Now ineffable 040325

India enters Finals of the Champions Trophy. Finals are on 9 March at Dubai.

Can’t we have the freedom in wearing whatever we want for all informal, casual, non-formal, formal and celebratory occasions? Can we not wear sarees, salwars or dhoti-kurtas for our ‘functions’? Can’t Zelensky wear whatever he wants to go to White House? Can a Sheik from the Middle-East do it? Can a Gandhi go ‘half-naked’ to British king/queen? Can a Mandela go in his Madiba shirt wherever he wants? Is a Nehru Shirt fine? Is an ochre robe wrapped around fine?

Even if we buy five clothing kits a year, the world needs only 40 billion kits. Against this, the production is three times this a year. Average American buys 50+ clothings a year, wearing 7-8 times. This is twice the Indian average. Can we use every piece at least 30 times? 60 times is better. Can our clothes be more versatile? Same cloth for various occasions?

Do we have the freedom to eat whatever we want, wherever, and whenever we want? Shouldn’t it be locally produced, customized food that gives all our 50 nutrients in sufficient quantities? Colourful plate(s). More fruits, vegetables. More proteins. Complex carbohydrates. In 3 spells, 5 spells, or all hours of waking? Nutrition-rich and diverse? With adequate water – 2-3 litres if sedentary; 3-5 litres if working outside, may be in the sun. 

Obesity. A condition of excess body fat accumulation to have negative effects on health. 30+ BMI is obesity; 25-30 is overweight. 35+ is severe obesity; 40+ is morbid obesity; 45+ is super obesity. A billion people are considered obese in the world. More women are obese. Some countries classify obesity as a disease. Body fat (BF)% is a better indicator. 25% BF for men is obese and it is 32% BF for women. Obesity reduces the life expectancy significantly – 6-7 years. One-third of the population is tending to be overweight, obese. Lifestyle changes seem to be the main reason for this shift, increase in the numbers in a big way. The effort, yoga-exercise, diet, medicine, fitness, work, etc., are taking away a significantly high proportion of our time, energy, mindspace, attention and resources. Can we care not to become overweight or obese? In the first place. It is not easy to lose obesity. Even if we lose, we may gain it back slowly, over time. 

Sleep studies highlight silent sleep crisis in the world. Even in India. They say: 70%+ couples in India are having sleep divorce – sleeping separately to improve sleep, rest quality, and the health of the relationship. Sleep disturbances include: 3%+ – snoring, loud breathing, and gasping for air; 10%+ – restlessness; 10% – mismatched sleep schedules; 10% – screen use. Overall, women seem to succeed less in sleeping well vis-à-vis men. Co-sleeping triggers oxytocin release to lower depression, anxiety, stress, and increase life-relationship satisfaction. Love, comfort, relaxation, happiness, and calmness are the associated emotions. Therefore, how do we balance these two – sleep divorce and co-sleeping? How do we achieve 6 hours of high quality sleep a day? Should we try to sleep, or should we fall asleep? Should not we remain engaged productively till we fall asleep? 

Weight, metabolism, diet, sleep, and stress are linked in a more intricate way. Cycles of their own. The only way out is being happy, joyous. Being kind. Being useful, relevant. Without the concern for the next ‘minute’. Can we be in sync with the ways of N?

Yes, we can. If we coexist, flowing. Being together in the now. In N? aksharayoga for 7L.

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