Proper Breathing Helps Control Emotions

This is a follow up article to the one in which I discussed breathing as a building block to physical and emotional health. In that, I explained the correct breathing the relaxed belly breathing, and incorrect which is chest breathing or tense belly breathing.

Let us talk about breathing and emotions. The connection between emotions and breathing generally goes unnoticed, though we "see" it in ourselves and in others every day.

When we are emotional, breathing is on the "automatic pilot." As we are focused on the object of our emotion, we hardly every consciously register the close relationship between emotions and breathing. When we are angry, fearful, or anxious, we over-breathe or as one would say in common parlance, we "huff and puff".

In case of sadness, suspense, conflict or depression, we under-breathe, "hold our breath," so to say. These changes in the breathing are automatic. Incidentally, there is a chain reaction of other physical changes, such as the release of chemicals, sympathetic, and parasympathetic nervous system activity which accompany the changes in the breathing.

Space does not allow me to go into the relationship between emotions and other chemical, glandular, and neurophysiological changes.

Why do I choose to talk about the relationship between emotions and breathing? Because breathing is a unique bodily function which can be "automatic," that is, it can function on its own, without our deliberate effort to breathe and it can also be a conscious, "self directed," and voluntary activity.

When we bring breathing under our direct and voluntary control, we can use it as a tool to control emotions. We can easily observe the changes in our breathing when we consciously attempt to do so. It is difficult, if not impossible to observe and control the chemical and neurophysiological changes that take place inside our body, but, with just a little training and steady awareness, we can easily influence and change our breathing.

Similarly, it is extremely difficult to directly influence the activity of heart, kidney, stomach, intestines, and other organs which are involved in the experiencing of emotions. Through breathing, we can influence the activity of these internal organs.

While the negative emotions cause over-breathing, under-breathing, and other irregular breathing activity, the positive emotions cause breathing to be deeper, easier, and effortless. By the same functional relationship, when we restore our breathing to a deep, smooth, and rhythmical pattern, we can reduce the strength of negative emotions and acquire a peaceful and relaxing mental state.

Nature has equipped us with a "fight of flight" emergency response for surviving against the enemy or danger. It has also provided us with a "calming" response, to restore peace and serenity, equally important for our survival. You can trigger a calming response whenever you like by pressing the 'button," i.e. your breathing. Take five or ten deep, smooth, rhythmical breathes. With each out breath, say the word "calm" or "relax," silently in your head and there you are! You have triggered a calming response. It is simple and effective, most of the times.

Other times, if there is a lot of muscular tension or 'heat" generated by the emotions, you may not be physically and mentally ready to go into a calm state unless you move your body a little bit. That is what the word, "E-motion" conveys. Emotion puts you in a state of motion, stirred up, excited or agitated.

So, if you find yourself in such a state, it might be good to first move your body a little bit. Do just a few push ups, jumping in place, or jog lightly to dissipate the tension and to extend the "energy" accumulated. It would then be more beneficial to do the deep, rhythmical, smooth breathing.

Dr. Normal Vincent Peale tells a story of a man, who in the midst of an argument with his colleagues, walks up to a couch and lies down. His arguing colleagues, curious of this strange behavior, ask him what he is doing and whether he is suddenly taken ill. The man tells them that he went to lie down because he was getting angry and it is difficult for him to get angry if he is lying down.

There is a great lesson in this story for all of us. Take a preventative action! Don't let ourselves get too stirred up by the emotion. When an emotion begins to get hold of you, take a mental note ho how you are breathing and right away go back to belly breathing. You will be in control of the situation and think clearly. It can prevent you from saying or doing things that you might regret later.

Courtesy: Vijai P. Sharma, Ph.D
Source: http://www.mindpub.com

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Little things do make a difference

There is a story of a little girl who was on the beach one day after the tide had rolled out. On this beach hundreds of fish washed up on the shore. The little girl was picking them up one at a time and throwing them back in, when a man approached her saying, little girl, you can’t make a difference for there are thousands on the beach. She looked at him as she threw another one in and said it made a difference to that one.

