The Vital Pie

08/03/2018

You are the power! Let's move forward!

It's so around the world let's all to accelerate on http://thndr.me/w4ZpMx

28/07/2017

To upgrade is Human :)
(Not my original... stolen from TED website :))

I haven't posted for last 2 days, I have been a bit busy with work and also in process of registering and creating website of The Vital Pie... Few of the readers and friends suggested to write blog entries on website and post a snippet on the face book page.

Additionally, I can put more pictures and videos on the blog... I realised reading a long post on Fb is such a pain... So I am at work to make that happen.

It's heartening to get feedback and suggestions from readers. I am happy to put efforts to upgrade and better my posts :)

Thank you and keep sending your feedback and wishes :)

Much love :)

25/07/2017

WEEK 3 | DAY 2 | Sleeping Well |

The best form of relaxation is… you guess it right… Good sleep!

Haven’t we heard many Hindi/English idioms like ‘Raaton kee neend udaa dee’ (Has taken away my night sleep), ‘I haven’t slept a wink’. Latest being the demonetization drive, which made many people lose their night’s sleep. This proves that a bad sleep or no sleep is synonymous with tired mornings, anxiety, restlessness, depression etc.

There can be various reasons for sleeplessness apart from the reasons quoted above. Breathless, stress, sleep apnea, body, back, shoulder and neck pain, acidity, acidic reflux, joint and arthritis pain etc.

These aches and pains, whether physical or psychological, can deprive one of good night’s sleep. Hence, it is important that we pay attention to this natural phenomenon and provide our support to nature to lull us to sleep.

Here I will be discussing few sleeping positions and how can they benefit. Before jumping to sleeping position, it is important to prep yourself for sleep.

1) First and foremost, eat a light meal at night. It takes 3 to 4 hours for our stomach to digest the food and pass on to later part of our digestive tract. So if you having late dinner, consume only liquids like a bowl of soup, herbal milk, soupy lentils (Thin Dal) and easily digestible vegetable mash. Avoid having heavy chappatis, heavy meats at night.
2) Avoid having TV, gaming consoles, white light emitting LCD devices …and yes, the blinking screen of your mobile, in your bedroom during sleep time. You should off such devices at least an hour before sleep. The sleeping room should be dark. Sleep hormone melatonin is generated only in dark.
3) Do some light stretching on the bed (Refer post of WEEK 2 | Day 4| A morning cup of mindfulness).
4) Choose comfortable pillow and mattress. If you have knee, neck, and back pain, invest in good Ortho pillows. Have extra pillows to prop under joints (refer below)
5) Before lying down in final position to sleep, do some abdominal breathing (Refer post of Week 1| Day 4 |Abdominal Breathing).

Now you are ready to sleep:

1) Sleeping on back: One of the best positions is to go down in Shavasana, as it supports spine, neck and shoulders, chest and lungs are open for breathing. Ensure that the head, neck and upper shoulders are well supported by pillow, so that there is no strain on these. However, this position is not suggested for pregnant women after 1st trimester is over, those with snoring and sleep apnoea problems.

If you have back pain and exaggerated lumbar lordosis, it is suggested to keep a pillow or a thick rolled bed sheet under your knees. This helps in keeping lower back neutral.

2) Sleeping on side: This is also a good position. This helps in keeping spine curve, easing pain in back, easing heartburn and reflux problems. This is suggested position of sleeping for pregnant women. Sleeping on left helps in digestion. Good for people with sleep apnea, snoring. However, this position can be uncomfortable for people having shoulder, neck and hip pain due to asymmetry in weight distribution.

For pregnant women and people with hip pain, it is suggested that they insert a pillow, along its length, between the legs. Choose a fluffy pillow to fill in gap between neck and head if you have neck pain.

3) Sleeping in Fetal position: This is a very relaxing position, which can be adopted intermittently for relaxing. This position helps in improving circulation to fetus in pregnant women. However, sleeping in this position for a long time can cause compression in lungs, stress in back and stiffness in knees, esp in arthritic patients.

If you prefer sleeping in this position, don’t curl up much and keep on stretching your body while changing sides. A pillow can be inserted between legs or straddling your legs can also help.

4) Sleeping on stomach: This position is not suggested for sleeping. This can be used for relaxation for some 10/15 minutes at one go, esp. for people who have severe back problems and snoring problems. This position also helps in learning abdominal breathing for Asthmatic patients (Refer WEEK 2 | Day 2 | Relaxation in Makrasana). However, not recommended for lying for long time as it puts pressure on abdomen and lungs.

