Its half past five o’ clock in the morning and my mom yells, “Get up! Get up!”With a gasp and anger I get up from my cosy bed and am compelled to do all the routine work: Brushing, bathing, exercise, meditation, blah blah blah. As a teenager I did not like the way my mom used to wake me up early in the morning. She always used to say the famous saying “Early to bed and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise”. And my reaction to it was “Hah, whatever”. But, do you know guys, until I followed this regime I did not fall ill at all. Things started taking a negative stride when I overlooked my mom’s words. I became a prey to a hundred and one diseases on and off. Finally, my Yoga class changed my life. Before joining my Yoga classes, I used to think that Yoga was all about body postural modulation. But, in fact, Yoga is much more than we actually know. The most worthwhile and life-changing thing I learned in my class is about Lifestyle Management. I want to share this with each one of you so that you also know how to lead a healthy and happy life.

Life and lifestyle are closely related to health and well-being. If lifestyle is healthy, then life is also healthy. But, if lifestyle is maladaptive or wrong then the body and mind becomes a house to a hundred and one problems. Lifestyle defines the physical and mental health of a person and influences his or her functioning in his/her day-to-day life, thoughts, behavior, habits, interactions and other complex cognitive process. Lifestyle includes everything beginning from waking up in the morning till going to bed at night. So here’s a layout of how an ideal lifestyle should be with reasons validating their origin/being:

1)    Rising up or waking up in the morning:

Ideally, you should rise up before day break because it is the time when the whole environment is filled with Divine, pure and vital energies. If getting up early in the morning is not possible due to certain reasons then the alarm should ring by at least 6:00 AM or 6:30 AM. While stepping out of the bed, try to check which of the two nostrils is carrying out the respiration process and then the corresponding foot should be placed on the ground first. For eg: If you are breathing through your right nostril then put your right leg on the ground first and vise-versa. If you are respiring through both the nostrils then use both the legs.

Reason: Since time immemorial we have been taught the proverb: “Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy – wealthy and wise”. Yet, we don’t follow its meaning and practical implications. Rising early in the morning fills our body, mind and spirit with the vital and pure energies of the environment around us. So naturally when we start our day with fresh air and vibes we will be physically and mentally healthy. Wealth will obviously pour in if our body and mind are competent and healthy enough to work and put in the best of our efforts in any work we do. Getting up early also makes us wise because our brain tends to have taken rest during the previous night’s sleep and has rejuvenated with the advent of a new dawn. Therefore, rising up early has multiple benefits. It not only makes us healthy, but also leaves us with ample time for productive work throughout the day.

Exceptions: Very old and small children; during illness

 2)    Bathing Process:

In our fast-paced life we seldom take bathe the proper way. Even if it’s a shower or sponging there is a healthy technique of cleansing the body and re-energizing it throughout the day.

Before taking bath or cleansing/sponging/shower, etc any essential oil should be applied all over the body applying bit of pressure. The sole of the feet, fingers and ear lobes should be rubbed and pressed thoroughly and repeatedly.

Try to take bath in luke warm water. You can apply soaps, body wash after that. But in the final body wash a pinch of table salt should be added to the water and then poured on the body. During the sponging process also the same thing can be done. Here you can self-affirm that the salty water is absorbing all the negative energies and ill-health and your body-mind-spirit is getting filled with cleanliness and positive energies…freshness and positive spark.

Reason: Taking bathe with oils, pressure, salt, luke warm water play manifold roles of acupressure, massage techniques, pranic healing, self-affirmations, mindfulness meditation overall energizing oneself by taking out dirt and negative/disease – causing energies.

3)    Exercise and Meditation:

Whether it’s a simple exercise like brisk walking or a complex workout on the treadmill, whether it’s a powerful yogic exercise or a subtle Tai Chi’, exercise always leads to all-round development of a person. Whenever, you exercise do not over-do it and select the kind of workout that suits you best. Working out with music / pet/ family / partner etc. is the best way if you need motivation to exercise. If everything else fails then try to think about the benefits you will reap following an exercise regime. This will load you up with a lot of energy to exercise.

Following an extensive or soothing exercise pattern, one must surely meditate after that. Meditation can be paired with a breating exercise too.