The Bible says: "Unless you are honest in small matters, you won’t be in large ones. If you cheat even a little, you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities." Most of us tend to think it’s big things that make a big difference, but when we trace the sequence of events in our day-to-day life, we will find that eventually what leads to that big opportunity is the result of a lot of little things being done. If we look at all the little things that we did, we will see the invisible train that leads to our big breaks. A journey of thousand miles begins with one step, including downwards treks.

Sound mind in a sound body. We may earn good grades in our studies but at the same time if we do not take care of our health and our mental well-being, all is futile. We need to manage our time in such a way that we find time for exercise, that we eat at the right time and that we get sufficient sleep. All this daily routine looks small but if not followed, the consequences could be colossal.

Peter F Drucker, the management guru, says: "Man’s most perishable resource is time and unless it is managed nothing else can be managed. Each minute is a little thing and yet, with respect to our personal productivity to manage, the minute is the secret of success."

How do we maintain our relationship with our friends, our parents? Do we take time to remember some of the simple courtesies that are so important in our effort to build personal regard and graciousness in relationship with others? Do we remember the smile, the compliment, the positive note and the word of encouragement?

We should do these important little things without reserve. They should be a part of our everyday manner as we groom ourselves socially in the critical young-adult years. One quality of character most needed in this world is compassion for other people. One of the urgent lessons of life is to learn how to deal with imperfections in ourselves and in others. And if we are not altogether pleased with us, it should be easy to understand why we are not altogether pleased with others.

Courtesy: ET, 7 Oct 2009, 0451 hrs IST, L R Sabharwal, COSMIC UPLINK

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Rising Stars: Young entrepreneurs turning dream into a reality

It’s a goal!

At the age of nineteen, when most people are still pursuing their degrees and trying to chalk out a career path, Naveen Aranha already had a job offer in hand. “I was offered a job in a Dubai-based internet business by my brother. While I enjoyed the fact that it was a new, funky industry, I found things coming too easy. And that was the fundamental reason for me to take the plunge in a different direction,” says the commerce graduate. Driven by the hunger to achieve success, he was back in India within three months.

Channeling his love for sports not in the area of playing but production, Aranha decided to start a sports content company. While most people struggle to get the moolah required for setting up a company, Aranha had it relatively easy. “My father advised me to register a company and helped me with the initial, minimum share capital required to be incorporated according to the Act. However, there was no other financial borrowing. Every piece of earning was ploughed back into the business. It was probably slower and more gradual but reduced our overall risk quite drastically. So, while it was more hard work – the lack of any financial strain, made it a lot more enjoyable,” he says.

While he had the resolve of a zealot, his age and inexperience were definitely roadblocks to look out for. “While age or the lack of it was clearly a factor, the lack of real-world experience at the start was something I was even more conscious about. I made up for that with plenty of extra effort in any department desired. If people ever wondered about taking me seriously, I was probably quick to lay those doubts to rest. Being sincere, transparent and honest with your clients goes a long way. I was permitted odd mistakes, simply because there was enough trust and confidence built at the other end, by often delivering above expectations,” says the young turk.

Aranha is a happy man today. The hard work has surely paid dividends. He is now the CEO of Sportz Interactive, a B2B web-based sports content company. “Starting from scratch, taking those first steps and seeing those steps convert to leaps is the biggest high for an entrepreneur. You could compare that to a parent watching a baby grow up. It’s a lot of hard work but it’s a very exciting phase,” he says enthusiastically.
Age, no bar!

Age may be a deterrent or a motivator; it depends on the way you perceive it. For Rohina Anand, her age is her biggest asset. The 23 year old is the owner and design coordinator of AA Living, an interior décor store at Napean Sea Road (Mumbai). “Being young is my greatest strength. At 23, I have the energy levels and passion to drive myself to the top of the creative world of design and textiles.” She might be young but Anand surely has an impressive resume by her side. After six years of specialising in woven textiles, both in India and the UK, she graduated with an honors degree after winning three national prizes.“I was fortunate enough to complete an internship with global retail giants, Marks and Spencer, where I worked closely with their merchandising, buying and design teams for home interiors. This made me gain more confidence in my vision and have the belief to embark upon AA Living,” says Anand.

