Amazing Facts About Honey Below are 10 amazing facts about honey that most people have no idea about. It is amazing what kind of health benefits can be found in foods given to us by mother nature herself. Simply adding natural foods like honey in place of more fattening options can make your body feel fresh and rejuvenated. Take a moment to read through all of these interesting facts about honey and see if you learn something interesting. 1. Honey is the only non man-made sweetener which also is considered to have healing effects. 2. Honey has a pH level around 3-4 and consists of roughly 18% water. Because of this honey is a very stable substance and can last hundreds of years if properly stored. 3. Honey can reduce fat deposits found in our cardiovascular system. 4. Honey will not ferment in your stomach like refined table sugar or sucrose does. Because of this it does not subject you to a risk of bacterial infection. 5. Honey is the simplest possible molecular form of sugar, which cannot be broken down any further. This allows it to travel directly from the small intestine to the blood stream while not causing any problems to the digestive system like sucrose. 6. Honey is a top choice as fuel for burning body fat during sleep since it has an equal ratio of fructose to glucose. 7. Honey is the best substance to use to treat burns. Honey can effectively subdue pain while quickly healing a wound without scarring. 8. Vitamins as well as antioxidants are found in honey. One special antioxidant known as ‘pinocembrin’ is found only in honey. 9. Honey is known to be a very effective and safe solution to children’s coughs, even more so than over-the-counter medicines. 10. Some recent studies have shown that athletes who consumed honey before and after physical activity have recovered faster than those athletes who did not consume any honey at all. Given your new found knowledge of honey, now hopefully you can use it’s health benefits to your advantage. Keep in mind, the more natural the honey, the better. The honey found at your local fast-food chain is not going to give you the same health benefits as fresh natural honey straight from the bees nest. Start adding small amounts of natural honey to your meals to enjoy the health benefits it can offer you.

IBADA YA KUAGA MWILI WA ALIEKUWA MKEMIA MKUU WA SERIKALI

Waziri wa Maendeleo ya Mifugo na Uvuvi, Dk. John Magufuli akitoa heshima za mwisho wakati wa ibada ya kuaga mwili wa Marehemu Dk. Ernest Mashimba aliyekuwa Mkemia Mkuu wa Serikali kabla ya kusafirishwa kwenda Mwanza kwa Mazishi katika Kijiji cha Ngudu wilayani Kwimba.

Naibu Waziri wa Afya, Dk. Aisha Kigoda akitoa heshima za mwisho kwa mwili wa aliyekuwa Mkemia Mkuu wa Serikali, Dk. Ernest Mashimba nyumbani kwake mtaa wa Ursino, Regent Estate, Dar es Salaam.

Mke wa aliekuwa Mkemia Mkuu wa Serikali Marehemu Ernest Mashimba mama Rose Ernest akisaidiwa na ndugu wakati alipopita mbele ya jeneza la marehemu mume wake wakati wa kuaga mwili wa marehemu nyumbani kwake jijini Dar es salaam, mwili wa Marehemu mashimba umesafirishwa Jana kwenda kijiji cha Ngudu Wilayani Kwimba Mkoani Mwanza kwa mazishi. Marehemu Ernest Mashimba alifariki wiki iliyopita Mkoani kwenye hoteli ya Executive Inn Lushoto mkoani Tanga alikokwenda kwenye mahafali ya mtoto wake Happy Ernest aliyekuwa akisoma katika shule ya sekondari ya Kifungiro mkoani humo.

Mtoto wa Marehemu aliyekuwa akisoma katika shule ya sekondari ya Kifungiro mkoani Tanga Happy Ernest Mashimba akiuaga mwili wa marehemu baba yake kwa majonzi makubwa.

UZINDUZI WA TAMKO LA WANAHARAKATI WASIO WA KISERIKALI 2010; “WAKATI UCHAGUZI NA BAADA YA UCHAGUZI 2010

Mgeni rasmi,Jaji Mstaafu Lameck Mfalila akionyesha kitabu cha tamko la Wanaharakati wasio wa Kiserikali 2010;“wakati na baada ya uchaguzi 2010:Tanzania ipi tunayoiitaka?”

Mgeni rasmi aliyezindua ni; Jaji Mstaafu Lameck Mfalila, Mwenyekiti wa Board, Agenda Participation 2000 pembeni akiangalia ni Resident Director-FES, Dr. Stefan Chrobot mwengine ni Balozi Mahmoud Jabir.

BOFYA HAPA
kwa habari kamili

dr slaa azidi kupasua na kampeni zake.

Mgombea urais wa Tanzania kupitia Chama cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo (CHADEMA), Dk. Willibrod Slaa, akimnadi mgombea ubunge katika jimbo la Hai kupitia chama hicho, Freeman Mbowe, wakati wa mkutano wa kampeni zilizofanyika Bomang'ombe mjini jana.

Waendesha pikipiki wakiwa katika maandamano ya msafara wa mghombea urais wa TanzaNia kupitia Chama cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo (CHADEMA), Dk. Willibrod Slaa, kuelekea katika mikutano yake ya kampeni katika jimbo la Hai mkoani Kilimanjaro jana. (Picha na Joseph Senga)

Mwasisi wa Chama cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo (CHADEMA), Edwin Mtei, akiwahutubia wanachi wa Siha mkoani Kilimanjaro, wakati wa mkutano wa mgombea urais wa Tanzania kupitia Chama cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo (CHADEMA), Dk. Willibrod Slaa (kulia) juzi. (Picha na Joseph Senga)

mgombea urais chama cha ccm mh jakaya kikwete alipounguruma manyara na babati

MGOMBEA urais kwa tiketi ya CCM, Rais Jakaya Kikwete akiagana na wananchi kwa kuwapungua mkono, baada ya kuhutubia mkutano wa kampeni , wilayani Babati.

