The Ecstacy of Chanting

Did you ever wonder that the congregation of people shouting and cheering in the music concerts, fashion shows, or cricket matches is chanting? Yes, it is the mass glorification of a person or team that creates an electrifying ambience, giving incredible pleasure to the large group of people. When we apply the same principle of this materialistic chanting in the spiritual realm, it evokes everlasting joy, happiness, peace and harmony.

Chanting, the glorification of God through His names, is one of the ancient and universal practices of meditation. It is an excellent way to raise body, mind and spirit towards higher self. The vibrations emanating from repeating the name of God still the mind, dissolve worries, and purify the heart; it cleanses the heart of all the dust accumulated for years.

Requisite: Enjoy yourself!

When we enjoy doing something, we forget our pains also. And when we are not enjoying, our mind begins to concoct false pain. Pain isn't there but the mind will imagine that the pain is there. So the question is - do you enjoy your chanting? Do you want to do your chanting? Most of the time you don't want it but you are still doing it because you are asked to do it. Because if you don't do it, you will lose being in good books of God! You are told that if you do the chanting then God will be very happy and whatever you ask will be given to you, so pamper God, blow his trumpet, say praises, he gets happy and gives you whatever you ask for. What a business deal happening - we do chanting, God gives us boon! If you have this kind of attitude, you will never enjoy your chanting. You can only enjoy your chanting when you love God and you enjoy singing His Name, whatever Name that might be.

Right Breathing: Correct your breathing

The most astonishing fact is that all throughout our life, we breathe the wrong way. If you don't believe this then test it yourself, if you breathe the right way. The right way of breathing is when you inhale through your nose and feel the breath going in through the windpipe to your lungs - you would say, how would I know that the air has reached my lungs? When you breathe in right and when this oxygen reaches your lungs, your shoulders rise a little bit and your underarms, this armpit portion, your chest, the side of the chest, this too expands a little bit. So when you breathe, feel the breath going in, feel the little rising of the shoulders and the expansion happening at the chest part, right, and under your armpit, in your armpits.

This expansion is happening because the lungs expand because of all this inflow of the air going is in like a balloon. When you inflate a balloon, the size increases. Similarly, when we breathe in, our lungs inflate. In the same way when we exhale out, again the shoulders which were risen a little bit would come down and the expansion which happened in your chest levels would come back to normal and something would happen in your stomach area also.

When you breathe right, when you breathe deep, with this expansion of the lungs the stomach too expands. And when you exhale, the stomach goes back to its normal position. Squeeze it a little; you feel the squeeze happening at the lower part of your stomach.

Now, we start the chanting

Start in a low tone. Don't sing on the higher pitches, in the lower tones, slowly, as if someone hums or sings. So, sing your mantra, don't say it. Sing your mantra, whatever it is (it doesn't matter whatever the mantra is) but do it the right way; its better not to do than to do in a wrong way.

With this deep breathing, with this right posture when you begin to do your chanting, that would be the day when you would enjoy it rightly. And it is a great experience in its own way.

Chant with love and enthusiasm. Chant until your eyes are drenched in tears of love; until your voice chokes at the recitation of His name.

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Healing with Laughter

In this modern world that we live in, full of medicinal remedies and medical breakthroughs, who would ever dream that something as simple as laughter could induce such amazing benefits to our health that could even rival highly scientific compounds found in drugs of today?

Life can sometimes be serious and tiring but a good and hearty laugh is not only welcome by the people around you but also by your mind, body and soul. Keeping in mind today's lifestyles and demanding schedules it seems almost impossible to find a genuine smile on anybody's face. Laughter knows no cultural boundaries. You don't have to speak the same language to laugh together. Laughter helps break the ice when you're in a group. It is one form of communication to which everyone can relate. Finding humor in a situation and laughing freely with others can be a powerful antidote to stress. Our sense of humor gives us the ability to find delight, experience joy, and to release tension. This can be an effective self-care tool.

Scientific evidence on the effectiveness of humor as a therapy is overwhelming. The sound of roaring laughter is far more contagious than any cough, sniffle, or sneeze. A healthy sense of humor is related to being able to laugh at oneself. Laughing at oneself can be a way of accepting and respecting oneself. Lack of a sense of humor is directly related to lower self esteem. Humor and laughter can cause a domino effect of joy and amusement, as well as set off a number of positive physical effects.

We usually keep popping in pills to get rid of our usual ailments but never think that a thing as simple as laughter can significantly contribute to cure various diseases with our own healing system. An enthusiastic laugh can help to reduce stress, maintain the right blood pressure, elevate mood, boost immune system, improve brain functioning, protects the heart, fosters instant relaxation, and the list is inexhaustible.