AA Living started off as an export showroom for the multinational company Faze Three Ltd but Anand soon took over management and re-launched the store. With recession and a limited budget out to play spoilsport, she did face hiccups initially. “I did face some financial constraints when I embarked upon this project since it was formerly an export showroom and funding was extremely limited. Our budget did not allow me to advertise and shout out the brand from the rooftops or make a grand entrance into the retail market. Re-launching the store during a time of recession was difficult as well, as we found people are more conservative about spending money on redoing their homes or buying new apartments.”

But the most difficult hurdle to overcome was the Indian consumer’s price-conscious mindset towards home interiors. “There isn't enough importance given to interiors; the average consumer concentrates so much on fashion but fails to recognise that their home is an extension of their personality. I am also working hard at bringing in new machine washable fibers, materials and designs into our store that aren’t available anywhere else in Mumbai, and until now, the response has been overwhelming which is extremely encouraging,” she says reassuringly.

Dancing to a new tune

Sometimes, when opportunity knocks at your door, it’s best to seize it at the same moment. And that’s what Sumeet Nagdev did. “I feel when an idea pops up in your mind, you shouldn't delay it. I always wanted to make my career in the world of dance but the moment of reckoning came when I was getting this place at Dadar (Mumbai) for rent and I had an option whether to take it or not. I did,” he says with firm conviction. He was barely 19 then.
Expectedly, there was no dearth of sceptics ready with unsolicited advice. “Nobody believed in it. Even my closest friend told me to think twice. A lot of people said it’s a bad location for studio as there was a garbage bin outside and not very prime. I believed and I knew it back then that this was going to be a success,” he says recalling his prophetic statement.

With neither familial support nor monetary, the youngster had to generate resources on his own. “I used to take tuitions for maths and accounts for school students to collect money for my studio. Then, I was also teaching dance at schools and people’s houses. I invested all the money I had saved and then took a loan from a friend with no idea whether I'll be able to repay or no,” says Nagdev. Today he is the founder- director and chief choreographer of Expressions Modern Dance Company.

These young individuals go on to prove that if you have the willingness to learn and the determination to excel, all barriers could be easily overcome!

Courtesy: ET, 12 Oct 2009, 2354 hrs IST, Anju Maskeri, ET Bureau

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Unleash your natural intelligence

Courtsey: CO S M I C U P LI N K 24 Sep 2009 //Author:PARAMAHAMSA NITHYANANDA

INTELLIGENCE is not something to attain; every single being is endowed with intelligence. Each one of us has intelligence. It is an inherent, inborn quality of life. Most of us have lost touch with our natural intelligence; that is why we are not able to live life to its fullest potential. We mistake our acquired knowledge for intelligence.

Every single being in nature has been endowed with inherent intelligence. Birds have a natural intelligence that enables them to fly. From the caterpillar to the chimpanzee, every animal lives its life beautifully using the natural gift of intelligence. Plants and trees have natural intelligence; this is what enables them to produce food directly from the sun. Man also has tremendous natural intelligence. He is a more evolved, higher form of consciousness than birds, animals or trees.

By nature we have all the intelligence in our human body. The difficulty is we strongly believe we are limited. We have been conditioned to think that we have only limited capabilities, so we have forgotten how to use these capabilities. Hence we are not tuned to the technique of tapping into all the dimensions of our being. You have a natural, spontaneous intelligence inside you. As a child, you are born intelligent. You looked at things in a very simple, straightforward way and were so spontaneous and enthusiastic. But family, society and conventional schooling destroys the natural intelligence within us. As a result we sacrifice our priceless creativity and uniqueness, and we are not even aware of it.

By constantly thinking that you are not enough, you try to imitate others and waste the wonderful natural energy bubbling inside you. I

f you blindly imitate another person’s performance or behaviour instead of acting from your own inner spontaneity, your own intelligence, you will be cheating yourself out of wonderful possibilities.

