RE:Hello Shameem by Shameem on Jul 03, 2007 10:47 AM  Permalink Avanindraji, Indian food in general is accepted as sattvik, except where you use too much oil, spice or fry or overcook or recook. So see that your breakfast does not fall into any of these descriptions. Also, such food specifications must never be flouted only when you are doing very intense pranayama/asana sadhana. Otherwise, for most people doing a `normal' 30-one-to-one-hour sadhana, regular food is advised. The Bihar School of yoga even says that with regular yoga your body automatically begins to reject (after you develop disinterest in such foods)certain foods as not suitable for your yoga practice! You also begin to eat less, as you become more fuel-efficient. So continue with eating whatever is sattvik. Since you say you read Aha Zindagi, which covers such matters with great detail, you must now have an idea about what constitutes sattvik surely? About the timings, two to four hour gap is essential between a heavy meal and yoga practice (whether it is breakfast or lunch is immaterial), the gap is essential to ensure the blood flow reaches the limbs while digestion and nutrient absorption are not interfered with. And yes, one-hour gap between tea and pranayama is ok -- some pitta dosha people feel discomfort (esp when doing kapalabhati and breath retention) when the tea is had too close to practice, due to reflux -- but otherwise you don't have to get so nervous about this... when your practice is regular and steady these things will begin to matter disturb even    Forward   |   Report abuse
RE:RE:Hello Shameem by Shameem on Jul 03, 2007 10:48 AM  Permalink less:)    Forward   |   Report abuse
RE:Hello Shameem by Avi on Jul 09, 2007 04:50 PM  Permalink Shameem Ji Thank you for much for such a wonderful and useful tips. I'll definitely try to adhere to these. Thanks you once again Warm regards Avanindra    Forward   |   Report abuse

RE:Hi Shameem by Shameem on Jun 12, 2007 05:06 PM  Permalink Just spotted your query Bindu. The numbers on the scale won't show weight loss because your muscle mass and bone density would have increased with yoga. Both are very good things, but muscle weighs more than fat and dense bone is obviously heavier than frail, hollow bone -- so don't worry about the weighing scale. For real assessment, you must now start measuring yourself with a inch-tape: at the crucial spots, like thighs, calves, hips, lower waist, chest, upper arms -- this will give the right estimate. So, don't worry. I think if people are noticing some changes, you are on the right track. Another point: your body gets used to same moves. So, even in the same poses you are doing, you can bring about some change to make your work-out more effective. If you have mastered a pose, hold it for longer and longer, breathing well and smoothly. Another way, is to find variations for the same pose. For instance, if you are doing cobra (bhujangasana) you must move ahead for its advanced variation like urdhvamukha svanasana (upward facing dog) -- this way you will do more in less time. best of luck. Yoga helps long term, remember, because your hunger levels go down, so don't lose hope just now. And also, include a good set of pranayama -- this also helps well with weight control. Happy sadhana!    Forward   |   Report abuse

