By Jaclyn Ianetti

With finlike fingers….feel each ocean wave’s ripple

I may not have legs…but don’t call me crippled

Ride the tides; flowing flaps of my fin

Dive deep down to the depths of my emotional bin

And just as the hidden realms found deep in the ocean,

My energy overflows with mystery and emotions

My Water World; A healing domain to cure and heal

In a mermaid’s pose on the shore I kneel

…and just like a mermaid…sea colors and shells are my fashion

A dreamy damsel dressed in hope, soul, and compassion

A fish pulled from its watery home onto dry ground

Is a fish out of water…in an aquarium silent of sound. 

This article is brought to you by YogacaraShop.com – your source for special Yoga Apparel, yoga inspired clothing, comfort clothing clothing designed according to the Colors of the Chakras and the best trendy, high quality and comfortable  Fitness Apparel do visit YogacaraShop.com

Photo credits : to  Cupcake Sisters (Senel) on Flickr

to Sternzeichen Widder on http://www.hpkolb-gallery.de

With articles about physical fitness, yoga, and Pilates going viral on the Internet, the central processing unit of our body is apparently left out. Where to work out our minds to attain the much-coveted saint like balance and equilibrium? Well, don’t worry , we are not sending you on a long journey in the forests of the Himalayas in search of moksha or enlightenment. We at www.comfortinstylemag.com realize the dynamics of today’s world and bring to you the most beneficial techniques from the recesses of the ancient world applicable in the modern world. This time it is just “MEDITATION”.  Our mind is the central unit, which governs all our physical actions, social and emotional responses. From making life saving decisions in high-octane situations to switching off the body into complete repose at night, the mind is constantly at work. We take vacations to ease out ourselves of the professional and domestic pressures, but do not realize that the poor mind is still at work. Therefore the practice of meditation is or rather should be an imperative part of our lives.

What is meditation? The historical journey maybe too much for us to understand and grasp and to an extent unnecessary too. In the simplest terms possible meditation is nothing more than a self reflexive exercise calling forth hidden and subdued energies from within us to look for balance and equilibrium. Contrary to popular belief meditation is not an exercise to switch off the mind but rather an inquiry into things that we do not get the time to think about on a daily basis. To help our readers we have a small analogy to help them understand the concept of meditation. Ok, lets imagine the mind to be like a flowing river. Our daily schedules, our monotonous timetables etc. are nothing more than dams and embankments trying to subdue the river. But the art of meditation is an exercise allowing the river to flow freely helping is destroy negative energy centers and give birth to positivity by energizing the centers of fertile imagination and at the same time becoming aware of its own power and potential. 5-10 minutes a day with your eyes closed in a dark room or in an open space like a garden or a place with fresh air, is all that you need to start reaping the benefits of meditation. Here is how you do it:

1. Turn off the lights if you wish to meditate inside a closed space. The purpose of doing so is to minimize the influence of outer forces on your body so as to allow complete mental concentration.
2. Start by breathing in lightly , holding it for a few seconds and then releasing it through your mouth, only to repeat the same cycle for  the time decided upon by you.
3. It is important to sit with your legs crossed and your upper torso absolutely straight so as to allow free flow of oxygen allowing for complete rejuvenation.
4. At any point in time if you feel that your concentration is dwindling, you can stop the exercise. To further aid your concentration we suggest the use of rhythmic meditation, wherein you can play any chanting in the background and match the pace of your breathing with the chant. Websites like YouTube have more than enough tracks to help you out. Just type chant in the search box.

By allowing meditation to bring in some semblance of balance in our daily lives we are on track of attaining the magical mix of physical fitness coupled with the advantages of mental harmony.

Life is full of lows and highs!!

It is important to be alone and meditate with closed eyes!!

This article is brought to you by YogacaraShop.com – your source for special Yoga Apparel, yoga inspired clothing, comfort clothing clothing designed according to the Colors of the Chakras and the best trendy, high quality and comfortable  Fitness Apparel do visit YogacaraShop.com

Photo credit : http: to HaPe_Gera on flickr.com

I have been to every distant constellation
To see you again, found nowhere but in the world of my mind.

