www.lifepositive.com ₹ 200
YOUR PERSONAL AND SPIRITUAL GROWTH COMPANION AUGUST 2023
Embrace Body
Diversity
PAGE 26
The Adinarayans:
Reviving India’s glory
PAGE 18
Collagen: The elixir of youth?
PAGE 54
The dos and don’ts
of intermittent fasting
PAGE 40
The LP Chennai
Spiritual Fest
PAGE 46
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AUGUST 2023 Vol. 27 Issue 05
Chairman: Aditya Ahluwalia
President: D R Kaarthikeyan
Director: V Venkat
Editor-in chief: Shivi Verma
EDITORIAL
Graphic Designer: Yoshita Monga
WEBSITE
Content curator: Jamuna Rangachari
PRODUCT MARKETING
Vice President, Sales & Subscription:
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Celebrate the unlimited spirit
SUBSCRIPTION
Shweta Naithani: Senior Executive Dear Reader,
Shalini Dwivedi: Executive It isn’t often that after five years of retirement, one gets an opportunity
to hold the reins, albeit for a short month. But Shivi Verma needed
FINANCE & ADMINISTRATION time out—all harried editors do! So I could not help but consent to
Deputy General Manager: Ambika Sharma her request that I guest-edit the August issue.
It has been a stimulating experience to once again pore over the
Advisors thought-provoking and inspiring contents of the magazine, and to
Parveen Chopra, Suma Varughese, engage with subjects and issues of concern to you. Our cover story on
Kiran Bedi, M Madhavan Nambiar, SD Saxena, the subject of body image, Own Your Body, is a case in point.
Ameeta Mehra, Manisha Verma, Shruti Nada Poddar,
Hamid Ahmed, Shovana Narayan, Ritika Goyal We live in times when dissatisfaction with our body is extreme.
Appearance is all, in our increasingly sensory times, aided and
Editorial & Advertising Office abetted by our obsession with social media. Nothing short of
Delhi: F1/9, First floor, Okhla Industrial Area, perfection will do. Thanks to the plethora of apps and filters available,
perfection is achievable on our media posts, but not so in real life.
Phase - I, New Delhi-110 020
Ph: (011) 49563777 | Fax: (011) 49563773 As the importance of looking good spirals, our self-esteem takes a
hit and we descend into emotional and mental distress. Children
E-mails: [email protected]
and adolescents are the most affected. Our cover story looks at this
troubling issue and offers perspectives as well as psychological and
Readers are requested to make appropriate enquiries before sending spiritual solutions to overcome it.
money, incurring expenses or entering into commitments in relation to
any advertisement in this publication. Another article that reflects our desperate need to look good is
Life Positive or Life Positive Pvt Ltd do not vouch for any claims made by the rise of collagen as the superhero to combat our battle against
the advertisers of products and services. The printer, publisher or editor ageing. Collagen is the main structural protein in the body, which
is responsible for the structure and suppleness of our skin. With
of Life Positive or any employee of Life Positive Pvt Ltd shall not be held
liable for any consequences in the event of such claims not being honoured the onset of age, the body’s production of this protein dwindles,
leading to wrinkles and sagging skin. With the discovery of its role
by the advertisers. in sustaining youthfulness, the world is racing towards collagen
All rights reserved. © Life Positive Pvt. Ltd.
supplements in the form of pills and powders.
losZ HkoUrq lqf[ku~%] losZlUrq fujke;k% It is time to pause and ask ourselves some questions: Where is this
losZ Hknzkf.k i’;Urq] ekdf’pn~nq%[kHkkd~Hkosr! quest for eternal youth and beauty taking us? How long should we
May all beings be happy, May all be healthy, combat the body’s natural and inevitable mortality? And is this the
May people have the well-being of all in mind, best use we can put our lives to?
May nobody suffer in any way. — Vedic prayer Maya’s veils of illusion are numberless, but if we want
to lead sane, happy, and balanced lives, we must come
Edited by Shivi Verma. Printed and published by to terms with the limitations of the body and turn our
Aditya Ahluwalia on behalf of Life Positive Pvt. Ltd. from attention, instead, to the unlimited potential of our spirit.
F1/9, First floor, Okhla Industrial Area, Phase - I, In that only lie our peace, purpose, and happiness.
New Delhi-110020 Have a wonderful August.
Printed at M.P. Printers, B-220, Phase 2 Noida, 201305
Member, Indian Newspaper Society
LP mascot: Laughing Buddha
4 LifePositive | AUGUST 2023
The Wisdom Bridge by Daaji
(Kamlesh D. Patel)
A Treatise on
Wholesome
Parenting
here is no doubt that parents, grandparents
and caregivers today are bringing up
Tchildren in a fast-paced world that is vastly
different from the one in which they grew up. With
the pressures of modern life, parenting has become
more a source of anxiety than joy.
The Wisdom Bridge by Daaji provides a heart-
centred approach to nurture well-rounded, happy,
resilient children in today’s world. To do this, elders
must first work on themselves and be living examples.
The book offers nine practical principles as guiding
lights for parents and caregivers on this journey.
Each principle is illuminated by Daaji’s personal
experiences, questions for introspection and ‘daily Author: Daaji (Kamlesh D. patel)
dilemma’ queries from real parents seeking advice. Publisher: India Penguin Ananda
“The elders are the living wisdom bridge in society,” SBN: 9780143459064
says the author. Central to this book are valuable Pages: 288
insights for building and maintaining a wide support-
system for both parents and children that fosters Paperback: ₹399.00
intergenerational communication and exchange. So
without any further ado, get your own copy of this
much needed book. His work has appeared in the Times of India,
Economic Times, Hindustan Times and on leading
About the Author television networks. Daaji gives keynote addresses
Daaji, also known as Kamlesh D. Patel, is the fourth at conferences and conducts workshops around the
and current spiritual guide of the global Heartfulness world. His passion lies in grassroots efforts, especially
movement. He has spent the past four decades training in taking meditation to the villages of India. Daaji
people across the world in Heartfulness meditation. enjoys going on nature walks with his grandchildren
Daaji is the author of the bestsellers The Heartfulness in Kanha Shanti Vanam, India, where he lives with
Way (with Joshua Pollock) and Designing Destiny. his family.
Advertisement
CONTENTS
RY 26
O
T Own Your Body
S The burgeoning of social media has underscored the
D importance of appearance and set into motion an
A explosion of dissatisfaction with the body. Although
E the malaise affects all age groups, children and
adolescents are particularly vulnerable to it. Navni
L Chawla explores this phenomenon and offers sound
solutions
18
CLOSE ENCOUNTER
A Spiritual Resurgence
Meet the Adinarayans, whose commitment to
disseminating the great spiritual values of India has
led them to create unique initiatives that include
self-reliant agriculture, natural buildings, alternative
energy, waste management, and chemical-free living.
By Pradeep Krishnan
15
HEARTSPEAK
Fierce Grace
A gruelling pilgrimage to the Chhota Char Dham
sites affords K Geethanjali the insight that its
purpose was not to gain anything but, rather, to let go
06 LifePositive | AUGUST 2023
40
FOOD
Wellness via Intermittent Fasting
Naini Setalvad examines the advantages of
intermittent fasting and outlines the steps needed
to ensure that we attain our objectives of health and
weight loss safely and soundly
46
FEST
Spirit of the South
Life Positive celebrates its 25th anniversary with a
visit to Chennai where it will hold a Spiritual Healing
Festival on Sept 1–2, 2023. You are invited, says
Jamuna Rangachari
54
BEAUTY
Skincare: How Far Should You Stretch
It?
Ever since the discovery that the protein collagen is
the secret behind youthful skin, the world has been
stampeding to drug stores in pursuit of this miracle
compound. But can it really turn back the clock? Lata
Agarwal takes a balanced look at the evidence
REGULAR COLUMNS
Response 08 Aha Moments 44 Mudra 62
Mandala 10 Journey 53 Banyan Tree 64
Yoga Column 14 Sharing 60 Spirit 66
Cover photo: Adobe Stock, Photo credit: Adobe Stock, Cover design: Yoshita Monga Total pages 68, including the cover page and the back cover
Contents 07
RESPONSE
Mail From Our Readers,
Online Fans and Subscribers
Divine guidance
I have always been curious about tantriks and He told her to give not just money but time too.
the curses that they, sometimes, are said to And yes, that did make a difference in her life.
remove. My friend’s life changed after going to People often discredit such guides, but the fact
a tantrik-cum-astrologer. She was not getting is that while some are commercial, many are
any job though she was a good student. He said well-meaning, like the one mentioned here, and
she had a karmic curse as she had been an unfair these are the ones whom we should listen to.
teacher in her last birth, and she could resolve
it only by feeding the poor every Saturday for – Sharanya Sridhar, Mumbai
as long as possible. She did do so, and after two
months, job offers started pouring in. Hence, Kundalini Yoga within easy reach
I related to the cover story, Messages from the Kundalini Yoga is something I have always been
Beyond, in the July issue of Life Positive and interested in. I did not know how to further my
feel that connecting to people who guide you knowledge about it though I did make a lot of
properly to remove your curses is something we enquiries. Most people who responded to my
all can do. queries made it sound very complicated. I felt
I would just have to forget about it as I did not
– Chitra Srinivasan, Bangalore know how to pursue it further. Hence, it was
wonderful to read about a couple who teaches
I loved the lead story, Messages from the Beyond, it in a simplified way in the article Reaching for
in the July issue of Life Positive. I resonated with the SKY, in the July issue of Life Positive. As I
it as my mother’s friend was in the doldrums live in Bangalore, I will definitely try to visit
after she lost her young grandson in an accident them as soon as possible.
in her own house when he touched a live wire. Thank you, Life Positive, for bringing such
She went into depression, until a kind friend wonderful souls to our attention.
took her to a spiritual guide who asked her
to teach in a school and connect with other –Prasanna Gowda, Bangalore
children to alleviate her depression and guilt.