Intelligence is the ability to respond to a situation or challenge. As the situation differs, the dimension of intelligence that responds to the situation also differs.

Everyone is born intelligent; it is a question of just discovering each one’s unique dimension of intelligence.

Allow your complete being to simply express itself and you will see your natural intelligence flowering beautifully. You will become integrated and fulfilled.

Be Blissful!

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Changing evolution by compassion

by: Mukul Sharma

COMPASSION for all living creatures doesn't come easy because scale matters. A squished ant will not evoke the same visceral response as a squashed human being. Swatting flies or mosquitoes, for instance , is routine and emotionless whereas the sight of a mangled hit-and-run accident victim makes us recoil in fear, disgust and sorrow. Enlarge the ant, however, to the size of a person and it would suddenly make things change a little; just like if we saw the remnants of a bug-sized human obliterated by the stamp of a boot, probably wouldn't .

But, again, not quite. Compassion for all living creatures also doesn't come easy for another reason: we're having to constantly fight conditioning and evolutionary biology because we're hardwired to be fond of smaller, softer versions of us who have large eyes in a head that's largely out of proportion to the rest of the body. This inbuilt compassion is important .

After all in order to ensure the survival of the species we have to love, look after and nurture our helpless young till they're able to fend for themselves . Only after that, and by extension , the default programming spreads to liking those things that resemble babies in structure, size and perceived vulnerability such as koalas, kittens and, of course, teddy bears.

Now take passionate animal lovers. Operating out of generally unfeeling cities, they do a truly remarkable job taking in and caring for starving street dogs, abused cats, injured birds, dying cattle and even, on many occasions , the odd battered snake or sick tortoise. Sometimes they get together in big groups and thanklessly attempt to rescue beached whales; sometimes they form powerful associations to protect endangered seals and tigers. But how come one needs to understand this they never take in their care a blind slug or a wasp with a broken wing ?

How absurd is it really to pose a question like that when sages of some of the greatest religions of the world never compromised on their compassion To them "all creatures" often included microbes. Yes, we need to eat living things, but vegetarians also know there aren't enough certified naturally dead cabbages to go around. Instead, if we can just begin to extend our compassion to creatures that don't resemble us in the least, like a cockroach or spider, then we will have freed ourselves from a binding biology and begun approaching a newer phase of evolution .

Courtesy: ET Cosmic Uplink (11 Sep 2009)

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I Caught it -- Can I keep it ?

Keeping Your Client Out Of The Competitive Pool

The conventional wisdom is that it costs more to get a new client than to keep an old one. And for once, the conventional wisdom is correct. Yet, many professionals too readily take clients for granted. Or don't look for opportunities to increase revenues from perfectly satisfied clients.

Then there's the classic story of the client who went to another firm for a particular service. Why didn't you come to me for that service?" "Because I didn't know you did it." It happens too often.

Some firms have full-scale client retention programs. Some firms simply have a philosophy about clients -- a point of view that says that new business is terrific, but “our business is built on our existing clients.” And on the other hand, some firms don't seem to grasp the dynamic of client service. There's the story about the guy whose wife was suing him for divorce. "Judge, he never tells me that he loves me." And he answers, "I told you I love you when I married you. It holds good till I revoke it."

The reality is that this new world is competitive in ways that it's never been before. Ask your clients how many times they've been approached by your competitors, and pursued aggressively. And then ask yourself if you can continue to be sanguine about keeping your clients happy, on a day-by-day basis.

There are, of course, some things that are clearly necessary in client retention. Doing good work, obviously. Being responsive, obviously. Being timely in delivering promised reports and material. Being polite to clients. But these are things that should be taken for granted – things inherent in the meaning of professional. It's what the client is paying for. You get no credit for doing them, but you lose clients for not doing them. The larger picture of client retention, on the other hand, is predicated upon recognizing the competitive and changing nature of the marketplace.