Mgombea urais kwa chama cha CCM,Mh Jakaya Kikwete akisalimiana na Mwenyekiti wa Chipukizi wa Mkoa wa Manyara Hilda Prosper Hinghmaghway (7), anayesoma darasa la pili katika shule ya Rift Valley iliyoko Babati wakati wa mkutano wa kampeni wa CCM uliohutubiwa na Mgombea urais kupitia chama hicho mjini Babati, (Picha na John Lukuwi).

Mgombea Urais kwa tiketi ya Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM),Dk. Jakaya Kikwete, akisalimiana na wananchi wa Haydom, mkoani Manyara, alipowasili katika mkutano wa kampeni, .(Picha na Freddy Maro.

eric shigongo aibuka na chuo kikuu cha mitaani

Mwalimu wa Kimataifa wa somo la Ujasiriamali, Eric James Shigongo amesogeza elimu nyumbani kwako na kukupa mafundisho yenye hadhi ya Chuo Kikuu cha Mtaani.

Shigongo atazindua CD inayoitwa Street University (Chuo Kikuu cha Mtaani) hivi karibuni, lengo likiwa kuwawezesha watu mbalimbali kujifunza somo la Ujasiriamali.Akizungumza na gazeti hili wikiendi iliyopita, Shigongo alisema kuwa ameamua kutoa CD hiyo ili kutoa fursa pana kwa wajasiriamali chipukizi kujifunza mbinu mbalimbali za kunufaika kibiashara.

“Ndani ya CD hiyo natoa elimu bora kabisa. Elimu ya kuwawezesha kuwa wafanyabiashara wakubwa. Elimu ya kuwakomboa Watanzania katika mambo ya kiuchumi,” alisema Shigongo na kuongeza:“Nahitaji kuzalisha mabilionea wengi kadiri inavyowezekana, kwahiyo Watanzania wenye kiu ya kutaka kuwa mabilionea, wanaweza kunufaika kupitia CD yangu.”Shigongo aliendelea: “Watu wajiandae kuipata hivi karibuni. Itapatikana kwenye maduka ya Zizzou Fashions.”

JK ahudhuria mazishi ya julius msekwa jijini dar leo

Rais Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete akiweka saini katika kitabu cha maombolezo wakati alipokwenda kuifariji familia ya Marehemu JuliusMsekwa ambaye ni mtoto wa Makamu mwenyekiti wa CCM Bara Pius Msekwanyumbani kwao Bongoyo Oysterbay, jijini Dar asubuhi ya leo

Rais Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete akitoa heshima za mwisho kwamarehemu Julius Msekwa ambaye ni mtoto wa Makamu Mwenyekiti wa CCMBara Pius Msekwa wakati wa ibada ya mazishi iliyofanyika nyumbani kwawazazi wa marehemu , Bongoyo Oysterbay jijini Dar es Salaam janajioni.Marehemu Julius Msekwa aliyefariki wiki iliyopita huko NicosiaCyprus ambapo alikuwa akifanya kazi ya mtaalamu Mshauri bingwa katikafani ya teknolojia ya Mawasiliano, alizikwa jana katika makaburi yaKinondoni jijini Dar jioni hii

Rais Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete,(wapili kushoto) Makamu Mwenyekitiwa CCM Bara Pius Msekwa(kushoto) na mkewe Mama Anna Abdallah(watatukushoto) pamoja na Rais mstaafu awamu ya tatu Mzee Ali HassanMwinyi(kulia) wakishiriki ibada ya mazishi ya kumuombea MarehemuJulius Msekwa aliyefariki huko Nicosia Cyprus wiki iliyopita nakuzikwa katika makaburi ya Kinondoni jijini Dar jioni hii. Picha na mdau Freddy Maro wa Ikulu

video mpya ya AY & Bebe Cool '' chap chap".

taarifa ya kukosekana kwa maji jijini dar

DAWASCO inawatangazia wateja wake katika baadhi ya maeneo kwamba,kutakuwa na zoezi la kubadilisha Valve katika Matenki ya Terminal yaliyopo maeneo ya Chuo Kikuu.

TAREHE; 17 -18 /09/ 2010.

MUDA ;Siku mbili (2)

SABABU; Ubadilishwaji wa valve zilizochakaa na kuweka mpya.

MAENEO YATAKAYOATHIRIKA; Ni pamoja na chuo cha ardhi, chuo kikuu cha Dar es Salaam,Lugalo(sehemu ya jeshi) Mlimani City,Mlalakua,(Survey) Coka cola,Sinza,eneo la Sam Nujoma, sehemu ya Ubungo,(NHC) Mabibo,Kigogo,Buguruni pamoja na maeneo ya jirani.

DAWASCO inawaomba wananchi wa maeneo hayo yaliotajwa kuhifadhi maji kwa ajili ya matumizi katika kipindi hicho ambacho matengenezo yatakua yanaendelea na hivyo kusababisha upungufu wa maji kwa muda wa siku hizo mbili.