If you prefer sleeping in this position, put a pillow under your hips, so that there is no excessive pressure on your lungs and abdomen.

Few of the other sleeping positions that you can adopt for few minutes when you are having disturbed sleep or pain in your hips and knees is Supt Badhkonasana, Sleeping with legs rested in figure of 4, etc. I will write in detail about these positions next week.

So choose your position and sleep well tonight!

शुभ रात्रि , Goodnight! Guten Nacht ! Bonne Nuit ! Buenas Noches! Buona Notte !



Pic Credits. www.healthline.com

24/07/2017

WEEK 3 | Day 1 | Creamy Herbed Mashed Potatoes |

Late post again! Had a really long day. Need to get back to sleeping on sane times ☹. Anyway, the post below is worth the late hours ;) (Not recommended! Except for some cheat days :D)

I was craving for something starchy, creamy and delicious to be had with my lunch.

The words creamy, delicious, conjure up many images in our mind, specially all things forbidden and junk, like French fries laden with mayo dip or thick cheese dip or maybe sinfully creamy mashed potatoes!

Yes, that’s what I wanted, Creamy Mashed potatoes! I like them as side dish with sizzler or just like that with grilled veggies. I guess, it is very popular with kids and can also serve as one of the best carbo-loading recipes for runners and other sportsperson as well.

So, the million-dollar question is, how to make it creamy, thick and melt in mouth without upsetting the eating healthy regime? Simple! With few modifications, this dish can be as lip smacking as ever! Just follow the recipe below:

1) Steam few big potatoes. I use steamer for this. Doesn’t make potatoes soggy and of course, steaming retains all the nutrients and crisp flavours. (I also added few cloves of garlic to the steamer, skip it if you don’t like the taste)
2) Let potatoes cool slightly and then peel and cut them in to big cubes.
3) Put the cubes in to grinder and add milk…tada, here is the twist, add freshly made thick coconut milk! (You can make fresh coconut milk by grinding fresh coconut pieces or shavings with water and sieving. The first thick milk is to be used for creamier potatoes)
4) If you cannot imagine your mashed potatoes without butter, add some butter. You can also add coconut butter to it (I made it at home! I will post the recipe in next blog).
5) Grind all of them together.
6) Creamy mashed potatoes are ready.
7) You can add sea salt and seasonings like chives, thyme, rosemary and pepper to make herbed version.

Now just take a big spoon and slurp a big dollop of this mash. Heavenly! Isn’t it?

This mash contains goodness of potatoes (Quick carbs, Vitamin C, Vitamin B6, Potassium, more than Banana!, Iron and Fiber), Healthy fats and minerals from Coconut Milk and Butter and herbs are excellent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of herbs.

Try and share your experiences here ☺



Pic credits : Self ☺

21/07/2017

WEEK 2 | Day 4 | a Tete

'Adopt the pace of nature, her secret is patience' - Ralph Waldo Emerson

This post has been postponed to Sunday, as I have to still translate the Shruti( the heard)... To readable words :D and yes, the permission to publish the interview too, is on its way :D. So let's all wait :)

Mumbaikars...Enjoy the lush greenery of the city, while you wait, and pet some dogs and cats as received from the heavens in last few days... And Non Mumbaikars, you don't have any choice, but, to wait ;)

"Adopt the pace of nature: her secret is patience." - Ralph Waldo Emerson quotes from BrainyQuote.com

20/07/2017

WEEK 2 | Day 4 | A Morning Cup of Mindfulness |

Important: Don’t scroll to the end…Do this small exercise to fully live this experience :D

Tighten your palms in to fists. Tighter! Tighter!

Keep at it for at least 15 sec. Your nails (if any) should dig in to your palms! A little tighter, come on!

Now open your palms… Do they feel like crumpled notes? Feeling numb? No blood flow? Now stretch them twice and relax.

This is what exactly happens to our body, muscles and tendons when we get up in the morning. Our body has been at rest for some 7/8 hours and blood flow to the extremities is low and muscles are at rest and they just don’t want to wake up!

Still, what do we do every morning? We get up and jump straight out of the bed and in to the washroom! We are in a rush to get up and get going for our early morning chores!

This can be fatal. According to research, most of the Heart Attacks happen in the morning and mostly in the washroom. This is true not only for Cardiac patients but for general population too. The sudden shock that a body gets after getting up can lead to many causalities if we don’t pay close attention.

So what should we do?

