Stressfree Mind

 

STRESS FREE MIND with breathing techniques

Pointers towards how to boost a stress-free mind

1.      ENERGY – To combat stress, we need more energy. Inhaling long deep breaths helps us to enhance our life energy levels. Filling up our lungs with maximum oxygen helps us to increase the functional capacity of our internal organs. Just like better blood circulation improves overall health, higher oxygen levels boosts our energy levels. Bhastrika is one powerful breathing technique to shake off nervousness and fill up with newfound energy and enthusiasm.

 

2.     FLEXIBILITY – When stress happens, because of our rigidness, we either break or fail without being flexible.  These breathing exercises allows us to be in flexible mode – ready to adapt to any situation, person or task. Our brain muscles are toned so that they function with agility and become shock absorbers to bear shattering news and we become more resilient to trauma or loss. Our emotions are directly connected to our breath. If we are not careful, the emotions can rule our life ending up with wrong decisions and a messy life. Instead, if we know how to deal with these emotions, we can be in charge of our life. For example, on a hill station we get a WOW moment opening our breath in full flow as we are mesmerized in awe of the scenic beauty. We can get back this wow moment anytime we take fuller deeper breaths. When we are sad, we usually have shallow breath and by using breathing techniques we can come out of sadness promptly. This is the power of breath which make us in charge of our emotions and enables us to be in response mode rather than in reaction mode. Our resilience power increases and we can forebear any bad situation staying calm and stable. This is the secret of becoming rock solid. Your will power escalates tremendously as you are in charge of your life.

 

3.     BALANCE – Our brain has two aspects, left connected with analytical part and right connected with emotional part. Both are important for our functioning. However in most of the cases, if we are not very alert or aware, our mind tends to be lopsided to either the emotional or analytical half. The right balance is required to have a clear perspective and hence our thought process will be steered in the right direction. Here also through Nadi shodhan Pranayam or Breath purification breathwork, we can activate both sides of the brain and maintain the right balance.

 

4.    RHYTHM – By default, our biological system has a rhythm as a part of Nature. As we move from our childhood to maturity, we are getting influenced by outside conditioning and our inner tendencies also interrupt the rhythm, resulting in abnormalities like stress and diseases. The natural rhythm is reflection of our body-mind synchronicity and breath is the link between our mind and body. Practicing breathing techniques helps us to align our mind body in one harmony.

 

5.     COMFORT ZONE – Most of the times, we get stressed when we deal with people, situations, or tasks that fall outside our comfort zone. We can get over this phobia or myth that comfort keeps us safe, once we know how many opportunities we are missing out on by not stepping out of our comfort zone. What is comfort… that which we are used to or we think it will provide pleasure and safety. But the fact is in long term, comfort only limits us and if we prepare ourself for discomfort we can face anything and everything. If we can embrace embarrassment, we conquer half the battle with our readiness, “Be it, so what!’’ Here also breathwork releases the tension and with new found relaxed rested mode, with upgraded energy levels, we move on to next level of growth crossing our comfort zone barriers. We learn new things, ready to bear more risk for a brighter future. We move on from no mind to YES mind.

 

6.    UNDERSTANDING NATURE OF MIND – One of the major reasons of stress is that we cannot let go of past pain, loss or regrets or anything negative. The nature of our mind is such that it clings on to negativity and doubts only positive thoughts. For instance, if we are praised by 10 people, we will be overwhelmed and can’t take the appreciation in full spirit, we shy away thinking that they are only praising us out of courtesy, we doubt good things. But when 1 person insults us, we are not able to dismiss it the same way we dismiss the praise. We will believe and react immediately.  The other propensity of our mind is to oscillate between past and future and hence we fail to focus on the present moment. Our mind is scattered all over and to bring it back to a one pointedness, breath can be instrumental.

   Once we are aware of the tendencies of our mind, we watch out not to fall in its trap. The mind plays tricky games and lures us into more easy tasks and instant results but with breathing techniques, our awareness improves. With breathwork we are in witness mode, separating ourselves from our mind. Our mind automatically gets quietened like a good obedient child as we are directing our mind as a master to follow a particular technique. When the chattering mind is silenced, it is automatically rested. It returns to a stable position, in the present moment. FLUSHING OUT TOXIC THOUGHTS – The last but not the least is mental hygiene. If we don’t know how to dispose of our toxic thougts, we are going to fall sick both mentally and physically. Breathwork helps us to flush out these negative emotions and thoughts through proper exhalation. Kapalbhati is such powerful breath technique of forceful exhalations from the naval area. Bhanwari is another way to clear the cobwebs of brain through nozzle of one pointed forceful hmming sound of a bee keeping all windows of your senses closed. The blocked up areas will open up with jerks from forceful breaths at every level of our body be in naval area, heart region or top of the head.  

