Sukhasana (सुखासन)

In India, Sukhasana is not only a common manner of sitting on the floor with legs crossed, but it is also a meditative posture. Gentle stretching exercises for the lower limbs, also help one prepare for the posture.

Sukhasana

Begin by sitting legs crossed at the ankle. Place right heel below the left thigh and vice versa.

Place palms on the knees or thighs, keeping elbows relaxed. Keep the spine erect, with the chin parallel to the ground. Pay attention to the flow of your breath.

“The idea is not to experience meditation, but rather to sit correctly even for a short period allowing our mind to be quiet, inward” believes Dr. Jayadeva[1].

A tight lower back and hamstrings can make one slouch, struggling to sit straight, as one is seated in Sukhasana, and soon it can begin to feel like dukhasana - full of pain. At such times, rolling a turkish towel tightly or using a small cushion, and placing it at the edge of the butt helps sit erect.

“The most vital things in life are the simplest… Sukhasana may be the simplest meditative posture. But sitting in this posture and understanding oneself is one of the greatest things a human being can do” Pradip Kumar[2].

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[1] Dr. Jayadeva Yogendra: 21 day better living course

[2] A.B.Pradip Kumar: Sukhasana – Greatness in Simplicity – published in Yoga and Total Health (August 1991) 

Herbal Chai!

Yoga and Ayurved recommend avoiding caffeine in all forms. Apart from the health benefits, the best part of getting over chai - coffee is not having a splitting headache when you don't get your daily dose of the beverage. You just wake up fresh and awake all by yourself, goodbye headaches and Groucho Marx.

Here's the recipe of Herbal Milk Tea that we is served at The Yoga Institute in place of tea. Try some!

Serves 2:

Ingredients:

2 cups water
1 cup milk
1/2 - 1 inch piece of ginger
3-4 lemon grass leaves cut
4-5 mint leaves - if you'd like
3 tsp jaggery

Method:

1. Add any one or two of the above herbs into two cups of  water.
2. Add jaggery and bring to a boil, letting it simmer for a minute or two. Turn off the fire and set aside.
3. Warm milk in a separate vessel.
4. Strain the herbal water, and add the warm milk.
5. Mix. Serve. Relish!

Santosh = संतोष = Contentment

The practice of santosh or contentment brings tranquility, the ability to look inward. And while contentment is not looking for more, it does not imply getting complacent in life. 

संतोषादनुत्तमसुखलाभ: ॥ ४२
                    - The Yoga Sutra - Verse 42 Samadhi Pad

Transliteration: Santoshaad anuttamah sukhalaabhah

|| Contentment endows extreme happiness ||

In a world where, the world, is not enough, and experiencing unhappiness in spite of having everything, santosh might just be the solace we seek.

Full Comic at: http://zenpencils.com/comic/kalam/