Let us learn how to rise up and shine. This will just take 7 to 10 min of your time. So here it goes.

1. As soon as you open your eyes, take some deep breaths. The breath should reach your belly and you should feel it rise up like a small hillock during inhalations. 3 to 5 rounds should be sufficient. This gives a quick dose of Oxygen to your brain and fires its action and thinking process.

2. Give your body a full stretch using Yastikasana or Stick Pose. It is one of the easiest yet all rounder asana. Do 3 rounds of this stretch. This gives a nice and gentle stretch to your spine and activates the blood flow to the extremities.

3. After this, do 5 clockwise and anticlockwise ankle rotations. Our big body is supported on two small feet, so it is important to get the blood circulation ready there.

4. Now ready your body for some stretch and massage to your Gastro Intestinal tract. In short, this stretch gets you ready to spend good and easy time in the Toilet! Pawanmuktasana, as the name suggests, it releases gas from your body and provides massage to your bowels. This asana is also good for mobilising your lower back, hence helps for stiff back. Do with one leg each and then with both legs. Do 3 to 4 rounds.

5. Now let’s breathe some mindful Prana in to our body. Do few rounds of Pranayama No 4. Refer my post on abdominal breathing. This is one of the easiest and most versatile Pranayam which you can do while easy lying down in your bed. 5 rounds should do the trick.

6.Finally turn to your side, right or left and get up gently with support of your arms.

Now inhale, and stretch your arms out like a Lion. Have you seen how it does a royal stretch before getting up? Breathing deeply, opening up your chest and stretching your shoulders. Exhale and bring your arms around and give yourself a big Hug!

You are alive today! Thank God for this wonderful life and a giving you yet another day to live!

Good Morning! You are now ready to jump and fly out of the Bed!

PS: Some of you would have already read this in The Yoga Institute Magazine – Yoga and Total Health



Pic Credits : www.theyogainstitute.org , www.adjustabledumbbellsset.co.uk

19/07/2017

WEEK 2 | Day 3 | An attitude of Gratitude |

जीने के बहाने लाखों हैं, जीना तुझको आया ही नहीं…
क्यों दिल में तेरे अरमान नहीं दुनिया इतनी वीरान नहीं …
हर ग़म का मरहम होता है दिल तूने दिखलाया ही…
प्यासे को जाना पड़ता है सागर चल के आया ही नहीं… *

I have been humming this song since morning, beautifully composed by Indeevar!

The joy of life lies in small things. As the song says, we have many reasons to live and have blissful lives. Still, we focus on things, which are wrong in our life.

As humans, we have intelligence to rationalise, analyse, aspire for great things and we do have intellect too to achieve greater heights. But in amidst of all these, we forget small joys of life. Focussing on these small joys makes us positive, and when we are positive, we see more possibilities in front of us!

We can become more positive in life by cultivating an attitude of Gratitude! So, today, before going to bed, close your eyes for a moment and run the reel of the day in your head. There would be some positive images and some not so good ones.

Get slowly conscious of both images, but don’t overanalyse them. Now, pick up some positive shots, write them in a journal or a piece of paper. You can collect these pieces of paper in a cute jar too. If writing them down feels like a task (I insist that you write them down), you can just remember them and smile. Whenever you feel low, you can visit your gratitude journal or look at the jar ☺

I had read many times about this exercise in few wellness articles and self help books. But I practiced in actuality when I did my 7 days heath camp at The Yoga Institute. This exercise is called 10 positive points. The points can be 2, 3 or more than 10. The objective is to focus on joys of life…

Here is a snippet of my gratitude journal today! (Remembered some 15 small joys ☺)

A great back bending Yoga class… Had a good work meeting today. Got more contacts ☺…Got a meeting fixed by reaching out to someone senior by calling on a humble landline :D. Landline phones still work ;)… A healthy sumptuous lunch of Palak, Rice Bhakri, Solkadi and fresh Kharvas at Highway Gomantak…A steaming cup of filter caapee at Madras Café….Random photos session near Matunga Station

Are you ready with your list? So what are you waiting for! Pen it down, Now!

