In the words of Yogacharya Anoop of the Chaitanya Foundation, the traditional form of yoga focuses on correcting and strengthening the nervous system in order to benefit the body. Edit out the pauses, the breaks and trim down the necessity to hold a posture and you get Power Yoga. The practice entails doing asanas back-to-back, without stopping.

"The traditional form of yoga requires you to focus on breathing and holding a posture for a number of breaths. This not only affects the nervous system but has an impact on your hormones as well. Traditional yogic practice aims at cleaning and fixing the body inside out. Power Yoga, on the other hand, focuses on the exterior - weight-loss and muscle build up. It is fast paced, pumps up your heart rate, induces sweating and therefore facilitates rapid weight drop," noted Yogacharya Anoop, Chaitanya Foundation, Mediyoga.

It is often believed that Power Yoga gives little importance to breathing, which would be a grave misconception. A leading Delhi based yoga expert, Seema Sondhi explains that breathing always remains at the core of all yogic practices.

"Whether traditional or its power variant, yoga is always performed in sync with your breathing. It is a simple mechanism of exhaling and inhaling while getting in and out of a posture. Power Yoga need not be fast paced. You can just increase the number of repetitions or play around with the duration you hold a pose for and it turns into a dynamic activity," she noted. Essentially, all forms of yoga are associated with enhancing flexibility, reducing stress, weight-loss, and muscle strengthening. Power Yoga is just a way to bring together the many yogic postures and design them in a way to render a cardio, sweat-breaking effect.

The simple idea behind the concept of Power Yoga is to create heat in the body. Along with increasing the reps and the intensity of each pose, it is teamed with the practice of ujjai breathing. Alternatively know as glottis breathing, Ujjai breathing is a technique wherein you exhale filling up your belly first followed by the lower rib cage, the upper chest and finally the throat. It creates heat in the body and facilitates weight-loss.

Surya namaskar pranayam or the Sun Salutation is usually the most practiced posture in a Power Yoga class. It is a series of asanas which when done in repetition can leave you gasping for breath. "When you attend a Power Yoga class you can ideally expect a series of various yoga poses tied together and done one after the other to exercise the entire body, Surya namaskar is definitely the standard posture all across. In fact, Power Yoga comprises a tailor-made routine of postures to suit different body types and requirements," Mangesh Trivedi, Vedic Power Yoga, Delhi.

Besides Suryan amaskar, practicing the Warrior poses one after the other also make for a great Power Yoga routine.

Power Yoga can be termed as a dynamic activity that brings together traditional yoga and amps it up to suit contemporary preferences. "This practice is good for muscle build up as we work with our own body weight. It is great to tone the body; however, it doesn't come with the relaxing and calming effects of traditional yoga," noted Anju Kalhan, a Delhi based yoga expert.

Never forget to warm up before beginning your session. Cooling down is equally important. Stretch your body to ensure releasing lactic acid formulation and alleviate muscle soreness. Get in touch with a certified yoga expert to know what suits your body the best.

Detox has been a buzzword for a while now with a variety of products nowadays promising to rid our body of toxins that get accumulated. Drinking water daily is one habit that all health experts unanimously say is crucial to our body's well-being, whether they believe in detoxification or not. Water is said to fasten our metabolism and maintain the health of the skin and other organs. A lot of health experts even say that adding certain hydrating elements to our daily drinks of water may enhance its properties. This is why infused waters have gained popularity. But just how important and powerful is the habit of drinking water daily? Is there a way to drink water to make it work wonders for us? If celebrity nutritionist Rashi Chowdhary is to be believed, then yes!

In her recent Instagram post, Chowdhary who is an 'Inch-loss expert' talked about something called 'Water Memory'. The concept of water memory has erstwhile been associated with alternative streams of medicine like homeopathy, and there is still some debate as to whether this concept of a lingering memory of dissolved substances in water holds up to scientific scrutiny or not. But Rashi Chowdhary says that we may be able to use this purported property of water to our benefit.

"Water has amazing healing powers. We now know that the molecular structure of water can change without making any chemical changes to the water. Putting in good intentions, very pure intentions into the water before you drink it can have a very powerful impact on your health and overall well-being. We are 70 percent water and every time we drink water, we have the ability to heal ourselves," she said in her Instagram post. She added by saying, "Every time we eat and drink, we absorb life force from it, and this life force has an influence on how aligned we are spiritually and how balanced our life is."

