“Mommy, where is my tie?” yelled 3-year-old Ayan as Preethi was about to have her breakfast.
“Dear, did you find my wallet?” asked Preethi’s husband in a subtle tone.
“Preethi, where did you keep my medicines yesterday night?” asked her father– in–law.
“Preethi, did you switch off the gas?” enquired her mother-in-law, and in between the run to switch off the stove and finding Father’s medicines, she forgot to take her medicine for hypothyroidism.
In between all these, her phone rang, flashing the name of her boss. She took the phone only to find a detailed query about the PowerPoint presentation which she submitted the night before.
It was already 9:00 when Preethi left for her office, without even having her breakfast.
Does this sound Familiar to you too?
If yes, I’m sure you are one among them or you have seen your loved one in such a situation.
As we move on to celebrate International Yoga Day, isn’t it important to celebrate the life of our pillars of life too? Yes, the women of our lives, who dedicate their souls to building a positive society should be taken care of with utmost importance. Wouldn’t you be surprised if I say that a woman can lend a helping hand through Yoga?
When we hear the word Yoga, all we can imagine is the complicated poses that the saints and seers adopt or your mind tends to imagine a foreigner doing meditation. Yoga, which originated thousands of years ago having its roots in our Ancient India, is not just a collection of asana and pranayama, but a way of holistic living. Studies have shown that it promotes both physical and mental well-being of a human thus helping it regulate the overall health. Considering the state of women, one can incorporate Yoga, in order to make them feel at ease in this busy schedule. Mindsets of the society have changed and the women have started to come out, rather than getting themselves restricted to the four walls of the kitchen. They have proven that they can manage both their work life and personal life well. In the process, they often neglect their health. The practice of yoga in daily life can work wonders if we force the women of at least our house to devote a few minutes to it.
Let us have a look into the life of a school-going girl child. Most of the students of such age might be suffering from menstrual pain that may be localized to the abdominal region or sometimes radiating to the lower back and lower limbs. Practicing Pawanamuktasana, Bhujangasana, and Bhadrasana daily, except on the days of menstruation can help such girls save their attendance in school, improve their quality of life, and manage their pain without taking high-dose medications.
The next major problem that women face in an era, where junk foods and a sedentary lifestyle prevail is the Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome. It can lead to menstrual irregularities, and weight gain along with blackish discoloration over the nape of the neck (Acanthosis nigricans) and excessive hair growth ( Hirsutism). In the long run, it can even cause insulin resistance thus ending up in Diabetes mellitus. The common asana prescribed for them to tackle the same is Moolabandhasana, Poorna Dhanurasana, Koormasana, Poorna Matsyendrasana, and Padahastasana.
We all know that women’s bodies get marinated with hormones each second and one of the main hormonal disorders that affect them is hypothyroidism. We suggest them to do Sarvangasana followed by Ushtrasana, Padahastasana, and Poorna Salabhasana. This can help them regulate the action of the thyroid gland and help in bringing back the hormonal roller coaster to normalcy.
More than the physical turmoil, a woman in her lifetime goes through disturbances that affect their mind on a daily basis. She suffers from mood swings and finds it difficult to concentrate on a certain task at a particular time and studies show that depression and anxiety are rising in almost all of the developing nations. Pre-menstrual symptoms, Postpartum depression, and mood swings observed during menopause and how to manage them remain a question in the minds of the common women. Doing Sooryanamaskar itself followed by Shavasana can help in regulating the tides of emotions in a woman that happen unexpectedly. The dynamic practice of Sooryanamaskar helps in maintaining an appropriate physique and prevents obesity, and other lifestyle disorders seen in women, including fatty liver. Practicing pranayama like Nadi Shuddhi Pranayama and Bhastrika pranayama can also help in dealing with the issues affecting the mind adding on as a stress buster if done as day-to-day practice.
All you need is just 20 -30 minutes of a Yoga session to put a full stop to all your worries. Family yoga time can be practiced at every home to ensure that none of the members are left behind from doing self-care. If combined with a balanced healthy diet, it can even yield surprising results. Women tend to cover up their diseases and neglect their health just to give importance to their families. Other family members must keep a check on their loved ones. If a woman of a family is healthy, she can create a healthy society too.
Remember Preethi who ran for her office neglecting her health? Her husband noticed her hurry burry. Now her day begins with a family Yoga session. Everyone helps her in doing kitchen work so that she can get adequate rest in between. Her fatherin-law ensures that she eats before leaving home. Her son has become self-sufficient which reflects in his life too. Now Preethi has time to maintain her health and enjoy her life too.
As Michelle Obama once said;
“Communities, countries, and ultimately the world are only as strong as the health of their women.”