Ashtanga yoga

 

Heyy helllooo hiii everyone ... Hope you all find this in good health ... Yoga will surely give you peace of mind so lets know what do we have for this week. 

Well thats Ashtanga Yoga. Whats Ashtanga yoga? 

So as the name suggests - 'Ashta' means 'eight' and "Anga" means body parts and Ashtanga yoga means union of 8 limbs to do yoga. The Ashtanga philosophy is to integrate all of the eight limbs of yoga, which include: Yama (moral codes), Niyama (self-discipline), Asana (posture), Pranayama (breath control), Pratyahara (sense withdrawal), Dharana (concentration), Dhyana (meditation), and Samadhi (oneness with the self). Doing Ashtanga feels like a challenge to many people and requires flexibility in one's body. However, there are 6 different levels of Ashtanga yoga. It is a yogic pratice where breath is linked with a series of poses to form a continuos sequence. Even if a person just starts doing yoga adding Ashtanga yoga to his/her daily pratice will boost his health and give him peace of mind and physical flexibility.

 Students begin an Ashtanga practice with five repetitions of Sun salutation A (surya namaskar) and Sun salutation B. This is followed by a set of standing poses, in 5 repetitions, then a set of seated poses. After a students master this then advanced levels of salutations are taught and practiced. 

History of Ashtanga yoga began in 20th century when T - Krishnamacharya originated this type of yoga for his young, obedient and energetic student  K. Pattabhi jois, and he being an dedicated student then refined this and started teaching others. The fast moves that are praticed under this type of yoga have been influenced from indian wrestlers and gymnasts. These challenging posture flows were designed to purify the body to offer peace of mind, and eventually gave rise to many different styles of hot yoga, flow or Vinyasa Yoga, and power yoga.

Basic principles of Ashtanga Yoga :-

Ujjaini pranayama - This specific breathing technique is used to warm and energize students and increase their focus and concentration  

Drishti: A specific drishti, or focal point, is used in each asana. This helps create a more focused and meditative practice

Vinyasa: The core of the practice is synchronising the breath to the sequence of postures and transitions in the series.

Bandha: The engagement of the bandhas, or body locks, is encouraged throughout the class to seal in the prana energy and create core stability.

Daily practice : A six-days-per-week routine is encouraged, with Saturday as the rest day. “Moon days,” the days on the full and new moon are also rest days, and women often refrain from practicing during menstruation.

Ashtanga yoga not only focuses on physical factors of the body but also mental aspects of the body and health. It can increase your stamina, bone density and muscle strength, control your bodyweight, lowers your blood pressure and relieve stress.  It also helps mentally and spiritually by boosting mental clarity, creating mental calmness and developing better concentration in daily life. Hence adding Ashtanga yoga to our daily pratice is necesary and beneficial.

Keep doing yoga and maintain your health to the best!😊

By Honey Shah (Team SYNC) 

Vipassana meditation

Meditation is often said to be a practice of deep focus. There are several benefits which could be acquired through meditation emphasized by our friends, family, teachers, peers etc; which includes relaxation, mindfulness and a better sense of inner peace. There exist many ways to meditate and Vipassana is one of these techniques. In today’s blog we will have an insight specifically about this technique known as Vipassana. It’s benefits, the way to practice, and many more. Vipassana is known to be one of India’s most ancient meditation techniques. Before diving deep into this technique and its essential elements. Let us try to first learn about the roots of Vipassana and where was it directed from and by whom? 

Vipassana was derived to be born through Buddhism. Buddhism is a path of our spiritual development and practice which leads to an insight into the true nature of reality. Buddhism is one of the world’s largest religions and originated 2,500 years ago in India. It is a faith that was founded by Siddhartha Gautama. 

Buddhism consists of two major types of meditation. In Pali, the original language of Theravada literature, they are called Vipassana and Samatha. Gautama Buddha rediscovered the technique of Vipassana while he was looking for enlightenment. In Pali an ancient language of Buddhism, the word “Vipassana” means “seeing things as they really are” it can also be translated as “Insight”, which briefly describes it as a clear awareness of what is happening as it happens. 

How to practice Vipassana? 

1. It is widely recommended to practice Vipassana early in the morning when you get up. 

2.Find a place with complete silence and less disturbances or distractions. 

3. Give yourself at least 10-15 minutes in order to practice Vipassana everyday and eventually try increasing the timer day by day as you’re comfortable. 

4. Cross your legs and sit on the ground in a comfortable position. D

5. Do not sit with a folded back or neck, try to first relax your body, straighten your back. Posture defines the mood of a person throughout the process so try to maintain a proper posture. 