Huduma ya maji itarejea katika hali yake ya kawaida baada ya muda huo.

DAWASCO inawaomba radhi kwa usumbufu wowote utakaojitokeza.

Isaidie DAWASCO kwa kutoa taarifa za uvujaji na kwa kulipa bili yako ya maji kila mwezi ili iweze kutoa huduma bora jijini.

DAWASCO

Tutakufikia.

Imetolewa na Ofisi ya Uhusiano
DAWASCO
Simu:0762979627

Leseni mpya za udereva wa magari kuzinduliwa kesho

Mkurugenzi wa huduma kwa mlipa kodi, Mamlaka ya Mapato (TRA), Protas Mmanda, akionyesha mfano wa leseni mpya za udereva, makao makuu ya TRA jijini Dar. Shoto ni Afisa Mnadhimu wa Kikosi cha Polisi wa usalama barabarani, Johansen Kahatano. Habari na www.wavuti.com

Picha na Chachandu Daily blog.

Mamlaka ya mapato Tanzania, TRA, kwa kushirikiana na Jeshi la Polisi nchini wameanza utekelezaji wa mfumo mpya wa utoaji leseni za udereva wa vyombo vya moto kwa lengo la kudhibiti ajali za barabarani na utoaji holela wa leseni na kudhibiti mapato ya Serikali.

Kadhalika, Afisa Mnadhimu wa Kikosi cha Polisi wa Usalama Barabarani, Johansen Katahano, amesema kuwa madaraja ya leseni hizo yameongezwa kutoka 8 hadi 14. Madaraja hayo yameongezwa katika daraja A na C na yameongezwa kutokanana na uwezo wa vyombo vya moto vya madaraja husika na idadi ya abiria watakaobebwa na vyombo hivyo.

Uzinduzi wa matumizi wa leseni hiyo yatafanyika

kesho Jumatano jijini Dar.

Leseni hizo mpya zitakuwa na uwezo wa kutunza kumbukumbu za kielektroniki za mtumiaji ikiwemo idadi ya makosa aliyoyafanya akiendesha chombo cha moto, gari na pikipiki.

Leseni hizi mpya zitahitimisha matumizi ya leseni za zamani.

Mkurugenzi wa Huduma na Elimu kwa mlipa kodi wa TRA, Protas Mmanda amewataka madereva wanaotumia leseni zao za kawaida kutokuwa na wasiwasi kwani kwa muda huu wataendelea kutumia leseni hizo kihalali na watapewa leseni mpya watakapokuwa wanakwenda kwa ajili ya kuzihaishi. Watu wenye leseni za Daraja C wataanza kupata leseni hizo mara moja lakini watahitajika kupata mafunzo maalumu kwanza.

Drinking water at the correct time maximizes its effectiveness on the Human body: 2 glasses of water after waking up - helps activate internal organs 1 glass of water 30 minutes before a meal - helps digestion 1 glass of water before taking a bath - helps lower blood pressure 1 glass of water before going to bed - avoids stroke or heart attack

VODACOM MISS TANZANIA YAFIKIA TAMATI….!!!

Toka habari zianze kurindima katika vyombo vya habari nchini yapata mwezi sasa na tumekuwa tukiwaona katika shughuli mbalimbali za kijamii hatimaye kiu ya wapenzi wa shindano hili ilikidhiwa usiku wa kuamkia tahere 12/9/2010 katika viwanja vya Mlimani City ndani ya wilaya ya Kinondoni.

Mshindi toka Wilaya ya Temeke Genevieve Emmanuel Bila ya kuamini masikio yake alitajwa kuwa mrithi na mmliki mpya wa taji la Miss Tanzania 2010.

Usiku huo kila kitu kilikuwa katika mpangilio ambao ulidhihirisha ukomavu wetu katika kutayarisha matukio makubwa. Umati mkubwa wa wageni mbalimbali toka nchi tofauti ulikuwa mashahidi wakuu ndani usiku huo kama hukubahatika kushuhudia usisikitike sana na kama ujuavyo asili yetu tunakuletea yote yaliyojiri katika picha zenye ubora wa hali ya juu..

Karibuni Sana..!

Vodacom Miss Tanzania 2010 Genevieve Emmanuel (katikati) akiwa na washindi wenzake mara baada ya kutangazwa mshindi kwenye shindano hilo lililofanyika kwenye ukumbi wa Mlimani City jijini Dar es salaam siku ya Jumamosi (kulia) ni mshindi wa tatu Consolata Lukosi na (kushoto) ni mshindi wa pili Glory Mwanga.

Warembo walioshiriki kwenye shindano la Vodacom Miss Tanzania 2010 wakitoa shoo kwa wageni waalikwa (hawapo pichani) wakati wa utambulisho.

Baadhi ya majaji wakifuatilia shindano kwa ukaribu sana.

My world running low…!!! ni maneno ya Mwanadada Wahu kutoka nchini Kenya(kulia) akiimba sambamba na Mwanamuziki Chege Chigunda(katikati) huku wakipewa Back Up na Mh. Temba wakati wa Onyesho la Vodacom Miss Tanzania likiendelea.

Washiriki wakipita jukwaani Kujitambulisha kwa wageni waalikwa na kunadi sera zao.

