Yoga for the Housewife: Rituals for a smooth Body: Facial Lines: Lines are generally caused by the deterioration of skin tissues. The deterioration can be caused by age, or by abuse. When we refer to facial lines, which are most important in any discussion of woman’s beauty, the abuse most common is expression –habits. If you are still under forty and can catch the guilty expression you will easily get rid of the lines caused by it, providing you keep a check on the expression, smooth away the lines already started, and apply your skin-food regularly. To keep age-lines at bay, keep your skin well cared for, nourished, stimulated with massage that is planned to attack any lines forming age-lines. But, once you have neglected your skin and allowed deep lines to become etched on your face and neck, then it really is a very difficult job to clear your face of the lines without some surgical operation. The face lines start from the forehead and go down the face, so start at the forehead first. These are nearly always expression lines. There are frown lines between the brows and surprise lines horizontal with the brows. The both are caused by the wrinkling of the forehead and if you will gaze at yourself in the mirror, relaxing all the forehead muscles so that the skin lies smoothly, you will most likely see that no lines are held. If you find the beginnings of a line move your face into expression until you find what you are doing to cause that line. Does it tell of eye-strain, a most usual cause of frown lines- and eye-strain can be the result of the summer sun just as much as poor sight? Does it tell of raised eye-brows? Or, of a pity-seeking twist of brows? Once you have found the cause you must eliminate it or the lines will furrow themselves deep and without any hope of future removal. Consciously try to control your forehead and keep it placid. Having conquered the lines you will have to start immediately to remedy the effect already produced. Steps to take for it- *Get your nearest associate to tell you when you are frowning or twisting your brows as you do. *Wear sun glasses whenever you go in the sun or a glare. *Get your sight tested and do the eye exercises give as below:
Workouts for Women: The female physiology needs very specific exercises. There’s very little information infect, about women and exercise, and that can sometimes be harmful.Here are 4 myths about exercises that women tend to believe and the reality you should know. 1. Exercise will lead to rapid weight loss. Unfortunately, this isn’t true. In fact, for women who are trying to lose weight, the apparent failure of exercise to help can be very demotivating. To keep the record straight, exercise without an accompanying diet management plan can only lead to weight loss of only one kilo a month. 2. Exercises are the same for men and women. Not true. But in India since men tend by to out number women at gyms, the focus is on male centric exercise with male-centric equipment. This means that you are probably not getting the best out of your gym, because it pays little attention to the physiology of women. 3. Workouts remain the same over the length of a women’s life. A women’s body changes throughout her life, which means the exercise she requires must change too. For example, a teenage girl can be advised exercises for strength and better bone structure as well as for proper muscle and fat development to build a good foundation for the rest of her life. Post-pregnancy, the kind of exercises prescribed will need to change, especially if you had spinal anesthesia or surgery, that is only one year old or less: your trainer will have to take into account the fact that ‘internal tissue repair and strengthen takes 18 months and 2 years. Menopausal women need to cope with water retention, bone loss, mood swings and sometimes depression, and their workouts needed to be planned accordingly. 4. The main aim of exercise is to burn calories. Exercise is a process of continuous movements of the body, after which a person feels fresh and alert. Exercise is the most important factor for a healthy body and also for the prevention and cure of chronic diseases, including constipation. God has built our body like a machine. If the parts of the machine are not lubricated and put into action, rust will get hold of it and make it useless. In the same way our body- muscles, bones and joints and their connecting links need exercise for toning and flexibility. Thus, to have a healthy active life, ‘keep moving’. In ‘Surviving exercises’ by Judy Alter, it is rightly said: ‘The motion of unbalanced muscles is like an un-timed automobile engine that is firing irregularly, the result is jerky motions.’ Exercise helps maintain levels of mood boosting chemicals in your brain. It also has therapeutic effect. After doing exercise, the brain secrets a tranquilizer-like substance after 10 minutes of continuous exercise. The goal of all exercise should be to ‘tone’ muscles, not to stress ligaments, grind joints or fray tendons. A toned muscle is flexible and is stretchy. It is strong, able to bear weight by holding or lifting and lowering. A toned muscle need not be big. For every day work, you need mobile strength that allows you to control your muscles, and carry your daily strenuous work with ease. Above all it improves your gait and posture. Yoga has become popular as a way to heighten flexibility, improve breathing, and gain sanity. Yoga for the Housewife: on health. * Keep moving is the basic treatment of most of the diseases. * Regular exercise lessens pain by releasing endorphins (the stress hormone), which reduce fatigue and increase your movements in the affected joints. *Your body needs regular exercise to use oxygen sufficiently. Besides bones, the muscles need exercise. * Muscles protect, cover and give posture to the bones and thus the body, without oxygen muscles sag, your physical condition deteriorates, with that your self-image reduces. Thus exercise improves your physical condition, enabling your body to supply oxygen to your muscles, which in turn increase your endurance. When I was in my 30’s, I thought household work was sufficient exercise for my body because after the chores I used to be dead tired and listless. Despite domestic help, I kept myself physically active, because I saw old ladies of my mother’s age, who gave themselves up and thought that old age is for rest and inactivity, which left them weak and stooped, a victim to aches and pains. To avoid these consequences in my advance age, I kept myself active physically as well mentally. Gardening being my hobby makes me feel happy and relaxed, in spite the