Spiritual and mental significance of Yoga chakra

Yoga is a set of principles, beliefs and practices for yoking matter to spirit, body to mind, personal to universe and mortal to immortal. Chakra system is the architecture of yoke providing a comprehensive map to the way the mortal and divine yoke together. This system describes the architecture of the body through the subtle energy centres shining out from our core.

Chakras are energy centres by which the galactic energy flows into the human body. There are basically eight principal Chakras and each is related with certain aspects of human existence. These are

-       Muladhara Chakra - Root Centre

-       Svadhishthana Chakra - Lower Abdominal Centre

-       Manipura Chakra - Navel Centre

-       Anahata Chakra - Heart Centre

-       Vishuddhi Chakra - Throat Centre

-       Agya Chakra - Eyebrow Centre

-       Bindu Chakra - Moon Centre

-       Sahasrara Chakra - Crown Centre

Chakra yoga is the exercise of using yoga postures and controlled breath, known as pranayama, to purify, balance, and open the chakras, or energy centres of the body. Postures related with hatha yoga are often espoused in chakra yoga because they are designed to keep the body aligned, namely, the spine which is the main path for the flow of chakra energy. Yoga poses are effective way to clean and balance the chakra system. It helps to bring new life (via oxygen) and balance to the chakras in yoga. Practicing chakra yoga also introduces components of meditation, which helps to refine the mind while balancing and opening the chakras.

There are many different methods of meditation. Yoga presents a vivid and sound meditational procedure for attainment of super-consciousness through the awakening of kundalini, one's spiritual energy. In visual imagery, kundalini is depicted as a serpent resting in three and a half coils at the base of the spine. Awakening of kundalini can take place through gradual activation of the seven energy centres or chakras. These chakras are visualised as whirling wheels of energy rotating clockwise on their axis in sushumna.

Some Chakra Yoga techniques include less motion and more mind focusing work. In most cases, equal attention gets spent on both the mind and body, largely because the main objective of this specific yoga perspective directly targets connecting the two most vital parts of each human being.

Chakra Yoga comprises of postures that work to balance physical parts within the body while meditatively and physically renewing organs, cells and other anatomical building blocks. Main objective of Chakra is to reduce stress and increase in energy through properly relaxing the entire body and sensitivity levels. Chakra Yoga unites proper breathing techniques to increase mental and bodily energy.

In spiritual area, chakra therapy has great contribution in terms of improving concentration, sharpening memory, decreasing the chances of negative thinking, developing clarity of mind and person can realize  that his/her life have some purpose in the world. In broad sense, Chakra therapy is a calm approach, works well with body and energy field of person, maintains balance and co-ordination of the entire body. Through chakra, person can improve physical, emotional, mental well-being as well as feel more energetic.

Know about Limbs of yoga

Yogic philosophy is taught together with the practice. According to Patanjali, there are eight limbs, or steps to yoga. These limbs relate to Aashtanga Vinyasa practice.  These limbs are elaborated as under:

1. Yama:  This limb consists of set of ethics which ensures that the yogi interacts in harmonious way with the surrounding community. The ethical precepts are not to harm others, to be truthful, not to steal, and abstain from greed. Major elements of this limb are Ahimsa, SatyaAsteya (non-stealing), Brahmacharya and Aparigraha (non-possessiveness). Yama basically means control of senses. It is considered as a code of conduct for interpersonal relationships.

2. Niyama: This limb is associated with personal observances. Niyama actually denotes to binding rules. It is well observed in human society that people follow some rules in the form of do’s and don’ts. Major components of this limb are swachha (purity), Santosha (contentment), tapas (Austerity), svadhyaya (Spritual studies), Ishvara pranidhana (constant devotion to God).

3. Asana (Postures): Through the practice of yoga asana, the body is made strong.

4. Pranayama (control of life force): It is the breathing exercise and control of Prana. Major mission of Patanjali is Chittavrutti nirodha and to accomplish this goal, he recommended practicing Pranayama.

5. Pratyahara (Withdrawal of senses): It is related to control of the senses. Practice of Pratyahara gives natural control over senses. The senses follow the mind. Withdrawal is practiced through focal point.

6. Dharana (Concentration): The practice of concentration is prerequisite and preparation for proper meditation. Concentration is practiced by focusing on the bandhas.

7. Dhyana (meditation). Meditation means to rest, uninfluenced, between the extremes of the mind

8. Samadhi (Absorption): Samadhi is two types that include objective and objectless.  Objective Samadhi is when the mind is clarified to an extent that it does not just produce another simulation of reality. Objectless Samadhi is the highest form of yoga. It does not depend on the object for its arising but witnessing subject or awareness, which is our true nature, is revealed.

In short, the core dogma of Patanjali’s Yoga Sutra is an eight-limbed path that develop the structural basis for yoga practice. These eight limbs of yoga specify a logical path that leads to the achievement of physical, ethical, emotional, and psycho-spiritual health.