Vijana wa THT wakitoa burudani kwa wageni waliofika kushuhudia Onyesho hilo.

Washiriki wa Vodacom Miss Tanzania 2010 wakiwa jukwaani na Vazi la Ufukweni.

Mkuu wa mkoa wa Dar es Salaam Mh. William Lukuvi (mwenye miwani) akifuatilia kwa umakini shindano la Vodacom Miss Tanzania 2010.

Washiriki wa Vodacom Miss Tanzania 2010 wakipita kwa pamoja jukwaani na Vazi la Jioni.

Washiriki waliofanikiwa kuingia kwenye 10 bora za Vodacom Miss Tanzania 2010.

Hawa ndio 5 bora za Vodacom Miss Tanzania 2010.

Wadau mbalimbali wakifuarilia Shindano la Vodacom Miss Tanzania kwa umakini zaidi.

Mzee wa Commercial AY akitoa mchango wake kwenye Vodacom Miss Tanzania 2010.

Shukrani za dhati na Mo Blog.

Nokia C1-00 Dual SIM Mobile Price & Specs

World’s leading mobile handset maker company NOKIA announced three new mobile model of C-Series, including Nokia C1-00 today. The New C1 mobile Nokia’s first dual SIM mobile phone with very low-cost. Nokia C1-00 Mobile supports two SIM cards. The user can switch from one SIM to another SIM by simply holding down a button.This facility is very helpful while traveling in different countries and user can take the advantage of low call rates. The C1-00 offers the most affordable price of Rs. 2000 (approx) for Indian market.

The new mobile Nokia C1-00 comes with beautiful color display, FM Radio and Standard 3.5mm Headphone Jack. This new Nokia mobile’s especially useful thing is a flashlight and its very powerful. Nokia C1 will be available in four different cool colors like Red, Light Gray, Light Blue and Sea Green. You can use MP3 songs as ring tones in C1-00 mobile.

Nokia C1-00 mobile comes with powerful Li-Ion 1020 mAh battery and it’s the longest battery life. The C1-00 offers 13 hrs. of talk time and six week’s standby time. You can find here Nokia C1-00 Mobile phone full technical specifications, features, pictures and price.

Nokia C1-00 Dual SIM Mobile Features And Technical Specification:

• Dual Sim (GSM+GSM)
• GSM 900 / 1800 – SIM 1
• GSM 900 / 1800 – SIM 2
• Network: 2G
• Dimensions: 107.1 x 45 x 15 mm
• Symbian Series 30 Platform
• 128 x 160 pixels screen resolution
• 1.8 inch TFT 65k Color Display
• FM Radio
• Torch Light
• 3.5mm Audio Connector
• SMS
• Vibration, MP3 ringtones
• 500 PhoneBook Memory
• Battery: Li-Ion 1020 mAh
• Talk time: up to 13 hours
• Weight: 72.9 gm
• Colors: Medium Blue, Red, Light Gray, Sea Green

Nokia C1-00 Price in India: Approx Rs. 2,000

Nokia C1 Mobile Phone Pictures & Photos

Tags: Product Information, Product Review, SMS, Technology News

Amazing Facts About Onion

We read about the Amazing Cucumber. Now let us read about the Amazing Onion. It is not Vege Tales... But Facts. Wish I knew this earlier !! A friend of mine told me a story about when he was a kid he was in the hospital & nearly dying. His grandmother came to the hospital & told a family member to go buy her a large onion & a new pair of white cotton socks. She sliced the onion open then put a slice on the bottom of each of his feet & put the white cotton socks on him. In the morning when he awoke they removed the socks. The slices of onion were black & his fever was gone. The following story that someone sent to me might have some truth in it & we are going to try it this winter. In 1919 when the flu killed 40 million people there was this Doctor that visited the many farmers to see if he could help them combat the flu. Many of the farmers and their family had contracted it and many died. The doctor came upon this one farmer and to his surprise, everyone was very healthy. When the doctor asked what the farmer was doing that was different the wife replied that she had placed an unpeeled onion in a dish in the rooms of the home, (probably only two rooms back then). The doctor couldn't believe it and asked if he could have one of the onions and place it under the microscope. She gave him one and when he did this, he did find the flu virus in the onion. It obviously absorbed the bacteria, therefore, keeping the family healthy. Now, I heard this story from my hairdresser in AZ. She said that several years ago many of her employees were coming down with the flu and so were many of her customers. The next year she placed several bowls with onions around in her shop. To her surprise, none of her staff got sick. It must work.. (And no, she is not in the onion business.) The moral of the story is, buy some onions and place them in bowls around your home. If you work at a desk, place one or two in your office or under your desk or even on top somewhere. Try it and see what happens. We did it last year and we never got the flu. For flu cure: Cut both ends off an onion put one end on a fork and then place the forked end into an empty jar... Placing the jar next to the sick patient at night. It said the onion would be black in the morning from the germs... Sure enough it happened just like that... The onion was a mess and I began to feel better. Onions and garlic placed around the room saved many from the black plague years ago. They have powerful antibacterial, antiseptic properties. One more thing, never store cut onions and consume the next day.

How to keep a woman happy.... Priceless!

