The battle for making riches out of RIA platforms is now really heating up between Adobe’s Flash/Flex platform and Microsoft’s Silverlight. This is an important area for the future of web applications, and is bound to give the winner a critical flow of developer bucks.
Up until now I’ve been an advocate of Flex through-and-through. This was partly, I admit, because I’ve always had the feeling that Silverlight has just been a copy of the Flex/Flash environment. But in the real world, it doesn’t matter so much who got there first, and it’s the current productivity and functionality benefits that count. And so it’s only come to dawn on me recently that there’s one big problem with Flex that Adobe has yet to face up to…if they can. And it’s potentially a killer.

The problem

At first the problem seems a like not such a big deal. In fact, for many RIAs out there today, it probably makes not once single bit of difference. But I think it really is a fairly vital feature that Microsoft offers out of the box, but Adobe has somehow managed to over-look. And I think it’s only because of the relative immaturity of RIAs, and the strong event focus of Adobe’s Flash platform that has caused it to be overlooked.
The problem comes down to one word: threading. In short, Silverlight has it, and Flash doesn’t. We’ll talk a bit about why Adobe haven’t provided this below, but first let’s examine why it’s an issue.

The scale of the problem

How important is multi-threading in the RIA space? Well, of course, that rather depends on what it is that you’re trying to build. As I have already said, I don’t think this is a problem for many of the RIAs out there today. On the other-hand, it certainly is for some. As RIA apps grow more complex and libraries become sophisticated and nested, it’s going to be more of a problem.

Synthesizers

Take the fantasic Noteflight. If you haven’t yet seen this app then you really need to check it out. This Flex RIA app lets you drag around musical notation to compose scores, which may then be played-back using a synth that overlays sounds loaded from .wav files on noteflights servers. It’s a fantastic app, and I’m pretty sure that tools like this will bring to many musicians what mp3s have brought to music listeners (i.e. mass, systematic theft of music, which has, somehow, to be properly monetized).
But ‘.wav’ files? What’s going on there? Surely nobody would notice if they noteflight used mp3s for thier sound samples, and wouldn’t the download time be a million times better? Well, as it turns out, noteflight.com used wav files because “an ActionScript3-based decoder is inevitably going to be slow (and consume development cycles too)“.
Now maybe I’m reading between the lines a little bit, but here is what I suspect is going on. If you do a method call to decode an mp3 file in ActionScript then it’s going to take quite a long time to complete. During that time, because Flash is single threaded, absolutely nothing can happen in the UI. Nothing. Progress indicators can’t update, mouse events can’t be processed, and the user will generally be left with an impression that the RIA is temporarily dead. This isn’t at all good.
For Silverlight, on the other hand, I believe it would be a doddle to spawn a worker process to sort this out, and meanwhile still remain responsive. Just like what you’d expect out of a modern-day platform.

Image processing

For a chronic example, look at the quick image resizer. This site is pretty nifty because it lets you resize a jpg, directly from your local filesystem, without once transferring an image between you and the RIA’s server.
But my-oh-my have you seen what happens when you resize a large image taken with a digital camera? Nothing….for a long while, and then…..your image. This simply won’t do.

Other apps

It’s not hard to extend this to a whole host of other applications that need threading. Doesn’t a word-processor need to spell check innocuously? Doesn’t any form of editor need to be able to process it’s content for saving, without blocking the UI? Is there any point in Flash Player 10 having support for audio processingPixelBender aside, which is kind of a cop out for certain flavours of processing, and besides, do most developers really want to have to code this stuff in a different language catered for mass parallel processing)?

Why is Flash like this?

The short answer to this is that Flash has grown organically and hasn’t always been intended for the sophisticated RIA applications that people are now starting to build with it. In fact, ActionScript was first created with much smaller ambitions: i.e. animated vector graphics. The Flash event model was ideal for this, queuing up messages for processing via a single thread. Now these original platform intentions have been hijacked to support the Flex libraries that enable such more complex embedded web content, but the underlying threading model didn’t change.
In contrast, Silverlight has been built from the ground up with more ambitious targets in mind: fully fledged applications.

How can the problem be solved?

Instead of moving in the direction of Silverlight, there are a few other steps that Flex developers can take to get around this problem. Unfortunately though, none of them are particuarly pleasant!