RE:Many thanks by Shameem on Jun 01, 2007 11:15 AM  Permalink Thanks for your encouraging words. And detailed message. It is amongst the most sensible messages I've seen since I have started writing on Rediff.com. The purpose of message boards is for having an intelligent discussion and exchange of views, news and assistance (as with problems etc). And messages must need have a coherence of thought. I see that your message reflects this role aptly: unfortunately, message boards otherwise seem to be used more by people regressing into juvenile-teen mentality or who misuse it smear net grafitti or worse, lavatories for their verbal diarrhoea:) You have restored my faith in the freedom this medium upholds. And about my views on this topic you mention, I have blogged extensively on this, and you will find my take on it at my blogsite, mentioned above on such topics like Turmeric. In any case, it is a subject close to my heart and bothers me a lot, because though the government of India has woken up patenting in yoga, its still not taken an aggressive stance on this. The last I heard of this was that it was preparing a list of yoga asanas/practices and props that it intended to give to the International body dishing out these patents, to dissuade it from issuing such patents (and I know prestigious yoga institutes like VKS was involved in helping the government in compiling this list). But I have not seen any subsequent media report on whether the compilation of this list is complete or whether it has been handed over to the concerned in    Forward   |   Report abuse
RE:RE:Many thanks by Shameem on Jun 01, 2007 11:35 AM  Permalink internationa body. You may know that Pilates is largely yoga-based, with simple names for yogic practices (though practitioners, and definitely instructors and franchisees will claim otherwise). So also Bates method, based largely on yogic trataka. Hypnotherapy is also hugely influenced by Indian dhyana, while the popular Progressive Relaxation Technique is based on yoga nidra. Last year an international dancer visiting Mumbai claimed to have created yogic dance therapy (largely, no doubt based on Bharatanatyam, referred to as flowing yoga or vinyasa yoga), while I was amazed to read an article by a popular international yoga magazine the claim by a North European that he had invented rope yoga (which is credited to Lord Hanuman and is a variant of the Mallakhamb or pole yoga). I can cite more examples where claims such as these when left unchallenged, will be granted patents. But we just cannot fret and fume about the government's role. In other countries the baton of such responsibility in promoting and preserving local pride, tradition, culture has been passed on to industrialists. Our country too has to engage private initiative in such issues.    Forward   |   Report abuse
RE:Many thanks by Mahesh Atale on Feb 14, 2008 11:33 AM  Permalink while I was amazed to read an article by a popular international yoga magazine the claim by a North European that he had invented rope yoga.. is the sentence in this parra.. I WANT THE HARD COPY OF THAT MAGAZINE IF possible. Mail me to mallayoga@rediffmail.com    Forward   |   Report abuse

RE:yoga lessons and messages posted by Shameem on May 26, 2007 06:20 PM  Permalink thanks for the nice words about the article and responses Mr Shah. Nevertheless, we must avoid seeing a few mischievous messages, posted by those who hide behind the anonymity that the medium provides or misuse its freedom, as representative:)    Forward   |   Report abuse
RE:yoga lessons and messages posted by Bheja Try on May 26, 2007 08:22 PM  Permalink shameemji in your article for better sex lives, i asked about treatment of ED through yoga, but you did not reply anything about it. can you enlighten about it, although, this forum deals with a different subject    Forward   |   Report abuse
RE:yoga lessons and messages posted by Shameem on May 26, 2007 09:43 PM  Permalink I did not reply because somebody had posted a complete reply, with practices that are drawn from yoga, to your question... Unfortunately, the subject of fertility and sex is such that, when a woman is writing it, however scientifically and clinically, there is a tendency for lots of silly queries (since this medium offers that anonymity)to crop up amongst genuine ones, such as yours perhaps. So I am sorry that whatever I have had to say on that subject is said fully in that column. If net readers choose not respect the dignity or intention of the writer than unfortunately we have to chose certain precautions to preserve these. Therefore, my responses are now confined to such subjects where the scope for such irrelevant or frivolous attention is not drawn to the writer. I thank you in advance for your understanding.    Forward   |   Report abuse

RE:Tight clothes by Shameem on May 23, 2007 06:52 PM  Permalink The ground rule is for natural fabrics -- which has not been flouted Kal...These are work-out clothes. Loose clothes are awkward in photoshoots, tending to ride up or down. If you a yoga practitioner, surely you must have experienced this yourself...?    Forward   |   Report abuse
RE:Tight clothes by Shameem on May 23, 2007 09:10 PM  Permalink Also, Hatha Yoga Pradipika, Chapter 1, verse 15 advises any sadhaka from being unduly touchy about rules. Swami Muktabodhanda of the Bihar School of Yoga interprets this verse in his translation of the text thus: "Sadhana is not dependent on social morals. Adhering to rules makes one narrow-minded. Yoga is meant to expand consciousness. Not limit it. A yogi should have a free and open mind."    Forward   |   Report abuse
RE:Tight clothes by Surajit Dash on May 23, 2007 06:35 PM  Permalink Was it not the posture that was more important to be noticed than the clothes? Why do some people like you always try to find faults and start a criticism?    Forward   |   Report abuse
RE:Tight clothes by Amar Prem on May 24, 2007 02:02 AM  Permalink I would not worry so much about other people's tight clothes Kalpanaji. If I was you, I would be worried sick about the tightness/narrowness of the mind such as you are displaying.    Forward   |   Report abuse
RE:Tight clothes by Amita Anand on May 24, 2007 01:50 AM  Permalink How is this discouraging? Unless, of course, you cannot get into such clothes yourself!!    Forward   |   Report abuse