Exercise 16 Rediscovering food Difficulty level – 3 (difficult) Time commitment : At every meal and throughout the day We have spoken about perspectives, basic breathing exercises, āsanā practice, meditation and mantra japa. All these steps are beneficial, but they don’t amount to much if you don’t take care of what you eat. We are …
Exercise 15 Jñāna Mudra and Chin Mudra Difficulty level – 1 (easy) Time commitment : 5 minutes everyday Today, we will practice our second mudra – the jñāna Mudra. I have made a lot of references to this mudra in my earlier articles, and a lot of you requested for a more detailed look into …
Exercise 14 Sukhāsana Difficulty level – 1 (easy) Time commitment : 10 minutes thrice a week This is a meditative āsanā, and among the easiest sitting āsanās. It can be performed without any strain, and by anybody, regardless of their level of flexibility. We had practiced Tāḍāsana earlier, which is the simplest of the standing …
Today, let me tell you another story. There was a beautiful hermitage on the bank of river Gangā, where a group of hermits lived in peace. The hermits were disciples of a Guru Yadnyavalkya, who was always absorbed in meditation, and followed rigorous self-discipline. One day, while he was bathing in the river, a hawk flew …
Exercise 13 Mantra Japa Difficulty level – 2 (moderately difficult) Time commitment : 10 minutes thrice a week We have, so far, practiced an āsana, a form of prānāyāma, a mudra and basic meditation. Bringing this all together is mantra japa, or meditative repetition of a mantra. The mantra that I have chosen is Aum, …
Exercise 12 Anjali Mudra Difficulty level – 1 (easy) Time commitment : 5 minutes everyday Today, we will practice an introductory mudra – the Anjali Mudra. I have made a lot of references to this mudra in my earlier articles, and a lot of you requested for a more detailed look into the mudra. While …
Exercise 11 Soham Meditation Difficulty level – 1 (easy) Time commitment : 10 minutes thrice a week As we enter the second phase of our sādhanā, it’s time to introduce to you our first meditation exercise. A few points to note: Time to practice – Ideally before sunrise or during sunset. However, for beginners, early …
Today, let me tell you a story. The great emperor Kṛṣṇadevarāya (Krishnadevaraya) had a lot of wise ministers in his court. The wisest of them was Tenali Ramakrishna. One day, a merchant came to the king’s court from a foreign kingdom. He saluted the king and then said, “Your Majesty, I have heard from many …
Exercise 10 Tāḍāsana Difficulty level – 1 (easy) Time commitment : 10 minutes thrice a week We are nearly halfway through the course, and it’s time to introduce you to our first āsanā. A few points to note: Time to practice – Ideally before sunrise or during sunset. However, for beginners, early morning or late …
Exercise 9 Tracking accomplishments Difficulty level – 1 (easy) Time commitment : 10 minutes everyday This exercise will help you reflect upon your daily tasks, and take the first steps to move from being busy, to being productive. A few points to note: Consistency – It will take a bit of effort to get into …