Splitting tasks up

One approach is to simply split up big processing tasks into small blocks so that other events can be processed between each block. If this is possible then it’s certainly an approach, albeit an awkward one. It goes without saying, however, that it is a complete pain to manually divide up sequential composition into Flash’s event model.

Spawning another VM

Another approach is to get all your work done in a completely seperate Flash virtual machine. Flash’s LocalConnection interface is probably the best way to communicate with such a seperate process. Despite again being an obvious pain to code, this method is also likely to be pretty slow at transferring large amounts of data between the VMs, and there are all sorts of synchronization problems when you cater for the user having the same app open in multiple browser windows etc.

Adobe extending the Flash Player and ActionScript

It should be possible for Adobe to cater for multi-threading in a single virtual machine, but it’s likely to be a lot of work for them. Obviously, many of the libraries (including the Flex ones) would need to be rewritten to add thread-safety. Events would still have to be processed one at a time by a single thread to maintain backwards compatibility, since existing apps will depend on this.
Adobe’s stance on this is a little disappointing, as Alex from Adobe explains on his very useful blog:
As we hear more from our users about the importance of threading, the higher its priority will be.
While it’s very nice that Adobe is taking our concerns into account, I can’t help thinking that this isn’t the best way for them to do business. Wouldn’t it be better if problems could be anticipated, rather than waiting until developers are upset about them? In this case, Microsoft seems to have managed this pretty well.

What does pranayama mean? The word Pranayama is made up of two syllables – Prana and Ayama. Prana indicates the life source or the consciousness. The entire play of life is nothing but consciousness that is around us and within us. Everything in this universe is made up of one source, one energy and this is called the Prana. Ayama means control.

Hence Pranayama means the control of life energy. If you ask yourself what is the vital source of life energy for you? The answer would be “your breathing”. Your breath is as good as your life itself. When you inhale you take in the energy around you or the life source surrounding you.

You breathe in life energy. That’s the reason why your breath is so important. Pranayama as a practice in hatha yoga teaches you how to control your breathing. Through the control of your breathe you start controlling your self. This is the first step towards the attainment of higher consciousness.

Hazards of Irregular Breathing

Irregular breathing is not normal but is followed by almost everyone who has not been taught the value of their breath. Yoga points towards the fact that the reason for imbalance in our lives is due to irregular breathing. The various diseases which have inflicted the human race in the recent times have their roots founded in this pattern of irregular breathing. Most disorders whether it be mental or physical are instigated by the way your breath day in and day out. If you observe carefully there are two types of irregular breathing most frequently observed in yourself

1. Shallow breathing
2. Rapid breathing

Shallow breathing: Whenever you are feeling low or depressed you will find yourself breathing slowly and shallowly. Your intake of air would be less and it would be slow.

Rapid breathing: Usually when you are angry or in a fit of rage you don’t observe your breathing but if you do, it will be evident that it is very rapid in nature. You tend to take breaths in short gasps.

Both these patterns of breathing cause an imbalance of Prana in you. The life energy is not flowing smoothly and hence it manifests as a disorder outwardly seen as depression or anger. Anyone who practices yoga with discipline would attain control over his breath with practice. After that his/her breathing would rhythmic and hence the flow of life energy would be balanced. Such a person will never feel disturbed or succumb to destructive emotional states.

The functions of breathing as explained in yoga literature

Breathing is vital to our existence and it is a life giving force for each living organism. Yoga literature explains the various functions fulfilled by the air that we breathe-in as below:

Prana: The air circulates around the heart and provides oxygen which is vital to its functioning

Vyana: The air circulates around the body via the blood stream and distributes the life giving force of food

Apana: The air we breathe controls the functions of excretion

Samana: The air we breathe stimulates the flow of gastric juices and hence it aids digestion

Udana: The air maintains its presence in the thoracic cage and allows absorption of vital constituents

Naga: Relieve abdominal pressure

Krkara: Prevent foreign or harmful substance from entering into the nasal cavity or descending into the throat by inducing sneezing

Dhanamjaya: Air is one constituent which remains in our body even after our death

Devadutta: When you are lazy it provokes yawning and ensures absorption of oxygen to revitalize the body

Imagine the harm you are causing your body organs and glands as well as your brain by practicing irregular breathing. Without your knowledge you are sabotaging the life force within you and this is the reason why most people in today’s generation are afflicted with diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, asthma and heart problems. There is so much stress prevalent that is almost palpable. The reason for all these disorders is the imbalance that has crept into our breathing.