Tomorrow is day for discussing

*This is an excerpt of the song and it means that there are many reasons to live… You should have aspirations in life, world is not a sad place… every pain has some balm, you haven’t opened up your heart to experience the same…the horse has to go to the water, the reverse doesn’t happens…



Pic Credits: Self ☺, .re-fabbed.com

18/07/2017

WEEK 2 | Day 2 | Relaxation in Makarasana |

Today was a hectic day. Surprisingly, the days I post about relaxation, I need it the most ☺

Rest is important and a natural body phenomenon, when the body is in heightened activity form, everything is in high gear. Your body, when relaxed or tuned to your Parasympathetic system releases rest, digest and procreate hormones, which are mood boosters! Who doesn’t like to just prop up legs on a stool to relax? In fact, most of us slog at work so that we can head to that dream destination and Chillax :D

What? Don’t have money and time to head to a destination to relax. No worries! Just take a mat or you can lie in your bed too. (avoid over hard and over soft beds)

Let’s laze like a Crocodile!

Makarasana or the Crocodile pose is an asana used for relaxation. ‘Makar’ means crocodile. This pose resembles a crocodile resting on the banks of river. It is a very relaxing posture for people with back, neck and shoulder problems as it takes pressure off these body parts.

This asana can be done for relaxation between deep forward and backward bending asanas or it can be done at the end of your practice OR after a long and tiring run, swim or biking. You can also do it in between your house chores when tired.

A word of caution: Do not go to sleep in this position. Being in the pose for long, puts pressure on lungs and abdomen, which can lead to compromised breathing.

How to get in to the pose ( Refer attached pic – Variation 1)

- Lie on your stomach, flat on the mat with your chin, chest and abdomen touching the floor.
- Stretch out both the legs at full length. Put your toes together and heels apart
- Bend your elbows and place your palms comfortably on top of each other in front of you
- You can now rest your either cheek on your palms and relax
- Breathe normally and lie still and unmoving like a crocodile for 7/10 min
- You can also practice variation 2 by propping your chin up on your hands

Who should not be attempting this

- Those who have heart problem, bulging stomach, gas or high blood pressure should not practice this Asana
- If you have serious back injury, then you should go on your stomach carefully and avoid doing variation 2
- For those with neck injuries, avoid variation 2 or any pressure on the neck
- If you are suffering from anxiety, depression and deep psychological issues, avoid this pose ( Next week, I will cover relaxation pose for those who are suffering from these conditions)
- A pregnant lady after 1st trimester is over.
- It is very good for Asthmatic patients, however, they should not lie in it for long times as it constricts the space available to chest expansion
- Those with exaggerated lumbar curve should avoid variation 2
- Avoid it on a full stomach
- In case anyone experiences pain while practising this asana, avoid doing it.

Benefits

- Makarasana is a relaxing yoga asana. It is very effective for back and shoulder problems (slip disc, spondylitis, and sciatica) as the body lies prone and weight is off the shoulder and spine. It is often used for relaxation after the deep forward and backward bends
- It is very relaxing for runners, bikers and swimmers after long period of activities. Relaxes tired shoulders and spine.
- This pose helps in learning diaphragmatic breathing as the lungs have limited space for expansion. This is hence suggested for Asthma. However, they should not lie in it for prolonged time.
- It aids in relaxation of the nervous system, body and mind.
- While relaxing in this pose, parasympathetic nervous system (PNS) is activated and the heart rate and blood pressure move towards the lower range of normal values, leading to rest for the body. The PNS system also helps in digestion and regulating male and female reproductive hormones.

So plop yourself on a mat or a bed and go in to Makarsana. Relaxation is as easy as this!

Stay Glued! we discuss Vichara tomorrow

17/07/2017

Week 2 | Day 1 | Cornalicious |

The heavenly smell of Corn slowly roasting on the fire. I bet, it can lure even the completed drenched ones to make a quick halt in pelting rains and queue for it!

That slow roasted corn smeared with pepper and a light drizzle of lemon juice is totally drool worthy in this weather. This humble, quick and easy snack is packed with nutrients!

Corn is highly nutritious and good source of fibre, folates, Vitamin B 12, Vitamin C and minerals like phosphorus, magnesium and iron. They are also rich source of antioxidants. High fibre makes it good for constipation, diabetic (it is high in sugar, but has low medium Glycemic index) and cholesterol management.

Sweet corn also contains beta-carotene, which helps in promoting better vision. Its phytochemicals help in controlling hypertension. It is gluten-free too!

How to select Corn Cobs
- Pick up the juicy and tender ones
- Choose the one with the husk as it has better juices and nutrients intact. Greener husk is better
- As far as possible, pick up the organic and locally grown ones
- Do not store for more than 2 days and the best way is to place in fridge without removing the husk.