She suggested an exercise to help ourselves and our family stay hydrated while using water memory: "Add some lemon, cucumbers and mint leaves to flavour it and encourage every family member to drink water from this jar and say something nice for themselves every time they take a few sips."

What is PCOD?

PCOD or Polycystic Ovarian Disease is a disease described as multiple cysts in the ovaries. Cysts are small sacs filled with fluid. These cysts are the result of changes in the normal menstrual cycle, because of which the ovary becomes large and produces great amount of androgen and estrogenic hormones. Polycystic ovaries are larger than the normal ovaries. It is also known as Stein-Leventhal syndrome and Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome. Being an ovarian disease, PCOD causes problems during pregnancy, menstrual cycle, diabetes and cardiac function. The disease is likely to get transferred from the mother to her offspring. Here's what you need to know about PCOD and natural ways to reduce the symptoms of the condition.

Symptoms of PCOD

It includes excess hair on the body, decrease in breast size, deeper voice, thin hair, acne, weight gain, pelvic pain, anxiety or depression, infertility. PCOD is on the rise these days among young girls because of stress, obesity, unhealthy eating habits, anxiety, depression, no exercise, and inadequate sleep.

If you have been facing any such problem, you can see the doctor to diagnose your problem. The doctor will perform a pelvic examination such as blood tests or ultrasound to begin with your treatment. The treatment varies from woman to woman seeing their symptoms. Every woman with PCOD should take a healthy diet and do regular exercises. The treatment focuses on inducing ovulation to help them conceive.

Weight loss mostly is a powerful treatment for the patients of PCOD. Increased physical activities like aerobics, dance, jogging, running,etc can help a lot in reducing weight. Vitamins and minerals supplements can prove to be helpful for the PCOD patients to overcome the symptoms. Most of the patients become obese because fatty tissues are hormonally active and produce estrogen, which hinders ovulation. Surgery may be recommended for some women if the PCOD exceeds the normal level or is more problematic. The problem can’t be cured but ingredients like cinnamon, flaxseed, apple cider vinegar and fenugreek can help, or taking fresh foods and salads, avoiding coffee and alcohol, drinking adequate quantity of water, avoiding junk food, etc.

Yoga Exercise for PCOD

Apart from the above mentioned remedies, you can also resort to yoga. Here are five asanas that can help -

1. Kapalbhati

Kapalbhati comes from the word 'Kapal' (forehead) and 'Bhati' which means 'to shine'. It is believed that the regular practice of the exercise brings a natural glow to the face. It is a shat kriya, which means it's a form of a cleansing technique that removes toxic air and toxins from the body. It involves you sitting still in a yogic posture while the breathing exercise takes over the game.

2. Yoni Mudra

Yoni means uterus or womb and this gesture is named the Yoni Mudra because the person who practices it regularly has no external contact with the world, resembling a baby in the uterus. It helps in decluttering the mind.

3. Pawanmukt Asana

This is also known as the Wind Release Pose and it is excellent for stomach and digestive problems. It is known to strengthen the back and abdominal muscles and increase blood circulation.

4. Halasana

'Hal' stands for 'plow' and 'Asana' stands for 'pose'. Halasana or 'the plough pose' takes its name from the farming instrument, plough, used by farmers. Halasana is usually performed after Sarvangasana, which is basically a shoulder stand.

5. Dhanurasana

Dhanurasana, also known as the bow pose, is a yoga exercise which is credited to relieving stress and anxiety, among other benefits.

Herbal teas have a lot of takers nowadays, as more and more people come to know about the potential side effects of caffeinated drinks like regular tea and coffee. A number of herbal teas have made their mark on tea lovers across the world, including those made from flowers like chamomile and blue pea. While chamomile is very well-known for its mild and soothing flavour that acts as a stress buster, tea made from blue pea flowers is not that well known. Dried blue pea flowers yield a brew that is stunning in colour and that can be enjoyed cold or hot. Blue tea, made from blue pea flowers, also has a number of health benefits. Some people even use blue tea for weight loss, other than its antioxidant properties and its ability to fight stress.

Blue Tea - All You Need To Know
Blue tea, or butterfly pea flower tea, is a caffeine-free herbal concoction, made by seeping dried or fresh leaves of the Clitoria ternatea plant. The butterfly-pea is also known as blue pea or pigeonwings and it is a plant common to most South East Asian countries. The deep blue colour of the flower's petals has traditionally been used to make dye. The tea is popular in Thailand and Vietnam, where it is served post dinner, usually with lemon and honey added to it. Adding lemon juice to the tea changes the pH of the drink, making it change colour from deep blue to purple. Thanks to popularisation through travel blogs and shows, the blue tea leaves are now available in stores and supermarkets for purchase by tea connoisseurs around the world. The tea leaves are also used to change colour in cocktails as well.