Benefits of Pranayama as Discipline of Yoga

The practice of Pranayama in itself can cure a person of all ills. When this practice is perfected you can be assured of a healthy body and a mind which is free of negativity. Pranayama exercises involve various types of breath control practices. The second part of this article discusses all the various breathing exercises in Pranayama which you can peruse for better understanding. The purpose of this discussion is to enlist the benefits you reap once you have perfected the exercises.

1. Pranayama Helps in the Improved functioning of your kidney and bowels: Yoga advocates that function of excretion as vital to the functioning of a healthy body. Breathing induces a massaging action on your internal organs including the kidney, bowel and diaphragm. The alternate inhale and exhale which is performed while breathing induces a contraction and expansion of these organs.

Pranayama practice ensures that the inhaling and exhaling is rhythmic. Moreover the exercises which entail holding your breath and exhaling slowly apply a definite pressure over these organs inducing a stimulating massage. The result would be stronger and more elastic muscles controlling the kidney and your bowel leading to better functioning of these organs.

2. Pranayama Helps in the Improved function of your liver: People who face digestive problems on a frequent basis tend to have a weak liver. The functioning of their pancreas and stomach would also be suboptimal. The various Pranayama exercises induce a massaging action upon all these organs relieving them of all the congestion improving the blood flow. There is an immediate improvement in the process of digestion once the liver is free of congestion. The stimulation of the pancreas also ensures that the digestive system functions optimally.

3. Pranayama Helps the Lungs Perform Better: The various Pranayama exercises induce the lungs to open as far as possible. Due to this expansion the lungs have an increased surface area to absorb oxygen and to relieve themselves of toxic gases. This ensures that you are free of all the breathing diseases such as asthama

4. Improves the circulation of blood: Proper circulation of blood is vital to the proper function of a human body. Diseases such a thyroid problems, heart problems and prostate problems are usually due to improper circulation of blood to the endocrine glands. Pranayama exercises induce a rapid circulation of blood. Moreover the blood is rich in oxygen and reaches the nerve endings faster. The action of rhythmic breathing stimulates the nerves around the spinal column and the synaptic nerves inducing a rich blood flow to the brain inducing clearer thought.

5. Pranayama Aids the Endrocine Functioning: The endocrine glands work in cohesion with the nervous system to ensure that nerve impulse are transmitted quickly. In people who feel sluggish through out the day and have the tendency to sleep longer, there could well be a problem with their endocrine functioning. Pranayama stimulates the endocrine glands to ensure proper transmission of nerve impulses. People who practice Pranayama stay active through out the day and do not feel sluggish or fatigued.

What is Pranayama Breathing and How to Perform Pranayama Yoga?

Yoga science of breathing is called prayanama. Oxygen is the most vial nutrient to our body. It is essential for the integrity of the brain, nerves, glands and internal organs. We can do without food for weeks and without water for days, but without oxygen; we will die within a few minutes.

Where to Perform Pranayama yoga

Pranayama techniques are best practiced while sitting on the floor on a folded blanket. This form of practice is applicable to padmasana also. However; any other posture will do provided the back is kept erect from the base of the spine to the neck and perpendicular to the floor. Bad and poorly performed posture will lead to shallow breathing and low endurance. One must empty the bladder and bowels before starting pranayama yoga.

When to Perform Pranayama

Pranayama yoga must be performed in empty stomach. The best time for practice is the early morning, preferably before sunrise when the pollution is at its lowest level, and the body and brain are still free. However, if morning is unsuitable, pranayama may be practiced after sunset, when the air is cool and pleasant. The place suitable for all kinds of Yoga must be clean and calm.