Sophisticated marketers have a strong handle on who your client company is, what the company does, what its needs are, and how to address those needs in marketing approaches. Which means that if you don't have that same knowledge, and the kind of relationship that means total involvement in the client's concerns, then you're in danger of losing that client.

Client retention, then, requires more than the obvious factors of doing good work and delivering it on time. And in fact, in a dynamic business world, it's often more than a personal relationship. It's at least . . .

Being immersed in a client's business and industry. While the professional has a stake in some aspects of arms length relationship, this doesn't preclude knowing enough about a client's business to anticipate problems in your professional area, and to seek new ways in which other of your services can help the client.

** Frequent contact points, beyond the engagement. You do, of course, what you've been hired to do. But you help both the client and yourself when you send a brochure on a subject of mutual interest. Or a copy of a clipping in which you've been quoted on a subject the client might care about. Or a simple newsletter, either your own or one of the excellent packaged ones, covering information of interest or concern to the client. The client should know you exist between contracts, between matters, between consultations.
** Maintaining personal relationships. Not just drinking and dining to keep the client happy, but establishing and reinforcing a sense of mutual understanding and trust. The degree to which the client calls on you for business advice is as much a matter of personal trust as it is professional trust.
** Visible quality control systems. You may have your internal quality control systems, but if the client doesn't know that, then the client has no reason to believe they exist. More importantly, the quality control systems should relate to the client's business, not yours.

Quality, a buzzword frequently used in business, relates to the client, not the professional firm. If the client doesn't perceive quality in terms of the client's needs, then your service can be the best there is, but not for that client. The client-driven, rather than the practice-driven, firm is the only safe way to compete in today's market. Recently a major accounting firm took a highly conservative position on a matter pertaining to a client's matter. The problem was not the position, but that the position was taken for the law firm's protection, and not the client's -- and the client was made aware of this.

** Needs change. Your services change. By constantly reviewing the client's needs, you not only assure that you're giving the client the best service, and that you're maximizing the relationship, but you're also telling the client that you're concerned.
** Regular client surveys. New York's former Mayor Koch used to walk the streets of the city, asking people, "How'm I doing?" He didn't always like what he heard, but he always knew. Anybody who doesn't take active steps to keep aware of client attitudes toward the firm is somebody who likes surprises. A simple one-page survey, annually, goes a long way.

Successful professionals are those who've learned the difference between client relations and client service. Both are important, but one is not the substitute for the other. In client retention, you have to have both.

It's the peculiar nature of professional services that quality plays little or no role in getting new business, except perhaps in terms of reputation. It plays a crucial role in client retention, on the other hand, if you define quality as giving the client what the client needs, wants, and expects. Most frequently, in order to know what the client needs, wants, and expects, you have to be immersed in the relationship. And you have to ask. Here, quality is not an abstraction -- it's a reality.

Those who are most successful at client retention are those who actively work at it. They have programs and checklists. Even small firms that are aware of the need for it have programs that focus on paying attention. They listen. They contact. They understand the economics, and know what kind of return they're getting on their investment in it.

And they know, at first hand, why it's true that keeping a client is still cheaper than getting a new one.

Courtesy: The Marcus Letter

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Dilemma of a liberal Hindu

Courtesy: TOI

With the rise in religious fundamentalism, it is increasingly difficult to talk about one’s deepest beliefs, says Gurcharan Das

I was born a Hindu, in a normal middle-class home. I went to an English-medium school where I got a modern education. Both my grandfathers belonged to the Arya Samaj, a reformist sect of Hinduism. My father, however, took a different path. While studying to be an engineer, he was drawn to a kindly guru who inspired him with the possibility of direct union with God through meditation. The guru was a Radhasoami saint, who quoted vigorously from Kabir, Nanak, Mirabai, Bulle Shah and others from the bhakti and sufi traditions.

