the betterment of our world.

The money behind the mission on Mars could have contributed towards eradicating poverty in a country which boasts of a third of the worlds poor. We are capable of going to Mars and beyond but should it be the priority right now? A scientist might say yes, try putting that scientist inside an earthen hut, living on crumbs throughout this winter, then ask him again. But here, even an earthen hut is a luxury which only a few can afford,and the bread crumbs are the rewards for waking early and braving the cold to stand in a long line.

Charity begins at home, and if the government thinks it has enough to splurge why not make some friends by donating to our neighbors or to another underdeveloped country. If you think that you can change the world by burning crackers all night long or splurging superfluously on other festivals then go ahead, hope you enjoy denting the universe, but just ask yourselves is it worth it?

No one wins in the race to another planet

Changes wont occur if we find life on mars or waste our money to prove our existence to our neighbors. Our planet wont sustain itself until we make ourselves technology capable of living on two different planets. Greed and selfishness will finally get the better of us in one way or another.

When you cant care enough for the people around you right now, I don’t know what relevance do the green bob heads from mars hold.

“You may say I’m a dreamer, but I’m not the only one. I hope someday you’ll join us. And the world will live as one.”

Lennon reflects the point I am trying to make. Are you strong enough to forego the little pleasure of your lives to create a lot of value for people who actually need it. Our you willing to come out of our comfort zones and contribute towards the general well being of your race. Have you discovered your own selves enough so as to start going on a discovery mission to another planet. As per the people running the country and the race to another planet, the lines from Lennon can be rearranged to:

“You may say I’m a dreamer, but I’m not the only one. I hope someday aliens will join us. And together we will crash and burn.”

The cure

Every problem comes with a solution. The obvious one here is to first share the privileges you were born with, with the less privileged. Then, to be a thought leader. If you can persuade even a single mind for the benefit of the world you live in, you will make a world of a difference.

6 cures to the chill

My morning research led me to the diminishing number of Gaelic speakers and the beautiful Isle of Skyes located at the inner Hebrides of Scotland.  I was in admiration of the aesthetic magnificence, that means a lot considering that  I have plenty around the Himalayan valley I dwell in, but I felt a chill after glancing through a few photos. By the afternoon, the chill transferred from my brain to my city. An unexpected downpour bought down the temperature considerably, but the change  was a pleasant one.

As we look forward to the approaching winter, I would like to elaborate on what I will do to use the changing conditions to my advantage. These aren’t medically tested but self tested, so they are comparatively safer.

1. Long runs will lead to strong lungs

This is true for any kind of cardiovascular exercise all throughout the year but with the winters running provides the added incentive of nullifying the cold temperatures. Nothing is better than a cold morning run to kill the laziness that keeps you hooked to your bed.

2. Feel the power with a cold water shower

Its a myth originating from someone unwilling to come of their comfort zone that, one shouldn’t take a cold water shower in winter. On the contrary a cold water shower is the best thing that one can do to himself as it helps in blood circulation making one think and feel better throughout the day.

3. Test your will go hiking on a hill

The perfect natural adventure awaits you if you are willing to take the first few steps towards the nearest mountain or hill range. The winter hike will help season your lungs better. They will improve on their oxygen absorbing abilities when you hike up a hill, where the air is thinner ( has lesser oxygen).

4. Be prepared for the frigid fight add nuts and resins to your diet

As most of us know prevention scores over cure, so make sure that you spend some time and money on stacking up readily available resins and nuts, and not leaving the house without stuffing a few in your mouth and many in your pockets. The essential fats in these will protect you against the cold by keeping you warm and enhancing your resistance.

5. If you feel unwell just make some chicken soup, it will definitely help you recoup

Everyone has there own chicken soup recipe, mine involves some chicken a lot of black pepper, ginger, garlic,some chilly and some Himalayan herbs. The spices help wash away the mucus from the throat and provide resistance against the virus. The soup should be consumed as soon as one recognizes symptoms suggesting the imbalance which include an itchy throat, running nose and a mild body ache.

