Yoga is more than just poses

In fact, the Asana comprises just a small part of the overall Eight Limbs of Yoga as spelled out in the Yoga Sutras. 

Find inspiration and wisdom by enjoying some of my favorite yogic quotes.  Love yourself, love your day, love your life!

"When you find peace within yourself, you become the kind of person who can live at peace with others." ~ Peace Pilgrim

"I have been a seeker and I still am, but I stopped asking the books and the stars. I started listening to the teaching of my Soul." ~ by Rumi

“It is not arrogant or egotistical to feel good inside. You had nothing to do with it. It’s simply the honest response to clearly perceived Reality.”  ~ Erich Schiffman

"Wisdom is knowing we are all One. Love is what it feels like and Compassion is what it acts like." ~ Ethan Walker III

"

Mindfulness helps you go home to the present. And every time you go there and recognize a condition of happiness that you have, happiness comes." ~ Thich Nhat Hanh

"All I’m saying is that to liberate the potential of your mind, body, and soul, you must first expand your imagination. You see, things are always created twice: first in the workshop of the mind and then, and only then, in reality. I call this process ‘blueprinting’ because anything you create in your outer world began as a simple blueprint in your inner world.” ~ Robin Sharma, 

The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari

“Be a lamp to yourself. Be your own confidence. Hold on to the truth within yourself as to the only truth.” ~ Buddha

"Accepting means you allow yourself to feel whatever it is you are feeling at that moment. It is part of the isness of the Now. You can't argue with what is. Well, you can, but if you do, you suffer."  ~ Eckhart Tolle

"Your life is a sacred journey. It is about change, growth, discovery, movement, transformation, continuously expanding your vision of what is possible, stretching your soul, learning to see clearly and deeply, listening to your intuition, taking courageous challenges at every step along the way. You are on the path... exactly where you are meant to be right now... And from here, you can only go forward, shaping your life story into a magnificent tale of triumph, of healing, of courage, of beauty, of wisdom, of power, of dignity, and of love." ~ by Caroline Adams

"Love is how it feels to recognize our essential unity. Awakening to Oneness is the experience of Big Love. Knowing you are one with all, you find yourself in love with all." ~ Timothy Freke

"The sun shines down, and its image reflects in a thousand different pots filled with water. The reflections are many, but they are each reflecting the same sun. Similarly, when we come to know who we truly are, we will see ourselves in all people." ~ Ammachi

“Yoga does not remove us from the reality or responsibilities of everyday life but rather places our feet firmly and resolutely in the practical ground of experience. We don't transcend our lives; we return to the life we left behind in the hopes of something better.” ~ Donna Farhi

"Remember the emphasis on the heart. The mind lives in doubt and the heart lives in trust. When you trust, suddenly you become centered." ~ Osho

"What if our religion was each other

If our practice was our life

If prayer, our words

What if the temple was the Earth

If forests were our church

If holy water—the rivers, lakes, and ocean

What if meditation was our relationships

If the teacher was life

If wisdom was self-knowledge

If love was the center of our being." ~ Ganga White

“Through practice, I've come to see that the deepest source of my misery is not wanting things to be the way they are. Not wanting myself to be the way I am. Not wanting the world to be the way it is. Not wanting others to be the way they are. Whenever I'm suffering, I find this war with reality to be at the heart of the problem.”  ~ Stephen Cope

"Every waking moment we talk to ourselves about the things we experience. Our self-talk, the thoughts we communicate to ourselves, in turn, control the way we feel and act."  ~ John Lembo

"True meditation is about being fully present with everything that is--including discomfort and challenges. It is not an escape from life." ~ Craig Hamilton

“Do your practice and all is coming.” ~ Sri K Patthabi Jois

"A person experiences life as something separated from the rest - a kind of optical delusion of consciousness. Our task must be to free ourselves from this self-imposed prison, and through compassion, to find the reality of Oneness." ~ Albert Einstein

“Understanding without practice is better than practice without understanding. Understanding with practice is better than understanding without practice. Residing in your true nature is better than understanding or practice." ~ Upanishads

“Your hand opens and closes and opens and closes. If it were always a fist or always stretched open, you would be paralyzed. Your deepest presence is in every small contracting and expanding, the two as beautifully balanced and coordinated as bird wings.” ~ Rumi

"You may think that only you are a prisoner, but other people are also prisoners. You are in a small prison, but others are in the big prison outside. When will they be released? Think that you are a yogi and that you are pursuing your sadhana in this particular place and at this particular moment. Immediately you will experience great joy. If you change your understanding, you will be free in a minute." ~ Baba Muktananda