There’s

nothing

I

wouldn’t

do
To set myself on a cast away

A too far trip
To the depth of my soul, my heart, and mind

All found in my… i m a g i n a t i o n

Allow it to run away with me, treat it kind

To a place where love is as true as the stars

We’re together, here, but far

Only here in my…I M A G I N A T I O N

Let it . .  f a d e

Into my visions

With every thought, the journey begins again
And we will go on, chasing an endless box of creation
Holds me for hours, takes over me with forceful powers

Till there’s a rising sun along the dark horizon
As I’m driving through the cosmos
Packing up my thoughts, all in one, wrapped up in a bow

On my way!  Going dreaming

No words, no talk, these stars irresistibly gleaming

No pain no heart, start a new fashion

Just simply dreaming, a transitory passion

This article is brought to you by YogacaraShop.com – your source for special Yoga Apparel, yoga inspired clothing, comfort clothing clothing designed according to the Colors of the Chakras and the best trendy, high quality and comfortable  Fitness Apparel do visit YogacaraShop.com

Photo credit : Michael Wuensch on flickr.com

As unconventional as it sounds it is slowly making serious inroads into the mainstream fitness industry because of a wide range of health benefits it brings to its practitioners. Just imagine practicing yoga in a pool of water. What do you think the differences will be? Firstly and most importantly it reduces the risk of conventional yoga related fatigue and injuries. By practicing yoga postures in water which serves as an environment acting as a perfect shock absorbers not allowing any extra pressure to trickle down to out joints and muscles. Secondly, it allows people suffering from osteoporosis and arthritis to reap the benefits of yoga without the risk of further degeneration. Water Yoga is becoming very popular among the elderly and the overweight sections of the society. By controlling the movements and postures in water these people can attain much needed strength and lose the stubborn fat respectively. Unlike yoga done on the mat and floor, Water Yoga is a boon for pregnant women, who can do it without any risk of harm to the baby and themselves. But one needs to take care that Water Yoga needs to be performed with certain precautions which are as follows:

1. Session length: an average water yoga lesion should last for about 45-55 minutes.
2. Water temperature: too hot or too cold water is not conducive for Water Yoga. Temperatures should vary between 82-86 degrees.
3. Water Type: the water in the yoga pool should be free from chlorine and at a later stage can be saturated with extra minerals and even oxygen to promote absorption of the same.
4. Non swimmers: Non swimmers can also do water yoga under specialized supervision and to begin with, in shallow pools
5. Weekly dose of original yoga: we suggest you to do conventional floor yoga at least once a week to continue understanding and reaping the true benefits of Water Yoga as well.

Now what is it that makes this commodity such an important aspect of our food patterns and our cultural identities? Well to begin with a brief history of chocolate is required. The first documented use of chocolate has been seen in the history books during the 1100 BC. Coming from the Cocoa tree, chocolate was first produced in parts of Mexico, South America and even Africa. Many cultures call it the “bitter water” because of the cocoa beans’ bitter taste. It is only after fermentation and drying that it gets the typical chocolaty taste that we love. But what is hurtful to know is that due to modern dynamics of trade and commerce poor chocolate has fallen prey to many health and market myths. But do not worry we are here to bust them and help you and chocolate clean up the mess. Here are a few REAL health benefits of eating chocolate, and by Chocolate we do not mean the highly attractively packaged chocolates packed with a myriad of chemicals and preservatives that nullify all the goodness of it.

1. Sometimes all the complex chemical compounds and chains can be really obscuring , so without giving you the names let us tell you that chocolate contains certain chemical ( naturally present of course) that kill depression and help you feel better. Now, you know why is chocolate so good for heart breaks in all ROM-COMS.
2. A bar of dark chocolate a day lowers down blood pressure in high blood pressure patients.
3. It even lowers down LDL i.e. Bad cholesterol by up to 10%
4. Ironically Chocolate in its purest form prevents tooth decay which of course is balanced by the high sugar content we find in the readily available packs.
5. With many anti-oxidants, chocolate is an Anti-aging product. So it makes you look younger even when you eat it and melt it cool it and rub it on your face with some honey and a few crushed almonds.

Well nothing comes without its share of negatives as well , but chocolate becomes a “ lazy food” only is it is consumed like a many course meal ; in quantities where chocolate as a positive food takes a backseat only to give way to the calorie mounting and fat accumulating sugars that modern companies pack it with. So, be it a heart break or a happy occasion, chocolates have always been our best partners. If you still do not believe us just roll your tongues in your mouths which are for sure wet by your desire to bite a bit of chocolate.

This article is brought to you by YogacaraShop.com – your source for special Yoga Apparel, yoga inspired clothing, comfort clothing clothing designed according to the Colors of the Chakras and the best trendy, high quality and comfortable  Fitness Apparel do visit YogacaraShop.com

PHOTO CREDIT: distopiandreamgirl and mrsraggle on  (www.flickr.com)

But there is an ancient weapon that can help us demolish the walls dividing us all. This weapon is not of mass destruction but what we at www.comfortinstylemag.com call “The weapon of mass construction” and that is YOGA. It is only recently that yoga has entered into the personal spaces of our balconies and bedrooms, which is rather deflating to see because by bringing yoga to our personal spaces we are unable to reap the benefits of the many adjunct advantages that come associated with it. Since its inception Yoga has been a group activity promoting a spirit of togetherness. By performing yoga in a group, you too can inculcate certain values which are the moorings for a balanced future. It not only teaches you physical and mental balance but infuses in you a spirit of respect and ability to understand people around you. But most importantly by helping each other attain the perfect balance by being a part of the same space you not only influence others but also become more receptive towards seeking and receiving help from others, making you a socially more responsible person. Whether it is a complex series Asanas or a plain simple breathing exercise, by doing it together in a rhythm you learn to follow a pattern becoming harmonious people in this rhythm lost world.