It's not difficult to make a woman happy. A man only needs to be:

1. A friend
2. A companion
3. A lover
4. A brother
5. A father
6. A master
7. A chef
8. An electrician
9. A carpenter
10. A plumber
11. A mechanic
12. A decorator
13. A stylist
14. A sexologist
15. A gynaecologist
16. A psychologist
17. A pest exterminator
18. A psychiatrist
19. A healer
20. A good listener
21. An organizer
22. A good father
23. Very clean
24. Sympathetic
25. Athletic
26. Warm
27. Attentive
28. Gallant
29. Intelligent
30. Funny
31. Creative
32. Tender
33. Strong
34. Understanding
35. Tolerant
36. Prudent
37. Ambitious
38. Capable
39. Courageous
40. Determined
41. True
42. Dependable
43. Passionate
44. Compassionate

WITHOUT FORGETTING TO:

45. Give her compliments regularly
46. Love shopping
47. Be honest
48. Be very rich
49. Not stress her out
50. Not look at other girls

AND AT THE SAME TIME, YOU MUST ALSO:

51. Give her lots of attention, but expect little yourself
52. Give her lots of time, especially time for herself
53. Give her lots of space, never worrying about where she goes

IT IS VERY IMPORTANT:

54. Never to forget:
* birthdays
* anniversaries
* arrangements she makes


HOW TO MAKE A MAN HAPPY

1. Leave him alone

Professor at IIMs explaining marketing concepts to Students

1. You see a gorgeous girl at a party. You go up to her and say: "I am very rich. "Marry me!" - That's ''Direct Marketing"

2. You're at a party with a bunch of friends and see a gorgeous girl. One of your friends goes up to her and pointing at you says: "He's very rich. "Marry him." -That's Advertising"

3. You see a gorgeous girl at a party. You go up to her and get her telephone number. The next day, you call and say: "Hi, I'm very rich. "Marry me - That's Telemarketing"

4. You're at a party and see gorgeous girl. You get up and straighten your tie, you walk up to her and pour her a drink, you open the door (of the car) for her, pick up her bag after she drops it, offer her ride and then say:

"By the way, I'm rich. Will you "Marry Me?" - That's Public Relations

5. You're at a party and see gorgeous girl. She walks up to you and says:"You are very rich! "Can you marry ! me?" - That's Brand Recognition

6. You see a gorgeous girl at a party. You go up to her and say: "I am very rich. Marry me!" She gives you a nice hard slap on your face. - "That's Customer Feedback"

7. You see a gorgeous girl at a party. You go up to her and say: "I am very rich. Marry me!" And she introduces you to her husband. - "That's demand and supply gap"

8. You see a gorgeous girl at a party. You go up to her and before you say anything, another person come and tell her: "I'm rich. Will you marry me?" and she

goes with him - "That's competition eating into your market share"

9. You see a gorgeous girl at a party. You go up to her and before you say: "I'm rich, Marry me!" your wife arrives. - "That's restriction for entering new markets"

Regards to All

Chetan Sanil

Know the ABC of Yoga

What is Yoga?

Most people understand yoga as physical exercises comprising bodily twists, bends, stretches and topsy-turvy poses, all together called asana.

Although asana is an important part of yoga, it defines yoga only in a very general sense, and not in the complete sense.

In fact, yoga is a way of life, a culture to live and live happily.

"Yoga is the ultimate tool for evolution. It heals the body, and transforms it, and integrates the mind-body-soul factor. It does not just mean asana. It begins in thought, ideology and philosophy and goes into the physical form. It starts at the subtle, and ends at the gross, making it superior to any other discipline," says holistic health guru, Mickey Mehta.

Yoga is one among the six ancient philosophical schools of thought in India, the other five being Vedanta, Sankhya, Nyaya, Mimansa, and Vaisheshika. It is a fully developed science based on the deep inner study of human body and intense self-experiments and practices of our ancient Rishis.

Our body is nature's marvel, a master design having highly complex machinery with sophisticated monitoring, control and safe guarding systems.

The Rishis in their deep meditation understood the intricate physical, physiological, and the psychological systems of the human body. They devised various yogic disciplines like asana, pranayama, relaxation, meditation and other techniques for enhancing the physical, moral, mental and spiritual well being of mankind as a whole. These techniques, highly scientific, very practical and effective, originated in India many centuries ago, some how got dropped along the way, but now again are becoming popular all over the world as proven methods of holistic health management.

The word yoga comes from the Sanskrit root "Yuj" which means to unite, to merge, to add, and to integrate. In one context, it is unity of man with God, communion with the Universal Spirit.

It is uniting people of different cultures, nationalities, and religions together in universal brotherhood.

It is unity in diversity. Yoga represents integration of all positive life forces.

It is the integration of body, mind and spirit to live a healthy, prosperous, happy and peaceful life.

In another context, yoga has been described as harmony, balance and wisdom in work or skillful living amongst hectic activities.

Bhagavad Gita defines yoga as the skill in work.

Yoga represents moderation, a balanced approach, or a middle way, avoiding extremes. These extremes may be in eating, sleeping, working, drinking, emotional reactions, and overindulgence in other sensory enjoyments. Yoga teaches us how to discriminate these extremes, moderate them, and follow a middle path.

"Yoga is not possible for him, who eats too much; or for him, who does not eat at all; or for him, who sleeps too much; or for him, who is always awake.

Yoga becomes the destroyer of pain for him who is moderate in eating and recreation; who is moderate in exertion in actions; who is moderate in sleep and wakefulness," says Bhagavad-Gita.