“Healthy plants and trees yield abundant flowers and fruits. Similarly, from a healthy person, smiles and happiness shine forth like the rays of the sun.” ~ B.K. S Iyengar

“Yoga is the unifying art of transforming dharma into action, be it through inspired thought, properly nurturing our children, a painting, a kindness or an act of peace that forever moves humanity forward. " ~ Micheline Berry

“Habits allow us to not think about what we’re doing . . . giving us the illusion of ease. When we are under the illusion of ease, not thinking about what we’re doing. Breathing the same old way, moving the same old way, thinking the same old way we check out of the present, out of happiness itself.” ~ Alex Levin

Social Skills Challenges -Recognize the Issue

                                     Social Skill Challenges-Recognize the Issue

Social skills challenges can present in children, teens, and adults.

For children, having a best friend, attending birthday parties and sleepovers are routine for a lot of children, however, some children struggle to do these ‘everyday’ things. Many children wish desperately to play with other kids and make friends, yet keep making mistakes that lead them to be ‘left out.’ Some children are withdrawn from others and do not even know how to begin. The outcome of weak social skills can be exclusion, rejection and even bullying.

Social skills problems among adolescents and adults can have a severe impact on quality of life. Certainly, the person’s ability to make and keep friends is important, yet social skills can impact our education and work success as well. Individuals with weak social problem-solving skills may have fewer opportunities to advance. For example, a teen may have a great percentage but does miserably at a college interview. An adult may find that he or she is not able to advance because of communication problems with clients or co-workers.

The good news is that social skills difficulties are treatable.  

Understand the Possible Causes

Anxiety

Depression

Developmental Delay

Support Services: What can you do?

Social development begins in the child’s first years of life and is a lifelong process. If your child is not socialized or is having difficulty socially engaging, it is important to understand the root cause of the problem. There may be a number of reasons, anxiety, depression, ADHD, or temperament.  Early intervention will allow your child to develop socially throughout the lifespan.

There are so many adults who continue to suffer from anxiety, fear, and sadness related to their communication skills. They are not in positive relationships and not enjoying their work. Whatever the root cause, there are excellent treatments available. 

Source:https://www.mindwell.us

10 Job Soft Skills to get you hired

With the technological revolution going around the world, we are losing out on the human touch. Everything is automated and thinking machines are gradually taking the place of human employees. In such a scenario, what is considered more valuable are the soft skills which can drum up business and improve the human connectivity. Even employees look at job satisfaction and creativity as being more important than long-term job security.

Though technical skills is what is first and foremost, taught in professional courses and institutes, it's the soft skills that add the necessary personal touch, that can help you get hired and keep your job.

The following are the top soft skills you should improve on to get more easily hired in 2016:

1. Communication:
Workplaces have increased their focus on connecting with clients and customers through social networking and other ways. Thus, effective communication skills, both verbal and in writing, with colleagues, bosses and clients is very important. Along with it eye contact, positive body language and active listening is also crucial for a good impression.

2. Interpersonal skills:
In the modern workplace, teamwork has been gaining more importance than individual feathers in the cap. Therefore, collaboration between different workers has become very important. You have to learn how to share your toys and look at only what's best for the whole company. People, who can manage conflicts, accept constructive criticism and work well in groups are considered a better catch by recruiters. Workers, now, often have to collaborate remotely on various projects.

3. Adaptability:
The entire process of how a workplace runs has been changing, and with it comes changing needs with respect to the required skills and work responsibilities. You have to learn how to quickly pick up new skills and implement them where needed. Today's workers cannot whine about how the changing job demands are not what they signed up for. Adaptability and flexibility has become very important as you must be prepared to face constantly new challenges and responsibilities.

4. Problem solving:
Every workplace has small problems, issues that go unnoticed and yet create dissatisfaction and unease among employees. If you are able to spot such problems, or even bigger more apparent ones, your boss is bound to appreciate you more. It will make you a valuable part of the company for easing the working process.

5. Emotional Intelligence:
Emotional intelligence is required to set you apart from the automated piece of software that deals with customers. A human being can always use his/her emotional capabilities to connect with others, whether they are customers or colleagues. Social skills and social awareness, which comes with this particular soft skill can make you an asset to the company and drive up the business.

6. Creativity:
Creativity is again, a skill that cannot be replicated by robots. People with an innovative approach and a creative bent of mind are greatly looked for by the various companies, as each seeks to stand out from the crowd.

7. Pro activity:
Recruiters usually look for potential employees who know and understand the work and don't require any micromanagement. You must essentially know how to do your own work properly. You cannot be a high maintenance worker who will need constant supervision from a senior. You will be given the required time to get you up to date regarding the technicalities of the work. But it is your soft skills which will make sure you pick up the instructions quickly and maintain a certain quality of work. You need to be a motivated worker who can take his/her own initiatives.

