Polish Healthcare Practitioners learn Advanced Ayurveda at Jiva

A group of eight learners visited Jiva to undertake a course on ‘Advanced Ayurveda’. These learners are practicing healthcare professionals who aim to learn Ayurveda and incorporate this knowledge in their practice, so as to provide a holistic healing experience to their patients. Their visit was organized by Ajurweda.pl – a well-known Ayurveda company in Poland and Jiva’s partners in the country.

Participants of the Advanced Ayurveda Course pose with Dr. Partap Chauhan and Mrs. Chander Lata Chauhan (Principal, Jiva Public School) during their certification ceremony. These learners are practicing healthcare professionals from Poland.

In November 2011, the same group of students had taken a course on Ayurveda and Nutrition in Poland. The course was conducted by one of Jiva’s most experienced Ayurvedic doctors, who has been trained by Dr. Partap Chauhan.

How to keep Winter Weight Gain in Check

If you are an Indian (especially up in the North), you are surely having all kinds of paranthas smeared with butter, as well as platefuls of samosas and pakoras to go with the evening tea. And why not! It is winters after all!

As the weather gets colder, it is common for most people to get addicted to comfort foods and neglect exercise. As a result, our eating habits go for a toss and we end up gaining unwanted weight. It has been observed that people who undergo systematized dieting and regular workouts in summers also usually end up putting on those extra kilos in winters.

In order to keep this winter weight gain in check, you ought to eat more of foods that are not only effective in keeping the body warm, but also help keep those calories under control. Here’s a basic daily routine you can follow to maintain overall health in this cold weather:

The Morning Cuppa

Many of us are accustomed to having a cup of hot tea or coffee to rouse us from the morning slumber. Instead of going for your regular tea, try some herbal tea that has the right ingredients – ginger, Tulsi, lemon – to keep your body warm throughout the day.

The Healthy Breakfast

We love to gorge on stuffed paranthas with a topping of butter or ghee. Try avoiding the greasy bites and replace them with healthier options such as idlis, poha, upma, oats, sprouts, etc.

Dry Fruits are a Must

Nibbling on a fist full of walnuts, almonds, raisins, etc. during late mornings will be good for your health; but remember not to overdo it.

Fruity Treats

Make it a point to have seasonal fruits such as apples, oranges, and Indian gooseberry (amla) regularly to build immunity against common cold and other infections.

The Evening Soup

Nothing can be as tempting as pakoras and chai in the evenings when you come back home after a tiring day at work. But then, if you do not resist these temptations, they might end up upsetting your digestive system. A yummy and healthy option is a bowl of soup – the choices could be tomato soup, carrot soup, mushroom soup, or mixed vegetable soup.

Sweet Nothings

Who wants to miss a bowl of dessert after dinner? And when it comes to winters, nothing beats homemade ‘gajar ka halwa’! Moong dal halwa, sooji halwa, and aate ka halwa, etc. sprinkled with dry fruits are other interesting and healthy options. It is also advisable to take a small piece of jaggery after dinner every day. Jaggery is rich in iron and aids digestion.

Don’t Forget your Daily Water Intake

During winters, our body becomes dehydrated because of the lack of moisture in the air around us. Most of us don’t realize this because we do not perspire in the cold weather. You should remember that a daily intake of 6-8 glasses of (preferably warm water that has been boiled with ginger) is as important in winters as in any other season.

Exercise is Sacred

Lastly, do away with that laziness and don’t forget to go for walks or do some basic stretching on a daily basis. The air in winters is fresh and provides good prana vayu (life-giving air) to keep you healthy.

Get closer to Ayurveda with Paramayu

We are happy to let you know that we have launched our new Ayurvedic magazine – Paramayu. The inaugural issue is already out!

The first look of Paramayu - Jiva's new magazine on Ayurveda

Paramayu is an international quality magazine that seeks to increase the awareness about Ayurveda and help people incorporate its principles in their daily lives to lead healthier, happier lives. The magazine will bring to you the benefits of Ayurveda with the help of articles, case studies, interviews, expert columns, recipes, home remedies, tips, yoga, meditation, herbs, and more. Not just that, it will also serve as a great platform for you to stay connected with Dr. Partap Chauhan and the entire Jiva family.

To know more, you can visit the Paramayu website.

Try Ayurveda this Navratri

Navratri is one of the most special festivals for Hindus all over the world. With the start of Navratri comes the season of fasting and feasting. According to Ayurveda, fasting is an effective way to kindle the digestive fire and burn away accumulated toxins from the body. It also eliminates gas, makes the body light, improves mental clarity, and preserves overall health. However, in the name of fasting, many of us end up feasting on high-calorie food during the nine days of Navratri.

So, here are a few basic Ayurvedic diet tips that will help you eat right in this festive season:

• Increase the intake of liquids in your diet as they are the best means of cleaning the toxins (ama) from the body. Some recommended options are fruit and vegetable juices, coconut water and vegetable soups.
• Being on an empty stomach for long hours can result in acidity and heartburn. To avoid this problem, you should take small and frequent meals throughout the day. Fresh fruits and salads are very effective in this regard.
• Vegetables like pumpkin and bottle gourd can be taken in the form of soups to fill you up with some calories.
• If you want to have Sabudana (Tapioca) Khichdi, make it by using minimal amount of oil. Use boiled potatoes, only a few crushed peanuts and well-soaked sabudana. Cook it before mealtime and have it hot and fresh.
• Use rajgira flour to make chapattis as it is lighter and refreshing.
• Even though potato is considered to be the main food during Navratri, you should limit your potato intake as it can get heavy to digest.
• If you want to try something different, make some idli and dosa from the samak ke chawal.