"Yoga is not a physical, mental or psychic feat. It is life itself; not the kind of restless life swinging constantly between the two extremes of exhilaration and depression, indulgence and denial, sensuousness and asceticism, but the harmonious flow of the divine will along the wise middle path ….In gluttony there is pain, as also in abstention. Pleasure is invariably followed by pain. Vanity is accompanied by fear or injured pride. The yogi who pursues the middle path is blissfully free from all these," says Swami Venkatesananda.

Since yoga developed in India, it got associated with Hinduism and its philosophy.

However, if you see with an open mind, you will find that yoga is independent of any religious doctrines or dogmas. It never accepted any specific religious, social or political belief system.
It is essentially a science of personal growth, and any person irrespective of his color, creed, sex or religion can practice it.

Yoga does not discriminate any person or belief. It is a way of life, and it's not at all contradictory to what your faith holds for you. On the contrary, yoga may help to strengthen your own belief.

Why Yoga?

Scientific development, during the last few decades has drastically changed the entire spectrum of our life.

Thanks to consumer technology, we have every gadget in the home to make our life comfortable. We live in luxury, air-conditioned skyscrapers from where a car on the ground looks like a tiny toy. Our sleek, luxury cars run at more than 100 kilometers an hour, and supersonic jets take us nonstop from one corner of the world to the other, in less than 15 hours. Cell phones have changed the way we communicate. We do business, and chat with friends on Internet at the other corner of the world. Man has conquered space, landed on the moon, and the day is not far off when he will set his feet on other planets. Everyday new discoveries in medical sciences take place, and numerous wonder drugs are advertised that promise to prolong life, and make it more comfortable.

All this and much more that we have today is wonderful indeed. But are we happy? No.

On the contrary, we are the unhappiest lot, in spite of having everything at our disposal. Obsessed with a culture based on consumerism, comfort and convenience, we are running a rat race to acquire ever more things, forgetting the basic purpose of life, which is to seek everlasting happiness.

To cope up with modern living, we have to be more informed, knowledgeable, fast, competitive, aggressive, challenging and resourceful. In the process, day by day our life is getting more and more distressed, restless and devoid of pleasure, peace and happiness.

Civilized we may be, but we are not happy.

The greed for more and more has made us selfish, hardened our hearts, and corrupted our morality. We need pills to go to sleep, laxatives to move our bowels, and tranquillizers to make life bearable. But we are living!

Life is not just living, but living in joy, living happily.

What should we do to attain that peace and happiness, which is the core desire of everyone? Damn our progress - tear our books, put our scientists in jail, burn our factories, and go back to jungles and caves, from where we started? No. It is impossible, even not desirable.

Before we find ways to attain happiness, we must understand what happiness is?

Happiness is a state of being in perfect harmony of body, mind and spirit, called holistic health.

Holistic health is a combination of 3 Hs - Hands, Head and Heart. The hands refer to the physical or the bodily health; head, the mental health; and the heart, refers to the spiritual health.
Yoga, undoubtedly, is the most practical, effective, and appropriate discipline, which can guarantee us this holistic health and happiness, amid all the turmoil of modern life. No other discipline of exercise, philosophy, medicine or health-care can achieve that.

Yoga keeps us healthy and happy in a number of ways:

· It lowers high blood pressure, and raises the same if it is low.

· Yoga takes care of obesity, diabetes, arthritis, kidney disorders, sexual dysfunction, asthma, common cough and cold, and several other serious ailments.

· Yoga can relieve you from stress, anxiety and insomnia.

· Yoga increases our awareness. It is important to be aware of how we sit on a chair or floor, how we sleep, how we get up from the bed, how we walk, how we carry a bag or briefcase, how we talk and behave. Yoga makes us aware of what we should eat and what not.

· With yoga, our mind becomes more alert and clear. We will have more physical, mental and spiritual energy.

· Our inter-personal relationships, dealings with people will improve.

· Our perspective of life changes, we begin to look at problems differently, and every thing does not seem a big issue, even if it is.

· We become calmer, regardless of circumstances.

· Yoga sharpens our inner faculties so that we can discriminate what is right for us, and what is not.

· With yoga, we learn discipline, our life transforms, and we start getting the joy of living.

Yoga is not only twisting or bending different limbs here and there, as many people may think. It is a fully developed science of happy and long living that is based on deep inner study of human body, intense self-experiments, and practices of ancient Indian rishis.

Unlike other exercise regimes - cycling, swimming, gymnastics, athletics, jogging and others, yoga works not only on our skeletal muscles or bones, but goes deep into our glands, nerves and nadis.

The stretches, twists and bends of bodily postures, asanas; muscular locks, bandhas; attitudinal gestures, mudras; controlled breathing, pranayama; relaxation; and meditation greatly influence the various systems of our body. These yogic practices give us strength, vigor, stamina, flexibility, positive thoughts, and emotions that make our life happy and peaceful.

These are not mere tall claims and empty promises of what yoga can do for us. We can reap the numerous benefits of yoga with regular practice and faith.

Let us learn through yoga, how to reap these benefits. A caution here! Mere reading of theory and philosophy on yoga does not help. We need to practice it regularly. In the words of Swami Sivananda, the founder of Divine Life Society, Rishikesh, India, `an ounce of practice is better than a ton of theory'.