4)     Breakfast:

Many of us have a very bad habit of skipping breakfast or eating breakfast in an unhealthy manner. It is the most significant meal of the day. Breakfast should comprise of milk and fresh fruits. Remember if you like fresh fruit, juices it is a good option but taking mixed fruit juice can be fatal. It is because different fruits have different vitamins, minerals and other nutrients. When they are mixed wrongly they can lead to severe nutrient-interactions leading to diseases of varied kinds. The effect may not be seen soon or at the moment but they act as slow silent killers. Even mixed fruit pies. Jams should be avoided. Try having a single fruit composition whether you eat it on the whole or take it as a juice or jam.

Junk foods, fast foods should be strictly avoided in the breakfast. Drink before and after 1 hr of each meal of the day. This will prepare your stomach and digestive system for food intake and processing.

Fact: Food is the fuel for the body and mind as well as the spirit. Let me tell you how. Whatever you eat becomes the breeding groung of hormones in your body…neurotransmitters in your brain and…..energy system for your soul (in terms of Yoga and Spiritual / Para Psychology). So try to eat correct and in the correct way. Prefer hand-made, home-cooked food.

5)     Activities Of the Day:

After your breakfast, it is always a good habit to take a planner or notebook and plan all the activities for a given day. This way you can track your achievement, shortcomings and what needs to be done. Don’t over-fill your day with a lot of activities and don’t over expect….instead start simple, start slow….other activities will easily follow.

If you have to go outdoors for some work or job then check which nostril of yours is carrying out the breathing process then put the corresponding leg out of the door first. This will fill you with a lot of motivation and success.

Don’t forget to celebrate even if you achieve anything small, pamper yourself and help others too.

According to the Yogic way of life try filling your day with the three-dimensional activities of USA i.e Upasana, Sadhana and Aradhana. Upasana means to take some time of and sit near the persons you adore or get inspired by. It can be in a praying room, with a good friend. Try to attract their positive energies and inspiration towards you. Sadhana means self-refinement. This can be done by reading good books; self-retrospection…Finally Aradhana means utilizing your capabilities and goodwill; work and efforts for the welfare of others.

So through the above route you can work for self-development and work for the well-being of others too.

6)    Leisure Vs Hobbies :

If you are left with a free time then you can socially interact with persons you like, spend time working out a hobby. Try some creative work you enjoy or simply take some time off and take rest.

7)    Evening snacks:

This is also necessary nebause with all such energy draining activities you need some power-plug to rejuvenate yourself too.

8)    Supper:

This should be the lightest meal of the entire day. Before having dinner or supper you can have a brief walk or some simple household chore before that. This will help your stomach more hungry and cater to good digestion. As mentioned earlier have water before and after 1 hr of consumption of food. Avoid fiber food during the nights as it may stick to your abdomen, intestines and make the digestion process more challenging. This will also make your body with small amount of energies left for your brain, repair and rejuvenation process.

9)    Diary Writing:

Writing a diary or journal will help you to keep a track record of your work, feelings, emotions, and strengths, weaknesses, learning and planning for the next day. So try to write a journal/diary at night focusing on all these points. It will help you vent out all your feelings, thoughts and emotions, it will develop a deep level of insight and recharge you for the next day.

10)   Sleep time:

Before going to sleep wash your legs, hands with luke warm water with table salt in it. Wash your face with cold water. If possible fill a tub with luke warm salty water and dip your legs in it. This is a naturopathic technique that will absorb all your body-mind stress and tiredness away.

Before retiring to bed, make a small self-suggestion about you. Feel happy about the good things you did and ask the Almighty for forgiveness for all the bad deeds. Ask him to take care of your and your loved ones body-mind-souls while you all are in sleep, ask for strength and inspiration for the next day….(Make a wish) or even think of something that soothes you and puts you to sleep.

So folks, try to follow these steps. It will be difficult in the beginning but, it will be worth all your efforts and health. Lifestyle management changed my life into a healthy and happy way. Since these are scientific and therapeutic techniques, they tend to have a positive effect in each and every dimension of life. Wish you a healthy and happy life ahead.

Best wishes,

Sareeta