08 LifePositive | AUGUST 2023
LP shows family the way to happiness minimise weaknesses. Indeed, it is very much
Being a happy family sounds simple, but it is like psychology as it shows what the person is
very complicated in modern times. The article from within. When used well, it can be a good
How to Be a Happy Family, in the July issue, guide for us to work on ourselves. Luck does
Mail From Our Readers, shows how we could prioritise family time to not happen; we need to make it happen. And
eliminate stress. It helped me make an action here, astrology is one of the tools we can use.
Online Fans and Subscribers plan to ensure that family time is fun time and –Shankar Hegde, Bangalore
not stress time. I feel I need to do this for my
children, who want some succour and support
from their parents. As is often said, it is what Time to celebrate
we do that is more important than what we say. Couldn’t wait to receive the print copy of Life
Thanks for your guidance, Life Positive. Positive again. Just received the July copy, and
it’s a great feeling holding the hard copy in my
-Ramya Parthasarathy, Chennai hands. While I haven’t read it yet, I couldn’t
wait to share my happiness with you. The print
Defending yourself in the digital age and paper qualities are great.
With so many scams becoming the talk of the
town, Building Digital Immunity was a wonderful –Muralidharan M. via email
article in the July issue that showed us how to
lead our lives safely while making use of digital SKY — The way to vairagya
platforms. I have often been a victim of these I refer to the excellent interview titled Reaching
scams but did not know what to do about it. for the SKY in the July 2023 issue of Life Positive.
This article was an eye-opener. I shared it with It gives valuable information and guidance for
all my friends, young and old, so that they those of us who are on the path and who practise
don’t get exploited by online fraudsters. This is meditation, and pranayama, regularly.
practical education for modern times.
Our bondage is indeed due to our various
Thanks, Life Positive, for this article that is very karmas, and the article points to agami karma
much needed in the digital world. which may bind us. I suggest that to avoid
this, let us treat ourselves as actors acting
– Sunanda Raman, Chennai in the drama of life. People coming into our
life are actors, good as well as bad, acting out
Star value their parts. This attitude helps us give our
I loved the article The Star Who Reads Your best without any attachment. We can follow
Stars in the July issue of Life Positive. I agree the advice of Sri Krishna given in the Gita to
with the star astrologer who candidly tells us work without expecting a reward (karmaphal).
the purpose of astrology and how and when Thanks to Rishi Rathod for this interview.
to use it to capitalise on one’s strengths and
–A S Dandekar, Mumbai
Response 09
MANDALA
Educating the
underprivileged
e often lament seeing children loitering family, friends, and some organisations which
around without any education but do are also working in this area, such as Pravah
Wnothing about it. But some like Rohit and Wipro Foundation, held his hand during
Kumar from Delhi are concerned and strive to challenging times.
make a difference to the lives of such children.
Support from donors and friends from all over
Rohit’s journey began India, coupled with
when he first started Rohit’s passion for
teaching 25-odd children bringing a change
from the slums of Anna in society made him
Nagar near Indraprastha, enter the development
Delhi. In 2015, he sector, and now the
established Let’s Educate same passion keeps
fuelling his desire
Children In Need
(LECIN), a non-profit to make the lives of
others better. There
organisation working
in the education sector. are many moments
Initially, he did face some that make him feel it
challenges like convincing is all worth it. In May
his family about the merit 2016, he completed
of making a career in one year, and he
the development field, celebrated it on a
raising funds, making a grand scale by booking
donor base, and learning an auditorium to
how to give his best to celebrate the first
the children. Subsequent Rohit Kumar: Making lives better annual cultural
years saw the expansion festival of LECIN,
phase when the organisation’s dedicated Unnati, with the children.
volunteers started impacting the lives of over Rohit is confident that he and his team will be
1,000 children across the Okhla and Mansarovar able to bring about a positive change in the lives
Park areas of the city. The team organised regular of these children. With his zeal and passion, we
remedial classes for children between the ages of are certain that many children will get educated
4 and 15. and empowered.
“The more I witness the change happening, the Kudos, Rohit, for all that you are doing to make
more I am inspired,” says Rohit with pride. His the lives of others better.
- By Jamuna Rangachari
10 LifePositive | AUGUST 2023
TEACHING
the world how to live
he story of Veeranna Madiwalar, who Nidagundi Ambedkar School in 2016. As the
hails from Kaliwal village in Belgaum, school was in a rundown building and the lack
TKarnataka, is truly remarkable. His of infrastructure was reminiscent of his own
father was a daily wager, who worked hard childhood, he wished to work towards changing
but earned just enough for basic sustenance. the situation.
His uncle looked after his schooling. At all
stages, despite the formidable adversities, Veeranna started small using his own money.
Veeranna never stopped dreaming of providing Realising that funding was necessary, he posted
a good education for all. On completing his details about his dream online on various
schooling, he worked as a daily wage earner at a platforms. “I was thrilled that many people
construction site for many months. came forward to help,” he says. There were
donors from many regions of Karnataka and
As his dream was teaching, Veeranna funded from abroad also.
his studies and took a diploma in education.
He went back to his district and joined an NGO Veeranna left no stone unturned to make the
that worked for the rejuvenation of lakes and school better in all ways. The challenges that he
wildlife. He worked hard and saved as much faced as a child motivated him a lot to work hard
as he could. He did a master’s in English and for his school. He still remembers his primary
Kannada as learning languages had always school teacher, Shri P M Kyatannanavar, who
been his passion. At last, his dream to become motivated him to have big aspirations in life
a government school teacher came true in 2007. and showed him the way to achieve them.
Subsequently, he was made the headmaster of
Veeranna wanted to become a software engineer
but could not fulfil his ambition because of his
economic condition. Nevertheless, he is proud
to have supported his student, Vidhyashree, in
all ways with the help of donors and enabled her
to become a software engineer who is currently
working for Larsen & Toubro Ltd (L&T).
Veeranna is still striving to make his school better
and hopes to get more support from education
lovers for his kids and school. He loves to read
and write, and hence, expresses his concerns in
his poems and writings. His commitment to the
education of the marginalised is laudable, and
one can only hope he inspired scores to follow
Veeranna Madiwallar: A dream teacher in his footsteps.
- By Jamuna Rangachari
12 LifePositive | AUGUST 2023
Attention All Readers! The Wait Is Over
We are thrilled to announce the comeback of our print edition! Get ready to dive into a world of
inspiration and spirituality with our revamped print magazine. Packed with insightful articles,
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YOGA
The Sitting
Sirsasana
Hopefully, with Kamala Venkat’s help,
you won’t have to bend over backwards to
do the forward bend
J anu Sirsasana, also known as Head-to-Knee • Slowly exhale and bend forward towards
your left leg from the hips, and hold your
Pose, is a full forward bend that offers a
stretch from the hips to the ankles, along
possible, you can hold your toes or ankles
with the back and both sides of the body. In left toes with both hands. (If that is not
Sanskrit, ‘janu’ means ‘knee,’ and ‘sirsa’ means or your shin bones, depending on your
‘head.’ flexibility). Keep your neck facing down.
• Stay in this pose for 5 to 10 breaths.
Method • Slowly inhale and lift your upper body along
• Start by sitting on the mat with your legs with your arms, keeping it straight. Exhale
stretched in front of you. Keep your legs and bring your arms down, stretching your
straight, and do not lift your knees from the right leg straight. Relax in this pose.
mat.
• Repeat the same steps with the other leg
• Slowly fold your right leg and place the sole also.
of your right foot against the inner part of
your left thigh. Try to keep your left leg and Benefits
Stretches and strengthens the leg muscles
•
spine straight.
and spine, and improves flexibility
• Inhale deeply, lift both arms, and stretch • Aids digestion.
the upper body while trying to touch your
arms to your ears and keeping your spine Contraindications
erect and straight. • Injury to the ankle, knee, or spine.
• Slightly rotate your upper body towards
your left leg.
Mrs. Kamala Venkat is a homemaker with a great passion for YOGA. Inspired by Shri Swami Ramdev of Patanjali, she
has been an ardent yoga lover and has been practising it with complete dedication for the last 20 years. She has done a
Yoga Instructors’ course from VYSA(Vivekananda Yoga Anusandhana Samsthana)
14 LifePositive | AUGUST 2023
HEARTSPEAK
Fierce Grace
The purpose of a pilgrimage, just as of life,
discovered K Geethanjali, is not so much
what you can gain but what you can let go of.
hy do we do this to ourselves?
I asked myself as the pony
WI was holding on to for
dear life made its descent down the
Yamunotri Mountain. As it teetered to
the edge, I held my breath. One wrong
move, and I could hurtle down the
cliff and be a goner! Why, God, why?
Do we really have to go through so
many sacrifices and so many trials to
have a darshan of the deities? Why are
they placed in such difficult-to-access
places? I was on my Chhota Char Dham
pilgrimage and was visiting Yamunotri,
Gangotri, Kedarnath, and Badrinath.
I now looked at the hordes of ponies
carrying their burdens up and down
the yatra trail. They had no choice but
to follow the urgings of their masters,
making the same back-breaking trip
again and again. Trekkers braved the
rain and jostled with the pituwallas
(frail young mountain folk who carried
pilgrims in baskets) and the doli bear-
ers. It all looked so scary and chaotic.
Heartspeak 15
Narrow and treacherous mountain paths: A lesson in surrender.
