<![CDATA[Perfect Soul Center for Education and Healing

<![CDATA[Perfect Soul Center for Education and Healing - Blog]]>Sat, 18 Apr 2026 04:47:01 +0800Weebly<![CDATA[Lifestyle Assessment in Yoga Therapy]]>Sun, 08 Jan 2023 08:44:40 GMThttps://www.perfectsoulcenter.com/blog/lifestyle-assessment-in-yoga-therapy

Andrew Neel/ Unsplash

A Lifestyle Assessment reviews a person’s lifestyle based on the 4 pillars of yogic living: food (ahar), recreation (vihar), routines (achar) and thought patterns (vichara).

When a person is experiencing difficulties or persistent problems in life, there is often a concern in one or more of the four categories mentioned.

Some issues manifest on the physical body while some are not as perceptible.

For example, a person may be consuming food items that are not suited to him or her.

Certain types of food are more beneficial for a particular type of person, according to Ayurveda, the ancient healing system and sister science of yoga. How a person eats also determines if one is nourished by the food or not.

Does the person spend his or her free time engaging in activities that promote harmony in mind and body? Hobbies such as painting, dancing, singing, playing musical instruments, gardening and other creative pursuits are ideal.

Spending quiet time also promotes well-being by offsetting the overstimulation of the mind in this internet age.

Healthy routines are essential for harmonious living. Cultivating good habits through self-discipline help avoid disturbance in the mind and body that may eventually lead to illness.

Finally and most importantly, the quality of one's mind has a direct influence on the other three categories. A balanced mind will gravitate towards helpful activities and routines and naturally reject what is harmful to the Self.

The whole system of yoga is thus aimed at attaining a state of mind where one is connected with the Self and is intuitively guided from within.

Through yogic wisdom and its various practices for every type of aspirant, a more balanced and fulfilling life can be achieved.

#lifestylemanagement
#yogatherapy
#yogaphilosophy
#yogiccounselling
#classicalyoga
#perfectsoulcenter

]]><![CDATA[Welcome to Holland]]>Sun, 29 Aug 2021 04:31:41 GMThttps://www.perfectsoulcenter.com/blog/welcome-to-hollandHave you ever planned a trip that had to be cancelled?

Or have you ever gone on a trip somewhere and found yourself in a totally different destination?

This post is inspired by a poem entitled "Welcome to Holland" by Emily Kingsley.

It is about becoming a special needs parent.

The poem “Welcome to Holland” likens becoming a special needs parent to planning a trip to a particular destination, say, Paris, and realizing that you have landed somewhere else.

When you plan a trip to Paris, you buy guidebooks about Paris, you prepare your itinerary and even learn a few phrases in the French language.

Imagine your surprise when, after the airplane lands, the flight crew announces “Welcome to Holland!”

So, you respond by saying “Hey wait. There must be some kind of mistake. I did not book a ticket to Holland.” I’m supposed to be in Paris!”

But somehow, plans have changed. And here in Holland you must stay.

This new place called Holland is not really disgusting or horrible. It’s just a different place.

What you do then is, since there is no way to change things, you decide to buy a new guidebook, prepare a new itinerary and maybe learn a few phrases in the Dutch language..

Before long, you realize, how, in this place called Holland, things are done differently.

Maybe it is not as glamorous as Paris but Holland is not such a bad place at all.

If Paris has the Eiffel Tower, the Mona Lisa and the fashionable shops, Holland has its windmills, tulips and marvelous paintings from Dutch masters such as Vermeer, Van Gogh and Rembrandt.

Of course, the pain of not making it to Paris will not be easy to forget, but if you do not allow yourself to move forward, then you will miss the very special things that Holland has to offer.

Yoga teaches us that, in this world, pain is unavoidable, but suffering is optional.

From the Yoga Sutra 1.5 (vrttayah pancatayyah klista aklistah) we learn that the modifications of our mind, our vrittis, can either be klishta (painful) or aklishta (non-painful).

Therefore, how we deal with our painful experiences determines whether we suffer in life or not. We can only overcome the painful thoughts with the help of non-painful thought patterns.

When one is a parent to a child with special needs, we can choose whether everyday is a punishment or a prison cell or decide if the deeper meaning of life is one of service to others.

One does not have to have a child with special needs to benefit from Yoga Sutra 1.5. Everyday, we are confronted with situations that challenge our ability to see and think clearly.

It is our identification with our vrittis that make us suffer.