Major Types of Pranayama and Instructions

Some major types of pranayama yoga are as follows:

• Nadi Sodhana
• Shitali Pranayama
• Ujjayi Pranayama
• Kapalabhati Pranayama
• Digra Pranayama
• Bhastrika Pranayama
• Bahya Pranayama
• Bhramari Pranayama
• Udgit pranayama
• Anuloma & Viloma Pranayama
• Agnisar Kriya

Instructions on How to Perform Pranayama Yoga

Nadi Sodhana:

Following steps instruct on how to perfrom the nadi sodhana pranayama:

• Sit down in a comfortable place assuming a cross legged position
• Now use your thumb (right hand) to close the right side of your nose. Inhale deeply using the left nostril
• Now close the left nostril and exhale using the right one
• In the same way, now with the left nostril still closed, inhale using the right nostril and exhale with the left one

You can continue doing this exercise for around 10 - 15 times.

Shitali Pranayama:

Sheetal also means cool, and this pranayama technique will help you achieve the same. To perform shitali pranayama, be seated in a comfortable position. Cross your legs and take five to six deep breaths to get yourself prepared.

Now open your mouth in a "o" shape and start to inhale through the mouth. When you exhale, do so with your nose.

This can be repeated five to ten times.

Ujjayi Pranayama

Ujjayi means the ocean and this pranayama is about mimicking the oceanic sound or the sound of the waves.

To do this, be seated in a comfortable position crossing your legs. Now start to inhale and exhale deeply using your mouth.

While doing this, constrict your throat as if something is choaking it when you exhale and inhale the air. This will produce a sound similar to the ocean when you breath.

Now close your mouth and start to breath using your nose, but maintain the same tone to your throat so you still continue to make the same sound as your breath.

You can repeat this prayanama breathing exercise for about ten to fifteen times.

Kapalabhati Pranayama:

To perform the kapalabhati pranayama technique, sit in a comfortable position crossing your legs. Perform two to three deep inhales and exhales.

Now inhale deeply and exhale forcefully drawing all the air out. Your belly should be drawn in, as you exhale.

When you inhale, let it happen passively without you making any effort to inhale as the belly goes back to normal position.

Exhale forcefully again and continue doing this for about 20 to 30 times.

Dirga Pranayama - Three Part Breathing

The dirga pranayam is a bit different from other types as it involves lying down on your back instead of being in a seated position. This technique involves very deep inhalation and exhalation.

To perform this panayama, lie down on your back and close your eyes. Breath normally and then slowly take deep breaths, relaxing your body.

Now inhale a lot of air in slowly to fill your belly up. Your belly should rise up like a balloon. Hold this position for a few seconds and exhale drawing the belly inwards ensure there is no air left.

In the second step, inhale deeply to fill up the belly. Inhale a bit more to fill up air in your rib cage. When you exhale, exhale air from your rib cage and then from your belly.

In the third step, inhale deeply to fill up your belly and rib cage with air. Inhale a bit more to fill up your heart center (area around the heart) with air. When you exhale, exhale air from the heart center, then the rib cage and then the belly.

Repeat the whole process for five to six times

Viloma Pranayama

VILOMA Pranayama involves praused breathing at regular intervals and can be divided into two stages. The first stage is called 'paused inhalation' and the second stage is called 'paused exhalation'. Let's look at these stages in detail:

Viloma Paused Inhalation:

• Lie down in a comfortable position and try to relax. Breath deeply, but normally
• Now inhale for 2 to 3 seconds and pause. Hold your breath for two seconds and then restart inhalation. Pause inhalation again after 2 to seconds. Inhale again. Repeat this process untill the lungs feel full of air
• Exhale now, slowly, till you feel empty of air

Viloma Paused Exhalation: The paused exhalation is the exact opposite of the inhalation process. In this case, you inhale deeply and normally without interuption, but exhale with regular pauses.

Anuloma Pranayama

Just like Viloma Anuloma is about alternate nostril breathing. In this case, the inhalation and exhalation is done with one nostril blocked and the other partially open. Some variations of the yoga are granular anuloma.

This type of pranayama is particularly useful in clensing the nasal passages and creating calmness within.

What is the Importance of Pranayama?

Practice of pranayama yoga has been reported to be beneficial in treating a range of stress related disorders, improving autonomic functions, relieving symptoms of asthma, stuttering and reducing signs of oxidative stress. Pranayama techniques are also effective for depression cure. Practice of prayanama develops a steady mind, strong will-power and sound judgment. In addition regular pranayama helps extends life and enhance perception

In old age, the respiratory function decreases due to the contraction of the air cells of the lungs, which therey takes in less oxygen. Prayanama will help to normalize their size and make the red corpuscles circulate in all parts of the body, infusing life and vigor throughout. Through regular practice even old people can delay the ageing process.