As the pony boys reached a treacherous trail, end of the Himalayas to another in our hired car,
without warning, they asked us to get down drinking in the beauty of the landscape—the
and walk a few kilometres up the trail as it snow-capped mountains; the Mandakini, Alak-
was too dangerous for the ponies to do so car- nanda, Bhagirathi, and Ganga rivers; the ash-
rying us. This was an experiment in living in rams and sanyasis; the beautiful remote villag-
the moment. There was no time to complain es; and the pure fresh air—absorbing the lives
or grumble. The trail was slushy as it had been of the mountain folk, and realising what a priv-
drizzling throughout the trip. Each step had ileged life we city folk lead. Surrounded by such
to be taken in awareness lest one slipped and awesome beauty, the mountain folk, neverthe-
fell. Our joy when our ponies met us ahead of less, lead tough lives trying to make ends meet,
the trail was short-lived as we found we could deprived of educational and job opportunities.
not mount our ponies yet as there was a jam
ahead since pilgrims made their way single file It was only when I came home and rested af-
to the goal—the Bluewater goddess, Yamunotri. ter the trip that the answers kept coming. It’s
not about gaining anything, a voice inside me
“Are we mad to have embarked on this trip, reminded me. You have nothing to gain. You are
when Ramana and other Advaita masters point the Divine Essence. It’s about letting go.” Letting
out that we carry the very one and same God go of likes and dislikes and adapting to the sit-
within us?” we asked ourselves throughout. uations. Accepting the same type of food con-
I did not receive any answers to my questions tinuously: roti, sabji and dal when my palate
though I went through the other Dhams. Maybe longed for the familiar idli and sambar; being
that was because I was so busy hurtling from one fair and taking turns to sit at the back of the
16 LifePositive | AUGUST 2023
Bolero we had hired; willing to be bumped and bled from my pitu and found myself sitting
thrown about as the car swung round hairpin on a mound of snow in the middle of the Ke-
bends; looking out for each other in the group; dar trail, with none of my family members in
giving up the comforts of a warm home; and sight. I knew I would be taken care of through
tolerating the terrible chill we South Indi- the toughest of times, and sure enough, I
ans were not used to. It was about accepting was. Each time I found myself in a tight spot,
life in all its hues with grace and openness. some kind hand would help me. It could be
that of family members or total strangers. I
I found it very difficult to accept the dark face realised that didn’t matter. It was the Divine
of life when I came upon a dying horse which looking out for me through different guises.
had collapsed due to exhaustion, with no one to
care for it. The other horses trampled on it as A strange calm began to take hold of me, and I
they kept trotting on, along the trail. I felt my began to accept and even enjoy the tough parts
heart break when I saw this. There was noth- of the pilgrimage almost as much as I enjoyed
ing we pilgrims could do for it in the middle the happier parts, like sitting by the banks of
of nowhere but pray for it to have an easy pass- the Ganges in Gangotri. The mountaintop tem-
ing. For many days, I could not get the scene off ples like Kedar and Yamunotri were tough,
my mind. Accept the unacceptable,” came the but there was a fierce grace in them which was
voice again. “Life is fierce and raw sometimes. balanced by the serene beauty of Badrinath
Accept that too! And so the next time I resist- and Gangotri, which were easier to access.
ed the thought of the dying horse and the tired
plodding horses carrying their burden, I didn’t I came back from my Chhota Char Dham, worn
shrink away. Was there a reason for all this dark- out but exhilarated. I had really stretched myself
ness? I really couldn’t tell. All I could do was to physically, mentally, and emotionally to my max-
send up a prayer for them. I didn’t understand imum. I expected to come back home and have
why it was happening, but God must have His a long rest but, instead, found myself thrust into
reason and I knew that I had to trust that He the capacity of a caregiver for an elderly relative.
would look out for His creatures while I did
whatever was within my capacity to ease their That I realised was the litmus test. It was about
pain, even if it meant making a decision to stop applying what I had learnt on my pilgrimage
using these ponies for my spiritual upliftment. to real life. For, ultimately, Life is the greatest
pilgrimage, and if I can accept the tough times
I learnt to accept that people have their quirks in Life with as much grace as I could during the
and patterns, and feel compassion for them pilgrimage, I would be empowered. Like the
and myself. I learnt to let go of expectations. Chhota Char Dham yatra, it is not about what I
I learnt to trust the higher power when I tum- gain but how much of my false self I can let go of.
K.Geethanjali is a mother, writer and Senior and Secondary English teacher. She
has published two books of short stories for children entitled The Enchanted Land
and Who am 1? She is also an ardent seeker and meditator.
Heartspeak 17
CLOSE-ENCOUNTER
A spiritual
RESURGENCE
Charged with the mission of reviving and propagating the
great spiritual values of India, Adinarayan and his wife
Smriti set up the Anaadi Foundation and ashram, near
Palani, Tamil Nadu. Pradeep Krishnan interviews this
dynamic duo.
18 LifePositive | AUGUST 2023
hen a story begins with a young Situated in the picturesque foothills between
professional couple renouncing two holy rocks, Periya and Chinna Iyvar Malai
Wtheir lucrative careers in 2015 to (respectively, the big and small hills), the nine-
spread awareness of our country’s spiritual acre ashram is intended as a place for seekers
wealth, you know that you are dealing to practise sadhana, yoga, and ayurveda.
with an unusual duo. That would be an
understatement in the case of Adinarayanan After their marriage in 2004, Adinarayanan
and Smrithi Adinarayanan, founders of the and Smrithi worked in the software industry
Anaadi Foundation Ashram, located about for a couple of years, before functioning for
18 km away from the famous temple town of a decade as teachers in the Amrita Vishwa
Palani, Tamil Nadu. Vidyapeetam (part of Mata Amritanandamayi’s
initiatives) in Coimbatore. Adinarayanan
In the eight years of its existence, the Anaadi is a native of Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu, a
Foundation and ashram has produced a graduate in electrical engineering, with an
network of activities for children, youth, and MS in computer science from the USA. It was
families, which are both online and in-person. during this latter phase that he underwent
There are programmes on yoga, Itihasa-Purana, a deep spiritual experience (which he later
and Vedanta, blended with unique insights recognised as samadhi) and it ignited a strong
from modern science. Since its inception, desire to return to India to dedicate himself to
the foundation has been actively involved spirituality and service to society.
in conducting classes for school children, as
well as pursuing research on Indian sciences, Occasionally, the couple still teach at various
astronomy, ayurveda, yoga, and ecology. premier educational institutions, including
Team Anaadi, grouped in the background of one of the Holy Rocks that ring the ashram.
Close Encounter 19
IIT-Delhi. Adinarayanan is an adjunct professor I was at a juncture where student life was over,
of practice at NRCVEE, IIT Delhi, And and I had no specific plans. This experience led
Smrithi was formerly an EdTech and cognitive me to delve deep into yoga and meditation, and
science researcher teaching computer science prompted me to return to India to dedicate my
and engineering. Both are core group members life to making this inner experience available to
of the Value Education panel at NCERT- as many young people as possible.
MHRD and fellows of Europe Spirituality in
Economics and Society (SPES). The ashram What made you leave the corporate world and
runs a residential gurukulam titled Dharma pursue a spiritual path?
School, for boys and girls in the age group of The corporate world is very rewarding in
8–11, with a curriculum designed to promote many ways as it gives you global exposure and
the physical, mental, intellectual, and spiritual enough means to have all the comforts. Given
development of students. our multidimensional interests, we felt that
academia would be better suited to us. After a
The day of our visit to the ashram coincided decade of working at the college in Coimbatore,
with an exhibition on Indian knowledge during which some of our students dedicated
systems featuring 16 stalls, each devoted to their lives to the spiritual journey, we left
individual subjects such as mathematics, academia and started the Anaadi Foundation.
astronomy, Vaastu, ecology, and agriculture. Our former students are currently at Anaadi
The students, dressed in traditional attire, taking care of various youth-led initiatives.
explained the concept and achievements to
visitors, which included over 600 students from What are the activities of the Anaadi
various schools. Foundation?
Excerpts from a freewheeling conversation with Anaadi Foundation is a creative expression of
Adinarayanan in his modest kutir. the diverse interests of its members. Through
our various programmes, we share the depth of
Let us begin with your spiritual journey. Indian culture, sciences, and values with young
As I grew up in a family that blended traditional people. In 2018, we moved full-time into our
and modern thought processes and values, the ashram, situated in a spiritually significant
spiritual path was not alien to me. Our entire region near Palani. The local legends say that
family was deeply interested in the Hindu and Iyvar Malai had been visited by the Pandavas
Indian way of life, and self-reliance was always and has a Draupadi Amman temple and Jain
emphasised. My father introduced me to yogic caves. It is visited by hundreds of people every
practices and they became a daily abhyasa since year.
childhood. After my marriage with Smrithi, we
became followers of Mahavatar Kriya Babaji, We have several programmes for all age groups:
who has inspired several traditions and schools English education for rural school children,
of thought. annual science fairs, technology certification
programmes for rural youth to enhance their
What was the turning point in your life? livelihood skills, and free ayurveda camps. The
After completing my Master’s in the US, one Mouna Sadhana programme is a blend of asana,
day, spontaneously, I had a deep relaxing pranayama, dharana, and dhyana for physical
experience which I later identified as samadhi. stability. In addition to the Bhagavad Gita
20 LifePositive | AUGUST 2023
sessions, we are also engaged in the scientific that helps resolve the apparent conflicts and
exploration of interdisciplinary domains of contradictions of modern-day existence. With
ayurveda, yoga, neuroscience, and artificial better understanding and insights, we would
intelligence. become better equipped to face the challenges
of life and be successful. Our success will impact
Our annual youth leadership retreat at the success of our immediate community,
Rishikesh is quite popular among the youth. nation, and the world at large.