To realize this is to arrive at something that I would call the yoga of special needs parenting.

Yoga Sutra 1.13 (tatra sthitau yatno abyasah) speaks of perseverance, abhyasa, as continuous effort without stopping, without looking back.

Thus, in the yoga of special needs parenting, there is no room for regret, only relevant action. It is not a single effort. It requires continuous application for as long as the action is required.

Yoga Sutra 1.15 (drstanusravika visaya vitrsnasya vasikarasamjsa vairagyam) says that when we learn to recognize what we can control from the things we cannot control, then we are making progress in yoga.

When we become too identified with our child’s disability and our happiness becomes dependent on whether the child is cured or not, then we are far away from vairagya or detachment.

Finally, in Yoga Sutra 1.16 (tatparam purushakyater gunavaitrnyam), the concept of the highest level of disinterestedness called paravairagya is discussed. At this stage, one realizes his or her spiritual purpose.

Here, we can say that the gunas, the forces that govern the physical world, no longer influence us and there is no desire for a particular result arising from one’s efforts.

When we have reached the stage of paravairagya, fixing the child is no longer the ultimate goal but rather to spread a message of love, faith, hope and healing to others.

]]><![CDATA[Who Is Disabled?]]>Wed, 25 Aug 2021 06:05:19 GMThttps://www.perfectsoulcenter.com/blog/who-is-disabled
Let’s look at the picture of this child.

What comes to mind? Cute child.

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Hessam Nabavi/ Unsplash

Now look at this picture.

What comes to mind?

Jon Tyson/ Unsplash

Both are children.

One has a typical body and the other has a body with a disability.

It is easy to be enamored by a cute child and the appearance of beauty and perfection.

When we meet a person with disability, we may experience different emotions.

We may feel indifferent, repelled or sometimes even scared.

Individuals with disabilities count among the most excluded members of society with very limited participation in activities within the community.

Individuals with special needs are no different from you and me. They also want to feel connected, accepted and appreciated.

However, their souls are encased in bodies with impairments, giving others the notion that they are not like us.

Samkhya Philosophy teaches us that all embodied beings have Purusha, Pure Consciousness which is beyond time and space, beyond the material world, and therefore beyond physical perfection or beyond disability or imperfections.

All beings, regardless of how they look, how they think, or whether they can do certain things or not, by virtue of the Purusha, are perfect in their own right.

When we transcend the physical world, disability is no longer an issue.

Essentially, we are all the same if we all relate beyond the level of the physical body.

Perhaps, the next time we see a person with disability, let us remember that only the body has the impairment.

Beyond the body, there is a soul living inside of it and a perfect one at that.

Let me conclude by reading out an excerpt from the poem

”Who is Disabled?” by Tony Wong

If you do not see the person but only the disability, then who is blind?

If you cannot hear your brother's cry for justice, then who is deaf?

If your heart and mind do not reach out to your neighbor, then who has the handicap?

If you do not stand up for the rights of all persons, then who is crippled?

Our attitudes towards persons with disabilities could be what makes them disabled, and also, what makes us disabled.

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Poem: Who Is Disabled? by Tony Wong of Jamaica
Photos from Unsplash

]]><![CDATA[The Practice of Withdrawing from the World]]>Tue, 26 Jan 2021 16:00:00 GMThttps://www.perfectsoulcenter.com/blog/the-practice-of-withdrawing-from-the-worldOne important self-care tool is the ability to check out from the external world from time to time. This practice helps refresh our mind most especially when things get too busy or stressful. We are aware that too much stress can lead to disease. The ability to manage stress is the way to easeful living.

A lot of us are used to going on weekend getaways, retreats and vacations that not only cost a lot but could also be difficult to undertake with our busy schedules.

The good news is that one can go on a mini-retreat even at home.

Julie Furst/ Unsplash

One strategy is to set up a small part of the house as your sanctuary or sacred space. It could be an altar, a corner of the garden, bedroom, living room, kitchen, dining room or attic.

The most important thing is to designate the place as such. Setting the intention for the place will charge it with this particular energy.

You can place objects that help create internal peace within you. These may be sacred images or artifacts, candles, incense, plants, flowers, books and other objects that have special meaning.

When you go to your sanctuary, you will leave behind everything that you had been doing previously so you could guide yourself into a place of calm. Even your thoughts concerning work, events and other people will have to be put on hold.

You may say a favorite prayer, recite a mantra, read a spiritual or inspirational book, do breathing exercises or meditate. If your designated space is outside, one can stare out into the horizon or observe the sky, the trees and the birds.

