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What is Happiness?

I once asked a counselor “what is happiness?” and he told me that we humans are essentially spiritual beings, happiness is found and can be experienced only in the spirit. I thought to myself, what kind of mambo jambo is that, coming from a man of science. I took up yoga in my quest for a satisfying answer and to my pleasant surprise, I found it! Before I go on, I’d like to share what happiness is – its exactly what the counselor said. Of course!

Before yoga, most of my relationships were unstable, unpleasant and I was not happy with myself or the way life was shaping up. I would easily get irritated and angry. Controlling my emotions or being diplomatic was getting harder by the day. I was not an unkind person, I had not been unfair to anyone, then why was life being such a b*tch to me? My personal relationships felt superficial and the anger within weighed me down. I started immersing myself in work, an escapist strategy I’d say. I could only see suffering and struggle inside me and around me. Happiness was just not in the picture.

There are three ways to be happy :

  1. be responsible,
  2. be thankful and kind,
  3. be present.

When I started my yoga training, the first and the toughest lesson learnt was ‘concentrate on changing self, not others’, because that is where you have some control. Take responsibility for your own actions irrespective of what others say or do. An attitude of gratitude with service to others was learnt next. Being thankful for the smallest things is itself the greatest aspect of an amazing life experience. It is what makes us want to help others. The third lesson was ‘be present’, assess and accept reality. But I never understood that until we began studying the yoga sutras of rishi Patanjali. These three sources show us how to be happy but they don’t answer the question just yet – what is happiness?

The very first sutra ‘Atha Yoga Anushasanam’ which translates into Now Begins the Discipline of Awareness bears the ingredient of happiness. Yoga is awareness, awareness is happiness. Atha Yoga Anushasanam is Practice Happiness Now. The reason why I say this is because everyone wants to be happy but no one wants to be aware. ‘Our bodies exist in the past; our minds exist in the future. When we are aware, our bodies and minds come together in the present.’ (BKS Iyenger) Awareness can only be experienced in the present, in the now, in the moment just like happiness. ‘When you find yourself looking back in anger or looking forward in fear, take a pause and look around in awareness.’ (James Thurber)

Awareness is not easy because of daily life stresses and distractions. It actually takes practice and discipline, which makes me think, gosh, what a load of work, isn’t it supposed to come naturally? It does over time when you transition from negative thinking patterns to positive mind scripts using the three ways mentioned above.

A happy person makes others feel the same. The essence of being joyful is feeling light or shall i say, feeling the light. There is a light, an energy within each one of us. At this point, you may think that I have given into the mambo jambo of spirituality. But think of it this way; Calm is at the core of our being. Every other emotion is at the periphery.

Calm is not nothingness, it is rest, it is like a pause. On the extreme negative it becomes daftness, you can’t think straight, you become blank. But on the extreme positive it becomes self assurance, you start thinking clearly and realistically and the clarity of your thoughts and vision gives you a sense of control and well-being. This force is indescribable, it makes one humble and not arrogant.

Happiness and pleasure are not the same. Know the difference and recognize the experience. If you disagree then think of all the things that bring you pleasure. While pleasure is derived from all things material and does not last long, Happiness is always spiritual and can become a consistent life experience depending on how aware you are. Today, I feel humbled to say that thanks to Atha Yoga Anushasanam, life’s a beach!

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Water On An Empty Stomach

If you were to study our digestive system, you would realize that water has little to do with the stomach and more to do with the large intestine. Water stays in the stomach for less than 5 minutes after which it goes through the small intestine where some of it is absorbed into the blood stream and the rest of it continues into the large intestine.

Insufficient water can cause blood to become thicker and results in high blood pressure. Airways get restricted by the body in an effort to minimize water loss and dehydration can cause fainting. But water is needed the most in the processes of sweating and removal of urine and feces and lack of it can cause constipation and weight gain, the mother of all illnesses!

The very first thing I watch is the amount of water I drink, how I consume it and most importantly – when. I drink a glass or two on an empty stomach. Generally first thing in the morning and one hour before a meal because that is when the stomach is empty. At other times I am drinking less amounts of water or may be just sipping on it. I generally drink when I am thirsty, but I make a conscious effort when I am having it on an empty stomach and here’s why.

When the stomach is empty, the food consumed is already in the intestines. Water speeds up the process of metabolism. Its main purpose is to flush out the large intestine and that is why it is recommended that we consume a good amount of water on an empty stomach first thing in the morning.

Water also removes toxins accumulated with faulty eating and purifies the blood. It not only helps in eliminating waste and keeping our bodies clean from the inside but also leads to weight loss or weight maintenance. Drinking water in small amounts periodically helps prevent water retention and bloating.

Thus to conclude, I have found that the total amount of water i drink in the day is not very relevant. Of course one shouldn’t be having too much or too less, but what really benefits is the right amount of water consumed at the right time as per our body’s requirement.