6. Start with inhaling and exhaling. Be aware and mindful of each breathe passing through your nostrils. 

7. Do not judge or react on the thoughts arising in your mind. Just observe the feelings and sensations. 

8. In case if, even after rigorous concentration and effort you get distracted simply observe the sensations resulting to distractions and return back to your breathe.

9. Practice the same everyday and slowly go on increasing it upto 15 minutes or more. 

10. In case if you’re a beginner and need some help in a detailed manner you can always get the help from Youtube videos or can also download the Dhamma.org app which is a Vipassana meditation app. This app includes insightful articles, recordings, materials and resources through which you can also get access to Vipassana courses. 

Vipassana is also thaught free of cst as a 10 day meditation retreat all over the world so all of us can get access to this most ancient technique and practice it whenever we want in order to rip its benefits. 

Such a Vipassana centre was first operated in Igatpuri, Maharashtra India in 1974. This is known to be the first official Vipassana center by SN Goenka ji. Dhamma Giri located in the Western Ghats in Igatpuri. This meditation centre is the largest and most popular centre which offers Vipassana courses free of cost. Yes that’s right and even you can avail such courses and apply for them online without any application charges. According to the data available, there are almost 74 Vipassana Centres in India and total 168 Vipassana centres operated all over the world.

Gautam Buddha attained enlightenment through Vipassana 2500 years ago and then passed this technique to his fellow disciples in India and even today Vipassana is widely used as a technique in order to experience peace and harmony. 

This was it for today’s blog. We hope that you’ll liked this piece of information. Let us know your feedbacks in the comment section. Thank you. 

By Pratiksha (Team SYNC)
 

Movies you should watch if you are a fitness frek

 Movies have always been a great inspiration and motivation for fitness and exercise for the World.Well here are some of the biggest motivation movies for you.

These movies have various elements that have the power to inspire people towards fitness and achieve their goals via sheer dedication and strong will-power.

Let’s have a look at 5 all-time blockbusters that had the power to motivate and inspire its audiences.

1. Rocky Series

The series of movies made under the Rocky banner are undoubtedly one of the most famous, inspiring and record breaking movies of a fitness/sports theme. This series has a total of 6 movies released – Rocky, Rocky II, Rocky III, Rocky IV, Rocky V and Rocky Balboa. This movie series had all the right elements for fitness motivation.

2.Pumping Iron

This 1977 blockbuster features the hero of all bodybuilders and the youngest ever Mr. Olympia – Arnold Schwarzenegger. The name of Arnold is enough to inspire millions of bodybuilding enthusiasts and professionals around the globe. Thus the face value of this movie is simply unmatched.

3. Bhaag Milkha Bhaag

Fighting against odds? Desperate to win? Want to be a true champion. Then this is the movie for you.

Bhaag Milkha Bhaag is one of the best fitness and sports based inspirational movies ever made in Bollywood. And what sets this movie apart from the most is that – It is based on a true story; The true story of India’s legendary athlete – Padma Shri Milkha Singh, also known as the “Flying Sikh”.

4. Million Dollar Baby

Determination! Perspiration! Inspiration!

If one could sum up this beautifully strong and motivational movie, the above three words would be the perfect suite.

Million Dollar Baby revolves around a determined woman who is willing to give in all her sweat and blood to make her boxing dreams come true. It’s her true dedication and grit to beat the best in the ring that steals the show. An amazing storyline and great acting performances is what makes this movie worth a many time watch by everyone who needs motivation to kick-start their fitness regime.

With the female lead training real hard to beat the best in the ring, this movie is a roller-coaster of mental and physical strength.

Want to learn to never give up when you train? This is the movie for you!

5.Kickboxer

Do you love martial arts and want see some cool kickboxing training techniques?

Then this is just the movie you are looking for!

This movie is the epitome of sharp skills on display. The lead character of the movie is shown learning some amazing kickboxing techniques from a great martial arts teacher. “No Pain – No Gain” is what this movie teaches you.

So next time you lose your will to hit the gym thinking about the pain it might cause, watch this movie and you shall be refueled with strong will power to go the distance you need to achieve your fitness goals.

Now watch them and tell us which one was your favourite.

International day of yoga

 Let's celebrate the spirit of yoga with SYNC.

Well for SYNC yoga is a daily practice but we need to celebrate yoga this International day with a blast.

So this time SYNC came up with a 3-month Yoga program not only for its members but for everyone from teachers to NGO children, from arranging workshops for our helping staff to competitions for our collegiate.

Our preparation starts way before the main day to make it a great success. To be honest, being a member of the club itself is a success for me because the knowledge, experience, and enjoyment the club gives is a reward in itself.

Okay let's focus on IDY now, so first, we started with the power yoga session, an art competition for our collegiate, and a laughing session for our helping staff.