Weight Loss And Other Benefits Of Blue Tea
Blue tea contains catechins, which are said to be instrumental in burning belly fat and aiding weight loss. Drinking butterfly-pea flowers seeped in warm water is said to be an effective way to rev up the metabolism, which in turn, makes the body burn more calories. Here are some other benefits of blue tea that you may want to know, before trying it out:

1. The tea is rich in antioxidants, which makes it a great beverage to include in your detox diet. Antioxidants protect the body against free radical action.

2. Blue tea is said to be great for the skin, due to its claimed anti-glycation effects, which fight skin ageing. The flavonoids present in blue tea may also stimulate collagen production.

3. The earthy flavour of butterfly-pea flower tea is said to be a mood enhancer. The tea is said to have stress busting effects that may also help reduce symptoms of anxiety.

4. Blue tea is said to help in losing water weight as it is a natural diuretic drink.

5. Blue tea is also said to have a role in regulating blood sugar levels, although there is not much scientific evidence to suggest that it is helpful in managing diabetes.

Some people have also claimed that blue tea is helpful in managing fatty liver diseases and reducing levels of cholesterol in blood, but there is not enough research that suggests the same. Blue tea can be a great alternative for caffeinated beverages like tea or coffee and you may consume it as such, in order to reduce your caffeine intake. The tea is now available for purchase in a number of supermarkets, grocery stores and on websites online.

Chaitra Navratri 2019 started on April 6th, 2019 and will go on till April 14th, 2019. The nine days of the festival are when Hindu devotees of the female Goddess and her avatars observe ritual prayers and observe fasts. Chaitra Navratri marks the beginning of the Hindu Luni-solar calendar and is one of the four annual Navratris observed by people in certain regions in India. Chaitra Navratri coincides with the Marathi New Year Gudi Padwa and the Telugu New Year Ugadi.One of the most important rituals of the Navratri is the observance of fast, wherein people refrain from eating non-vegetarian food and only eat foods made from a handful of food grains and spices. Fruits and dairy products are also allowed during Navratri, but wheat flour is not. One of the spices that people generally refrain from eating during Navratri is turmeric, or haldi.

Haldi is a central spice in Indian cooking and most of our vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes feature this antioxidant-rich spice. Haldi, or turmeric, has been gaining popularity in the West as well for its numerous health benefits, which includes fighting inflammation, boosting immunity and keeping the skin healthy. But during the Navratris, a lot of people keep haldi out of their vrat (fasting) preparations. Why is the much-celebrated golden spice left out during this period of fasting? Let us break down the various beliefs and health facts about this practice.

Navratri 2019: Should Turmeric Be Kept Out Of Vrat Foods?
Chaitra Navratri is the time of fasting not just because it is a Holy time, but also because we have had a tradition of starting the lunar calendar by detoxing our bodies and cleansing it of toxins. The fasting period is claimed to have a number of health benefits. The nine days of fast are said to make your body feel lighter and prepare it for the long summer months. The foods that are added and omitted from the fasting diet have been decided according to the principles of the ancient Indian "science" of Ayurveda, which divides foods into three different categories, based on the effect they have on our bodies. The three categories of foods include - Sattvik, Rajasik and Tamasik foods.

Sattvik foods are the ones that are included in Navratri fasting meals, as these are the foods that are believed to provide the body with energy and vitality. These foods are said to be pure and clean. Rajasic and tamasic foods, on the other hand, are referred to as negative foods by Ayurveda and these foods are said to make the body feel heavy and bloated. Turmeric is a spice that is considered Sattvic in nature, but due to its bitter taste and tendency to generate warmth inside the body, it is omitted from the fasting diet. Turmeric and its use is, therefore, more popular during winters. However, it is a perfectly healthy Sattvic spice that you may include in your summer diet as well.

Consultant nutritionist, Dr. Rupali Datta, says, "You can consume haldi through summers and you must (do so), because it has anti-oxidant, anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties." So, there you have it. If you're on a fast during the nine days of Chaitra Navratri 2019, then you may add haldi to your diet, without worrying about any adverse impacts on your health.