Alleviate exam phobia

Student life is full of thrills and challenges. Majority of students are concerned about their performance in their academic sessions to shape their bright future. In doing so, they undergo physical strain and several psychological issues like stress, anxiety, nervousness. Many of them cannot cope up with stress and they develop severe mental ailment such as exam phobia. It is a known fact that students of higher secondary and senior secondary are afraid of final examinations as they have to give their best and if they do not have thorough preparation, they get scared.

Psychologists specified that the phobia is irrational fear or anxiety disorder, which results evasion and fright. Exam phobia is kind of mental ailment in which students experience huge tension and anxiety. In general term, Examination phobia denotes to the unnecessary worry about forthcoming exams. Many factors like lifestyle issues, negative thinking, self-depreciation, poor studying styles, fear of being evaluated, and anxiety about the consequences trigger exam phobia. Numerous psychological reports exposed that approximately fifty percent of students suffer from examination phobia. It does not have any relation to their intelligence. As examination dates are near, students get anxious about preparation of syllabus, theories or concepts. It is observed that some bright students may grip in phobia and do not show their knack in examinations. As a result, teachers and parents misjudge them underperformer.

There are deep seat grounds for developing exam phobia and also effective remedies to overcome it because this state is temporary and pupils can smartly deal with such unpleasant state. Students must understand that examinations are assessing tool of student’s educational performance of curriculum and knowledge of subjects. Examinations determine strength and weaknesses of students.

Psychologists have several causes for developing exam phobia among students. Students become enormously worried when exams arrive and try to prepare study plans to perform better and obtain high score.  Students are frightened of exams because they know they have not prepared subjects well to secure good score in examination. Students are gripped in irrational fear when they underestimate themselves for their preparation and develop lower confidence, high expectation of parents, tough competition among students, and great fear of denial. Such causes of phobia are baseless and aversion to exams.

While experiencing exam phobia, students may show symptoms of highly stressed with subject preparations and worried about results, feel nightmares, get arrogant and do not concentrate on theories or concepts, loss of appetite, increase in heart rate, dry throat. Sometimes students have breathing difficulty, sweating, trembling. They may feel abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting and sometimes diarrhoea. They pass frequent urination.

Now the question is whether exam phobia is ranked in mental syndrome or it is temporary phase of mental ailment. It is well accepted that exam phobia is prevalent in all culture and around the globe. But is not listed in mental disorders. Therefore psychologists, teachers and parents must comprehend the roots of these mental compliant and assist students to come up and give their best in exams in natural way in order to develop healthy personality.

Core mantras:

-       Parental role in eradicating exam phobia of their child: Parents need to understand the personality traits of their child and let it develop absolutely before high expectation in examination. It is quite understandable that competition is tough for survival. Therefore, parents give guidance to their child to study more, secure good marks to get good job. But constant compelling for studies or discomfit him may worsen the situation. 

-      It is not good to impose their anticipations and displeased dreams on their children unless child accept it gladly. It will be great if parents appraise their child from educational traits developed.  Most importantly, parents must give freedom to study and assist child to resolve their academic problem in own way. Meanwhile full guidance must be given if child deviates from studies or develop poor educational habits

-      Role of teacher is significant in eradicating exam phobia. It can be done through better understanding of children’s mind. During examinations, a student's mental state is very delicate and they should avoid embarrassing students in peer group if test performance is not good earlier. If children experience any humiliating situation, it will trigger exam phobia. Teachers need to conduct appropriate counselling sessions to overcome such stress or anxiety in students.

-      In normal course, exam phobia experienced by students is due to lack of academic preparation. Therefore, parents and teachers must educate properly and guide students to apply some effective tactics for exam preparations. It depends on the stream of students. If students are preparing science subject, they may make tag for concepts and prepare short notes and revise several times. There are array of such tactics. Students must contact counsellors or subject matter experts. Good time management and effective study plan is a booster to cover their syllabus and they may get rid of phobia. It may also augment confidence level.

-      From student’s angle, it is imperative that students must have proper sleep, nourished food and short breaks during study to obtain high score in examination. They must convince their parents that they have seriously made a study plan and doing their best. They must not worried if their parents pressurize them to concentrate more on studies or score good marks because it is parent’s fear that is revealed in such sentences: “score good, others are performing better or don’t take lightly”. It is important to sincerely involve in studies and kick out the negative feeling of low score or failure. You may be good counsellor for parents and always have positive outlook for them. Because they are also in same situation and parents always think for the benefit and bright future of their child.

To beat exam phobia, students may develop habit of Mnemonics, the techniques of memorization. They can make chart, rhymes or phrase to memorize lessons. Other effectual way to overcome phobia is practice relaxation techniques such as take deep slow breath and relax muscles. It will increase concentration.