I know you all have read about it before so let's jump on the main event day, no-no before the main day we make some cute memories with an NGO, where we arranged a yoga session for children, and for that, we collaborate with yoga teachers from Kaivalayadham yoga center. This NGO session gave us the chance to be kids again, the little cute smiles made our day so much better. On the same day, we also had a fun photo shoot with the Kaivalayadham yoga center at some iconic places in Mumbai to spread awareness about yoga and its benefits.

After 3 months of fun , understanding sessions, and preparation, the day was here, 21st June 2022, will for the day we wanted to do something for the people who are responsible for our success, for everything we know, our Teachers, so for the same SYNC organized a session for teachers with our founder   Ms. Anvita Dixit. It was a very fun session for all of us, our teachers were doing yoga and we were making them do it, it was like we were teachers for that time. I liked it, it was great and a fun experience.

 

I want to thank our members, Kaivalayadham yoga center, and the NGO for collaborating with us and giving us so much knowledge and fun memories.

Hope you like this blog, tell us in the comments which session was your favorite.

Bye bye😊

Team SYNC

Art Therapy

 

➤The old saying, “A picture is worth a thousand words,” reflects the powerful effect that the arts and creative expression have on human understanding and communication. Art therapy works to harness that power for therapeutic means.

➤Just as a painting or a piece of music can say something in ways that almost defy description, art therapy provides individuals facing physical, emotional, and cognitive challenges with new pathways toward understanding and self-expression.

➤I know after reading this you might be thinking that you need to be good at painting or drawing for taking art therapy, but let me tell you that you don't need an A+ grade in drawing for art therapy what you need is just a pencil, paper and some free time where you can relax and express your thoughts and feelings by drawing or painting or just by random doodling. what art therapy does is that it uses the power of the arts and different modes of communication to get people to open up and engage with their therapy in new ways, which may enhance healing of all kinds.

I know this seems to be a little complex for you all to comprehend at first but keep reading with me and trust me after reading this you will have a new impression of art and its therapy.

SO WHAT EXACTLY IS ART THERAPY?

"Art washes from the soul the dust of everyday life" - Pablo Picasso

➤ The use of artistic methods to treat psychological disorders and enhance mental health is known as art therapy. Art therapy is a technique rooted in the idea that creative expression can foster healing and mental health and well-being. people have been relying on the arts for communication, self-expression, and healing for thousands of years but art therapy did not start to become a formal program until the 1940s.

➤ Doctors noted that individuals living with mental illness often expressed themselves in drawing and other artworks, which led many to explore the use of art as a healing strategy. Since then,  art has become an important part of the therapeutic field and is used in some assessment and treatment techniques.

I know it is a little hard to believe that how by just drawing or painting you can cure severe issues like depression and certain chronic diseases, but let me back myself with some scientific research on art therapy.

THE SCIENCE BEHIND ART THERAPY

➤ We are holistic beings, and psychological, physiological, and emotional factors must be considered when it comes to any form of therapy. 

➤ When we engage in the creation of our art forms, we receive big benefits to our minds, both physically and mentally. When we produce art with our own hands, there is increased neural connectivity in the area of the brain that deals with introspection, memory, and self-monitoring.

➤ This means that this area is more active when engaged in producing art. Mentally, we become more psychologically resilient, we have increased positive perspectives, and become more self-aware. This makes us better at coping with future problems, stressors, or events. It is said that the pairing of actually creating the art (motor processing) and thinking about expression (cognitive processing) is what makes art therapy so beneficial.

Below mentioned are some art therapy hacks that you can perform anywhere on this planet which will instantly boost your confidence and uplift your mood. So next time you are having a bad day just perform these art therapy hacks.

ART THERAPY HACKS 👇👇👇

IF YOU FEEL

WORRIED,

PRACTISE ORIGAMI(FOLDING PAPERS HELPS SOLVE PROBLEMS)

IF YOU NEED TO 

MAKE THE RIGHT CHOICE,

DRAW WAVES AND CIRCLES

IF YOU FEEL

ENRAGED

TEAR A PIECE OF PAPER.

(THIS WILL ACT AS A SYMBOLIC RELEASE)

IF YOU NEED TO 

FOCUS ON A GOAL,

DRAW GRIDS AND A TARGET.

IF YOU FEEL 

SAD😢😩

PAINT A RAINBOW

IF YOU FEEL

STUCK,

DRAW SPIRALS.

(THE CONTINUITY WILL INSPIRE YOU TO KEEP MOVING)

IF YOU ARE

ANGRY,😠😠

DRAW LINES.

(SIMPLE PATTERNS RELAX YOU)

IF YOU FEEL CONFUSED😕😕😕,

DRAW AN INDIAN MANDALA

IF YOU NEED TO 

UNDERSTAND YOUR FEELINGS,

DRAW YOURSELF.