Points to Remember While Practicing Pranayama

Here are a few important points your need to bear in mind while performing or before attempting to perform Pranayama.

1.) It is important to understand that the base of yoga is relaxation. All the Asanas and breathing exercises involved in Pranayama should be performed in a mentally and physically relaxed state. If your mind is filled with thought, try to relax and let the breathing exercise fix your concentration away from the thoughts.

2.) It is important never to strain yourself while performing any of the exercises. It takes practice to perfect the control of your breath and it cannot be achieved in a day or two. It takes a few months of patient practice but the returns are worth the effort.

3.) It is normal for people to get impatient while practicing Pranayama initially, this is just your body reacting to its old conditioning of irregular breathing. Be patient and continue your exercises in a relaxed manner. Slowly your mind will also relax and enter into the state of alert consciousness.

4.) There should be no abrupt movements, no sharp exhalations or inhalations and neither should you feel uncomfortably suffocated. Yoga is none of these. There should be no discomfort while performing yoga. Initially it helps to perform yoga under the guidance of an experienced guru because it entails great care and precision. Once you have perfected the exercise you can perform on your own.

5.) It is advisable to perform Pranayam in an empty stomach. Early in the mornings is preferably the best time. If you prefer doing Pranayama in the evenings, make sure to keep a gap of four to five hours depending on the type of meal you are eating. This is considering that heavier meals take more time to digest.

6.) If you find it difficult to sit in Padmasana, you can sit in a pose that you feel comfortable in. You can also considering sitting on a chair if sitting in Asanas is difficult for you.

7.) Pregnant women and women who have recently delivered should not do Pranayama.

8.) People suffering from abdominal wounds, hernia, peritonitis, appendicitis and those recovering from surgery should not perform Pranayama.

9.) People suffering from heart problems, high blood pressure, weekness and/or back-pain are advised to do inhalations and exhalations slowly without exerting pressure.

10.) Sit in an erect pose (Your spine must be straight) a You can sit in Siddhasan, sukhasan, or Padmasan, and assume a vayu mudra or dhyan mudra It is best to take training from an expert before attempting to perform advanced Pranayama techniques like the Kapalbhati. The expert will be able to guide you on the duration and proper methodologies of performing these breathing exercises so you can benefit the maximum.

Diabetes is a disease that results when the body does not produce sufficient hormones to break down the sugar that is ingested. This results because of the deterioration pancreas - the only organ in the body that can produce insulin. Insulin helps in regulating the sugar in the blood by converting it into energy. When the insulin is not sufficient, the sugar does not get converted. Instead it gets accumulated in the blood causing a number of symptoms such as fatigue, unusual thirst, excessive urination, loss of weight and many other complications. No wonder, diabetics has been termed the 'Mother of all Diseases' by the medical industry.

The sad reality is that irrespective of all the research being done, the medical industry is yet to come up with a permanent solution to reactivate the deteriorated beta cells of the pancreas. The best these medicines can do is control diabetics while the dosage keeps increasing as time progresses.

Yoga and Diabetes

Yoga is an ancient method of exercising body and mind for maintaining all its functions at their optimum level. Almost all the diseases known to man can be addressed by yoga – and diabetes can be controlled by it as well. There are many postures and breathing exercises in yoga which would induce the pancreas to produce enough insulin to regulate the sugar in the body. These asanas (postures) not only repair the pancreatic cell but also induce them to secrete insulin. Some of the asanas that have proved beneficial for controlling and reversing type 2 diabetes are briefly described below:

Caution: Please do not attempt any of the asanas on your own unless you have been guided by a yoga guru or certified teacher.

1. Pranayama - Pranayama techniques are simple breathing exercises that have extensive benefits. By mastering the art of pranayama, you can cure your body of a range of diseases including diabetics. Point to note is that you will need to invest at-least half hour a day practising pranayama. There are 7 major pranayama techniques that have been shown to be benefitial in curing diabetics. These are as follows:

1.) Bhastrika Pranayama
2.) Kapalabhati Pranayama
3.) AgniSar Kriya
4.) Bahya Pranayama
5.) Anuloma - Viloma Pranayama
6.) Bhramari pranayama
7.) Udgit pranayama

2. Mandukasana (Frog Pose) - Mandukasana also known as the frog pose is extremely beneficial to diabetic patients as it exerts pressure on the pancreas. This pose is done sitting in Vajrasana.