For some people laughter is a serious business because they literally believe in the adage "laughter is the best medicine." A study demonstrated stress-related hormones are decreased during laughter, which provides support for the claim that humor can relieve stress. Laughter has a number of direct affects on the overall physical health of an individual.

It stimulates production of endorphins, a natural painkiller and euphoriant, and reduces levels of the stress hormone, which contributes to high blood pressure and other conditions.

Laughing also exercises a large number of muscles, with substantial benefits for cardiovascular health.

Laugh your way to good health

The idea behind this therapy is a healthy and cheerful laugh that can make a person feel better, to relieve stress, combat diseases and strengthen the immune system. It is said that even one minute of laughter can give the body up to 45 minutes of therapeutic relaxation. It stimulates appetite and digestion and also expands the blood vessels and sends more blood racing to the extremities. This process sends more oxygen to every cell in the body, it also serves to speed tissue healing and stabilize many body functions. Laughter even produces a feeling of well being.

Laughter Yoga and Laughter Clubs

Somewhat similar to traditional yoga, laughter yoga is an exercise which incorporates breathing, yoga, stretching techniques along with laughter. The structured format includes several laughter exercises for a period of 30 to 45 minutes facilitated by a trained individual. It is practiced as a supplemental or preventative therapy. Laughter yoga can be performed in a group or a club. Therapeutic laughter clubs are extension of Laughter Yoga, but in a formalized club format. This form of laughter from the Laughter Clubs is about self generated laughing - not telling jokes or apparently about anything except laughing. Laugh till it hurts your belly, until tears are streaming down your face. We very often spot a large group of people standing in a circle and laughing hysterically in a park in your locality. Many people have formed such laughter clubs across the globe.

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Hair Care by Shahnaz Husain

During winter, when the weather is cold and dry, the hair really suffers. This is the time of year when we like to sit outside and enjoy the warm sunshine. We use hot water for bathing and washing the hair. These things can actually dry out the hair. For one thing, the hair and scalp lose moisture to the atmosphere, due to lack of humidity. Both sun-exposure and hot water also cause dryness. The hair becomes dry and difficult to manage. It can also develop problems like split ends.

A conditioner helps to give the hair protection and body. A good conditioner works by coating the hair. This adds thickness, strength and body to the hair. Conditioners can contain protein and oils. Some ingredients, like henna, are conditioners too, as they have the ability to coat the hair.

One can buy a hair conditioner, or a shampoo with a built-in conditioner, so that it performs a dual task of both cleansing and conditioning the hair. One can also use ingredients from the home to condition the hair.

The hot oil treatment works well on dry and brittle hair. This can be done by mixing, together one-tablespoon pure coconut oil with one-teaspoon castor oil. Heat and apply on the hair and scalp. Then dip a towel in hot water, squeeze out the water and wrap the towel around the head, like a turban. Keep it on for 5 minutes. Repeat the hot towel wrap 3 or 4 times. This helps the hair and scalp absorb the oil better.

Honey can also be used to condition dry hair, specially during the winter months. Mix one teaspoon honey with 2 teaspoons oil and apply this on the scalp. Apply a hot moist towel for about 20 minutes before washing the hair with shampoo.

You can also make a conditioner with two tablespoons coconut oil, one teaspoon lemon juice and one teaspoon honey. Beat them well together and apply on the scalp. Use the hot towel wrap around the head. This opens the pores of the scalp and allow better absorption. Wash your hair after 20 minutes. It will add both body and shine.

Tips for Winter Hair Care

• Use a mild shampoo and use very little of it. Harsh shampoos can also rob the hair of natural oils. Due to this, the scalp loses its ability to hold moisture. Avoid very hot water while washing the hair.
• After your shampoo, apply a conditioner. Or choose a shampoo with a built-in conditioner. If you apply a conditioner, put some on your fingers and then run the fingers through the hair.
• If you use a hair dryer, hold it at least 10 inches away. Stop using the hair dryer before the hair is totally dry and allow it to dry naturally.
• Twice a week, oil your hair and leave it on all night.
• Once or twice a week, condition the hair. Curd or egg yolk can be applied on the hair for conditioning dry hair. Apply and leave it on for half an hour, before washing the hair.
• Henna also makes a good conditioner. Mix a teaspoon of oil in the henna mixture.
• Styling gels are also available. These can be applied in the hair, to make them more manageable. They also lend some shine to the hair.
• When sitting out in the sun, cover the head.

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