sweat and exhaustion after vigorous gardening. Up to70 years, I felt the benefits of my effects for till then I enjoyed my health without any major health problems like diabetes, blood pressure, heart problem, or any sort of pain. This may be due to Gardening as gardening itself is a healthy beneficial exercise especially for bone health. Dr Rachna Pandey (expert on Aerobics) in her article informs housewives, who think that doing household work is sufficient activity of the body and thus they don’t require any other exercise- is a Myth. The domestic work can be a pleasure or drudgery depending on one’s attitude towards it, but it is certainly not a substitute for exercise. While performing chores, there are times one feels tired, irritable (frustrated), morbid and otherwise depressed. This creates unhappy atmosphere at home. The point is, she must be up to these pressures day after day, and she often needs more continuous, sustaining energy than her husband at the office. To do her work well she must feel well and look well. When her physical and psychological conditions are healthy, the housewife takes pleasure and finds meaning in her work. A series of Yoga exercises specially, for the housewife will impart energy, offer relaxation when needed and provide a firm, streamlined body. This routine has been devised by experts, with many of the specific problems of the housewife considered, such as the strain which results from her various bending and stooping positions and the need for firming, streamlining and quick relief from emotional strain. The exercises can be practiced at any convenient time of the day. It is good practice to choose the same time each day, if possible, because in doing so, it becomes a habit. Important tips for the housewife: 1) Stretch often during your housework. 2) Make it a rule always to move with grace, regardless of how ordinary you may think your activities are. Begin to create a ballet (longer, smoother arm, leg and trunk movements) out of sweeping, cleaning and the like, you may feel odd at first but you will be surprised at how quickly your body assumes added poise and grace and at how good this makes you feel. Also, several times a day, ‘freeze’ your body when you find yourself in a bending, stooping or reaching position, then proceed to stretch your body to and fro from whatever position you are in. Stretching removes tension and releases energy – this is what the housewife needs desperately. Stretching activities of housework comparable to ’Overhead Squat’ yoga Stretch. 1. Put some of your utensils on the upper self in the kitchen. So when you try to pick them you have to stand on your toes and stretch your arms to reach them. 2. Some things of your daily use should be placed on the power self, so when you want them you have to sit on your knees to take them. Thus you can do your calf-knee exercise. 3. Wiping the floor, on your feet is a great exercise for your limbs, joints and spine. 4. Stretching exercises can also be done by cleaning high windows and taking out spiders’ webs from the ceiling. Though, it is no fun doing these things, yet these are the exercises which are cheap, benefit your health and save your time. In doing, your chores do not over exert yourself. 1. Only do that much which will not strain your muscles and put pressure on the joints. 2. Always remember to stop immediately if you experience pain while bending or lifting things. This pain is a signal that something is wrong. You risk doing more damage if you ignore this warning sign. 3. Strenuous activities may lead to backache, knee and leg pain. Housewives usually are not aware of what harm they are doing by neglecting their back, while doing continuous strenuous activity. I experienced backache when I was to do heavy washing when my help was on holiday. I was in my late forties at that time. X-ray showed a space between the lower vertebrae of the spinal cord. It took 6 months to recover from the lower backache with regular exercise, Physiotherapy massage and medicines subscribed by the doctor. I continue the exercises up to this day even though there is nothing wrong with my back till now at 85 years of age. Also, I am regular with my overhead squat. Housewife needs simple yoga exercises to do her work well. 1. Overhead Squat: i) Stand straight place your palms together and rest the hands on the head. ii) In very slow motion bend your knees and lower your body. iii) Continue lowering your body until you rest on your heels. iv). Then start immediately to push up very slowly, staying on your toes all the way. v) Raise your body until you are on the tips of the toes. Then rest the entire foot on the floor. Without, pause repeat. Repeat Overhead Squat 5 times. Benefits: This is a ballet type, movements. This exercise is for firming and strengthening the legs and is designed to impart balance, grace and poise. This should be done very slowly. There is no hold in this exercise. Depression in Women Brain & Memory “Neurons”. Scientist at California Institute of Technology discovered the neurons in the frontal lobe of the brain. They are lodged near the corpus callosum which connects the two halves of the brain. These cells are responsible for the self- consciousness in the human brain. These are also named ˜self-awareness neurons”, appear to integrate the work of various parts of the brain and create a sense of individuality “confirmed in patients with damage head injuries, lose their sense of individuality and is just reduced to a near vegetative state”. More evidence comes from the experiments on people with mental illnesses. In depressed person the Anterior Cingulate Cortex of the brain, where the cells are found- becomes less active and they may shrink. Conversely in people with mental disorders the cells enlarge and become more active. Depression in Women: A Canadian study explains reason why women are more prone to depression due to eating problems than men. Recent research indicates that women’s brains produce around 37% less serotonin, an important chemical factor in many important brain functions, including the regulation of mood and appetite. Cure: The Amino-acid, tyro-sine proves to be an important neurotransmitter builder, block for treating depression. Tyro-sine is a compound of B 6 vitamin, folic acid, niacin, copper and vitamin C. This, nutrition components are necessary in specific amounts, along with others, in order to manufacture Tyrosine in the brain. Treat people for their emotional unhappiness, allow them to be happy, and they will become well. Behind all diseases lie our fears, our anxieties, our greed, our likes and dislikes. “Edward Bach”.
