My Yoga Journal

"Yogah karmasu kaushalam"
Yoga is excellence and skill in action.

After many years started practicing yoga recently. Basic warm ups followed by simple asanas and surya namaskar. I started practising traditional style yoga from my guru( friend) and after 3 months,to gain some deeper knowledge joined a  simple course on yoga for human excellence . Here Am sharing Some of my key take aways in this blog.

Theoretical  reference  from my learning journey

Week 1 

Week 2 

Week 3

Week 4

Week 5

Practical takeaways as below

⏱️ The 30-Minute daily routine

Mindful Warm-up & Flow (10 Minutes)

* Basic Warm-ups (3 Min):

•  Gentle neck/shoulder rolls 
•  cat-cow stretches on all fours
•  wrist stretches

 Surya Namaskar (5 Min): 

• Perform your 3 rounds slowly. Take 3 to 5 deep breaths in each pose (especially in Downward Dog) rather than rushing through.
• * Tree Pose / Vrikshasana (2 Min): Hold for 1 minute on the right side and 1 minute on the left side to build true stability and ankle strength.

Deep Hip Opening (6 Minutes)

* Malasana / Yogi Squat (3 Min)

* Butterfly Pose / Baddha Konasana (3 Min)

 Reclined Recovery & Stillness (8 Minutes)

* Pavanamuktasana / Wind-Relieving Pose (2 Min): Hug both knees in for 1 minute. Then, hug just the right knee for 30 seconds, followed by the left knee for 30 seconds.

* Ananda Balasana / Happy Baby Pose (2 Min): Hold your feet and rock gently side to side. Enjoy the deep massage on your lower back and kidneys. 

* Savasana (4 Min): Lie completely flat. Extend your 10 to 15 breathing counts into an unhurried, deep abdominal breathing exercise. Let your entire body feel completely relaxed into the mat.

Breathwork & Integration (6 Minutes)

* Sukhasana + Anulom Vilom (5 Min): Set a timer and practice alternate nostril breathing continuously. Slow down your inhalations and exhalations to equal lengths (e.g., inhale for 4 seconds, exhale for 4 seconds).

* Closing Mantra (1 Min): Sit in silence for a moment, chant your closing mantra three times, and rub your palms together to generate heat before placing them over your eyes.

Sarve bhavantu sukhinah,

Sarve santu nirāmayāḥ

Sarve bhadrāṇi paśyantu, 

Mā kaścit duḥkhabhāgbhavet

Om śāntiḥ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ

🙏🙏🙏🙏

What I Learned About Myself While Traveling With Family- Munnar Trip

Few years back!!!!

 We had been looking forward to our 5-day trip to Munnar for months - a family getaway filled with boat house stays, lush greenery, and adventure. My husband and I were excited, imagining lazy mornings by the water, scenic walks, and laughter-filled evenings with our kids. Everything seemed perfectly planned.

When we landed at Cochin Airport, our travel guide was waiting, and the first part of the journey went smoothly. We reached our hotel, settled into our room, and took a moment to rest.

Then, the unexpected happened.

The Unexpected Challenges

My elder son suddenly developed a fever. He was too tired to eat his lunch, and I could see how uncomfortable he was. We quickly gave him emergency medicine, and he seemed to recover enough to attempt a short outing to a nearby theme park. But it didn’t last long - he became sick again, and we had no choice but to return to our room, cancelling the rest of the day’s plans.

As if that wasn’t enough, my husband and younger child also began feeling unwell. Our hotel room started to feel less like a vacation space and more like a hospital ward. I found myself running back and forth, trying to get hot water, bread, and care for three sick family members at the same time.

Making the Hard Decision

After a day of chaos and worry, we made the difficult decision to cancel the remainder of our trip and return home. The trip money was non-refundable, but that no longer mattered. Our priority was - and always will be  the health and well-being of our family.

It was a humbling moment. Sometimes the best-laid plans are no match for life’s unpredictability.

What I Learned About Myself

Even though the trip didn’t go as planned, it taught me more about myself than any perfectly executed vacation could have.

1. Patience and Flexibility

I realized how little control we actually have over circumstances and how important it is to adapt calmly, even when everything feels chaotic.

2. Prioritizing What Matters

It would have been easy to insist on following the plan, but choosing health over sightseeing reinforced a simple truth: family well-being always comes first.

3. Resilience

Caring for sick family members in an unfamiliar environment tested my resilience. I learned that I can stay composed under pressure, even when life throws curveballs.

4. Gratitude for Health

Returning home reminded me to appreciate the small comforts and good health we often take for granted.

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Takeaway for Fellow Travelers

Travel doesn’t always go as planned. Sometimes flights are delayed, kids get sick, or plans fall apart. But how we respond in those moments shapes our experience more than the itinerary ever could.

My advice: prepare for the unexpected, focus on what truly matters, and don’t feel guilty about changing plans for the well-being of your loved ones. Often, those are the lessons that stay with us the longest.

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