We also have Mahabharata sessions, which
explore the various dimensions of governance, In our lives, we are constantly making
education, Indian sciences, gender issues, decisions, and these decisions involve not only
justice, and dharma narrated in the grand outer conflicts but strong inner conflicts too.
Itihasa. Some of us also travel to various places Listening to the story and philosophy of the
sharing insights from our shastras, blending Mahabharata brings clarity to the mind, thereby
ancient and modern wisdom. Our monthly enabling people to make the right decisions.
magazine, Parnika, released every Pournami, The Mahabharata is replete with anecdotes
has subscribers from all over the globe. and instances that emphasise the need and
means to make optimal decisions, keeping
How does the Mahabharata programme in mind personal well-being and the larger
benefit corporates, families, and students? good of society. Young leaders have the energy
It is famously said that everything is found in the and power to execute things but need proper
Mahabharata. What is not found here, cannot guidance. The Mahabharata Leadership
be found anywhere else. The Mahabharata programme is designed to enhance the action
provides us with a powerful narrative exploring orientation of participants. We now offer
the complexities of life and a framework of Mahabharata programmes online after the
dharma, among other concepts, COVID lockdown.
Close Encounter 21
According to you, what ought to be the aim
and purpose of human life? How can one
move towards that?
In the Indian tradition, the purpose of human
life is guided by the purusharthas [objects of
human pursuit]: dharma, artha [prosperity,
economic values], kama [pleasure, love,
psychological values] and moksha [liberation,
spiritual values]. Focussing on pleasure and
material wealth looks exciting for some time,
but when one starts feeling empty, one must turn
to dharma and moksha. When all our actions are
guided by dharma, we feel more fulfilled, and
society prospers. At one level, moksha could
mean a complete dissolution of our identity,
but at a simpler level, moksha is freedom from
limited identity. We feel caged in this identity,
and when we break free, our identity expands
and there is a sense of fulfilment. That is the
purpose.
What do you mean by the self-unfoldment of
individuals? How can this be achieved?
Many of us do not realise that the body is
covering the atman [soul] or enshrining the The cow as the centre of sustainable agriculture in rural India
atman. This inside-out perspective is key to Evidence and knowledge of voluminous
understanding the fundamental aspects of life.
We are so focussed on the body and mind that literature produced in Indian scientific
pursuits have been well established by serious
we believe that we are the body and mind. When
we take up jnana [the path of knowledge] or researchers. In contrast, there is ignorance
about the facts and feats that we have inherited.
dhyana, these layers slowly fade away from our
mind, bringing in an awareness of the deeper Awakening Indians to Indian sciences is
important to build a better perspective about
layers. This can be achieved through multiple
ways such as karma [service], bhakti [devotion], this land and its people, to own up to what is
truly ours and align our actions in coherence
jnana, and raja yoga.
with the vision and momentum set forth by the
great jnanis [realised ones] of our civilisation.
Please throw light on the Indian sciences
seminar organised for school and college Just as we protect, preserve, and celebrate
students, highlighting the achievements and various temples, monuments, artefacts, and
depth of Indic sciences. places of historic eminence, so too, must we
India has been a cradle not only of refined preserve and protect intellectual breakthroughs
civilisational best practices but also of in our Indian traditions through awareness,
multitudinous scientific developments. assimilation, and dissemination.
22 LifePositive | AUGUST 2023
The Sustainability Immersion programme
integrates various aspects of sustainability
including sustainable health, self-reliant
agriculture, natural buildings, alternative energy,
waste management, and chemical-free living.
Introducing Indian sciences to the youth and evolutionary biology, cosmology, genealogy,
children can help create a young generation and archaeology. Aren’t these, in a way, ‘digging
that has a better connect with our land, has into the past?.’ Similarly, our Puranas had the
enhanced multiple intelligences, is value- Pancha Lakshana [five characteristics] that
oriented, and is socially and environmentally precisely talk about these aspects. The shastras
conscious. provide guidelines for human aspirations and
endeavour. With adaptable architecture, they
We have created online modules that schools become relevant in every era.
can use to teach the Indian sciences of
ayurveda, yoga, ganitha, and jyotisha [the last In the past, the people of Bharat revered and
two are astronomy related] as club activities. worshipped the rivers, mountains, plants,
Our current online summer camps for children animals, and Bhumidevi as expressions of
too focus on this. the Mother Divine, and they consciously
maintained the balance of Life. However,
Critics are of the view that our scriptures are nowadays, even while we worship the rivers,
outdated and primitive. How can the study of mountains, and trees, we indiscriminately act
the scriptures help modern man? against Mother Nature. Why this paradox?
In every culture and civilisation, the past What is the solution?
has always been important, and history has This is something called ‘distancing.’ We
played a major role in shaping the present are typically distanced from the source and
and the future. It is for no trivial reason that destination. We do not know where things
we call our scriptures Santana Dharma. The come from and where they go. This is true
principles enshrined in them are eternal. Many of our consumption as well as our spiritual
get lost in the specifics and hence find them path. While we are totally dedicated to our
outdated. Take modern science, for example. To devatas [gods] and respect various life forms,
understand modern man, we need to delve into we are disconnected from the consequences of
Close Encounter 23
our actions. There could be multiple reasons. considered a measure of wealth and prosperity
It could be happening because of modern of any kingdom and even determined the social
education or a disconnect with traditional status of individuals. There are numerous
knowledge systems or because of the yuga [the references in the Vedas, Puranas, and Itihasa
time we live in]. But a great transformation is about the significance of cows.
happening. People are recognising the impact
of human actions on the planet. They now Though the 20th cattle count report shows an
feel more connected to nature. There is a big increase in the cattle population in India by 14.51
movement happening. For instance, so many crores, it indicates a decline in native breeds of
young people come to the Anaadi Foundation’s cows, urging the need for the preservation and
Center for Research in Ecology and Sustainable breeding of indigenous varieties. Farmers, by
Technologies [anaadicrest.org], to learn and and large, prefer high-yield milch cows to the
experience a connect with Mother Nature. They desi varieties. Scientific studies prove that cow
work on self-reliant and sustainable models dung and cow urine from indigenous varieties
built with ecological principles coming from are superior to foreign breeds in terms of their
the Indian tradition. They also learn about how microbial diversity and contain higher amounts
cows play a central role in Indic sustainability. of calcium, phosphorus, zinc, and copper than
the cross-bred ones.
How so?
Since the Vedic period, cows have been central Today, land degradation and desertification,
to the life of Indians and there is a deep fuelled by the use of chemical pesticides
spiritual connection between man and cows. and fertilisers, are posing a serious threat to
Going beyond milk or just utility, cows were food security. The need to revive cow-based
Drawing inspiration from traditional Indian architechture
24 LifePositive | AUGUST 2023
agriculture that can regenerate the soil on a the Sustainability Immersion programme
large scale is evident. integrates various aspects of sustainability
including sustainable health, self-reliant
Cows offer the possibility to achieve agriculture, natural buildings, alternative
environmental, social, and economic energy, waste management, and chemical-free
sustainability in the rural Indian context by living. Through this programme, participants
drawing upon ancient references to the role of get hands-on exposure, knowledge through
cows in social and religious systems and relating field visits, and expert interaction and the
them to modern science and sustainability opportunity to take up sustainability as a career
frameworks. With the world moving away from path.
exploitative and linear systems to circular
and regenerative systems, India can recreate
and remodel self-reliant villages as thriving Your message to the readers?
ecosystems with the cow at its core. Self-reliance was at the core of Bharata since
time immemorial. We may have lost it briefly for
Please tell us about the unique Sustainability whatever reason. Now is the time to rediscover
Immersion programme offered by the Anaadi this. This comes through exposure to various
Foundation. dimensions of Bharatiya knowledge. Invest in
Given the economic, social, and environmental them, and a great future is waiting to unravel. In
crisis the world is facing today, creating fact, to enable this, we have launched a monthly
sustainable solutions has become imminent. series called the Essence of Dharma, which is a
The more self-reliant we become, the more free 10-hour programme every month focussing
we would be contributing to the sustenance on Itihasa-Purana, Vedanta, and yoga. We
of the planetary resources. In tune with the would like to spread the message of Sanatana
UN’s Sustainability Development Goals, Dharma to as many people as possible in the
Anaadi’s Center for Research in Ecology most simple and affordable manner. Please
and Sustainable Technologies which offers visit www.anaadi.org/dharma
Pradeep Krishnan is a student of consciousness, based in Kerala. A seeker
by nature, he is deeply attracted to the teachings of Sri Ramana Maharshi
and Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj.
Close Encounter 25
LEAD STORY
OWN
YOUR
BODY
The proliferation of social media and the
homogenisation of beauty have given rise
to a global epidemic of dissatisfaction with
the body, with grave consequences, particu-
larly for youngsters. How can we overcome
this universal malaise and develop a healthy
body image? Navni Chawla explores.
26 LifePositive | AUGUST 2023
Lead story 27
I have struggled with my body. Sometimes, you struggle with how you perceive your body.
