Balancing the Mind through Introspection

Are we really in charge of ourselves? Let us introspect

- Dr. Hansaji J. Yogendra

In yoga, the Niyamas tell us what we should Ido for ourselves. It should be done regularly, once a week or twice a day. We can prepare our own routine/timetable. The point to note is that we should do something for ourselves. We have a duty to always maintain our balance. The strong recommendation given here is of Swadhyaya, self-study. ‘Know thyself’ is the first thing in yoga. A bit of a study is necessary to know, ‘How do I spend my day?’, ‘What is the state of my mind?’, ‘What is the state of my body?’

Maintaining a diary is important. Make a note of these four things in it every day:

First, what did I eat during the day and how has it affected my body? Food has a direct effect on our health. There are many theories about which foods are good and bad. But you need to find out what is really good and bad for you personally.

Second, what was my routine: Did I get up on time, or did I get up late and eat afterward? Did I get caught in a traffic jam? Did I have to sit/stand for a long time? Routine also has a direct effect on the body.