Proper yoga practice is a mirror of life itself, you can get out of it, what you put into it.

Yoga practiced sincerely and regularly becomes a way of life, not just a practice.

"At this stage, there is identification with and expression of nature, which is balanced, positive and optimistic, and one attains physical health, mental health and spiritual wealth," says swami Niranjananada, head of Bihar School of Yoga.

Most books on yoga that we have come across can be grouped into two categories. One category of books is too technical and overloaded with details of traditional yoga. They contain abstract philosophy, not well understood by a common aspirant, and prescribe practices which are too difficult, even frightening for beginners to try.

In the other category, either the books are too elementary, without any explanations and benefits of the practices prescribed, or they deal with only very limited aspects of yoga.

Most people today are educated, and do not easily accept as gospel truth, the various claims made for traditional yoga by our ancient rishis. They demand rational and scientific explanation of things put before them. In this book (Effective Yoga for Health and Happiness – Macmillan Publishers – cost Rs 245/-), we have tried to explain the various yoga techniques in a manner that would satisfy the reader's scientific and reasoning mind, and motivate him to adopt yoga as a way of life.

The second, we want to dispel a common misconception among peoples' minds that yoga is only for sadhus and spiritual seekers or recluses, who have lost interest in the materialistic world.

In fact, Yoga is no less important for householders, executives, businessmen, professionals, students and others who need it even more to live in peace and happiness, and still maintain the kind of speed required by the present day turbulent world.

We hope the readers will find the book handy and useful. You may find reflections of my engineering background at some places in the book, especially when it comes to working with our body.

Some understanding of human body is helpful to enjoy the full benefits of yoga. Our body is a marvelous gift of God, and we can only wonder to see the precision and perfection with which He designed and engineered it.

Human brain, the most powerful computer ever made; our heart, a highly sophisticated pump that never tires; our kidneys, the micro-filters that purify the blood; and our nerves like fiber-optic cables, carrying various signals to and from the brain, are just a few master pieces of His design.

I always fancy in striking similarities between engineering and medical sciences while studying anatomy and physiology of various organs and systems of the body. I wonder whether God used his unlimited faculties of engineering, or medical sciences to create our body. Probably, He used commonsense which is the basis of all the sciences.

And we too, need commonsense to understand how to maintain our body in the way He made it. This commonsense or awareness is the essence of all yoga.

Goals of Yoga?

Though the ultimate aim of yoga is to provide spiritual enlightenment to mankind, so that he can obtain moksha - freedom or liberation from ignorance, from the cycles of births and deaths, it offers many opportunities in the form of smaller goals, and milestones to those who may not be interested in the spiritual path.

The various techniques of yoga are helpful in realizing a variety of goals. What is your goal? What do you want from yoga?

· An immediate goal for someone could be getting cured of any serious ailment(s) - he may be suffering from.

· Many others may be looking for physical health and fitness.

· Increasing one's energy level and efficiency at work, may be the objective for some.

· Your objective may be to improve inter-personal relationships, or getting rid of your negative emotions that make you unpopular in the office, home or society.

· Someone, tired of hustle and bustle of life may be looking for relaxation of body and mind.

· You may be fed up with materialistic world, and may like to lead a peaceful and tranquil retired life.

Further, your objective may not remain same over time.

You may have different goals as you grow in age or maturity. I remember when I started practicing yoga 20 years ago, my objective was to get relief from the chronic backache, which was troubling me a lot and affecting my professional career. At that time physical fitness was my primary concern, and any talk of meditation and spirituality etc. looked absurd. But over the period of time, my outlook to life has changed. Now spirituality and other higher level yogic practices look very relevant and interesting. Yoga, if practiced regularly and sincerely, can fulfill any goal that you may have.

Your Approach To Yoga

In the present materialistic world, very few people have spiritual end in view. .

For most, maintaining health and well being in the increasingly stressful environment is the primary objective. Verily, every one may usefully practice yoga to achieve this objective.

Yoga, when practiced as a science of health and healing, should have the following three components to get maximum benefits:

· Hatha Yoga: Hatha yoga consists of practices of asana, pranayama and relaxation. These practices make the physical body strong, agile, flexible and relaxed. They increase self-awareness of any disharmonies and imbalances in the body. The increased awareness helps us overcome these imbalances through attention to correct postures, breathing, and relaxation while going about our daily activities. We become more faithful to our body, our best friend.

· Diet and Life-style: This concerns with the regulation of diet and daily habits of sleep, recreation, and work etc. To some extent, one becomes aware of the need for such changes automatically after practicing Hatha yoga for a couple of months.

· Meditation: Meditation or dhyana makes the mind calm, and improves our mental faculties - thoughts, emotions, and memory etc. Harmony and balance is restored in the various psycho-physiological functions of the body. This brings in a feeling of love, compassion, friendship, sharing, and other positive changes in our attitude and behavior.

Beginners often confine yoga to an hour's practice of asana and prayanama generally done in the morning, and forget its relevance for the rest of the day. But as we continue our regular practice for a few months, our awareness about the environment, and ourselves increases, and we learn to apply the skills learnt from yogic practices throughout the day. Then yoga becomes a way of life, not a mere practice. If you undertake yoga in this spirit, you will find that yoga not only gives you relief from your problems, but also opens up new ways of enjoying your life. The Animal-man transcends to Man-man, Super-man and finally the Divine-man.