3. Yogamudrasana - As in case of Mandukasana, this pose also exerts pressure on the stomach and particularly on the pancreas. The main difference between Madukasana and Yogamudrasana is that Yogamudrasana is done sitting in Padmasana whereas Madukasana is doing sitting in Vajrasana.

The seven pranayama techniques (mentioned above) along with Madukasana and Yogamudrasana are more than enough to cure diabetics and diabetic related problems. But there are a few other asanas that you can consider performing for maximum benefits:

4. Paschimottasana (Forward Seated Bend posture) – This is a posture which promotes the function of the pancreas, liver and the kidneys. You will have to start by sitting on a mat with your legs stretched in front of you. Take in a deep breath. Then, slowly bend forward exhaling placing your head on your knees and reaching for your toes. Touch your toes and keep this posture for 2-3 breaths then return to the sitting position. This asana should be repeated two or three times.

5. Shalabhasana (Locust posture) – This posture is especially effective for treating acidity and indigestion. In combination with the other two asanas it helps the digestive system and support the liver and the pancreas toning up.

6. Ardha Matsyendrasana Ardha Matsyendrasana also known as the spine twisting pose is a tough pose and cannot be performed without constant practice. But once mastered, the benefits of this pose are immense in helping the pancreas recover.

7. Vakrasana A slightly easier pose and an alternative to Ardha Matsyendrasana is 'Vakrasana'. This pose has all the benefits of the spine twisting pose and is easier to perform.

Eating The Right Diet - Going Natural

Please remember that Yoga can help you in curing diabetics if and only if you practice a controlled diet. Bad diet is the major cause of diabetics and hence you will need to first work on the cause than the symptoms. Your pancreas stopped functioning because they were fed up of digesting bad processed food products. They gave it their best, but the bad food continued and finally they gave up. So rule of the thumb is to slowly and steadily move towards a natural diet and stop eating processed food. Salt is processed, refined sugar is processed, meat products are processed, junk food is processed. If you look at it, pretty much 80% of the food you currently eat is processed. This is the reason the pancreas stopped working.

What is a Natural Diet?

A natural diet is a diet rich in fruits and vegetables in their natural state. This means you will need to consume fruits without mixing them with other processed food products and vegetables without frying them or adding too much spices. Boil the veggies but do not fry them. Similarly do not drink processed fruit juices. Instead go for fresh fruits and vegetables.

The best way to start is by eating a 'raw food' breakfast either consisting of fruits or raw veggies and sprouts. Yes, fruits contain sugar. But the sugar contained in fruits is natural. Natural sugar can easily be digested by the body unlike processed sugar. So do not worry about consuming fruits. Only thing to bear in mind is to eat fruits only when the stomach is empty. This is why eating fruits for breakfast is a good idea. Another point to bear in mind is to avoid drinking water half hour before and after eating fruits. Fruits take a maximum of 20 minutes to get digested. So give your body the time without diluting the digestive juices by drinking water.

A good tip would be to start the day by drinking a glass of warm water and then doing pranayama for half hour followed by a fruit rich diet. Eat fruits till your stomach feels full. Avoid fruit juices. Simple point to bear in mind - do not use technology/electronics (like gas-stove or mixer) to prepare your breakfast.

If you find this beneficial, start eating fruits 2 meals a day.

