Wednesday 24 August 2022

Marmas

 According to Ayurveda, prana is our life energy that flows in the body in a large number, 72,000, energy channels - nadis. They also have special connection points where body, mind and consciousness meet and also where the connection between the individual and the cosmos is found. These points are called marma points. There are 107 such points, and together with the self, there are then 108. Three of these are overarching "mahamarmas": Sthapani in the forehead, Hridaya in the heart and Basti in the lower abdomen. Keeping the marma points healthy and robust is among the most important things one can do for good health. An excellent way to do that is to do yoga exercises. The original yoga exercises are designed to stimulate the marma points. So feel free to do yoga exercises calmly, quietly, without effort and with innocent attention to the body and how it feels.


Tuesday 16 August 2022

Vastu Vidhya

 Vastu Vidhya or Sthapatya Veda is the ancient Vedic knowledge of how the forms and surroundings affect us and thus how we should construct and furnish buildings. Like much of Vedic knowledge, it has been revived and structured under the guidance of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. Our living environment affects us more than you might think. It is, of course, about having natural and life-promoting building materials. But also directions, proportions, location and positions are essential. Modern research confirms, for example, that our brain works differently depending on which direction we face. Some crucial points in Vastu Vidhya are as follows:


• All buildings should be aligned with the cardinal points. This is how they were built a long time ago, even in Sweden, and old churches, for example, are always right in relation to the cardinal points.

• The entrance to the building should be towards the east or north.

• The rooms in the houses should be positioned according to the sun's movements in the sky. Thus, for example, it is good to have the kitchen in the southeast because the sun is in the southeast in the morning, and that is when you should cook your main meal.

• Our bed should be oriented so that we sleep facing east or south and, above all, never facing north.

• On the other hand, sitting facing north or east is good when working.


You can use the last two pieces of advice in your current home as well. And you can keep the others in mind if you consider changing homes. The best thing is to get the help of an architect trained in Maharishi Vastu Vidhya and build a new house that fully follows all the principles and thus provides an optimal living environment.



Wednesday 3 August 2022

Moong dhal

 Shelled mung beans - moong dhal - is a food that is held in very high regard in Ayurveda. They are very nutritious and contain, among other things, a lot of protein. At the same time, they are easy to digest and do not form gas. However, it is essential to choose organic beans as otherwise, they may have been exposed to a lot of pesticides. Like all legumes, they become more nutritious and easily digestible if you soak them overnight before use. If you boil one part of mung beans together with three parts of water for about 40 minutes and add spices and salt to taste, you get a tasty and healthy mash. Here is also a recipe for good and healthy dhal soup for four people:

Saute two teaspoons of vata, pitta or kapha churna (or garam masala or curry) and half a teaspoon of turmeric lightly in one tablespoon of ghee or olive oil. Add 1.1 litres of boiling water and 1.75 dl of mung beans. Cook for about 40 minutes. Add 2 teaspoons of salt and one to two tablespoons of dill towards the end of cooking. Mix with a stick blender. Have a nice meal!