I feel insecure in my own skin. There is no How you see your body and the feelings you
“gap between my thighs, which is something associate with that perception forms your body
the media keeps harping on. That makes me image. According to a survey conducted by the
feel like I am not normal or beautiful,” shares Be Real Campaign, about one in three young
Shubha Sharma, a Delhi-based 16-year-old people are reported to have serious concerns
school student. Sara Jain, 20, a college student about their appearance. A positive body image
from Delhi, shared that her weight fluctuated establishes a healthy relationship with one’s
so much that stretch marks developed on body. Poor body image or body dissatisfaction
different parts of her body, namely, the legs, leads to a higher rate of eating and mood
hips, and waist, making her diffident about disorders in individuals. Research shows that
wearing shorts and skirts. Rohan Gambhir, women experience more body dissatisfaction
23, a software engineer at Infosys, Bangalore, than men.
shares, “I have become an angry person because
of my baldness. I started losing hair very early Body image issues are spread across a wide
in life, and my parents did not pay attention spectrum of age groups; they are not limited to
to it. Now, I need to go through painful hair just adolescence or teenage. They are also not
transplant treatments. Else, I will have to live limited to women. Ekta Baxi, 40, a Mumbai-
looking like this, which is also painful.” based psychotherapist having a private practice,
shares, “A six-year-old kid was brought in for
Do you have a habit of obsessively checking therapy (on his paediatrician’s advice) because
your body by looking into the mirror frequently he would just refuse to eat. Progressive sessions
or weighing yourself constantly? revealed that his father had a pot belly, and his
Does thinking about food and mother taunted him for it. This conflict between
exercise worsen your the parents, and the atmosphere at home,
mood? Do you wear loose impacted his psyche, and he developed a fear
o r oversized of looking like his father. On digging deeper,
clothes it was a fear of not being accepted.” She added
t o that sometimes body image issues revolving
around hair, height, skin colour, and ethnicity
germinate very early on. Teasing is common
amongst children, and it leaves an indelible
mark on the young and malleable minds of
those subjected to it. Those who are teased or
camouflage bullied often experience a lack of belonging or
your body? Do you often a fear of being ridiculed.
compare your body Why do we develop an unhealthy body image,
with others what are its consequences, and how can we
and feel resolve it? Let’s inquire.
unhappy? When you
look in the mirror, do Behind a negative body image
you always see flaws that Our body image starts developing at a very
need fixing? If the answer to tender age, although it reaches its peak at
all these questions is yes, then puberty. A variety of internal and external factors
28 LifePositive | AUGUST 2023
influence our perception of our body. Internal stature or delayed facial hair amongst boys
factors like self-esteem play a powerful role. become points of contention. Jokes and leg-
With low self-esteem, one is already inclined pulling by friends or peers impact the way they
towards self-criticism. Negative thoughts and feel about their bodies,” adds Ms Baxi. Because
feelings like sadness, guilt, shame, anxiety, and of a strong need to belong to their peer group
anger assail one and influence the way one feels during puberty, the entire focus is mostly on
about the body. It becomes a vicious cycle. Low the body and how one looks and dresses.
self-esteem fuels a poor body image and that, in
turn, reduces self-esteem even further. In today’s digital age, youngsters also have a
vanity life to maintain on their social media
Puberty marks a major transition from one handles. The social media epidemic has led us
phase of life to another. It is also the time to believe that the only goals worth achieving
when an adolescent starts becoming very in life are Korean glass skin and six-pack abs.
conscious of their body as it goes through It has increasingly led to equating one’s self-
so much transformation during this time. “I worth with one’s looks and the number of likes
have seen that girls in their pre-teens feel very on Instagram pictures. Unrealistic beauty
uncomfortable when they start getting their standards drive a need to look perfect.
periods. This is when other physical changes
such as the development of breasts and hips “I began editing my pictures 10 years back.
occur, often leading to fear of and shame about I did not think that I was beautiful, and I
the body,” shares Ekta Baxi. “Similarly, short needed to go the extra mile to look good,” says
Karishma Saini, 25, a Delhi-based freelance
content manager. She adds, “I found this app
called Beauty Plus. I used it to put filters on my
face that would make my skin look flawless and
radiant. I would also use the slimming tool on
this app to alter the shape of my face, nose, and
stomach. After spending hours on it, I would
get a dopamine kick even though I would be
exhausted. I would feel so satisfied looking at
my edited pictures that I would not like what
I saw in the mirror. I wished I could edit my
face and body in real life too. But I was finally
able to break this cycle very recently. I realised
that I was wasting so much time on it that I
had no time to live. To lead a meaningful life, I
had to free myself of this obsessive-compulsive
behaviour.”
Managing body weight is probably the most
common struggle people face, especially as they
grow older. At a time when we are expected to
be impossibly thin no matter what our age, most
people, particularly women, set themselves up
for a losing battle and the experience of much
Poor body image leads to magnifying physical flaws
Lead story 29
angst. power yoga, to give it all up, either out of sheer
Aparna Dedhia, 49, a Mumbai-based writer boredom or after reaching a plateau.
and meditation teacher, shares her struggle of
trying to lose weight from the age of 19. It has Aparna adds, “Then came the messiah of obesity
been a journey marked by changing diets and and diabetes, Dr Jagannath Dikshit, who
exercise routines, some of which would help advocated intermittent fasting, recommending
her shed considerable weight, while others 16 hours of fasting between the last meal of the
would only shed her confidence. previous day and the first meal of the next day,
and allowance for two meals within a 55-minute
Aparna shares, “Someone would mention window each. As an Indian, I loved this form
‘keto,’ and I would jump on the bandwagon of restrictive eating as I was used to fasting for
of this low-carb, high-protein diet. Being a Ekadashi and other forms of vrats (fasts), and
vegetarian, I tried various paneer dishes and it worked wonders for me. I followed it for the
adding flax seeds and isabgol (psyllium husk) longest period of time until I realised that it
instead of eggs to patties and flatbreads. But no was responsible for my IBS. I had not taken into
amount of paneer, cheese stuffed in capsicums, account my menopause and thyroid issues. The
or cabbage rolls could replace a bowl of khichdi last few months of my life have been plagued
or dal chawal. I was back to square one with my with severe gut issues: acidity and indigestion.
sky-high weight.” The long hours of fasting increased my acid
levels, corroding the lining of my intestine and
It was the same story when it came to exercise leaving me with a bowel disorder.”
routines. Aparna tried spinning (cardio workout
on a stationary bike), aerobics, Zumba, and For Aparna, all this yo-yo dieting in pursuit of
Appreciate your body’s health, strength and flexibility regardless of size
30 LifePositive | AUGUST 2023
“I jumped on the low-carb high-protein keto
diet. But no amount of paneer, cheese stuffed in
capsicums, or cabbage rolls could replace a bowl of
khichdi or dal chawal. I was back to square one with
my sky-high weight.”
Aparna Dedhia
a fab figure to flaunt those little black dresses socialising or attending events that require
(LBDs), monochrome jumpsuits, and latest co- one to wear certain clothing or expose one’s
ord sets, and fit into a size 8 or 10 instead of a body, leading to isolation and withdrawal.
comfortable 12 or 14 came to nought when she • Comparison and self-judgement:
realised that it had messed up her metabolism Constantly comparing one’s body with
and digestion. others’ and engaging in negative self-talk
about perceived flaws and shortcomings.
Truly, the amount of damage poor body image • Seeking reassurance: Frequently seeking
can do to a person’s well-being is immeasurable. validation and reassurance from others
Body image issues can lead to various complex about one’s appearance or seeking constant
behaviours and coping mechanisms in compliments to alleviate anxiety related to
individuals. Below are some examples: body image.
• Compulsive behaviours: Engaging in
• Excessive dieting or restrictive eating: repetitive behaviours such as excessive
Developing strict diets or engaging in grooming, skin picking, or seeking cosmetic
extreme calorie-counting in an attempt to procedures to correct perceived flaws that
achieve a specific body shape or size. may not be noticeable to others.
• Obsessive exercise: Feeling compelled • Emotional distress: Developing feelings
to exercise excessively as a way to control of depression, anxiety, and low self-esteem
one’s weight or change one’s physical affecting overall emotional well-being and
appearance. quality of life.
• Body checking: Constantly examining • Emotional eating: Creating a vicious
and scrutinising one’s body in mirrors cycle where negative emotions trigger
or reflective surfaces and frequently food cravings, leading to overeating, guilt,
measuring body parts to assess perceived and further negative emotions. Emotional
flaws or changes. eating is not a healthy or sustainable way
• Avoidance of social activity: Avoiding to address emotional distress or body image
Lead story 31
issues. Neetu Parag, 26, a salon owner from underlying cause was he being teased for his
Noida, shares, “Whenever I feel empty dark skin. I have also seen some kids withdraw
within, I eat. When I am under stress, I completely and confine themselves to their
overeat. I feel food is filling up that void homes. They were unwilling to step out. This
inside me and will probably make me feel becomes a huge point of worry for the parents.
better. Over the years, this habit has doomed Lack of social interaction makes them prone to
both my mental and physical health. Now, anxiety and other personality problems,” says
I am working with a therapist to help me Ekta Baxi.
through this challenge so that I can live a
healthy and full life.” Another consequence of poor body image is the
proliferation of cosmetic or surgical procedures
The ideal body that is painted by the media, to revamp one’s appearance. American beauty
cinema, and the fashion world has a leading idols like the Kardashians sensationalise
role to play in making people feel inadequate cosmetic procedures like nose jobs, butt
about their appearance. The homogenisation of injections, bloodied vampire facials, skin-
beauty is the key culprit here in a world full lightening procedures, and Botox injections.
of wildly diverse body shapes, facial features, They convey the impression that altering one’s
complexions, and hair. How many in the world appearance through surgery can make one look
can possibly be tall, slim, white, and blonde? like a goddess. Some film stars and celebrities
“A kid in the fourth grade was undergoing get plastic surgery done early on in their careers
counselling because his grades had dropped. to look more desirable on screen.
He was very aggressive and would often beat
up other children. It turned out that the According to a study conducted by the
Diversity is the hallmark of life and a cause for celebration
32 LifePositive | AUGUST 2023
“A kid in the fourth grade was undergoing
counselling because his grades had dropped. He
was very aggressive and would often beat up other
children. It turned out that the underlying cause was
his being teased for his dark skin.”
