meditation

Unlock Your Inner Peace With Meditation

October 23, 2020 by Rimikak

Do you think life is a complicated puzzle? It’s an interesting analogy that indicates how important placing all the right pieces together is, if you want to see the bigger picture. If I compare life with a Jigsaw puzzle, I could find more resemblance between the two. That’s precisely why some people use this analogy to understand life and the difficulties that come with finding your path. And meditation can solve this puzzle to a greater extent.

If you take time to step back, slow down and quiet the mind (via exercise, spending time in nature, meditation, yoga, or whatever relaxes you), you can start hearing what your soul has to say, and it will guide you in the direction of a joyful and healthy life. Listen to it. Notice its whispers. Find ways to connect with it more often. That’s how your life should be.

Meditation was something that initially was very hard for me. It’s challenging to slow down or stop your mind when it has been in default mode your whole life. Only by practicing it daily for the last few months can I see some visible changes in myself and, and I’m so grateful to have this habit in my lifestyle as it’s not only a habit – it’s a way of living.

Meditation may have ancient roots, but it’s still practiced worldwide to create a sense of calm and inner harmony. Meditation is more about altering consciousness, seeking awareness, and achieving peace. Meditation is gaining popularity these days, with the increased need to relieve tension amid our busy schedules and stressful lives. The pressure of work, paying bills, looking after the family, and all the other modern-day stresses is why we need meditation now more than ever. With our busy lives, it’s essential to make time to sit with your thoughts.

Though there isn’t any right or wrong way to meditate, it’s necessary to find a practice that suits your requirements and complements your persona. There are five popular types of meditation practice:

Mindfulness Meditation.

Here, you concentrate on your thoughts as they pass through your mind.

Spiritual Meditation.

It’s similar to a prayer. You focus on the silence surrounding you and seek a deeper connection with your God or Universe.

Focused Meditation.

It involves focus using any of the five senses.

Movement Meditation.

This practice may include walking through the parks, gardening, and other gentle motion forms.

Mantra Meditation.

To clear the mind, this form of meditation uses a repetitive sound that can be an expression, word, or sound, such as the famous “Om.”

You might have to explore different meditations to know which method is suitable for you. These practices require different skills and mindsets.

The bottom line

By reading this article, you might be interested in the practice of meditation and its results: experiencing genuine joy and well-being. Whether you’re seeking to reduce stress and anxiety or finding spiritual enlightenment, meditation in any form is the answer. Open yourself up to the possibilities of living an unlimited life. It will take a little trial and error until you find the one that fits. Try different meditation techniques with JoyScore. Download the app today and experience the bliss.

Importance of Yoga

June 19, 2020 by Dikshi Gupta

In today’s Technology-driven Era, physical activity has gone minuscule. We have been dominated by machines in every segment of life, whether personal or professional, to ease our chores. Moreover, with changing lifestyle choices and eating habits, people are becoming obese and more stressed. Also, in the wake of the pandemic situation where negative vibes are prevailing, it is important to control your anxiety levels and keep your calm. Therefore, in order to nurture a healthy mind in a healthy body, Yoga plays an inevitable role. For it helps one to maintain the balance between Mind, Body, and Spirit.

It is often said and believed that one cannot control what is going on outside but can always control what is going on inside. Therefore, Yoga is nothing but conquering your Mind which helps to improve the shape of your life rather than just the shape of your body.

Yoga is a mind-body workout which includes Physical exercise, Breath control, Positive thinking & meditation which relaxes your muscles. There are various forms of Yoga and can be practiced either Outdoor or Indoor with no special equipment besides a Yoga mat.

Major Forms of Yoga:

Hatha: This form is a combination of basic physical posture and breathing and involves balancing active and calming energies. This is best for beginners.

Vinyasa: This involves a series of postures in different sequences as the word itself means ‘to place in a special way’. It is usually practiced in a dark room.

Power: It is a faster and higher intensity practice with added core exercises that tones up muscles.

Ashtanga: It means Eight Limbs and involves breath synchronization along with movement through a series of postures. Eg- Sun Salutation. Each limb has a technique to practice-

Yamas: Moral conduct & ethical standards
Niyamas: Discipline
Asana: Physical postures for awareness about body, mind
Pranayama: Special breathing techniques to control the energies
Pratyahara: Practice of Sensory detachment
Dharana: Concentration and focus
Dhyana: Meditation
Samadhi: State of bliss that merges with the divine

Bikram: It is known as Hot Yoga and has a series of 26 poses that are performed in a room heated to a certain temperature.

Popular Postures (Asana) of Yoga:

Headstand (Sirasana)- Where you balance on your Elbows, Arms, and Head. It helps in the circulation of oxygen-rich blood and energy flow to the brain. It improves memory and concentration.

Shoulderstand (Sarvangasana)- Where the body rests on the shoulder with arms touching the floor and legs upright. This removes the blockage in the neck and shoulder area, relieves stress, and regulates all glands in the body ensuring proper functioning of organs.

Plough (Halasana)- Posture resembling a plough where the hand rests on the floor and feet touches the floor. It helps to put pressure on abdominal organs and reduces indigestion and constipation.

Sitting Forward Bend (Paschimottanasana)- Stretching the spine forward with hands touching feet. It helps in easing spine compression and gives strength to the nervous system and prevents diabetes.

Cobra (Bhujangasana)- Lifting the upper body to form an arc and expanding the chest. It increases flexibility, improves blood supply to the spine, and strengthens the neck and upper back. It helps in menstrual problems in women by putting pressure on pelvic organs.