Being fed by each others’ energies you can learn the essentials of team spirit thus becoming more confident individuals ready to accept new challenges everyday and working together with people to overcome them. This may sound too ambitious to a lot of people who would say “dear friend, life doesn’t run that way”. But our answer to them is “dear friends, take care of the small things, and the big ones will fall into place.”So we urge you all to take some time off of your busy schedules and take yoga out of your bedrooms to a more social plane in order to understand and absorb the true essence of the art.

This article is brought to you by YogacaraShop.com – your source for special Yoga Apparel, yoga inspired clothing, comfort clothing clothing designed according to the Colors of the Chakras and the best trendy, high quality and comfortable  Fitness Apparel do visit YogacaraShop.com

Photo credits: Matt J. Olsen (www.flickr.com)

A perfect amalgamation of the age old practice of yoga, which was born inIndiaand the modern miracle developed by the German Joseph Pilates, Yogilates is a rage among the new age fitness freaks. Despite being criticized by the so called purist groups who believe in the sanctity of the two different forms of exercise Yogilates is fast emerging as the first choice fitness mantra. Now, what makes this a revolution and how is it different from Yoga and Pilates individually? Do not worry. The vast amount of data on the internet can be rather confusing. We bring it to you in a simple step by step point form. Here it goes:-

1. Yogilates comprises of the essential elements of yoga and Pilates, as the name suggest.
2. Using the posture techniques from the Yogi school and the muscle building techniques from the Pilates school it blends the two very similar activities together.
3. It borrows the aim of strengthening the core of the body i.e. the spine, abs, pelvic muscles and those of lower back without bulking them up.
4. It promotes muscle strength without compromising on the flexibility of the body, which it promotes through various yogic practices.
5. Since yoga does not pay much attention to specific muscle groups, yogilates uses various elements from Pilates to concentrate on specific muscle groups.
6. Most importantly , what allows this perfect fusion are the basic principles on which the two activities are grounded i.e. those of breathing and concentration
7. Both Pilates and yoga believe in the power of the mind to affect changes in and on the body.

I come to you when you’re relaxed

A true, serene state

Cool, calm, collected

No room for hate

I’m with you when you’re lounging

Nap, sleep, and dreams

 No worries for tomorrow

Living in the moment is what it seems

Quit the fights, I keep the harmony

On a light hearted scale

No heightened colors

I’d call me quite pale

No air of complexity, simple and plain

Easy going nature

Trouble free, no pain

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Wintery white, shoe prints

Sink in the plush texture

Hides the green bottom layer

Blankets over like a brand new white bedspread

Stained window glare of poinsettias, grapes, gold

Pearly pink, burgundy balls hang

White lights, cinnamon bronzed pinecone

Stuck, intertwined in holly green branches

Enthralled in festive décor

Stand for a moment in silence

In awe, of the magic this season brings

Take small steps, walking slowly to the door

Closer to the window of the spirited symbol spins

Value the beauty from far away

Carry it with me as I approach

Open doors invite in to warmth of loved ones

·         4 medium and firm Bosc pears peeled

·         Juice of one lemon

·         ¼ cup cranberries

·         ½ cup toasted walnuts

·         1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

·         2 cinnamon sticks

·         ½ cup apple cider

·         2 teaspoons vanilla extract

By Jaclyn Ianetti

Whether it be for friendship or for love

Apparent will be your compatibility

Like you turned a corner and hit a wall

A feeling of deep and natural affinity

You feel closer to this certain soul

Attraction into each other’s lives

Sharing a spot on the same scale of frequency

Chasing this idea as it is in full wheel drive

That is the most favorable type

To be one of romantic

Some one, somewhere

Will put you away from the wondering frantic

Butterflies flutter in the stomach

Feeling sick with excitement

Sparksfly into a two way connection

The mystery solved into enlightenment

Once you find your soul mate

It is something you will not miss

For it will be your heart’s true love

And your true love’s kiss

This article is brought to you by YogacaraShop.com – your source for special Yoga Apparel, yoga inspired clothing, comfort clothing clothing designed according to the Colors of the Chakras and the best trendy, high quality and comfortable  Fitness Apparel do visit YogacaraShop.com

Photo credits: http://www.flickr.com/photos/wolfsoul/2076655775/sizes/m/in/photostream/