Ekta Baxi
International Society of Aesthetic Plastic to carefully consider the potential risks,
Surgery (ISAPS) in 2019, approximately 11 benefits, and reasons behind undergoing such
million surgical and non-surgical cosmetic procedures. It is always recommended that one
procedures were performed globally. This study consults qualified medical professionals and
included both invasive procedures like breast makes informed decisions based on individual
augmentation, liposuction, and rhinoplasty as circumstances and needs.
well as non-invasive treatments such as Botox
injections and dermal fillers. Although more and more women today
consider going under the knife, it is still
Dr Jayesh Joshi, 48, a plastic cosmetic surgeon, considered an extreme step in coping with body
who operates from his clinic, Relive, in New dissatisfaction.
Delhi, shares, “Cosmetic surgery can build
self-confidence by enhancing a person’s How to heal
physical features and attractiveness. It provides Psychotherapists recommend strengthening
several benefits to people who suffer from body one’s self-esteem, practising positive body
dissatisfaction. I have found in my long career talk, journalling all the fears and complaints
that people are so obsessed with altering their about one’s body, and talking about one’s body
looks that they rarely focus on healing their image issues with an expert. These tools help
poor body image. Many of those most anxious tremendously to get over body image issues.
to undergo cosmetic surgery also demonstrated
significant improvements in depression As we heal, we will gradually recognise how
and anxiety. They felt relieved that surgical misplaced our obsession with the body has
treatment could magically remove their flaws been. Moreover, we will realise that beauty is
and create their desired bodies.” not just based on one’s features, hair, height,
or complexion but also on other far deeper
While cosmetic surgery can be a personal parameters such as charisma, character, vitality,
choice for some individuals, it’s essential and goodness. We have all encountered people
Lead story 33
who have riveted us with the energy, liveliness, care. By finding joy in physical activities that
joy, love, and peace radiating from them. When I genuinely enjoy, and adopting a flexible and
ordinary faces and bodies are lit up from balanced approach to eating, I hope to break
within, they emanate a transcendental beauty. free from the oscillations between fat and fit,
Real beauty is not skin deep. It is as enduring and, instead, embrace a lifelong journey of self-
as the person itself. improvement and self-acceptance.” She sums
it up: “Fitness is not about being better than
For Aparna Dedhia, her seesaw of weight gain, someone else. It’s about being better than you
weight loss, and chasing various fitness trends used to be.”
has made her realise that it is vital to adopt a
balanced approach when it comes to one’s food Let me share my own struggles with my body.
habits and exercise routines. She says, “I strive Not only did I develop a binge eating disorder
to cultivate a positive mindset, foster self-love, that made me gain weight, but I had several
and develop sustainable habits that support issues with the way I looked. I would feel that
overall well-being. I am learning to listen to I was ugly and dark. I loathed the shape of
my body’s needs and honouring its signals my ears which I considered too pointed and
for nourishment, movement, rest, and self- made it a point to hide them behind my hair.
I also thought that I was too short. I would run
constant comparisons in my head with some
other prettier or taller girl, feeling even worse.
This went on for a long time until I realised
that I needed to change.
I began looking at the beautiful features God
had blessed me with, such as my eyes. I started
to see beauty in my golden-wheatish colour. I
love my skin colour now. I started loving my
wavy and riotous hair, instead of pining for
shiny and straight hair. My kind of hair is so
desirable today, and girls go to salons to get
what I have been naturally endowed with. My
journey of developing a positive body image
may not be over, but it is well begun.
Correcting and improving one’s body image is
a personal and complex journey, but here are
some expert solutions that can be helpful.
• Seek professional help: Consult a
therapist or counsellor who specialises
in body image and self-esteem. They can
provide valuable guidance and support.
• Practise self-compassion: Cultivate self-
compassion, which entails being kind and
Aparna Dedhia: A return to balance
34 LifePositive | AUGUST 2023
Shift your perspective by focussing on the things
your body allows you to do rather than solely on
its appearance. Engage in activities that make
you feel good, and appreciate your body for its
strength and functionality.
understanding toward yourself. Embrace Remember, improving body image is a journey
your unique qualities and focus on self- that takes time and effort. It’s important to be
acceptance rather than comparison with patient and kind to yourself as you work towards
others. a more positive and healthy relationship with
your body.
• Surround yourself with positive
influences: Spend time with people who Sometimes, all you need to get your struggles
uplift and support you. Engage in activities with your body into perspective is to meet those
and communities that promote body whose body issues are vital, immediate, and
positivity and inclusivity. immense. Both the children of my 50-year-old
• Challenge negative thoughts: Learn to paternal uncle, Sushil Chawla, a Ludhiana-
recognise and challenge negative thoughts based businessman, are differently abled.
or beliefs about your body. Practise His elder daughter, Sara, 22, lost her eyesight
reframing negative self-talk and replacing during a medical emergency. His younger son,
it with positive and realistic affirmations. Sahir, 19, was diagnosed with a rare genetic
• Focus on holistic well-being: Shift your disorder called Duchenne muscular dystrophy,
focus from appearance-based goals to a degenerative condition that led to progressive
overall well-being. Prioritise self-care, weakness in his muscles. But I have never
healthy habits, and engaging in activities seen a glimpse of self-pity on the faces of these
that bring you joy and fulfilment. children. I cannot fathom the amount of strength
• Practise body appreciation: Shift your the whole family drew from within to continue
perspective by focussing on the things your life with positivity and enthusiasm. They have
body allows you to do rather than solely on built an invulnerable family environment,
its appearance. Engage in activities that helping and uplifting each other. Both children
make you feel good, and appreciate your have immense willpower to do something in
body for its strength and functionality. life and not let their physical challenges come
Lead story 35
in their way. Sara is in the final year of studying and approval of our parents and others will
law and is preparing for the IAS exams. Sahir perish along with the body.
is studying BCA (Bachelor of Computer Working on this insight will help us gradually
Applications) and is already building websites pay attention to what really matters. Building
for clients from home. What an inspiring duo! our character and making ourselves better
They make me realise the insignificance of my human beings every day is priority number one
small problems and fill me with motivation. because our psyche will accompany us beyond
the grave. Our relationships could be another
Beyond the body area of focus because others too, like us, are
“Only the material body is perishable; the immortal; and most of us take birth only to
embodied soul within is indestructible, work our way through the karma that binds
immeasurable, and eternal. Therefore, fight, O us to others. This is the real work we are here
descendant of Bharat.” to do, and the body is a fascinating distraction
—Bhagavad Gita 2:18 that comes in the way.
Another insight that will help us see our Develop a friendship (maitri) with your body
body issues in perspective is the spiritual “Love your body, every curve, every edge, for it
understanding that we are not our body. At our is a vessel that carries the essence of your being.
core, we are the soul, or the spirit. We are not Celebrate its uniqueness, honour its strength,
the body. We have a body. We are immortal. and let self-acceptance guide your journey to
The body is mortal. The death of a dear one can true beauty.”
awaken us to this truth. But in day-to-day life, —Anonymous
we forget it and spend an inordinate number
of hours dressing and decorating the body, Losing attachment to the body does not mean
preparing and partaking of food for the body, that we stop caring for it. Rather, it should be
and buying and looking after a house to host looked at as a temple in which God resides. We
the body. When the time comes to bid farewell must do everything in our capacity to keep it
to this body, everything will be left behind. The healthy and clean. It is important to respect
accumulated wealth, assets, reputation, name, the human body as it is nothing short of a gift.
Even if you see certain flaws in it, love and
accept them. Only from a loving space can
change germinate. Louise Hay, the renowned
motivational author of Heal Your Life has
influenced and transformed thousands with her
message of healing oneself with love. She cured
her own cancer by sending love and positive
vibrations to her cancer cells. Not just Louise
but many others too have found their illnesses
receding or have even lost excessive weight once
they learnt to love and accept their body. Here
are some scientific and psychological ways to
develop a sense of maitri, or friendship, with
your body:
• Write love notes: Treat your body like a dear
Make a song and dance out of life!
36 LifePositive | AUGUST 2023
friend and write love notes or affirmations
on sticky notes. Place them on your mirror • Practise mirror self-love exercises: Stand
or other areas where you’ll see them daily to in front of a mirror, look into your eyes,
remind yourself of your body’s beauty and and say kind and loving words to yourself.
worth. Compliment different parts of your body
• Dress up for yourself: Embrace your and acknowledge the amazing things it can
personal style and dress up in outfits that do.
make you feel confident and comfortable. • Engage in body-positive activities:
Experiment with different colours, Surround yourself with body-positive
patterns, and accessories to celebrate your content, such as books, podcasts, or
unique expression. social media accounts that promote self-
• Have a dance party: Put on your favourite acceptance and body diversity. Engage
music and have a spontaneous dance party in activities that celebrate and honour all
in your living room. Move your body bodies, such as attending body-positive
freely and joyfully, focussing on the pure events or participating in body-positive art
enjoyment of movement rather than how projects.
you look.
• Create a body gratitude jar: Get a jar and Remember, developing a friendship with your
some colourful paper. Each day, write down body is a personal journey, and it’s important
one thing you appreciate about your body to find solutions that resonate with you.
and place it in the jar. Over time, you’ll Experiment with different strategies, be patient
have a collection of positive affirmations to with yourself, and always approach your body
reflect upon when you need a boost. with kindness, compassion, and lots of love.
.Your body is the crown of creation. Love it. It
deserves it.
Reclaim your wholeness
Dr Bijal Maroo, homeopath and writer, offers guidelines to heal a poor
body image based on her professional and personal experience
I struggled with a negative body image when I was sidelined for
being dark-skinned. The label weighed on my mind for many years.