6. If it all gets too byzantine just guzzle on some red wine

At times the weather outside is too detrimental, in such cases sitting by the fireplace, listening to some music and guzzling on some hot chocolate or wine is the best alternative. I would include a book into this setup but you can replace them with friends.

As mentioned in an earlier post Superimposing negative habits with positive ones is the basis for inculcating new changes into our identities. Thought condition can only take place if our grievous habits are over written by salubrious ones. If we cannot get out of our comfort zones it will be impossible for us to make any kind of changes to ourselves. Lets not waste time complaining that we cant and make necessary changes in ourselves to attain what presently appears unachievable.

Superimposing negative habits with positive ones

Its a waste to withhold, so smile from your soul

Restrict your mind from obstructing the smooth transfer of the good feeling,

Every time you smile from within, you convey energy, leading to other souls healing,

This world doesn’t need a billion altruists to sustain

Just a scattered few can hold up the umbrellas through the storm and rain.

News reported how some stray dogs attacked contrary to their nature as they attacked water birds in the marshlands at Pallikaranai,South Chennai, India. Packs of dogs wading into the water to devour helpless water birds, displays how desperate times lead to desperate measures. Hunger forced these dogs to go against their natural characteristics and dive in. The disharmony this will render to the food chain is a different question that someone smarter will research  on, but I would like to use this example to highlight one of the biggest obstacles in the path of the development of our country.

Politicians in India gave in to corruption as a result of extreme destitution all across the country after the British rule, desperate times called for desperate measures. But conditions improved, the politicians didn’t. So much so that we live in an age in which corruption and politics are considered unofficial synonyms in India.

The political system has been unable to detach itself from the corruption that it incorporated many years ago to fight poverty. This has impaired our countries development and continues to do the same.  But with time, as the world becomes smarter, more and more of these corrupt practices get deciphered. Its impossible to let go of acquired habits.

So how can we save ourselves from the impending holocaust of complete economic meltdown, when the force acting for the proper administration of our nation is the one responsible for its under development. Knowing how hard it is for all species to forget acquired habits we need force ourselves(as the politicians come from among us) to acquire good habits. These will super impose on the previously acquired habits and lead to an improved developmental rate.

What are these good habits then? Life kills without life skills, all of us have the great epics to look up to.  Even proper education is not the answer. In a trend, where we see the education system loading itself with subject books and ignoring life skill development it is of utmost importance to seek alternate methods of learning.

We need to go back to our epics and texts that travel through centuries. The teachings of our sacred texts have contextual relevance beyond our understanding, Our sub conscious imbibes most of its functioning properties from what our conscious mind engulfs in the early years. Reading sacred books without a religious agenda can help mold minds into more compassionate and caring forms.

Bit by bit we reached imbalanced our universe to its current state,

We cant overturn are fortunes in a day, its only the slow knife that will help us kill hate,

Making us greatly compassionate and compassionately great,

The ride to a corruption-less world will be long but it will never start if you hesitate.

The positive predilection- Fitness of body, mind and soul

Truculent souls keep fighting peace, the corpulent ones cant give up cheese

The smoker engages with counting buds, the crooks gone too crooked trying to be thugs,

Digital addictions don’t let you lose sight of the screen, others losing themselves chasing the gloss and the gleam.

The opulent are victims to the urges of prodigal shopping, while indigent derive ephemeral pleasures from bottle popping.

The overly consecrated couldn’t care less about their neighbors dying, while TV maniacs turn belligerent seeing their favorite daughter-in-law crying.

Deleterious addictions are too sweet to swallow, breaking all the rules is too easy a task to follow.

I don’t intend to daze and amaze in my pursuit of creating a better life, I merely intend to pay the dues for just being alive.

Post workout sores are the sweetest treat, like any good addiction they don’t let you sleep.

The time that you actually waste, can be used in making others life better, sweetening their taste.

It doesn’t matter if you’re weaker than a newly hatched cherub when you begin, ure positive predilection is finally gonna make you win, soon you’d be putting impossible to the test every time you enter the gym.

An earnest step in good faith(towards your nearest fitness centre) will fill you with energy that simultaneously feeds the essential triad of mind, body and soul….

and as this addiction grows hear my voice ringing in your head saying “I told you so…”