Here’s an interesting Ayurvedic recipe that you can try out this Navratri.

 Lauki Raita

 Ingredients:

• 1 Cup grated lauki
• 2 Cups curd
• 1 tsp Cumin (jeera) powder
• Coriander (dhaniya) leaves
• Salt to taste

 Method of Preparation:

1. Boiled the lauki till soft.
2. Drain the boiled lauki and cool it.
3. Stir the curd with a hand mixer.
4. Add lauki and blend well.
5. Now add cumin powder, coriander leaves and salt and mix well.
6. Keep it in refrigerator for an hour and serve it chilled.

 Benefits of Lauki Raita

According to Ayurveda, Lauki Raita is supachya, which means it aids in the digestion process and helps in releasing the digestive enzymes. It is highly recommended for those who have a weak digestive fire. Moreover, it is also a filling and nutritious option for those who observe fast on Navratri.

Ayurveda is now under Mediclaim Cover

Here’s a piece of good news for Indian patients seeking Ayurvedic treatment. If you are a medical insurance policy holder, you can now have your treatment covered as part of your mediclaim. Till some time back, individuals who preferred such systems had to pay out of their own pockets despite having a comprehensive health insurance plan in place. But now, a number of insurance companies have started including such alternative forms of treatment under their cover, especially Ayurveda.

Speaking to the media about this development, Mr. S.S. Gopalarathnam, Managing Director, Cholamandalam MS General Insurance, said, “During various focus group discussions with customers and agents, we found that for chronic ailments like spondilytis, arthritis and epilepsy, many people preferred alternate streams of treatment such as Ayurveda, Homeopathy, etc. Ayurveda being the most prevalent of the alternate systems, we have designed a product to cover treatments under Ayurvedic hospitalization.”

If you are interested in getting your Ayurvedic treatment covered in your policy, please contact your insurance provider for further details.

Want to build a Better Relationship with your Child? Read The Ice Cream Dilemma

Most parents today are finding it increasingly difficult to deal with their kids, especially when the talk veers to careers and professional plans. The globalization of information has made today’s kids highly opinionated, so much so that they disregard the many valuable things that their parents know about life and work. Moreover, many parents lack the tact to deal with children of this generation and end up being denounced for not being ‘up-to-date’. If you are one such parent, it’s indeed time to mend your relationship with your child. The Ice Cream Dilemma shows you how!

Authored by renowned educator and bestselling author, Steven Rudolph, The Ice Cream Dilemma: Choosing your child’s ideal career with Multiple Intelligences & Multiple Natures is a great offering for today’s ‘hassled’ parent. To be published by Times Books in July, 2011, the book explores ways in which a parent can lay the groundwork to create an environment that is much more conducive to open communication. Steve’s simple suggestions will help parents understand their children better and play a more active and acceptable role in their decisions.

To know all about it ‘Making Decisions – Together’, get ready for The Ice Cream Dilemma!

Jiva organizes two-day MN Workshop for Educational Leaders

Jiva Institute recently organized a dynamic two-day Multiple Natures workshop (June 27 & 28, 2011) for educational leaders from various parts of the country. Facilitated by renowned educator and Jiva Education Director, Steven Rudolph, the workshop provided educators a platform to explore the path-breaking MN theory that is making waves throughout India for helping students find ideal careers matching their personalities.

The event kicked off with a welcome ceremony, during which the participants recited a Saraswati Vandana, led by students of Jiva Public School. Each educator was then garlanded and welcomed with a customary tilak by the Jiva team.

Thanking the educators for taking time out for the workshop, President of Jiva Institute, Mr. Rishi Pal Chauhan, said, “As India inches closer to the ‘developed nation’ status, it is common to see our children moving away from their central force, which is their culture and tradition. At Jiva, our objective is to ensure that each child stays connected to his roots, irrespective of his educational or technological advancement. The whole purpose of education should be to create students of good character and discipline. Whatever the circumstances in their life, I can assure you such children will never fail.

“We have successfully used the Multiple Natures concept to deeply understand each child in our school and tailor his learning experience accordingly. I urge all educators of the country to use this concept to discover the potential in their students and play a guiding role in creating a healthy, wealthy and peaceful society.”

About 22 educators and counselors from some of the top schools of the country participated in the event. The list included DAV Public School (Amritsar), SOS Children’s Villages of India (Faridabad), Rayat International School (Ropar), Eicher School (Faridabad), KIIT World School (New Delhi), Cambridge School (Noida), Holy Heart Presidency (Amritsar), and NH Goel World School (Raipur), among others.

The program was the first-ever master class for educational leaders with Steve, the creator of MN, who has brought the concept to thousands of students, teachers and parents all over the country. In the highly interactive session, educational leaders, principals and counselors experienced the power of MN and how it can help practically bridge the gap in education—moving from the old-world paradigm of factory-based learning, to the new era of personalized learning. In the two days of the workshop, Steve demonstrated how the MN framework can be applied in a multitude of ways – career and academic guidance, counseling of parents, engaging and motivating teachers – to create a holistic learning environment that taps each child’s potential.

During the closing ceremony, each participant was given a certificate of participation along with a special gift from Jiva. The educators, on their part, were extremely pleased with the arrangements and thanked the entire Jiva team for carrying out the workshop so efficiently. They also expressed their gratitude to Steven Rudolph for giving them a deep insight into the MN concept and how it could help them in their profession. Mrs. Neera Sharma, Principal of DAV Public School, Amritsar, said, “Even though we knew a lot about MIs and MNs, this workshop has been a real eye opener on the multiple ways in which we can apply this framework in educational management. I would really like my teachers to understand this concept and use it in their teaching methodologies.”