(YOU WILL RECOGNISE YOUR HIDDEN FEELINGS)

Try these hacks and do share in the comments whether they worked for you or not.

BENEFITS OF ART THERAPY

➤ An art therapist may use a variety of art methods, including drawing, painting, sculpture, and collage with clients ranging from young children to older adults.

➤ Less than an hour of creative activity can reduce your stress and have a positive effect on your mental health, regardless of artistic experience or talent.

➤ Some situations in which art therapy might be utilized include: 

⍟Adults experiencing severe stress.

⍟Children experiencing behavioral or social problems at school or home.

⍟Children or adults who have experienced a traumatic event.

⍟Children with learning disabilities.

⍟Individuals living with a brain injury.

⍟People experiencing mental health problems

Did you know the term "Art Therapy" was first coined in 1940 in the united kingdom by Margaret Naumburg, who is also called the mother of art therapy.

The Bottom Line

➤The goal of art therapy is not to achieve flawless works of art but to express your emotions without criticism or judgment.

 ➤The act and process of creating art can be as equally important as the final product of art therapy—which is improved happiness, health, and emotional well-being.

I hope you had a great time reading this do comment on your favorite part of the blog below and also don't fail to share ✌️✌️

-Krutika Tuplonde(Team SYNC Snippets)

Power yoga

 

Power Yoga is a general term used to describe a vigorous, fitness-based approach to vinyasa-style yoga. Though many consider power yoga to be superficial “gym yoga”, this style of yoga practice was originally closely modeled on the ashtanga method. It makes you feel strong and flexible and makes your mind relaxed, it is a perfect combination of yoga for your mind, body, and soul. It includes a vigorous yoga style which results in proper blood circulation in our body which increases our focus and concentration making our mind and body healthy.

One had an enriching experience if he/she attended the Power Yoga Session organized by the SYNC club of H.R. College which was conducted by Miss Khushbu Patel who has been learning and practicing yoga, mat Pilates, and yoga therapies for the last five years. She learned yoga under the permanent yoga Institute, the yoga Institute, and yoga Vidhya Niketan. She is also a certified professional ballet dancer and teaches ballet in and around Mumbai.

It started off with a few exercises for a warm-up and lotus pose where she told us that while performing it one should remember that your knees are in equidistance from the floor which was followed by loads of more exercises including boat pose, butterfly pose, setu bandhasana, cobra pose, mountain pose, breathing exercises, Chandra bandana pranayam, and bhramari. 

So relax and consider bringing balance to your time on and off the mat.

Relaxation, as elite athletes know, is the key to true power.

By Diya Karnani ( Team SYNC)

A happy way of yoga : Laughter Yoga

Life! It's about new days, new challenges, and new stress coming our way. After a certain point, we feel that we need an escape from these chaotic situations. And everyone would agree laughter is a great escape. As one says “Laughter is the best medicine”, and I won’t deny it. It’s true! I can say that because the SYNC fam recently organized a ‘Laughter Yoga’ session with the Laughter Yoga Guru Archana Rao and it was a complete joyride.

HO HO HA HA HA! And here it all began. We all came together and performed some laughter exercises reflecting on the different situations in our life. Breathe in, breathe out, laughable blaming each other, silent laughing and many more fun exercises covered the session. To conclude the session, we performed a meditative exercise – it was not a basic form of meditation, it had something more to it. It helped us all to relax our minds and calm ourselves down. We are very glad that she had specially organized this sound therapy and meditation for us.

This whole session was not about cracking a joke and trying to laugh at it but instead laughing without making any efforts and laughter yoga is all about that. Laughter Yoga is not a comedy. It is an exercise program developed by Indian physician Dr. Madan Kataria where anyone can laugh without relying on humor, jokes, or comedies.

The concept of Laughter Yoga is based on scientific studies which have proved that the body cannot differentiate between intentional and real laughter. One gets the same physiological and psychological benefits. 

Some benefits of Laughter Yoga are as follows: 

1. Laughter Yoga helps us remain cheerful and in a good mood throughout the day by releasing endorphins from our brain cells.

2. Laughter Yoga is like an aerobic exercise that increases your heart rate, and blood circulation thereby relaxing your muscles.

3. Laughter Yoga reduces stress and strengthens the immune system.

4. Laughter is a great connector of people and brings quality caring and sharing among friends

5. Laughter helps to create a positive mental attitude to deal with negative situations and people.

Let the beautiful smile on your face never fade away.

Live. Laugh. Love. 

Toodles!

By Hrishita Shetty and Vaishnavi Dalvi (Team SYNC)