8. Leadership:
You must learn how to be an effective leader and get the work done. If your job responsibility includes managing smaller teams this skill is crucial. You need to have superior collaboration skills and mitigate any sort of problem that may crop up. Moreover, you need to know when to take risks, and when not to, motivate and inspire the team and be accountable for them.

9. Time management: 
Assignments and their deadlines must be followed to the tee, and multiple projects need to be handled in an organised manner. With the extremely fast pace, the digitized world has taken up, you cannot afford to be even a minute late. Workers nowadays will be expected to take charge of a variety of tasks and know how to effectively manage time for employing each of those skills. Every task needs to completed on time, and it is crucial to priorities all the tasks that you have.

10. Discipline:
As a soft skill, discipline will help you not only in getting recruited, but also in improving your lifestyle greatly. Hectic work lifestyles can often wreak havoc on the body. You need to know how to effectively switch from work to relaxation mode and take proper care of diet and health.

Source: http://indiatoday.intoday.in

Top 10 Skills Employer's In India Seek

Every employee’s favourite social networking website, LinkedIn released it’s list of the top 10 skills that Indian employer’s demand. 

The data from LinkedIn goes ahead and re-enforces the trends that have been visible in the Indian market for the last few years, that is, core-computing skills will pay you the best. However, there have been some new entrants into the field this year which might challenge the status quo in the years to come. 

Here is the breakdown of the list:

10. Public Policy And International Relations

As the name suggests, these fields focus on foreign and domestic policies which affect today’s world. People in these fields have the ability to alter how the world functions and are responsible for establishing and maintaining relations between countries.

9.Economics

A new entrant into the Top 10 is the field of economics. Economists are responsible for creating the monetary policy of a country and on a more general scale- an organisation. After missing out on a top 10 spot last year, the field of economics is back with a bang.

8. PR And Communications

Responding to consumers and building relationships with them is an essential component in the working of any successful company. With an uptick in new businesses owing to the start-up culture which has taken off recently in the country, the demand for individuals with such skills have increased substantially.

7. Network And Information Security

The recent British Airways shutdown and the global WannaCry malware attack caused companies losses amounting to millions of dollars and  are prime examples of why companies are spending more than ever before on protecting their information and hiring more and more network security analysts.

6. Algorithm Design

Good and efficient algorithms can help an organisation save an enormous amount of computational time and of course, money. Therefore, it should come as no surprise to readers that it features so high up on this list of in-demand skills.

5. Statistical Analysis And Data Mining

With millions of gigabytes of data being created every second in the world, the demand for Data Scientists has never been higher. Large corporations who collect a large amount of data, hire data scientists to make sense of that data, which in turn could increase revenue.

4. Storage Systems And Management

Jobs like system administrator and system engineers fall under this category, which is primarily responsible for ensuring that the organisations various systems run smoothly.

3. Web Architecture And Development Framework

While we see an increase in the demand for iOS and Android developers worldwide, the data from the Indian marketplace shows that people who can create and maintain websites, that is both front-end and back-end developers are in high demand in the Indian workspace.

2. User Interface Design

The UI of a website or an application plays a critical role in directing user traffic. With the current explosion in the field of e-commerce, organisations are on the look out for creative designers who can give them a much needed edge over their competition.

1. Cloud And Distributed Computing

The field of Cloud and Distributed computing has been on the top of LinkedIn’s list for the past two years, and with organisations always looking to store their data over the cloud, for minimising errors and maximising efficiency, it comes as no surprise that it retains it’s position as the skill which is most in demand by Indian employers for the current years as well.

Top 10 Skills for job seekers in India that can get them hired in 2017

Technology is transforming, so is workplace changing. On this backdrop, how to make you marketable in the job market? Which skills are future-proof? LinkedIn has today (20 October 2016) come out the list of Top Ten skills that can get you hired in 2017. LinkedIn, the world’s largest professional network, has released the Top Ten skills in 2017 for 18 countries including India and a global list.

For India, Cloud and Distributed Computing will be the most demanding skills in 2017 while employers will expect the most from candidates. User Interface design remains at second place and Web architecture and development framework at third position in the most sought skills list. The demand for skills in Storage system and Management (fourth in the list) will remain high in India while demand for Statistical Analysis and Data mining professionals (fifth in the list) will surge in 2017.

Algorithm design grabbed sixth place while Networking and Information security found seventh position in the top Ten Skills list. PR and Communications professionals, a part of creative communication field, will stay ahead in the talent market.  PR and Communications skill is placed at eight position meanwhile Economics remains at ninth place. Professionals in Public policy and international relations will also see rise in demand in the job markets for India.