Let your household members know that this is part of your self-care routine and this helps you relax and rejuvenate. When you are able to take care of yourself, you can perform your tasks in a better way.

Once checking out of the external world becomes embedded in your routine, the peace that you experience will pervade your mind even outside of your designated space.

What does your sacred space look like?

#lifestylemanagement
#yogatherapy
#sacredspace
#perfectsoulcenter
#selfcare

]]><![CDATA[Lessons from Yoga: Non-harming]]>Tue, 01 Dec 2020 16:00:00 GMThttps://www.perfectsoulcenter.com/blog/lessons-from-yoga-non-harmingYoga philosophy is a great resource for anyone seeking guidance in life.

One very important principle in yoga is ahimsa or non-harming.

Non-harming means we do not engage in acts that are harmful to ourselves and others, whether in yoga practice or life in general.

As parents, we make decisions for our children out of love and concern for them. However, we can sometimes misread the situation when we fail to take into account our child’s uniqueness. This may cause our children pain and suffering.

Sage Friedman / Unsplash

Non-harming also means that we do not harbor thoughts that may cause ourselves pain as well others.

Some situations are beyond our control.

The strong desire to control outcomes can be harmful to us and to those around us.

At times, the uncertainty of life overwhelms us.

We can minimize the pain and suffering by creating more helpful thought patterns.

Yoga can help us become more aware of our thoughts which drive our behavior, and facilitate the release of inner tensions through postures, breathing practices, purification techniques, and other practices.

With consistent practice, we will be able to improve our thought patterns and behavior, and lessen pain and suffering.

#ahimsa
#yogasadhana
#yoga
#yamasandniyamas
#perfectsoulcenter
#yogatherapyphilippines

]]><![CDATA[Duty to Self]]>Thu, 12 Nov 2020 16:00:00 GMThttps://www.perfectsoulcenter.com/blog/duty-to-self

Duty is something we frequently associate with responsibility to other people. When we perform our duties, the purpose is usually to benefit someone else or something outside of our personal concerns.

We are often too preoccupied with the various roles that we need to fulfill. At times, this leave us feeling exhausted.

We often forget that the most important duty we have is to our self.

Nathan Lemon /Unsplash

When we take care of our self, we take care of our most important tool and resource -our body and mind. Only if the mind and body are in their best condition are we truly in a position to fulfill our purpose and seek our highest potential.

If we were to think of our self as a machine, a well-maintained machine is efficient, resilient and produces the best results. Whereas a machine that is neglected will generate unpredictable results. Also, the neglected machine’s life span may be shortened by accelerated wear and tear.

How do we fulfill our duty to the self?

We can start by reviewing our daily routines and by considering the basic aspects of our lives such as eating, rest, sleep, recreation, schedules, routines, and the quality of our thoughts.

We can ask ourselves if our management of these areas of our life help us achieve our highest potential. If not, then what are the things that we tend to neglect? What changes for the better can we make?

When we start asking these questions, then we are on the road to fulfilling our duty to self.

Without first carrying out our duty to self, every other duty we perform becomes less meaningful.

#dharma
#svadharma

]]><![CDATA[Being in the Now]]>Tue, 18 Aug 2020 16:00:00 GMThttps://www.perfectsoulcenter.com/blog/being-in-the-now“Realize deeply that the present moment is all you have. Make the NOW the primary focus of your life.” - ― Eckhart Tolle

For a parent, to not think about the future would seem nonsensical and irresponsible, even.

Naturally, one needs to plan for the future for the sake of the children.

If a child has special needs, the parent is advised to plan out the child's transition to adulthood long before the teenage years arrive. To forego this would be to the child’s detriment.

“As soon as you honor the present moment, all unhappiness and struggle dissolve, and life begins to flow with joy and ease. When you act out the present-moment awareness, whatever you do becomes imbued with a sense of quality, care, and love - even the most simple action.
- Eckhart Tolle

Things that happened in the past cannot be changed. The future has not yet arrived and so, is uncertain.

The power to influence the present moment is all that we ever truly have. And even then, our influence does not necessarily give us absolute power to alter events. This power that we wield lies in the quality of our reaction to events that transpire around us.

Ultimately, it is our internal environment, not the outside world, that determines whether an experience leads us to happiness, contentment or distress.

#specialneedsparenting
#specialdiet
#autismdiet
#mindfulness
#yoga

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