How do you measure the progress of a person on the path of yoga?

The signs of progress are health, a sense of lightness, steadiness, radiating face, beautiful voice, and sweet odor from the body, and freedom from craving.

Always peaceful and poised, contended, unselfish, friendly and ready to help others, are some behavioral changes that come in a person who practices yoga sincerely.

You will find similar changes in you after you practice yoga for a couple of months; this is our promise to you.

Yoga Risks

Yoga, overall, is considered safe if you're generally healthy. Some yoga positions can put significant strain on your lower back and on your joints. See your doctor first if you have any joint problems or a history of low back or neck pain. You might want to avoid certain yoga positions depending on your condition.

Also see your doctor before you begin a yoga class if you have any of the following conditions, as complications can arise:

· High blood pressure that's difficult to control

· A risk of blood clots

· Eye conditions, including glaucoma

· Osteoporosis

If you're pregnant or nursing, yoga is considered generally safe. But avoid any poses that put pressure on your uterus, such as those that require you to twist at the waist. Some yoga classes are specifically tailored for pregnant women. Check with your obstetrician if you have any questions whether yoga is right for you and your baby.

How To Safely Start A Yoga Practice?

Everybody can do yoga. If you're starting out or just curious about this more than 2,000-year-old exercise tradition, here are some tips to help get your practice in swing.

Talk To Your Doctor

Grab a book with pictures of the yoga poses - called "Asanas" - you plan to do, and show it to your doctor. Some yoga poses are difficult to describe verbally, but a picture's worth a thousand words - and aches and pains!

If you have certain medical conditions, they may rule out specific poses. If you have high blood pressure, glaucoma, a history of retinal detachment, or heart disease, for instance, your doctor may object to inverted poses such as hand-, head-, or shoulder stands, because they increase blood flow to the head and could aggravate any of those conditions. If your physician has no objections, you may proceed.

Find A Class That Fits

Once you've got medical clearance, decide on a class that best fits your abilities. Look for those billed as "senior" or "gentle" classes, and talk to prospective teachers before your first session. You need to know whether you can handle the program before you jump in.

If you enter a class where everyone else is doing the poses and you can't, you may be discouraged from coming back. So find a level you're comfortable with and stick with it.

There are many different types of yoga, and some may be more appropriate for you than others.

You should build up gradually before attempting classes in Bikram yoga, named after Beverly Hills yoga expert Bikram Choudhury, whose classes are conducted at room temperatures of between 90 and 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Choudhury believes that the heat prepares muscles for intense stretching. Or get a few beginner classes under your belt before trying classes in ashtanga yoga or "power" yoga, which are vigorous, athletic forms.

Listen To Your Body And Be Realistic

Be aware of your physical ability. "You want to push yourself so you're doing the work, but you don't want to hurt yourself."

Alert the instructor to your newcomer status. "When you first walk into class, tell the teacher you've never done yoga before." "Sometimes we're afraid to admit that we're new. When our ego gets in the way and we're not careful, we get hurt."

The At-Home Option

If you're shy, extremely weak, or can't find a class you're comfortable with, there are many books, programs, and tapes you can use at home. These provide excellent verbal descriptions of the poses for beginners.

Try Private Lessons

Although it's an expensive option, you may want to book some one-on-one sessions with a teacher in your area. Most yoga instructors offer private classes or can help you design your own program.

Bend With A Buddy

Even though you can practice by yourself at home, having a yoga buddy can't hurt. As with any fitness program, injuries can happen. And it's always nice to have someone to give you encouragement along the way.

Eat Lightly Before Practice

Wait at least two hours after meals before yoga class. An empty stomach is best, but if you're too hungry to think, you won't be able to focus on the poses or enjoy yourself during the relaxation or meditation exercises.

All that said, it's time to grab your mat and a towel -- and don't be late to class!

Yoga - Stress Relief And Other Health Benefits

Yoga offers a good means of relaxation and stress relief. Its quiet, precise movements focus your mind less on your busy day and more on the moment as you move your body through poses that require balance and concentration.

Other health benefits of yoga include:

· Increased Flexibility. As you learn and refine new poses— such as touching your toes — you'll find that each time you practice, you can reach a little farther. More range of motion means you'll be less likely to injure yourself in other physical activities.

· Management Of Chronic Health Conditions. The breathing and relaxation methods used in yoga might help you if you have asthma, carpal tunnel syndrome, depression, low back pain, multiple sclerosis, osteoarthritis of the knees or memory problems. Yoga can also be helpful when combined with other therapies for heart disease and high blood pressure. Yoga, when combined with a vegetarian diet, aerobic exercise and medication, has reduced cardiovascular disease rates and blood pressure levels.

· Weight Loss. If you're overweight, yoga may help you make the healthy lifestyle changes necessary to drop those extra pounds.

· Balance. Yoga classes tailored for elderly adults can help them stay steady on their feet and avoid falls and hip fractures.

· Coping With Cancer. People with cancer and their caregivers who practice yoga may improve their quality of life and sleep better at night.

· Alzheimer's Caregiver Stress And Fatigue. Yoga practice may help family caregivers by boosting their mood and ability to cope and manage stress.

While you shouldn't expect yoga to cure you, it can help some health conditions when combined with treatment recommended by your doctor. And if you're perfectly healthy, yoga can be a good way to supplement your regular exercise routine.