It can be said that negativity never pays. It can worsen the life. For best results in exam, consult teachers, professionals or seniors regarding study techniques instead of developing dreadful mental virus like anxiety, stress, and depressions.

In present situation, various counselling program are conducted by educational institutes to guide students to deal with anxiety and stress related with preparation for examinations. Students also may choose email counselling to resolve their hidden educational issues. Counsellors give full guidance to students to tackle stress and increase concentration in cracking questions in examination.

In closing the natural facts and remedies of exam phobia, it is said that exam phobia, an invisible element is engrained in students psyche during examination. Such unwanted outlooks may hugely impact on scores in academic career. Though teachers and parents role is great in lessening such fear but students need to develop positive attitude for examination and never lose their confidence while studying the syllabus. Everyone cannot be leader but all can get success in their academic life and make their bright future. Examination period is tough phase in the life of students and they can better understand. Therefore teachers and parents must listen to them carefully and resolve their issues if any.  

Important: This article is based on  knowledge and personal views of writer. Writer is not responsible for any disagreement.

Rugby: A thrilling sport

Rugby is well known sport in many countries of the world. In each rugby game, there are two teams, each consisting of fifteen players. The team is split into two groups known as forwards and backs. There are 8 forwards such as Hooker, Prop, Second Row, Flanker and Number Eight and 7 backs like Scrum Half, Fly Half, Inside Centre, Outside Centre, Wingers and a Full Back.

Each team can carry, pass or kick the ball to the end zone to score as many points as possible. One referee is there to control the match with the assistance of two touch judges. There are no time outs, except at the referee's discretion where he can allow one minute for an injured player to decide whether or not to continue to play. The team who score the greater number of points is the winner of the match.

Each team is only permitted seven replacements per game. Six of the replacements are at the team’s decision and a seventh for injury.  Once a player is replaced, he can not re-join the game.

The game starts with a kickoff which is taken from the centre of the field. The team with the ball put its all effort to score once the ball is in play. A try is awarded when a player touches the ball to the ground in the opponent's in-goal. The team is given five points. After a try is scored, the team is given the opportunity to score a goal by kicking the ball over the opponent’s cross-bar and in between the goal posts, scoring an additional two points. The ball must be kicked from a line perpendicular to where the ball was touched down. If the rival team commits a penalty at any time, the offended team can attempt a penalty kick for three points, either at the goal or a drop kick at the goal from anywhere in the field of play.

During the game, players move onward towards their goal, however the ball can not be passed forward. The participant must pass the ball backwards to his teammates while moving forward. Forward progress of the player carrying the ball may be obstructed by tacking that player. Once a player is undertaken, he must instantly pass or release the ball and move away from it.

Rugby is not only a recreational sport but it is marvellous sporting activity to improve one’s physical fitness, as well as other physical skills. It can also enhance confidence which is very important for overall personality development. If this game is regularly played, it increases bone density because exercise imposes stress on the bones, thus stimulating the deposition of calcium along the line of stress. The main part of rugby game is power, pace, breath-taking skills and crunching collisions.

Snowboarding: an awesome sport

Snowboarding is wonderful winter sport that involves descending a slope that is concealed with snow while standing on a board attached to a player’s feet, using a special boot set onto a mounted binding. The development of snowboarding was encouraged by different recreational activities like skateboarding, sledding, surfing, and skiing. It was developed in the United States and became a Winter Olympic Sport.

The Olympic events in snowboarding include parallel slalom, parallel giant slalom half-pipe, snowboard cross and slope style.

Beginner’s guidelines for snowboarding:

The snowboard is not as simple to control when the board is flat. Snowboarders who use the heel side or toe side on the snow must control their knees bent. This will help going over bumps. It is suggested to use their heels and toes to turn the board. There are chances of falling if players try to shift their entire body weight. Snowboarders need to keep their centre of gravity over the middle of the board.

There are many health benefits of snowboarding as a recreational activity. Snowboarding increase flexibility as it requires sportsperson to change direction, speed, and body position very swiftly. While involving in surfing or stake boarding, person comes to know the balancing skill. Snowboarding enhances balancing strength. This sporting activity also increases the muscle strength. Snowboarding is healthy workout which enhances stamina, leg muscles, and burns high amount of calories. As a result, person can avert many deadly diseases. Besides maintaining physical health, snowboarding also serves as a mood enhancer, improves concentration, and releases stress and anxiety. In this way, snowboarding greatly improves the mental and physical health of the persons.

To encapsulate, Snowboarding is an amazing blend of skiing, skateboarding, and surfing. It is a prominent winter sport.