My initial reaction was to hide from the world. I hid behind boring
brown and grey-coloured clothes. I also over-compensated by
studying very hard. The improved grades helped my esteem. Then
I discovered sunscreen, and it became my best friend.
As Wayne Dyer, the American self-help author, wisely said,
“Friends are God’s way of apologising for your family.” My friends
made me realise my strengths, and my confidence soared. I began
experimenting with my wardrobe. A pastel palette seemed to suit my
dusky skin. When I unearthed my talents as a speaker and writer, I Dr Bijal Maroo
finally came into my own. Finally, exercises in self-love and gratitude truly
Lead story 37
helped me to accept myself completely. feelings. Mindfulness will build awareness
I have listed a few ways to develop a positive of the role played by the media in building
body image based on my personal and body image.
professional experience.
1. Be realistic: Take images of perfect bodies 4. Celebrate individuality: Besides grooming,
seen on celluloid with a pinch of salt. we can focus on building a well-rounded
These images are distorted using photo personality through developing our skills,
filters to create magic on the silver screen. talents, knowledge, and character. As Dr
Cameramen also use a few tricks such as Meenakshi Jain, a cosmetologist, observed,
low-angle shots to get actors to look slimmer “How long can you impress people with
and taller. For models and actors, looking just a pretty face?”
good is a professional mandate. They spend
3–5 hours exercising and have dieticians 5. Develop self-esteem: Make a list of at least
monitor every morsel they eat. But if we 100 of your positive qualities. Yes! Each one
did the same, we wouldn’t get anything else of us has at least 100, which we could refer
done. to whenever we need to feel good about
ourselves.
2. Accept, appreciate, and give gratitude for
your body: “I cried because I had no shoes 6. Avoid comparisons: The message we
until I met a man who had no feet,” is a imbibe today is that if we don’t sport a
quote attributed to Helen Keller amongst chiselled body and an hourglass figure,
others. Instead of focussing on our physical we are lesser mortals. Our youth feels this
shortcomings, we can focus on the boon of pressure very acutely. We need to adopt a
a healthy and intact body. The Gratitude zero-comparison approach to help children
practices from the book The Magic by breathe easy.
Rhonda Byrne helped me in my journey.
7. Build a support network: In case the
3. Impart mindfulness training: Mrs Geeta pressure gets out of hand, counsellors,
Dalal, a clinical psychologist and Arts-based parents, and teachers need to work in
Therapy Practitioner, suggests sensitising tandem to help pull children out of the
and educating children and parents about abyss of a negative body image.
‘body shaming.’ Thus, students will be
mindful of what they say to their peers and Dr Seuss says it best: “Why fit in when you
avoid inadvertently hurting another child’s were born to stand out?”
Navni Chawla, a Delhi-based writer has a heart brimming with passion for
life and loves capturing the beauty of the world through words.
38 LifePositive | AUGUST 2023
FOOD
WELLNESS via
INTERMITTENT FASTING
Naini Setalvad delineates the ben-
efits and method of intermittent
fasting for leading a healthier and
more spiritually enriching life
40 LifePositive | AUGUST 2023
t’s a dirty world out there—and inside our in the body and brings diabetes under control.
bodies too! We accumulate toxins from our
Ienvironment by breathing, through the food Benefits of intermittent fasting
we eat, and by physical contact. We are exposed • Aids the body’s elimination system in effec-
to air pollution, water pollution, radiation, tively getting rid of waste
and lack of sleep, all of which cause stress. We • May help shed significant amount of weight
consume sugar and refined foods in excess and • Leads to improved wellness, concentration,
abuse our bodies with various stimulants and and disease-prevention
sedatives. • Increases vitality
• Boosts the immune system
Stress triggers our body’s fight-or-flight re-
sponse, a primitive biochemical reaction that Assess your toxic load: one point for every yes
puts our body on red alert. If stress continues, and zero for every no. If you score more than
our body reaches the ‘alarm stage,’ disrupting five, you need to fast.
the functioning of the immune and circulato- • Do you feel tired when you wake up?
ry systems. Our body becomes less efficient at • Do you suffer from skin problems?
eliminating toxins, thereby increasing our tox- • Do you suffer from bloating after meals?
ic overload. This can give rise to depression, • Do you have an alcoholic drink most days?
irritability, poor performance, anxiety, mood
swings, acidity, constipation, cardiovascular
problems, and degenerative diseases, including
cancer.
The best way to strengthen our body’s natural
defences is to pay attention to our diet and its
effect on our body. Here is where fasting comes
into play.
According to the Indian tradition, one should
stop eating by sunset and ‘break fast’ three
hours post sunrise. This automatically means
12–15 hours of fasting. This norm gave the body
rest and detoxified toxic materials and waste
products, thus opening the pathway to natural
self-healing and spiritual progress. Recently,
this practice has gained tremendous popularity
under the name of intermittent fasting. Here,
an eating window of eight hours in 24 hours is
provided during which two meals are allowed.
No other consumption of food is allowed in-
between, except for an occasional tomato or a
glass of buttermilk, This strict regulation of
meal times helps balance the blood sugar levels The more the fruits and vegetables, the less the toxins
Food 41
find there. Then restock your kitchen with nu-
tritionally sound food, using a shopping list
for guidance.
Preparing to fast
• Eat as much locally grown produce as pos-
sible since it lessens the chemical load and
retains more nutrition because it does not
have to be preserved or flown across the
world to you.
• Consume plenty of fruits, seasonal greens,
and vegetables.
• Opt for whole grains (whole wheat, basmati
rice, bajra, jowar, nachni, and brown rice),
dals, cow’s ghee, and rock salt.
• Do • Drink more water
you • Avoid milk, curd, eggs, cheese, paneer, and
smoke or live non-vegetarian food
with smokers? • Cut off alcohol
• Do you rarely • Cut down on caffeine
e at fresh fruit or vegeta-
bles? Precautions
• Do you eat red meat more than twice a • Monitor your blood sugar, blood pressure,
week? and sodium levels. One must always fast
• Do you eat fried food and junk food? under supervision and constantly keep a
• Do you suffer from constant colds, hay, fe- check on the above-mentioned parameters.
ver, or allergies? • Avoid acidity by not staying hungry be-
• Do you have mood swings? yond your body’s capacity.
• Do you crave certain foods such as candy • Avoid eating overly processed foods as
or bread? it will lead to indigestion and defeat the
• Do you put on weight easily? whole purpose of detoxifying your body.
• Do you find it difficult to concentrate?
• Do you often have irregular bowel move- Try to maintain a 12-hour gap between din-
ments? ner and breakfast. If you can’t start the fast
by sunset then at least start three hours before
Detoxify your kitchen midnight and break your fast three hours after
Clear your kitchen of all the fatty, sugar-lad- sunrise. This will be a 12-hour fasting window.
en comfort foods that you reach for in times of Once you are comfortable with this routine,
emotional crises so that if you do go through a you can increase it gradually to 16 hours. And
stressful time, there won’t be anything in the stay with that.
pantry that you should not eat. Throw out all
the white flour, white sugar, and all the oth- This way you can comfortably fast your way to
er packaged, processed, and refined foods you a healthy body and a sound mind.
42 LifePositive | AUGUST 2023
Recipe
MOONG SOUP 3.Cook in pressure cooker till the moong dal is
Ingredients soft and mushy.
½ cup moong 4.Allow the pressure cooker to cool and open
¼ tsp hing the lid.
¼ tsp haldi powder 5.Blend the cooked dal in the blender until
½ tsp jeera seeds smooth.
Salt to taste 6.Strain using a strainer and set aside.
7.Heat the ghee in a small pan. Add hing and
Method jeera seeds. Sauté for a minute. Add haldi pow-
1.Wash and soak the moong for 3–4 hours in der to it.
water. 8. Add the tempering to the blended dal with
2.Drain the water and cook the moong with salt and boil for 3–4 minutes on medium flame.
water on a medium flame 9.Serve hot.
Naini Setalvad is a nutritionist, specialising in lifestyle and
immunity disorders. Her foundation, Health For You, throws light
on healthy food habits. Contact her at healthforyou@nainisetalvad.
com
Food 43
AHA-MOMENTS
The five faces of freedom
With the 15th of August round the corner, Megha Bajaj celebrates by sharing what freedom means to her
ome August, my mind tunes Sometimes, it did cause me worry. Freedom in relationships, to me,
in to Independence Day. I However, about five years ago, I is being able to sustain myself
Ckeep wondering what it took met a mentor who started guiding as I am while allowing the other
our countrymen to claim freedom. me about financial freedom and to remain their authentic self.