What to Avoid:

1.) Avoid milk and milk products - butter, cheese, ice cream etc. 2.) Avoid tea and coffee. If you are addicted to tea or coffee, try to reduce the intake slowly and steadily until you can completely stop. Consider taking tea/coffee without adding milk 3.) Avoid food products containing refined sugar 4.) Avoid sugar substitutes. Yes, these can cause harm too 5.) Lower intake of starch rich foods like rice 6.) Avoid processed food and junk food 7.) Lower the intake of meat by replacing meat with vegetables 8.) Avoid soy milk and other processed soy products like tofu 9.) Avoid processed fruit juices 10.) Avoid soda and other fizzy drinks 11.) Avoid smoking and taking alcohol 12.) Avoid food items rich in starch 13.) Avoid taking protein supplements like whey 14.) Reduce the intake of eggs and sea food

Learning to Be Happy

One of the major causes of diabetics apart from a bad diet is stress. Try to be happy as much as possible. Do things that you love. Listen to soft music, talk with close friends, take a hot bath, watch something funny, take a vacation - in other words, do something that will keep you happy and bring you in a good mood. Remember that worrying about problems will not solve them. But being happy will ensure that problems stay away from you. Positive energy attracts positive energy and vise versa. So stop focusing on the problem and open your mind to the vastness of the universe. Practice awareness. Be aware of your being and your body. Live in the now and stop worrying about the past and the future.

Practicing Simple Exercises

Going on long walks early in the mornings is the best thing you can do to make your body healthy. You need not jog or run or ride a bicycle. Just walk slowly and steadily. Pick up your walking pace and distance as days go by. As you walk, be happy, appreciate the nature around you, inhale the fresh air and be thankful for it, listen to the birds chirp, feel the aliveness in your body and enjoy yourself.

 

There are six Chakras. Muladara is in the anus.Svadhishthana is near the genital organ. Manipura is in the navel. Anahata is in the heart.

The Vishuddhi Chakra is at the root of the neck. The sixth Chakra, the Ajna is in the head (between the two eyebrows).

After gaining a knowledge of these six Mandalas or spheres, one should enter the Sukhamandala, drawing up the Vayu and sending it upward.

He become one with Brahmanda, the macrocosm, who practices thus the control of Vayu. Vayu, Bindu, Chitta, and Chakra should be mastered by him.

(Yoga-Kundalini Upanishad)
The junctions of Nadis with Sushumna Nadi are known as Chakras, subtle centers of vital energy.
Chakras (wheels or circles) or Lotuses are the dynamic Tattwika (Tattwa means Element), centers in the body, they are situated in various point of Sushumna (spinal cord). They are all supported by the vertebral column; the five regions of the spinal column (coccygeal, sacrum, lumbar, dorsal and cervical region) correspond with the regions of the five Chakra : Muladhara, Svadhishthana, Manipura, Anahata and Vishuddha.
All the functions of the body are under the control of the Chakras in Sushumna.
The Chakras are centres of Pranashakti, Shakti as cosmic energy in latent shape, the presiding Devatas of which are the names for the Universal Consciousness as it manifests in the form of these centres.
A particular Tattwa (Element) preponderates at every Chakra.
In every Chakra a certain animal is represented. It denotes that the center has the qualities, Tattwas or Gunas of that particular animal.
Some Hatayogis say that there are 21 minor Chakras beside the 13 major Chakras, others say that there are 49, while the ancient Yogis taught that there are 144 Chakras.
"The term "Shat-Chakras" refers only to the chief six Chakras, viz., Muladhara, Svadhishthana, Manipura, Anahata, Vishuddha and Ajna. Above all these we have Sahasrara Chakra: this is the chief of all the Chakras. All the Chakras have their intimate connection with this center. Hence this is not included as one among the Shat-Ckras. This is situated above all the Chakras." (Sri Swami Sivananda)
Each Chakra has a particular number of petals with a Sanskrit alphabet on each petal. All the 50 Sanskrit letters are on the 50 petals of the six Chakras. The letters exist in the petals in a latent form. These can be manifested and the vibrations of the Nadis felt during meditation. Chakras are in the Linga Sarira (Astral Body), and cannot be seen by eyes, one can feel and understand the Chakras during concentration and meditation only. Sukshuma (subtle) Prana (vital force) moves in the nervous system of the Linga Sarira. Stoola Prana moves in the nervous system of the gross physical body.
"The number of petals in each Chakra is determined by the number and positions of the Nadis around the Chakra.From each Chakra a a particular number of Yoga Nadis crop up. The Chakra gives the appearance of a lotus with the Nadis as his petals. The sound is produced by the vibrations of the corresponding Sanskrit letter. The Chakras with their petals hang downward when Kundalini is at the Muladhara Chakra. When it is awakened, they turn Toward Brahmarandhra. They always face the side of Kundalini."