Importance of hybrid organizations in cutthroat competitive business

Hybrid organizations are ubiquitously established at global stage. A hybrid organization is illustrated as a market-oriented and has broad-spectrum operation. In the arena of Institutional Economics, the phrase “hybrid organization” is used in reference to hybrids that operate between market and hierarchy. Such organizations unify features of non-profit organizations, for example volunteering, mission orientation and creating social and economic value. Fast paced globalization led to the hybridization process and the advent of hybrid organizations.

Hybrid organizations mainly tackle environmental and social issues while retailing the product and services to gain advantage such as fair trade matters, social entrepreneurship in banking services. Essentially, hybrid organization hold functional and central structures and have similar administration policies. Subsequently, the hybrid organization is considered as a unification of government and a private company.

It is visualized that numerous companies may engrained in hybridity. Hybrid organizations are flourishing in energy industry. For example, universities that offer consultancy sessions on a profitable basis. Another case of hybrid structure is Toyota Motor Corporation. In this organizational framework, the functional and product structure responsibilities are mingled, wherein chief engineers are accountable for product structure job and managers have functional responsibilities.

There are advantages and disadvantages of Hybrid organisations. Key benefit of hybrid organization is intermingling of public responsibilities and marketable activities which can have positive impact on productivity. Hybrid organizations make Alliance of business and local goals and it has functional proficiency, flexibility and suppleness in business functions of all units of organizations.

There are some shortcomings of hybrid organizations such as some conflicts may rise between business and other sectors. In hybrid organizations, there are more expenses of unnecessary administration and lethargic response to business scenario.

In short, Hybrid organization may signify traits of non-financial performance valuation and substitute capitalization. All hybrid organizations produce social and economic value and are linked with motive, responsibility and revenue.

Cope up with Alzheimer disease

Alzheimer’s disease hugely impacts on cognitive function of the brain. Females are more prone to this impairment as compared to males. Alzheimer's disease is a type of dementia that is a condition of chronic progressive deterioration of intelligence, memory, and communicative function. Dementia indicates several behavioural deformities often linked with old age.

The cause of Alzheimer disease is still not found by psychologists. But it is commonly believed that advancing age and family history are risk factors. Additionally, some ill health conditions like obesity, hypertension and Down syndrome trigger Alzheimer’s disease. The progression of symptoms in this mental illness varies from person to person. These symptoms are roughly segregated into mild, moderate and severe. The progressive symptoms can be ascribed to the sequence and gradual loss of neuronal functions and destruction of cell in different regions of brain. When patient has mild form of Alzheimer disease, he/she exhibit symptoms of loss of memory. Patient may forget words and names with increasing frequency. In moderate stage, cortical regions, responsible for reasoning are affected and patients begin to lose their logical thinking and experience confusion such as difficulty in identifying family members. When patient enters into severe stage of Alzheimer disease, additional brain regions are damaged which results in loss of control over normal physiological functions to external environment such as patients are unable to perform daily activities and lose ability to speak coherently.

Environmental risk factors associated with Alzheimer disease are cardiovascular factor, metabolic and energy disorder, and traumatic brain injury. Severe form of type 2 diabetes leads to cognitive impairment.

Diagnosis of Alzheimer disease is performed through reviewing family history. Physical examination of patient is done that includes hearing and sight evaluation, checking blood pressure, and pulse rate. In neuropsychological testing, doctors use various tools to assess memory, problem solving, vision motor coordination, attention and abstract thinking. MRI and CT scan is done to look at the structure of brain.

Psychologists recommend symptomatic therapies, cholinesterase inhibitors. They prescribe drugs according to symptoms, like antidepressants for depression, agitation, and for sleep disorders. Routine physical exercise will have effect on disease progression as increased cardiorespiratory fitness has been shown to slow disease headway.

For prevention of Alzheimer disease, people needs to adopt smart lifestyle changes. They must eat more fruits and vegetables. Berries contain high levels of biologically active components, which fight memory impairment related with free radicals and beta-amyloid plaques in the brain. Therefore, it can be very helpful if included in diet. People can consume folic acid supplements to prevent this degenerative ailment. There is a need to maintain blood pressure in order to escape this cognitive impairment that make human life hell.

It is to be noted that Alzheimer disease can hit any person. Some famous personalities who suffered with Alzheimer disease are Ronald Reagan, 40^th President of US, Betty Schwartz, Olympic gold medal winner in track events.

It can be concluded that Alzheimer disease is neurodegenerative ailment that deprive the minds of elderly people. It is progressive and irreversible.  Alzheimer illness causes numbers of cognitive losses that include serious memory loss, spatial and temporal disorientation, and loss of the sense of home. Such patients can no longer recognize familiar places, their family members and forget how to use common objects. In basic sense, this disease usually involves memory impairment at initial stage. Finally, Alzheimer patients need help for daily activities because they lose the ability to dress, bathe, and to feed themselves.

Important note: This article is developed through environmental information, academic experience and/ or personal view of writer. Writer is not responsible for any disagreement