Locust (Salabhasana)- Lying on the front with arms resting on the floor and lifted legs towards the head to form an arc. This improves the flexibility of the cervical region, reduces sciatica and lower back pain. It enhances your will power.

Bow (Dhanurasana)- Balancing on the abdomen in the shape of a bow with hands grabbing the feet. It helps in reducing menstrual problems in women and strengthens digestive organs.

Standing forward bend (Padahastasana)- Bending forward in standing position with hands touching feet. It makes the spine elastic and strengthens the joints and promotes lasting youth.

Triangle (Trikonasana)- A bend towards the side resembling a triangle with one hand straight and another touching the feet. This increases the flexibility of the hip and leg.

Overall Benefits of Yoga:

The benefits of Yoga are multifold. The body is benefitted from movement and the mind is benefitted from Stillness. They are broadly categorized as follows:

Psychological–

Concentration- Does not let you divert easily, improves focus and concentration, and boosts memory.
Reduces Stress– Stress can have devastating effects on body and mind and yoga leads to improved ability to deal with stress, reduces anxiety, thereby headache.
Lower risk of Mental Health Conditions– Helps to channel our curiosity and mental powers and therefore curtail depression, hypertension.
Heightened mood– Induces meditative mood that heals your mind and soul.
Quality of Sleep– Helps in reducing tension, calming our mind, and provides the inner peace and therefore improves sleep.
Self-Esteem– Yoga is a journey of the self, to the self, through the self, and enhances confidence.
The overall quality of life– Our life is shaped by our mind. For we become what we think. It aids in adding years to your life and life to your years.

Physical-

Tone– Improves the strength of muscles, joints, and ligaments and tone them.
Flexibility– Improvises your posture, balance, flexibility, and stamina. It opens shoulders, chest, etc.
Injury Prevention- Increases strength as well as awareness of body and prevents injury.
Reduces Obesity– Helps to burn calories and shed excess fat.
Slows Down Aging– Improves energy circulation, reduces fatigue, improves skin tone, and promotes youthfulness.

Biochemical-

Balances metabolism– Helps to remove blockages and improves digestion and functioning of all organs,
Immune System– By taming the mind and cultivating positive thoughts, it does marvels in boosting the immune system.
Controls Cholesterol– Burns calories, improves blood circulation and makes one less prone to heart disease.
Hormonal Balance- Blood is the carrier of hormones and increased blood circulation helps in maintaining the balance of hormones.

“Yoga shines the light of awareness into the darkest corners of the body.” It is a twirl between control and surrender, between pushing and letting go. It is an art where it is 99% practice and 1% theory. So why not start from today and Unveil the Unexplored You.

Tips to Fall Asleep Naturally

December 4, 2019 by Jennifer Ka

Here are ways to fall asleep naturally:

1. Applying oil to the foot soles is one way to induce sleep according to Ayurveda. It grounds the person and also alleviate psychological imbalances since negative emotions can accumulate at the soles of the feet.

2. Drink a cup of warm milk or almond milk before bed. Warm milk can promote healthy tissues, balance the nervous system, and prepare the body to sleep.

3. Eat a small meal three hours before bedtime. Dinner time should actually be the smallest meal of the day and should be eaten 3 hours before you sleep so it has time to digest. Something warm like hot soup will sit well in the tummy and won’t be heavy before bedtime.

4. Turn off electronics one hour before bed. Have a detox break from your phone and television to give your eyes and body some rest from stimulation. Too much stimulation can cause a lot of stress to the system and lead to unrestful sleep.

5. Build a sleeping routine. Having regular sleeping patterns will naturally signal the body to know when to sleep. Sleeping before 10 PM and waking up before sunrise is ideal for optimum health.

6. Try a guided meditation or yoga nidra before bed. Yoga nidra takes one into deep rest that can be even better than sleep! It helps activate the relaxation response and can improve the function of our endocrine & nervous system.

Prevent and implement new habits so nothing can steal away your beauty sleep! During sleep the whole body is rejuvenated and recharged. If it cannot recharge your batteries will go low and you will eventually burn out. Make proper sleep a much needed priority on your list.

Watch the SneakPeek of JoyScore Visualization Meditation.

Can’t Fall Asleep? This is Why.

December 4, 2019 by Jennifer Ka

Having a hard time falling asleep? Join the club. The National Institute of Health estimates that about 30% of the population has sleeping problems. It is not a surprise with the overwhelming amount of stimulation from phones, television, and constant busyness of the mind to keep our nervous system out of whack.

What are the reasons why we can’t fall asleep at night?

1. Too much caffeine: Coffee is a stimulant and sometimes doesn’t take effect until 4-6 hours later; it also disrupts your circadian rhythm, which throws off your ability to fall asleep at the right time
2. Using technology before bed: Overload of electronics before bed disrupts our circadian rhythms and prevents the sleep hormone melatonin from kicking in so take an hour break before bed with a book, some nice stretches, or meditation instead
3. A heavy dinner or eating too late: Eating too late can wreak havoc not just on your belly but also your circadian rhythms, messing with your internal clock and causing weight gain
4. Stress: There are so many things that can cause us stress including pressure from work, family problems, relationships, financials, and our own health. This could be keeping us awake at night too as we overthink, worry about things are mind is chewing on, and feel fear overcome us. When we are stressed, our sympathetic system is triggered and we are in hyperarousal mode. Stress tends to cause an increase in cortisol levels or stress hormones, signaling the brain to close down certain systems to prepare for flight or fight such as digestive or immune processes. It could also mess with our melatonin levels, causing confusion for our body to when it is the right time to sleep.

Watch the SneakPeak of JoyScore Bedtime Visualization.