Growing up Hindu was a chaotically tolerant experience. My grandmother visited the Sikh gurudwara on Mondays and Wednesdays and a Hindu temple on Tuesdays and Thursdays; she saved Saturdays and Sundays for discourses by holy men, including Muslim peers, who were forever visiting our town. In between, she made time for Arya Samaj ceremonies when someone died or was born. Her dressing room was laden with the images of her gods, especially Ram and Krishna and she used to say in the same breath that there are millions of gods but only one God. My grandfather would laugh at her ways, but my pragmatic uncle thought that she had smartly taken out plenty of insurance so that someone up there would eventually listen.

I grew up in this atmosphere with a liberal attitude — that is a mixture of scepticism and sympathy for my tradition. Why then do I feel uneasy about being a liberal Hindu? I feel besieged from both ends — from the Hindu nationalists and the secularists. Something seems to have gone wrong. Hindu nationalists have appropriated my past and made it into a political statement of Hindutva. Secularists have contempt for all forms of belief and they find it odd that I should cling to my Hindu past. Young, successful Indians, at the helm of our private and public enterprises, have no time or use for the classics of our ancient tradition.

A few years ago, I told my wife that I wanted to read the Mahabharata in its entirety. I explained that I had read the Western epics but not the Indian ones. She gave me a sceptical look, and said, “It’s a little late in the day to be having a mid-life crisis, isn’t it?” To my chagrin, I became the subject of animated discussion at a dinner party soon after.

“So, what is this I hear about wanting to go away to read old books”, asked my hostess, “aren’t there any new ones?” She gave my wife a sympathetic look.

“Tell us, what you plan to read?” asked a retired civil servant who had once been a favourite of Indira Gandhi. He spoke casually as though he was referring to the features of a new Nokia phone. I admitted that I had been thinking of the Mahabharata. “Good lord, man!” he exclaimed. “You haven’t turned saffron, have you?”

I think his remark was made in jest, but it upset me. I found it disturbing that I had to fear the intolerance of my “secular” friends, who seemed to think that reading an epic was a political act. I was reminded of a casual remark by a Westernized woman in Chennai who said that she had always visited a Shiva temple near her home, but lately she had begun to hide this from her fiercely secular friends, who she feared might paint her in saffron.

With the rise in religious fundamentalism around the world, it is increasingly difficult to talk about one’s deepest beliefs. Liberal Hindus are reluctant to admit to being Hindu for fear they will be linked to the RSS. Liberal Christians and liberal Muslims abroad have had the same experience. Part of the reason that the sensible idea of secularism is having so much difficulty finding a home in India is that the most vocal and intellectual advocates of secularism were once Marxists. Not only do they not believe in God, they actually hate God. As rationalists they can only see the dark side of religion — intolerance, murderous wars and nationalism and cannot empathize with the everyday life of the common Indian for whom religion gives meaning to every moment. Secularists speak a language alien to the vast majority, so they are only able to condemn communal violence but not to stop it, as Mahatma Gandhi could, in East Bengal in 1947.

Part of the problem stems from ignorance. Our children do not grow up reading our ancient classics, certainly not with a critical mind as youth in the West read their works of literature and philosophy in school and college. In India, some get to know about epics from their grandmothers; others read the stories in Amar Chitra Katha comics or watch them in television serials.

If Italian children can read Dante’s Divine Comedy in school, English children can read Milton and Greek children can read the Illiad, why should “secularist” Indians be ambivalent about the Mahabharata? It is true that the Mahabharata has lots of gods and in particular that elusive divinity, Krishna, who is up to all kinds of devious activities. But so are Dante, Milton and Homer filled with God or gods?

I suspect Mahatma Gandhi would have understood my dilemma about teaching the Mahabharata in our schools. He instinctively grasped the place of the epic in an Indian life and he would have approved of what V S Sukthankar wrote: “The Mahabharata is the content of our collective unconscious .... We must therefore grasp this great book with both hands and face it squarely. Then we shall recognize that it is our past which has prolonged itself into the present. We are it." The epic has given me great enjoyment in the past six years and I have become a Mahabharata addict. I feel sad that so many boys and girls in India are growing up rootless, and they will never have access to these forbidden fruits of pleasure.