Cooking methods

- I love my corn, steamed and slathered with pepper, herbs and lemon.
- The best way to cook corn cob is to either steam it or grill it. Grilling corn with the husk left on helps in retaining the flavour. Boiling leaches away many nutrients.
- Avoid adding salt to corn while cooking as it makes it hard. Rock salt can be used to flavour it after cooking.
- Don’t keep the corn for long on fire. Charred corn has higher content of quick releasing sugars and it charring leads to build up of carcinogens. Overcooking also make corn rubbery.
- You can also add steamed corn to soups or salads
- Bhutte Ke Kees, a delicacy from the Indore street food scene, is also a tasty variation. You can see the recipe here http://www.vegrecipesofindia.com/bhutte-ka-kees-recipe/

Significance in Ayurveda

Steamed and grilled corn along with herbs, rock salt and lemon helps in balancing Vatta and Kapha that gets aggravated during rainy season. Avoid eating raw and uncooked kernels ( I will be discussing about Doshas in future posts)

Did you know that that an average Corn ear has 800 kernels, arranged in 16 rows, with one strand of silk for each kernel :D

Hungry! Go ahead and make a quick halt to fill in your tummy and senses with warm grilled corn oozing with lemon juice or make your own recipe and share here :)



Source credits: www.webmd.com

Image credits: Self ☺

14/07/2017

Week 1 | Day 5| -à-Tête

Be a Buddha in your daily life!

It sounded as sonorous as the rain falling on the roof of the food corner that we were sitting at. We had ordered for a bowl of Khowsuey, and were eagerly waiting for our hot bowl along with those numerous titbits that go into it ☺

The conversations started with a simple ‘How was your day at work? In sometime, it veered in to something interesting, when I popped the question that I have been asking my friends quite frequently these days.

The conversation was getting better with every question. I guess even the Gods were listening and applauding with generous rain showers! The minutes turned into hours. No complaints! Talking to Kavita has always been inspiring. I am listening with attention, awe, and accompanying goose bumps!

I know Kavita for almost 7 years now. But the real ‘knowing her’ started only 2 years back. Kavita works as a Practice Head in one of the top most recruitment firms in India. I met her in 2010, when I was working as the HR manager and she was my recruiter. Back then, we had the relationship of a client and service provider :D. We amusingly recall those times now.

Getting back to the Topic now. Here I present the story of Kavita, in an honest conversation with her. What propelled a girl full of fear, anxiety, always sulking and crying to an elegant lady who talks and walks confidently! A journey from anger to peace, complaints to compassion, denials to acceptance and why am I born to winning in life!

Neelam: What according to you constitutes well-being?
Kavita: The biggest learning that I have got about myself is that my well being depends totally on my inner self. I have had my share of successes and failures in matters of education, career and relationships. But what had always bothered me most in all my quests was my inner being who was complaining, nagging, full of fear, sulking for majority of my growing up years. My life’s turning point came when I recognised that my life will always come to a naught, if I don’t address my inner self. I have known this for last 25 years of my life, but I started making conscious effort to improve it only since last 5/7 years.

Neelam: That sounds intriguing. So what are these conscious efforts?

Kavita: As I mentioned earlier, I realised quite early that I was not happy from inside. I used to demean myself. I was leading a successful external life, but internally, I used to feel that I should just disappear. These thoughts were doing lot of harm to me, I started seeing them manifest into frequent bouts of ill health too. That was a time, when my family and friends came to rescue. I started seeking help to improve my internal environment. I started reading motivational and self-help books, joined several forms of meditation and alternative therapies too. After many experiences, I found about Buddhist teachings and joined a group, which meets to meditate and also reflect on Buddhist teachings.

Neelam: Can you elaborate more on these Buddhist teachings?

Kavita: The Buddhist teachings group that I am part of, believes in concept of Human Revolution – what you are seeking, seek inside. Life is about inner transformations. When inner being is balanced, then all external things will be balanced. It follows the tenets of Wisdom, Courage and Compassion. You have to start with self and then extend it to other living beings too. Regular practice of Buddhism has made me peaceful and compassionate. I look forward to life’s challenges instead of getting bogged down by them.

Neelam: You have been following Buddhist teachings for sometime. However, it may sound esoteric to layman. How would you explain this to them?

Kavita: In simple terms, my Buddhism practice has helped in remaining in my present moment. Nothing is for later, it is how I feel here and now. What can I do to make my present moment beautiful? I would say I am not anywhere near enlightenment, but I know that my todays are better and I do not have any fear and worry of tomorrows.