 

We can bridge the gap between a stressed chaotic mind and a stable stress-free mind with mindfulness, following these breathing techniques.

Pathway to Subconscious mind and beyond

In today's world every body is aware of everything thanks to technological boom the way information flows beyond borders and time horizon. Still there are aspects which today's advancement have a little effect. Those are subtler aspects like mind, emotions, feelings. 

On the first instance it may appear of course, we can adhere to our feeling and emotion by various entertaining gadgets which caters to soothe our mind be it fun games or relaxing music or social media insta reels. What is concerning here, is when our mind patterns are getting deeper and deeper embedded in our  system without our knowledge to an extent that when it starts showing signs of distress or fails to function well, we are alarmed beyond imagination. Here comes the role of subconsious level where these patterns are placed and starts interrupting in our life. 

While staying mindful is quite challenging in this maddening world, being watchful about these patterns can be overwhelming to even think of. However, there is a respite though, once we know the power of our subconsious mind. The good news is that we can access it. 

 Our subconscious mind can be accessed through meditation - bringing the mind to rest. The various impressions our mind gets while going through difficult times especially have a deeper impact on our personality, the way we perceive or react or adopt may vary. Just like a wrinkled mind it ceases to perform effectively with so many creases and to smooth en it one can take the help of meditation as a tool to get rid of these impressions and help the mind get rid of conditioning. Just like aging process can be reversed with healthy lifestyle, likewise the conditioning can be reversed with breathing techiniques & meditation. The instant relief through releasing toxic thoughts is clear, calmer mind- more present and yes mind. Clarity happens with more decisive power and intuitiveness. Things get sorted out easier with a relaxed mind. 

Right from priority list to do's and don't will entirely be changed with new found peace of mind which is always in state of equilibrium, in the present moment. The present is a gift to us  as it opens up avenues to make our future. Past can be life learning lesson but the inclination of our mind is getting stuck in the past be it good or bad, both stops us being fully in the present moment. When we lack our full attention in the present moment, we loose our 100% capability to perform or deal with the situation. Rather than in response mode we rush to react and give the remote control of our emotions to outside factors which can trigger our emotions any time without our knowledge or preparation. It sounds dangerous being into victimhood mode rather in defence mode, right action at right time. Sometimes it is wiser not to act in some cases to save our own mind from draining our energy into unnecessary issues which can be avoided by simple act of no action. 

As we mentioned about subtler aspects, lets move on from reaching subconscious to where it leads further after reaching there. It opens up new dimension to our existence. By practice of meditation and breathing techniques, we witness real Self in its purest form far away from what we have been knowing ourselves till now. Right from our birth, conditioning of the mind gets started which is basic for survival. Like recognising, associating, learning..... in nutshell all what we hear, see and perceive from senses make us believe what we are. Eventually we get so attached to the image so built that we start believing that as our true identity leaving behind what we originally are. The quest to learn about Self only starts from a time either some crisis might have hit you which have shaken up your identity of what you believed yourself to be or at a time when you are fed up with the stagnation point where you have reached a saturation of everything perfect still you are striving for happiness. The awakening moment happens with overwhelming experience which can be painful and miserable only to be soaked in complete bliss. It is eminent- birth is painful like an egg breaks to give a life or seed germitates with breaking of outer shell. Likewise shedding off outer ego centric identity can be overbearing but once it is shaken off one can experience deep relief and real joy to find one's true Self beyond past  impressions and conditioning as true freedom is experienced in form of bliss. To be happy or find happiness one may need to do something or achieve but bliss is just being. It is as simple to being .... yet unattainable for those who may not even feel the need to be in bliss, oblivious of such a possiblity of ultimate peace while lost in their material world.