As we think about sowing the seeds of secularism in India, we cannot just divide Indians between communalists and secularists. That would be too easy. The average Indian is decent and is caught in the middle. To achieve a secular society, believers must tolerate each other’s beliefs as well as the atheism of non-believers. Hindu nationalists must resist hijacking our religious past and turning it into votes. Secularists must learn to respect the needs of ordinary Indians for a transcendental life beyond reason. Only then will secularism find a comfortable home in India.

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How to Carry Yourself to Appear Thinner and More Confident

Confidence is the most attractive thing you can put on. Being a true Diva is 25% fashion and 75% attitude. Maintaining good posture should not be a strenuous workout. If you find sitting and standing up straight difficult then you're doing it wrong. The hardest part of maintaining good posture should be remembering to do it! Here are some tips on improving posture safely and correctly.
The Benefits of Good Posture
* Good posture makes you appear taller and slimmer by up to 10 pounds immediately! * Studies show that people who are have good posture, regardless or size or demographic, appear more confident, happy and attractive. * Good posture constantly strengthens the core abdominal muscles, leading to a smaller and more attractive waistline. * Practicing good posture reduces the risk of Neck and back problems Joint pain and stress on ligaments Constricted blood vessels and nerves Fatigue Problems breathing Headaches
How to Improve Your Posture Right Now!
To help you remember, think ESHA in-Line (Ears, Shoulders, Hips, Ankles) TIP: You might want to do this in front of a mirror at first so that you're not over calculating or straining.
* Adjust your ears approximately over you shoulders * Your shoulders in-line with you hips * Then you hips should be roughly in-line with you ankles and feet. * This position should feel natural and comfortable. If you feel any discomfort doing this then you're over doing it. Double check in the mirror to see that you're in line. * Find a buddy to keep you in-line by pointing out when you're slouching, do the same for them. * Just by practicing alignment daily you can strengthen the muscles in your neck, back, shoulders, and core.
Simple and Effective Exercises for Better Posture *
A few simple non-strenuous exercises a day can improve your posture and make it a long term habit, with multiple health benefits. These are low intensity moves. It's normal to feel slight muscle burn, but if you feel any discomfort or pain you need to stop. *
The Shoulder Blade Squeeze: This very simple technique can be used virtually anywhere. And it's one of those great exercises that doesn't draw a lot of attention to yourself if you want to do it sitting at your desk at work, or standing in line at the grocery store.
* First move into ESHA alignment (if you're sitting place your feet flat on the ground so that your hips and legs are at 90 degrees) * Roll your shoulders back and gently squeeze your shoulder blades together until you feel the muscles in your back flex. This should not hurt or cause pain. If it does stop immediately! * Imagine you're squeezing a lemon with your shoulder blades. * Hold for 10 seconds and release. * Doing this a handful of times a day will strengthen your back and help you naturally and effortlessly stay in good alignment.
The Shrug: This one is as simple as it sounds and it's another great "waiting in line" technique.
* Start out in your ESHA alignment as usual. * Pull your shoulders straight up toward your ears like you're shrugging until you feel the gentle pull of the muscles that run along your shoulders and across your back. * Hold for 10 seconds and release. * You can step up this move by putting small weights in your hands.
The Covert Crunch: Strengthening the body's core is essential to good posture and also keeps your abs looking more tone and flatters your figure.
* Start out with your ESHA in alignment whether sitting or standing. * Take a deep breath in. As you do let the air fill your belly expand. * As you breathe out slowly draw your abdominal muscles in. Imagine you are drawing you belly button in toward your spine. * Hold for 10 seconds and release slowly. * You can also step up this move and do it while walking for maximum core strengthening.
*Always consult your physician or health care professional before performing any new exercise, or exercise technique, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, elderly, or if you have any chronic or recurring conditions.

