A Popular folk dance of Maharashtra - Lezium

Lezim is folk dance of Maharashtra, India. In this dance the dancers carry a wooden or metallic rod with metal discs attached to it on a string which produce a jingling sound.This instrument is called Lezim, that's where the dance gets its name from.The dancers dance to the rhythm given by the Dholki (type of Indian drum). It is a kind of sport dance. When i was in school , our PE teacher would take us down to the school grounds and make us practice the Lezim dance. We would then perform it at our annual sports meet. This dance is popularly seen during the Ganapathi festivals all over Maharashtra. The dancers follow certain counts and keep to the rhythm while arranging themselves into different formation. I hope they keep teaching young children such folk dances in school so the children are able to keep such bright and beautiful traditions alive.

KaThaKars: Gotipua Dance

KaThaKars: Gotipua Dance: "Gotipua is danced by young boys. It dates back to the 17Th century. This dance form is said to the precursor to the Odissi dance form.The '..."

KaThaKars: The best piece of co-ordination

KaThaKars: The best piece of co-ordination: "Today's video took my breath away. This dance piece is called 'Thousand Hand Guanyin'. As i further read up on it i found out that this..."

KaThaKars: COMMONWEALTH GAMES DELHI 2010-OPENING CEREMONY (HD...

KaThaKars: COMMONWEALTH GAMES DELHI 2010-OPENING CEREMONY (HD...: "This Video is a small clip from the opening ceremony of the Common Wealth Games that took place in Delhi,India in Oct2010. Here each style..."

Yoga,Food and Everything Else: Four cardinal principles of Yogic practices

Yoga,Food and Everything Else: Four cardinal principles of Yogic practices: "There are four pillars of correct practice of Yoga. If kept in mind while practicing Yoga one can perform these practices with ease and wit..."

Four cardinal principles of Yogic practices

There are four pillars of correct practice of Yoga. If kept in mind while practicing Yoga one can perform these practices with ease and without strain.

1. Prayatna Shaithilya or Slackening of effort: Minimising the expenditure of physical and mental  energy while performing Yoga.
2. Bhedatmak orAnshatmak Shithilata/ Differential or Partial Relaxation: Using only those parts of the body which are required to attain and maintain an asana and consciously  relaxing  all the other parts of the body as much as possible.
3. Naisargik Shawasana or Normal breathing: While performing any asana, one should  keep in breathing  at normal and natural pace however in certain practices like bandhas,mudras and pranayams the breathing is to be regulated as prescribed.
4. PranaDharana or Fixation of mind on the breath: In the final stage of the asana, fixing the mind on the breath makes the asana more stable and easy .It helps in further cessation of effort.

Yoga,Food and Everything Else: General Guidlines For YogaAbhyas

Yoga,Food and Everything Else: General Guidlines For YogaAbhyas: "When i first started training as Yoga Instructor, one questions that constantly nagged me rather confused me was about what exact guid..."

General Guidlines For YogaAbhyas

When i first started training as Yoga Instructor, one questions that constantly nagged me rather confused me was about what exact guideline should i follow to practice Yoga in the right manner.Is it ok to eat right before i do yoga, what are the  right kind of clothes to wear,whats the  right time (i am not a morning person so i just wanted to know if i could do yoga in the evening),Can i go to the gym and do yoga the same day, do i have to take shower before doing yoga? I took my questions to my teachers and they gave me some guidelines to follow which i have been passing on to my students as well. Here are some i would like to share with everyone who wants to start their yogic journey to good health but are confused as i was.

Guidelines:

1. Place and Surroundings - The place that you choose to do practice Yoga should be quite,airy and well light,insect free ( you don't want to be in an asana trying to shoo a nagging fly away that would be so injurious to your and  the fly's health).In short the place should make you feel cheerful and if you lack such a place you can create one by using incense or fragrant flowers etc.
2. Suitable time and the Condition of the Stomach- Its considered best to perform Yogic practices on an empty or light stomach. Usually early morning or post dawn morning are considered best time to perform Yogic practice,but if you can't find time during those hours,you can also perform Yogic practice during evening on light stomach or any other convenient time. Generally allow 4 to 4 1/2 hrs to pass between heavy meal and  doing yoga
3. Dress and Seat- For Yoga its best to wear something that is light soft ,clean and one that will allow easy body movement. The seat used to practice Yoga should neither be too soft nor too hard
4. Physical exercises, sports and Yoga- Although all these activities compliment each other, one should not practice them together, Let at least 20 to 30 mins time interval to pass between the practice of physical exercises /sports and Yoga.
5. Suggested Yoga Schedule-  Not all of us have been gifted with the most flexible and healthy bodies hence when you start practicing Yoga,start with pre-preliminary or preliminary course which contain easy and basic practices that are designed to prepare the body and mind for the various essential bends ,twists and stretches . Its always harm full to try some kind of new physical practice or exercise on our own. This can lead to injury so its advisable to first start Practice of Yoga under the careful eye of a Yoga instructor. And last but not the least your doctors consultation on whats right and whats not for you is most important. What might suit one person may harm the other. But you can with the help of your instructor customise a Yoga program for your needs.

These guidelines made life and practice of Yoga easy  for me. Hope it does the same for you. Here is to staying safe and healthy

SG

KaThaKars: The Scope and Importance of NatyaShastra

KaThaKars: The Scope and Importance of NatyaShastra: "Today I finally got down to reading what is know as Bible of Indian Classical Dance, Music and Drama - The Natya Shastra. This two volume..."

Yoga,Food and Everything Else: Food and Health

Yoga,Food and Everything Else: Food and Health: "Fall seasons bring in cool weather and it’s soup time! But sometimes those store canned soups taste so bland so I decided to add a little..."

Food and Health

Fall seasons bring in cool weather and it’s soup time! But sometimes those store canned soups taste so bland so I decided to add a little desi zest to it. A teaspoon of oil, some ginger garlic paste, mustard, and turmeric and garam masala can give amazing twist to bland broccoli soup.

Broccoli is one complete vegetable. It is potent modulator of our immune system with anti viral, anti bacterial and anti cancer activity. Broccoli is a good source of fiber, potassium, vitamins and carbohydrates. It’s good for our overall health which is topic of concern for everyone today in the age of mental stress and breakneck competition. With the increase in mental stress, we have lost our health balance. The WHO defines Health as state of wellbeing –mental, physical and social; it is not mere absence of disease or complaints. Body movement and exercise are important for our health. Regular practice of Yoga not only helps develop self confidence but also boost vitality and induce a feeling of stability. However merely studying books, discussing and hearing lectures on Yoga cannot obtain benefits. It is an empirical science which one has to experience personally. It is a practical science of healthy living.  I will be back soon with update on my journey through to good health through food and Yoga. Till then stay good, stay healthy

SG