 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.
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Have 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. Let’s look at the picture of this child. What comes to mind? Cute child.  Hessam Nabavi/ Unsplash One 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. Yoga 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.
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? “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. |
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Photos used under Creative Commons from Atlantic Coast Aviation Media, wuestenigel
