WELCOME — YSN, Vol. 9, No. 1 (Sept. 2021)

Welcome to our 2021 fall issue of the YogaSetu Newsletter!

A silver lining of the ongoing pandemic has been that we have redesigned our routines, learning to work remotely and eating home-cooked meals more often, ultimately to our benefit. The positive aspects of mindful eating cannot be over-estimated.

In the yogic tradition, food also refers to any sensory input, including what we see, hear, touch, smell, or taste – be it watching the sunrise, listening to peaceful music, hugging a friend, inhaling the aroma of freshly brewed coffee, or simply enjoying a delicious meal. When the intake is good, one feels good, and feeling good helps maintain one’s emotional health.

Research has helped us recognize a correlation between an upbeat mental state and the physical signs of good health. Remember that acquiring the knowledge is like already winning half the battle. Therefore, get ready to expand your knowledge base, as the current issue of the newsletter brings you new and useful information about the food intake. You will find a range of articles here on this topic.

A recent study published in Scientific American (2020) refers to brain scan indications of how the ancient practice of yoga benefits the brain areas associated with memory, emotion, and thinking – the areas that are most affected by the aging process. Read Claudia Wallis’s article, “Yoga May Bolster the Brain Regions Most Affected by Aging.”

Read “This is Your Gut on Sugar” by Markham Heid to learn about how sugar and processed food affect our GI tract. Added sugar that doesn’t occur naturally, as in whole fruits or vegetables, is a major contributor to exceedingly high rates of obesity, type-2 diabetes, and other metabolic conditions.

Yet another item in this issue is my Interview with Dr. Rashmi Kulkarni, a volunteer for the Global Indian Scientists and Technocrats Forum for the Aahaar Kranti Nutritional Education module. Here, she speaks about the launch of the “Nutrition Revolution” (Aahaar Krati) in India. During the video session on the International Day of Yoga (June 21, 2021), Dr. Kulkarni also discusses the gut bacteria living inside the digestive system and how they can impact our well being. These bacteria affect everything from our metabolism to our mood, and even our immune system.

Read about the inspiring experience of Stephen Abhiraj with long-term issues with osteoarthritis (OA) in cervical vertebrae. His letter shares the glad news that through a regular practice of yoga, he has not only managed his OA, but has also overcome the need to wear the neck brace, despite his doctor’s conclusion that he would have to live with the pain and lack of mobility for the rest of his life.

Staying up late, glued to our gadgets, can lead to another unhealthy habit: night-time snacking. “Even healthy food eaten at this late hour is junk”. Scientist and Professor Satchidananda Panda of the Salk Institute of Biological Studies explains the surprising linkages between the circadian rhythm and your health and functional quality in this excerpted conversation with writer Venkatraman.

Additionally, the current issue of the newsletter includes resources for you to attend free online weekly yoga sessions, inspirational quotes, and yoga events in the region, as well as around the world.

Happy reading, and, as we emerge from the lockdown with the changing social DNA of remote work, remember to stay connected, keep your humor alive, and be happy!

~ Abha Gupta, YSN Editor-in-Chief

A Note on our Weekly Yoga Therapy Sessions – Now Online