I am taken back to times of revolts, made me understand my assets, Freedom is when there’s room for
revolutions, and yes, Mahatma my liabilities, my expenses, and disagreement without disrespect. In
Gandhi. As August approaches, I my income, and made me come a relationship marked by freedom
can’t help but wonder what freedom up with a proper plan that tracks love keeps growing, and enables me
means to me. I realise it has a how I’m doing month on month. to become a better me. While this
different connotation in each aspect Somehow, the kind of security area is constantly in progress, I’m
of my life. that this has given me has been happy to say that a few little shifts—
• Freedom of Health so immense, that for once, I feel like becoming a lot more accepting
True freedom in any form can be that money is no longer an anxiety towards myself and the other,
experienced with a healthy body. in my mind. Rather, it’s a kind and cherishing differences—have
Unless the body is free of aches, of freedom, and I have this sense brought about much peace.
pains, and diseases, at some point that I have more than enough at • Spiritual Freedom
or the other, it will enslave us. I’ve all times. It feels good. Very good. The true meaning of life is to discover
found that eating consciously and • Freedom to do what you love who I am. Who is Megha Bajaj and
getting enough physical activity as What you do from the time you what is she here to do? Each day
well as deep sleep is not a luxury but wake up to the time you sleep that I live, filled with purpose and
a necessity. Strangely, giving some defines your life. Each one of peace, I feel a sense of deeper and
time, energy, and love to the body us is on a journey of our own, growing freedom. Meditation has
frees me of it because, consequently, and the soul finds its succour in been an integral part of my life, and
it does not remind me of its niggling different ways. For me, I realised those few minutes of connecting to
presence the whole day long. This early enough that writing is the Higher has kept me anchored
August, I determine to treat my body something that gives me the through life and all its vagaries.This
with even greater respect, so that, in deepest happiness. Despite being August, I urge each one of you to ask
turn, it can gift me true freedom. told by everyone that writers don’t as our country walks into the 77th
From itself. earn money and being guided to year of freedom: What does freedom
• Financial freedom make it a hobby, I chose it as a mean to me? Happy Independence
Financial security offers financial purpose. Today (as I touch eight- Day to you and to me.
freedom. What gives you this feeling figure turnovers and have found a
of security is extremely subjective: voice through it), I can happily say Megha Bajaj is a bestselling
author, film script writer and
for some, even a little may be that when you follow your passion, poet.
enough, and for others, even having other things automatically follow; An ardent seeker at heart, she
also runs her online writing and
a lot may not. I was someone who when you take up a job only healing workshops called WoW.
never consciously thought of money. because it gives you money, you You can read more about her on
www.MeghaBajajWoW.com.
It was something that came and feel incomplete.
went, and something that I used. Freedom in relationships We welcome your comments and suggestions on
this article. Mail us at [email protected]
44 LifePositive | AUGUST 2023
FEST
Spirit
of the
SOUTH
Life Positive celebrates 25 years of
helping seekers walk the spiritual
path by inviting you to the Spiritual
Healing Festival in Chennai at
Hotel Savera, on the 1st and 2nd of
September, 2023. Jamuna Rangachari
raises the curtain.
46 LifePositive | AUGUST 2023
or 25 years, Life Positive has been abiding The Chennaiite may
by its mission to help its readers become occasionally visit
Fphysically, emotionally, and spiritually Starbucks, but his
healthy, find their life’s purpose, walk the morning fix will
path of personal growth, and, eventually, remain the filter
arrive at perfect peace and happiness. As part coffee, whose
of this quest, Life Positive has been holding flavour, like the
body-mind-spirit festivals in many parts of fragrant mallipoo
the country where participants have access to (jasmine), trails
transformative workshops and to meet like- you wherever
minded people. It is now the turn of Chennai to you go. And no Johnny-come-lately
be at the receiving end of our offering. We are breakfast fad like Belgian waffles or overnight
delighted to be in partnership with this great oats can ever hope to topple the Tamilian’s
city, one so unlike any other place in the world. penchant for idli-sambar and medu vada.
Chennai emanates a unique ethos of cultural The city is rooted in tradition—its innumerable
and spiritual devotion. Even as its people temples draw its denizens to its altars every day.
step smartly into the 21st century with their And even though shorts and little black dresses
expertise in engineering and computers, the may rule society soirees, they do not supersede
city’s deep and enduring grounding in the the gorgeous multi-hued Kanjeevaram cotton
eternal values of India is palpable. This is a city and silk sari that is the pride of Tamil Nadu.
that will not give up its essential core, even as it One will still see the portly mami, hair neatly
expands capaciously to accommodate modern coiled in a bun, diamond nose rings sparkling,
times and needs. wearing a nine-yard Kanjeevaram sari, haggling
Idli-vada-sambar: The perennial favourite
Fest 47
with the vegetable vendor for kathirikai
(brinjal) and muringakka (drumsticks) for her
daily sambar.
Likewise, you will still see menfolk wearing
white, starched bush shirts and flowing white
dhotis, with an angavastram folded over their
shoulder. And woe betide anyone who attempts
to budge the city’s allegiance to its native
classical art forms such as Carnatic music and
Bharatanatyam. Come mid-November and all
of Chennai is held in thrall by the Chennai
Music Season, where amateurs and great
artistes of Carnatic music hold sway for nine
weeks.
Chennai is like a seasoned matron, comfortable
in her skin, sure of who she is and what she
stands for. It is that which enables her to embrace
diversity without losing her foothold, or her At weddings or otherwise, traditional wear rules
grip on her centre. Tolerantly, she allows
the world to be as it is and accommodates and natural. This is true of most of the South,
herself to its whims and fancies. but even in this megapolis, the average citizen
That allowance has given is still simply themself. The need to project
rise to an ethos an image, to outshine others, to impress, is
which is simple missing. And, therefore, they naturally draw
others to them.
We at Life Positive are immensely glad to come
to this haven of tradition and culture. We are
happy to offer this city our Spiritual Healing
Festival—consider it our prasad—through the
agency of four outstanding workshops. We are
sure that the city and its denizens will find in
it a blend of the modern and the age-old values
of holistic healing so native to this land. Here
below is the programme and an introduction to
each workshop and its facilitator. Please note
that on both days, you will be offered the choice
of two workshops that will run concurrently.
Take your pick.
Day 1: September 1 (Friday), 2023
Bharatanatyam: Pride of Chennai 11.15 a.m.–5.00 p.m.
48 LifePositive | AUGUST 2023
11.15 a.m.–5.00 p.m.
Alpha Mind by Sri Matha Vijayalakshmi
Panthaiyan
Sri Matha Vijayalakshmi Panthaiyan, a
spiritual guru and founder of Alpha Mind
Power, will help us enhance the power of our
mind, which, as we all know, is tremendous to
begin with. She started this workshop in May
2000, and in these 23 years, she has conducted
thousands of classes in various cities in India
and abroad as well.
Alpha Meditation helps a person experience
the power of the subconscious mind, and the
techniques help them meditate and achieve
Nayana Gopinath: Healing trauma what they want in life. Sri Matha’s meticulous
training empowers one to face any situation in
Emotional Reset by Nayana Gopinath life with confidence and ease, making them a
Nayana was inclined towards spirituality and master of their mind.
healing from a very young age, and her curiosity The workshop, which is experiential in nature,
in these subjects encouraged her to explore will deal with the theory behind the concept of
more in the field of soul science and healing. Alpha Meditation, pranayama, and the practice
She started exploring different modalities
of healing such as Theta healing, EFT, and
Reiki, and later got trained as a practitioner
in them. The first part of her workshop will
facilitate emotional healing by working one’s
way through trauma. When we undergo intense
emotion in various situations, our body may not
be able to process it fully; it remains a trauma
that fractures our spirit.
The second part will focus on a systematic
approach to healing oneself by exploring
the role of intergenerational traumas in our
life. People carry the unprocessed emotional
loads (called entanglements) of their ancestors
and manifest them in their lives in subconscious
ways. These entanglements can sabotage our
lives, giving rise to relationship issues, financial
debacles, health issues, career challenges,
and so on. Becoming aware of these ancestral
loyalties and their repercussions can certainly
help one move forward in their life. Sri Matha Vijayalakshmi Panthaiyan: Maxing the mind
Fest 49
of Alpha Meditation. The participant will then an avenue to re-evaluate your personal and
be guided towards visualising a goal, talking professional life and figure out new ways to
to the subconscious mind, and, finally, healing balance your goals. People who are able to
themselves—all at the Alpha level. achieve this balance are more likely to run a
successful life. The core elements of ikigai are
Day 2: September 2 (Saturday), 2023 passion, profession, mission, and vocation.
11.15 a.m.–5.00 p.m. Ultimately, ikigai serves as a compass to guide
Ikigai by Rama Ravee Titti us towards a more purposeful and fulfilling life.
Rama Ravee Titti, the founder of Thee Skisksha By aligning our passions, skills, values, and the
Academics Private Limited, is a seasoned needs of the world, we can create a meaningful
facilitator and an international certified and rewarding existence, both personally and
corporate trainer as well as a Master NLP professionally.
(Neuro Linguistic Programming) practitioner.
She has conducted more than 2,150 workshops, The key takeaways from the workshop include
trainings, seminars, and guest lectures. At her the following:
Chennai workshop, Rama will be enlightening • Finding your ikigai
• Appreciating your life with acceptance
• Self-awareness
• Creating a purposeful and fulfilling life
11.15 a.m.–5.00 p.m.
Acupressure by Ketan V Shah
Destiny brought Dr Shah to acupressure when
he himself underwent some health problems,
causing him serious emotional and financial
stress. When almost everything else failed, it
was acupressure that cured him, and he became
its lifelong votary. Dr Shah also learnt how
energy balance through Vaastu is imperative
for a healthy life. His workshops and healing
sessions—comprising a combination of
Rama Ravee Titti: The power of purpose acupressure, Reiki, and Vaastu—have been
powerful aids in creating balance, reducing
the participants about the concept of ikigai. stress, and uprooting disease.
Why is it that the Japanese are so efficient in Dr Shah has healed cases of asthma, trigeminal
almost all areas of life? This is surely because neuralgia, cerebral palsy, physical and mental
they have mastered how to live life with the growth retardation, attention deficit syndrome,
right principles. One of them is finding their autism, arthritis, PCOD, gynaecological
ikigai. problems, vitiligo, Parkinson’s disease, diabetes,
‘Ikigai’ is a Japanese word which refers to joint pains, and many more chronic problems.
life purpose. Finding it helps to build self- He is the author of two acupressure books:
confidence and make you aware of both your Acupressure for Total Wellness (in English and
strengths and weaknesses. Ikigai creates Hindi) and Spinal Acupressure for Total Wellness.
50 LifePositive | AUGUST 2023