The other day at work, we had our usual set up for a biometric health screening, but on top of that, we were also offering flu shots. There were only three of us on the team that day. The team lead is at pharmacy school, the other team member was a registered nurse who was administering the flu shots and doing the rest of the biometric health assessment. I was the health coach and therefore, had nothing to do with the flu shots.

The nurse, herself does not get the flu shot and the team lead was encouraging all those that came in for the health screening to get one. Some of the things he would say were that if you get it one year, you must get it every year, and how it’s great to get vaccinated for the prevention of the flu.

Where am I going with this? Well, this simple observation reaffirmed what I have been reading and seeing lately about the fear-based approach to health care. If you don’t want this to happen, you must take this pill. Or if you don’t want to get sick, you must wear a mask and take this antibiotic or vaccination.

I personally haven’t had a flu shot since my teen years and I still have an internal debate about vaccinations. Are they really as great as they are said to be? Getting the flu shot does not mean that you are totally protected and by not getting it, that also does not mean that your immune system is weaker than anyone who has had the flu shot.

For the future of healthcare, I find myself doubting if fear is the appropriate approach for prevention. Prevention is key in maintaining health, but fear itself is not healthy for you. Fear in itself suppresses the functioning of the immune system. So in our healthcare system, we really need to stop scaring everyone. There is no such thing as a magical prevention pill just like there is no such thing as a miracle cure all.

Rather than scaring society, a more rational approach is needed in which people are positively motivated to make the changes they need to stay healthy. Another factor that I have noticed is that out of fear, many people surrender themselves and their health to their doctors or health care practitioners, thinking that doctor knows best. Reality is that in order to overcome the fear, healthcare practitioners, pharmaceutical companies, and politicians need to stop scaring the people. My advice to you will be to take your health into your own hands and realize that fear does not accomplish anything. Be resourceful and be smart about health and never be afraid to question anything that is presented to you!

With that said, you have nothing to fear but fear itself and even then, there is not point in having fear in fear. Fear is just in the mind…so look the world, life, and health in the eyes and move forward.

Health and happiness,

Varsha

With so many different styles of yoga out there, it is difficult and confusing to choose one. Not every style works for everybody, therefore, if you do not like the style you are trying now, attempt to switch to another style. The basic styles of yoga are Hatha, Vinyasa, Ashtanga, Power, Iyengar, Kundalini, and Bikram. Brief descriptions of each style are below and as you read them, see which style feels like it suits your personality and workout type the best.

Hatha – Hatha yoga is the original form of yoga and all other styles of yoga arise from Hatha. A hatha yoga class will typically have different sets of postures from one class to the next. The style itself is more gentle and therapeutic. Classes will include asanas (postures), stretching, work with the breath, and meditations. A hatha yoga class will work with flexibility, strength, and endurance. If you are not sure which style to try, Hatha is a good one to start with.

Vinyasa – Vinyasa yoga has more fluid movement to it. The style is slightly vigorous and all movement follows the breath. A typical class will be based upon a series of postures, known as Suryanamaskar or Sun Salutations.

Ashtanga – Ashtanga means eight limbs and this style of yoga is very vigorous. There are a series of poses and in an Ashtanga class, you move from one posture to the next and is considered to be physically demanding.

Power – Power yoga is very similar to Ashtanga as Power yoga is also physically very demanding. The difference is that there is no set series of postures and power yoga is designed to be more of a workout that consists of cardio, strength, and flexibility.

Iyengar – Iyengar yoga is the style that most commonly uses props. This style works in aligning the body and focuses on holding the posture for long periods of time. Sometimes, a single, one-hour class will go through only one set of sun salutations.

Kundalini – Kundalini yoga works with energy and circulating the energy from the center core throughout the body. Emphasis in the class is placed upon the breath in conjunct with the postures. The rate of the movement will follow the rate of the breath. Kundalini is also known to be the more “spiritual” style of yoga.

Bikram – Bikram yoga is hot yoga and it takes place in a heated room around 95 degrees. The theory is that sweating loosens up the joints and muscles to improve flexibility and also works as a way of cleansing the body. A typical class consists of about 26 basic postures. Bikram yoga is also a controversial style of yoga, as many health experts, including Ayurvedic practitioners question its level “healthiness,” due to its intensity and excessive exposure to heat in a closed room.

These are the basic styles of yoga and when in doubt, start with Hatha. There is a style for everyone, its just a matter of finding one that works for you.

Health and happiness,

Varsha

About six years ago, I was at a friend’s place working on a project for my human biology class and afterwards, my friend’s dad began to ask me questions about what I was going to study in college. Her dad happens to be a plastic surgeon and her mom is an anesthesiologist. I was super excited about my next step being to go off to college to study Ayurveda. This conversation with her dad opened up a whole new world to me, because he ended up lecturing me and telling me that there is no future in natural health or alternative medicine. He told me that I would be wasting my time and that natural remedies do not work and off he went. I also had similar conversations at a local hospital where I volunteered at with the doctors and nurses.

This was all six years ago. The point here is that there is a paradigm shift happening. In the last six years, a lot has changed, especially in the field of health. A few months ago, I went with a friend for moral support to see a neurologist who specializes in ALS. My friend was told that he did not have ALS, but I was surprised to hear the neurologist tell him that alternative medicine is worth a shot because its natural. And if you are only working with diet, it should not make things worse at the least. I also know a neurologist who recommends her patients with Multiple Sclerosis to try Ayurveda and refers them to an Ayurvedic Health Clinic. An Endocrinologist does the same. Using the principles of Ayurveda and yoga, I have worked with many complex cases, especially neurological.

Everyday, I find myself interacting with more and more people who are beginning to or already understand the value of prevention of disease, and see the need for health promotion and education for a healthy future. More and more people spend out of pocket for seeing their alternative health care practitioners and majority of the time, it is due to their lack of satisfaction from the current medical model. People are realizing that there is more to health than popping in a pill. A paradigm shift is occurring in which even medical doctors are aware of the fact that they also cannot deny the presence and importance of natural health in today’s modern health care. The change is happening as we speak. Welcome aboard!

Health and happiness,

Varsha