Meanwhile the top three skills in the Global List as per LinkedIn are as followed: Cloud and Distributed Computing, Statistical Analysis, and Data mining and Web architecture and development framework. LinkedIn’s Global Top Skills of 2016 list reveals several trends about the global job market: Demand for marketers is slowing; Data and cloud reign supreme; and data presentation (visualizing data) and statistical analysis & data mining are holding strong again.

Meanwhile User interface design is the new black. Data has become central to many products, which has created a need for people with user interface design skills who can make those products easy for customers to use.

LinkedIn will launch a campaign next week ‘Week of Learning’ in which job seeker will fine tune their skills. Hence, this campaign will help job seekers to get a better job.  LinkedIn prepared the Top Ten skills based on the LinkedIn job posts and employer’s demand for skill categories.

India: Top Ten Skills for 2017 as LinkedIn               

1 Cloud and Distributed Computing

2 User Interface design

3 Web architecture and development framework

4 Storage system and Management

5 Statistical Analysis and Data mining professionals

6 Algorithm design

7 Networking and Information security

8 PR and Communications

9 Economics remains

10 Public policy and international relations

Source: HTTP://skilloutlook.com

20 of the Best Wise Sayings and Quotes on Knowledge Sharing

1.There is no wealth like knowledge and no poverty like ignorance.

Buddha(c. 400/500 BC, founder of Buddhism)

2.It is not once nor twice but times without number
that the same ideas make their appearance in the world.
Aristotle
‘On The Heavens’, Manual of Greek Mathematics(c.384 BC-c.322 BC, Greek philosopher, and polymath)

3.In order to properly understand the big picture,
everyone should fear to become mentally clouded and
obsessed with one small section of truth.
Xunzi(c.312 BC-c.230 BC, Chinese Confucian philosopher)

4.In vain have you acquired knowledge
if you have not imparted it to others.
Deuteronomy Rabbah(c.900, commentary on the Book of Deuteronomy)

5.It is good to rub,
and polish our brain against that of others.
Michel Eyquem de Montaigne(1533-1592, French Renaissance philosopher and writer)

4.Let’s try it once without the parachute.

Scientia potential test: Knowledge is Power.commonly attributed to Sir Francis Bacon(1561-1626, English philosopher, statesman, scientist, jurist, and author)

5.An investment in knowledge
always pays the best interest.
Benjamin Franklin(1706-1790, one of the Founding Fathers of the United States)

6.We owe almost all our knowledge
not to those who have agreed,
but to those who have differed.
Charles Caleb Colton(1780-1832, English cleric, writer, and collector)

7.Unless you try to do something beyond
what you have already mastered,
you will never grow.
Ralph Waldo Emerson(1803-1882, American essayist, lecturer, and poet)

8.The more extensive a man’s knowledge
of what has been done,
the greater will be his power
of knowing what to do.
Benjamin Disraeli(1804-1881, British Prime Minister)

9.If you have the knowledge,
let others light their candles in it.
Margaret Fuller(1810-1850, Journalist, Critic and Women’s Rights Activist)

10.In the long history of humankind (and animal kind too)
those who learned to collaborate
and improvise most effectively have prevailed.
Charles Darwin(1809-1882, English naturalist)

11.C’mon guys, we’ll find someone with the answers.
Just keep looking.

Merely quantitative differences, beyond a certain point, pass into qualitative changes.

Karl Marx, Capital, Vol. 1.(1818-1883, Prussian-German philosopher, and revolutionary socialist)

12.The only thing to do with good advice is to pass it on.
It is never of any use to oneself.
Oscar Wilde(1854-1900, Irish playwright, poet, and writer)

13.A man can only attain knowledge
with the help of those who possess it.
This must be understood from the very beginning.
One must learn from him who knows.
George Ivanovich Gurdjieff(1866-1949, Russian Psychologist, philosopher, and scientist)

14.A teacher who establishes rapport with the taught,
becomes one with them,
learns more from them than he teaches them.
Mahatma Gandhi(1869-1948, preeminent leader of Indian nationalism in British-ruled India)

15.Knowledge rests not upon truth alone,
but upon error also.
Carl Jung(1875-1961, Swiss psychotherapist and psychiatrist)

16.Information is not knowledge.
Albert Einstein

(1879-1955, German-born theoretical physicist)

17.To be surprised, to wonder, is to begin to understand.

José Ortega y Gasset(1883-1955, Spanish liberal philosopher and essayist)

18.As you can see, it is fairly easy to grasp the principles, A candle loses nothing by lighting another candle.