The very purpose of writing this is to refresh our belief system of what we think as correct can be verified from level of our core level where we rise up from our conditioned mind and start seeing things as it it without ulterior motives of hyped up dream goals set by the society or idealim. Instead if we are familiar with our Self in  purest form of what is our inner call or wisdom we can start living a life in our best version. 

 

Right orientation

Have you ever observed, survival instincts gear us for the best to emerge. I noticed the same in a plant which was cornered in a small pot in a balcony so away from direct sunlight. The plant in its initial stage of growing up must have struggled with getting enough sunlight which is the core source of its survival besides water and mud. So the interesting part is that in its keenness to grow the plant started growing horizontally as against its usual upward growth. It kept growing this unique pay parallel to the ground till it reached the right point to receive sunlight directly. The very keenness of the plant not to give up or settle for ordinary, lead this tremendous task possible. In spite of its initial positioning which the plant can not do anything about, it started to take a course much difficult against its normal trend to defeat its initial disadvantage of being cornered and stationed at a poor position in the beginning. Instead it steered its direction of growth with grit and determination in the hope of a bright future, towards a direction which is beneficial to it in the long run in near future.

Sometimes in life, the situation we are put in is not ideal and there is nothing much we can do about it. Instead of sulking about it, if we look for solution there can be infinite possibilities. Its a matter of our outlook and insight. Both when aligned with hope, faith and courage, it can make wonders happen. 

Creeper & Tree

In life, we all need one another to some extent. Life would not have been interesting if it was to live life alone. 

I watched a creeper come up to top of a tree that for a moment I thought the tree was a flowering plant. However it was the flowers of creeper which could reach to such height because it has the ability to climb and it selected the tree, somehow the tree also allowed the creeper to thrive upon it. 

It would be wrong to say here that only the creeper is at its benefit but in helping the creeper to grow on it, the tree itself is creating an opportunity to turn into a flowering plant, so to say. 

Likewise, in our life, in an attempt to allow others to grow through us, one gets the opportunity to enhance one's essence. Had it been the false ego of tree that somehow allowing the creeper to grow through it, is its mercy or favor, then the tree would not honor the flowering part which has happened to flowering reality through the creeper only. Honoring other's presence for good in one's life is also a graceful way to discover one's existence.

Life's vibrant colors

    Have  you ever noticed how the colors of leaves are variable of the same plant throughout various life stages. Its interesting to note that  as a very young leaf it is mild brown in color. Then in middle it assumes light green color and as it is getting mature it is pure green and brighter then darker and finally yellow after it looses its essence of life when it falls off the plant. As it lay lifeless on the ground it turns to brown which was the color in the beginning but now a bit flaky in nature. 

When examined in terms of color, we can see it has primarily three colors - yellow, red and blue

Early stage is Brown which is combination of  (Red + Green (blue + yellow) ) essentially all primary colors but in varied ratio

Second stage is Light green - ( Green (blue + yellow) + Yellow) when leaf is young

Third stage is Bright green then darker green when leaf is in its prime stage 

Finally the leave looses its essence and turns yellow when it is approaching its end and falls off 

At the end, the fallen leaf turns flaky brown and mixes with mother earth & becomes dust

Nature has its own way of depicting reality through every part of its creation, be it leaf where the vitality color is green and is lost after loosing life. 

The early stage and final stage are both brown in color signifying ignorance prevailing among human at its infancy and old age or towards death.

 Hence the color variation speaks volume about life cycle how color range affects or varies with life force. 

Nature is the best example for us to learn about life through colors.

ज्ञान चक्षु

अफ़सानो के पहाड़ जब क़हर लेके आती हैं 

ज़िन्दगी का रौनक धुंदली पर जाती है 

ऐसे नाज़ुक वक़्त में टूटे हुए दिल को 

दुनिया की कोई रीत नहीं जोड़ पाती हैं 

 

दर बदर भटकने पर भी

 जब सवालों के जवाब नहीं मिलते

थक के चूड़ होके आख़री पनाह

तब अपनी अंतरात्मा में जा मिलती 

 

ज्ञान चक्षु से हर जहां में रंगत दिखती

शांत स्वरुप सद्चिदानन्द रोम रोम में घुलती  

हर कली में जैसे फूल छुपा हैं 

प्यार के पंछी हर गली में संग चहकती 

क्यों न मिलके हम एक ऐसा जहा बनाये

जिससे विश्व शांति का अनुपम प्रतीक लेहरायें