Courtesy:http://ezinearticles.com/?Is-Your-Posture-Making-You-Look-Fat?-How-to-Carry-Yourself-to-Appear-Thinner-and-More-Confident&id=2495169

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Nothing wrong in being selfish

It’s probably apocryphal but the story goes that once when Abraham Lincoln— then a young lawyer riding the circuit with others of his profession — was travelling between towns he came across a pig hopelessly stuck in the mud.The more the animal struggled to get free, the more it mired itself in and was sure to die of thirst or starvation ultimately.

They say the future 16th President of the United States was wearing a new suit he hadn’t owned for very long and, as such, most thoughts of compassion or rescue were not really on the front burner of his priorities right then. However, apparently he couldn’t get the pig out of his head and after a while doubled back and helped it out.


Now honest Abe definitely doesn’t need a latter day 21st century makeover by any columnist but it’s still worth noting what he’s supposed to have reflected on about his motives for executing such compassion. At first he thought he’d rescued the pig just because he was a nice guy. With a little more deliberation, though, he came to the conclusion he’d done it out of pure selfishness. As he later is said to have told a friend, he’d gone back to free the pig to “take a pain out of his mind.”

The difference between the child beggar dirtying the door window of our car at a traffic signal which most of us ignore, wish away or forget as soon as the lights green out is that Lincoln let it linger.

Those of us — and there are many — who actually roll the glass down and deliver a couple of coins into the grubby palm would find it difficult to admit why we do so — especially if we’ve got well-fed kids in the back seat. At the same time it’s also true that, basically, the sight is a pain. Whether we deliver or not, we don’t let it last long; we don’t let it linger.

Importantly, neither did Lincoln. He didn’t dedicate the rest of his life to saving animals in distress. That’s because when he lived he had all sorts of other pains to take “out of his mind” which required the selfish motivation of somehow getting rid of them.

And he did to the best of his abilities. Those who do it “selflessly” are actually doing the same thing because they can’t bear the thought of living while they see suffering and anguish in the world. It pains them. Some are even enlightened people who turn back from a guaranteed personal salvation to help others because of selfish motives. The truth is, if one is truthful to oneself, at least a millionth of the battle is won.

Courtesy: ET (Cosmic Link)

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Opportunity and right timing

A great lesson for life is contained in the story of a sculptor, who had in his studio, the statues of many gods. Pointing to one of them, a
visitor asked “What is the name of this god?” The sculptor replied, “Opportunity”. On being asked why its face was concealed by hair and why it had wings on its feet, the sculptor replied, “It is because men seldom recognise this god when he comes to them. He flies away soon and once gone, never comes back”.

The same message is contained in the great lines of Shakespeare (Julius Caesar - IV, 3), “There is a tide in the affairs of men,/ Which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune./ Omitted, all the voyage of their life/ Is bound in shallows and in miseries”.

An extension of this message is the concept that weak men wait for opportunities, while resourceful persons make them. Indeed, opportunity often knocks just once. Like an idea, this too has to be welcomed, entertained, nurtured and fashioned into a rewarding destiny.

This also is the concept of knowing and seizing the moment and doing the right thing at the right time and in the right manner, whereby one is able to make the best of the available resources. Even timely anger, when channelled well and rightly, could serve to galvanise a working force or the human resources, where gentle persuasion may fail.

Of course, anger with oneself, attended with a steely determination to make up, could be highly rewarding!
This urge within to make up for lost time, verily, is also the spirit of Adi Shankaracharya’s observation (Bhaja Govindam) that childhood is spent in play, youth in sensual pleasures and old age in repentance.

The wish power and will power within, also rooted in effective and right timing, could, regardless of delayed efforts, be resorted to for substantial fulfilment, instead of resorting to passive repentance or regrets over a dead past.

Doing or talking the right thing at the right time also could involve often not doing anything or keeping silent too. Tactful inaction or silence, in certain situations, could prove more powerful than reacting or responding.

The Bible elaborates on this concept of right timing with regard to various aspects of life in Ecclesiastes (verses 3: 1 to 8), commencing with, “To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven”.

Doubtless, one who comprehends and applies the art of right timing, also seizing the opportunities, as they come, is also the one who divines that supreme art of life and living!

Courtesy: ET (Cosmic Link)

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