Father James Keller(1900-1977, Roman Catholic priest)

19.The best way to have a good idea is
to have a lot of ideas.
Linus Pauling(1901-1994, American chemist, peace activist, author, and educator)

20.Knowledge is like money:
to be of value it must circulate,
and in circulating it can increase
in quantity and, hopefully, in value.
Louis L’Amour(1908-1988, American author)

Source:   http://truthcdm.com

The 6 Most Important Survival Skills to learn

Most people look at wilderness survival skills as a waste of time. After all, nobody plans on getting deserted on n Island or becoming a refugee anytime soon, right? However, we are living in an uncertain world and the need of survival skills have never been greater. These techniques are based on providing the basic necessities of human life.

Why learn survival skills?

Anything can happen, anywhere and anytime and it is very important to learn what to do in a survival situation. For example, having the correct knowledge on how to find and purify water helps you in staying hydrated and healthy. A day hike could quickly become life threatening due to a simple twisted ankle.  An exploration of an Island can leave you deserted and quickly become a life threatening situation.  A broken down car on a remote road can leave you struggling for just for the basic necessities.  For people who like going on journeys around the world, it is very important to gain this specific set of skills. The possibility of risk is always there and it is very important to be prepared to deal with every possible contingency. Let us shed some light on 6 of the most critical survival skills and how to implement them in a survival situation.

Survival Skill #1: Finding and Purifying Water

FINDING WATER

Water always comes first. They say that without water, a person can only last for as long as 72 hours. This is only when you are in a comfortable environment. In harsh environments where you need to survive, the hours will most probably be much less than 72. This is why the ability to find and purify water is the most important survival skill to learn. The human body needs constant rehydration so the functions of the body run smoothly and properly.
One of the best ways to stay intact with water is to store some before you embark on an exploration. If you have a fire going, boiling your water is the best option you have. It is not the 100% solution to your water needs, however, it is the closest you have when you are in a survival situation. Try to learn which plants can give you pure and drinkable water as well. Nature can be your biggest friend and provide you with everything you need, however, if you do not understand it well it can be your worst enemy!

Survival Skill #2: Starting Fire

SURVIVAL FIRE

When prioritizing survival skills, the ability to create fire is a very close second to finding water.  Not only does fire provide you with one method of purifying water, it also provides you with heat, light, ability to cook food and a way to signal for help. Even if you have a lighter or matches, knowing how to build a fire from what you find in nature is an important skill to possess. You never know what might happen. Starting a huge fire might just be the reason an ongoing boat notices you stranded on an Island or a rescue chopper finds you in the woods.

Survival Skill #3: Building Shelter

SURVIVAL SHELTER

If you find yourself without any shelter you must have the basic knowledge of how to make a shelter out of the resources around you. A shelter can be anything that protects you from the elements.  The two most common “survival shelters” are the debris hut and tarp tent.  The debris hut can be constructed using sticks for the structure and leaves, grass, pine needles or anything else you can find on top of the sticks to provide insulation.  A tarp tent does not provide you with much insulation but is a great way to protect you from the rain above, moisture below and wind from the sides.  There are many configurations of a tarp tent and most only require a tarp and some rope.

Survival Skill #4: Finding Food

SURVIVAL FISH TRAP

Food does not serve itself on a table for you or show up on the doorstep when you are in a survival situation. You need to know how to gather and hunt for food. Above all, you need to know which foods will give you the nutrients required to recharge your energy level. This is very important to survive harsh situations. It is important to learn the different traps that can be used to catch wild game.  Some of the basic traps are snares, spring snares, deadfalls, bird snares and fish traps.

Survival Skill #5: First Aid

SURVIVAL FIRST AID

This is very important as wounds are very common in a survival situation. The basic thing you need to know is how to keep a wound clean and closed. Open and dirty wounds can infect a whole body part and leave you dying in the middle of nowhere. Remember, in the wilderness, you cannot call an ambulance to take you to a hospital. Setting back broken bones, treatment of nausea and shocks and much more is needed if you are looking towards serving a dangerous situation.

Survival Skill #6 Signaling:

SURVIVAL SIGNALING

When you meet an unexpected crisis, you cannot contact someone and tell them where you are. Hence, you need to have proper knowledge of how to signal for help. Signals from fires and flare guns may be the most common methods.  But you can also use signaling mirrors, smoke from a fire or spelling out “SOS” or “help” using rocks or logs.

These are the basic 6 survival skills that everyone should know, especially adventurous outdoorsmen. These skills are allotted like a condom, it is better to have them and not need them then it is to need them and not have them!

Source: http://survivalknowhow.net