Neelam: I am hooked! I would like to explore this concept and philosophy. What is your advice on this?

Kavita: Honestly, reaching to this destination has not been easy. I am still on the journey and experience new things every day. The first thing to remember while following any philosophy or teachings is to accept that we need to work on our inner being. The second is to seek out. There are many paths, you need to experiment and see what works for you. Third is putting yourself fully into the practice with full faith. Nothing in the life can be accomplished with doubt and half-hearted attempts. It will take time, but all good things in life take time.

Neelam: Thanks a ton Kavita; I wish that this conversation could go on and on. But I am mindful of time and that I need to publish this conversation today ☺

Kavita: My pleasure, thanks for listening to me, patiently and with compassion.

The rain was falling with its full might. I think, that was Nature’s crescendo to this brilliant conversation. We quickly paid our bill and hailed an auto!

Wow! What a brilliant day I had. I am not sure, which was more satisfying, having the conversation or penning it down. I think both! It is a great feeling to relive the conversation while writing it down!

Thanks a ton Kavita for being open and vulnerable! I hope I have done justice to our conversations.

Keep inspiring! Kavita Mittal



Tomorrow, I will write on some frequently asked Questions on wellness. So Stay Glued

13/07/2017

Week 1 | Day 4 |

Goodnight!

Did I forget anything? Dishes are done, door is locked, and I have brushed and flossed. I am good to sleep ☺

Oh no! I have missed out on scraping my tongue 😱.The daily routine that has saved me many slips and visits to the physician and dentist ☺

By the time, I clean my tongue, you can read the post of the day, or if this reminds you of brushing and cleaning your tongue. Do it now 🖐️

Many of us have been religiously practicing the tongue cleaning since our childhood. If you are not one of them, it is time to start now.

The tongue cleaning may not sound as uber cool as using recently launched flavour of mouthwash or Gel, Salt or whatever is in your toothpaste! 😄

Available research on the effectiveness of tongue scrapers is limited. However, most of the dental research articles that I read concluded that a tongue scraper is slightly more effective in removing toxins and bacteria from the tongue than a toothbrush. Adding to that is my experience of using tongue scrapper regularly.

Tongue scraping or Jihwa Prakshalana, is an Ayurvedic ritual, recommended as a daily practice in Ayurveda for over 5,000 years. It is quoted in the Charaka Samhita, a compendium of Indian traditional medicine, that cleaning the tongue, “removes foul smell, tastelessness …” Cleaning the tongue of this glucky coating can also helps in balancing Kapha dosha (I will talk about Doshas or humors of our bodies in future posts).

What Kind of Tongue cleaner to Use

The Charaka Samhita mentions that “tongue scraper should be made of gold, silver, copper, tin and brass and should be non-sharp and curved, so as not to injure the tongue”. I use a copper scraper that I picked up from Dmart (Picture attached). I keep my brush as well as scraper in the plastic case and clean them with lukewarm salty water before and after every use.

How to scrap your Tongue
- Using a smooth scraper, gently scrap your tongue by performing 5 to 7 front strokes (Picture attached). Some people find strokes in both direction irritating to the smooth surface of the tongue. Experience it yourself, and practice accordingly. The scraper can be rinsed in between strokes if there is a lot of deposit.
- After scraping, you may gargle with warm or room temperature water. Sometimes, you can gargle with salt water too.
- The tongue scrapping is a practice to be followed along with your daily routine of brushing and flossing.
- In case you feel tongue irritation, use gentle strokes. You make apply a small dab of ghee or coconut oil to soothe the irritation.

Benefits

- Clears toxins from the tongue and helps in alleviating bad breath and diseases of the oral cavity.
- Improve ability to taste food, which increases satiety levels. Better taste reception leads to less easting.
- Cleanses the body by removing Ama (toxins), which can cause gut and even respiratory problems.

Surprised! Even I was, when I heard about the myriad benefits. I used to do tongue cleaning as a morning ritual. Now I practice it at night too, I have noticed better immunity against colds and flu.

Our tongue is the mirror to our overall wellness. Hence, a daily look and care of it is important. No wonder, the first thing a doctor examines is our tongue ☺

I am done with my tongue cleaning ☺ Took me just 5/7 minutes.

Have you done yours as yet? This ritual should be a part of your Achara or Daily Practice!

Practice and share your experiences!

Tomorrow we meet someone who has made significant improvements in his/her health by embracing holistic wellness. Stay connected!



Source credits: Self-experience, www.webmd.com
Image credits: www.wikihow.com