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Balancing The Elements In Sthitaprarthanasana

When I was pursuing the first level of the teacher’s training program, the person who inspired me the most was not a teacher but a fellow student, Alina. She would meditate in Sthitaprarthanasana or the standing prayer pose and I would wonder why she practiced this simple posture so often. I found it quite bizarre, yet fascinating because its not easy. It was only later that I learnt of the many fascinating aspects connected to it.

During the advance training program one of the teachers remarked on how Sthitaprarthanasana activates and balances the five elements in our bodies – earth, water, fire, air and ether or space in that order starting from our feet to our thoughts. The lesson was centered around other asanas and most students did not catch this message as the teacher said it casually and quickly with no further explanation. But that was my eureka moment. That one line stayed with me as I thought about Alina.

Our bodies are made up of 5 elements. Earth is everything solid, our skin and bones. As we become aware of the earth beneath out feet, we also become aware of our steadiness and our form, because that is what the earth element provides. When we clench or squeeze our muscles to correct our posture, we activate the water element in our bodies. Water, as per its qualities, cleanses us and lends movement, gives flow, and rules our muscles and circulation, aids reproduction and excretion. It is the most important element for life to exist and comprises 70% of our bodies and our planet. Moving up from the pelvic we arrive at the stomach which contains the third element.

The fire in our bellies is the third element and does more than give us ambition, drive, vigor or gut feelings. It is where our energy is born. Food is broken down in the digestive system with the help of fiery acids that are so strong they could dissolve metal. A candle will not burn in vacuum and similarly this fire needs the next element to exist. As we inhale, our chests expand and we are filled with the fourth element – air. Our body is oxygenated and we are further energized.

Steadiness of breath brings about steadiness of the mind which in turn steadies the body. Lastly, the space element rules our head. It is the most challenging element to maintain. Once the mind is steady we aim at creating space in our head to feel completely relaxed, comfortable and at bliss. It is not emptiness but a serene feeling, a tranquil state of being, a kind of rest and conservation of energy that prepares you to become more alert, active and sensitive. The five elements in balance creates a magnificent human being leading a fulfilled life.

Sthira Sukham Asanam is the only description given for asanas in the yoga sutras of sage Patanjali. It means Steady and Comfortable Posture. Sounds simple but believe me, it takes quite a while to achieve. Sthitaprarthanasana brings out the essence of this sutra. If you become aware of the elements, you will be able to achieve ‘Sthira Sukham Asanam’ in any posture. When we are standing, we are active. When we are standing still, we are even more active. Yoga is awareness and it is only when we are aware of what we are doing, are we truly practicing yoga.

I started practicing the standing prayer pose, concentrating on the elements that made up my body and the physical dimension around me. I realized that the elements are of course active in all yoga postures, in fact they are forever active but this particular pose enables you to become aware of them and balance them. If you are restless or lethargic, confused or just down in general, I’d suggest you stand up and observe. One of the elements may be out of balance.

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Karma Strikes Back – A True Story

I was standing on my balcony one day when karma demonstrated a lesson within ten minutes. It was Makar Sankranti and I was observing the kites in the sky. The day was pleasant and breezy. Besides flying kites, children on this day took great pleasure in kite collecting, chasing cut kites that fell from the sky. I was lost in my own thoughts when I suddenly heard voices from below and saw two small children looking up at me. A girl of around seven and her partner in crime, a boy of around eight.

There was a beautiful green kite in pristine condition stuck on the edge of my balcony on the second floor and they wanted me to release it. I did, and their faces lit up with excitement. But unfortunately the kite drifted and landed on a ledge of the first floor on the opposite building. A wall separated the two buildings but there was no stopping these two kids from going after this big green kite, which would eventually drift off and fall on the other side. The two children wanted to get it before the other kids did. They decided to climb the wall.

The girl squatted and the boy climbed on to her shoulders, balancing with the support of the wall. She slowly stood up and the boy climbed over and sat on top of the wall. Wow, I was a little shocked and quite impressed with their little performance. The girl then put one foot against the wall, stretched out her hand and asked her friend to pull her up. The boy refused. He told her to go around the wall. But the kite would fall by then and she wanted to be around when he got it. The mean boy turned her down again and sent her off all huffing and puffing. She refused to help him further and left.

By that time the other kids had noticed the beautiful green kite and arrived on the scene. The little boy sitting on the wall laughed at them saying they were on the wrong side, the kite would fall on the other side of the wall and he would jump and get it. At that moment the kite slipped off and floated high above the little boy in the direction of the children. The boy was hysterical and shouted, “no, its mine!” and caught the manja (kite string) in order to pull the kite towards him. It was too late. The other kids had their hands on the kite and pulled it out of his hand. The kite string cut the boy’s hand badly and there was blood all over. Seeing this, they panicked and ran off leaving the boy in tears and tremendous pain.

A bystander helped the wailing boy down from the wall and wrapped the bleeding palm tight with a handkerchief. He had been noticing the events and said to the boy, “your little friend gave you her shoulders, you could have easily given her a hand. But you did not and now Karma has cut your hand.”

A hard lesson in life for an eight year old I thought. Selfish thinking got him nowhere. Being thankful, helpful and giving could have got the boy a beautiful green kite.