Savvy Raj

Live Life Lovingly!

Category Archives: Health


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You Most Certainly Can Dance

You Most Certainly Can Dance

A short story of inspiration for beginners learning to dance!
A pleasant Sunday morning, finds me in a new venue, a family club actually for my dance workshops in the suburbs of Mumbai , well it was a start of something new, so there I stood before my new batch of learners. I notice a lovely couple  had brought their daughter of five along with them. Being a parent myself I understand the limitations of nuclear parenting in Mumbai and the fact that there are times that one has to just take the kids along where you want to go, as sometimes, there is no one you could leave them safely with.

The keen observer in the picture is the little girl  I have written about  🙂

I smiled at the little girl who gave me a warm smile back. Very sweet I thought! Soon enough I began the session with the usual round of introduction to the dance form and then went on with the basic step of swing. I was quite busy with the parents and just had a cursory glance the little girl who I saw amusing herself standing near the corner where a couple of chairs were stacked.I went about explaining about the beat, counts and the rhythm and the body positioning and was halfway through the session . I was engrossed in teaching so much that I was suddenly jolted with a soft but insistent tap on my arm. I turned and was absolutely amazed when the little girl showed me the basic step with perfect timing to music. The little girl had carefully observed what I was doing and imbibed it for sometime standing quietly in the corner and once she was confident she came up to me silently for approval.
I was clearly bowled over by the power of observation and interest in this child. Many a times with power of observation we can master all that we want to by our-self , provided we have the determination to focus on our goals.
The little child’s brain had mapped a visual imagery of the step clearly, and was able to recall it at will even though she had not practiced it half the number of times her parents had… along with me.

 The power of observation has no age barrier, some are gifted and some have to develop the latent power within, but  we all certainly have it within us to  reap the potential of this power.So do care to see a little beyond the denials and negations just trust and believe you can dance and then You Most Certainly Can Dance!

Savvy 

Author 
PS:

This was first written for my dance students and future learners, a couple of years ago .But I felt it can be shared  for the power of perseverance and belief makes all the difference ! 

 

  • We are all unique in our movements , so we must strive to find our own path to fulfillment , wherein lies our success. Success follows whenever we move with the strength of intention to learn to dance !
  • Take a step , start dancing today ! Make dancing a way of life, To find out more about learning to dance at your pace…
    please contact  here or write to me:  savvy@danceconcepts.in


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Who is your life partner?

Mom..?
Dad..?
Husband /wife…?
Best friend..?
Son..?
Daughter…??

Or someone else… ????

Your real life partner
is Your *Body*

You and your body
stay together from
the beginning of your
life till your last
breath.

You enjoy each
relationship in this
world that you feel
is good for you..
But you also play an
important role with
your body.

What you do to your
body is your
responsibility and
that will come back
to You.
The more you care
for your body, the
more your body will
care for You.

What you eat,
What you do for being fit,
How u deal with
stress (physical/mental/emotional),
How much rest you
give to it..
Will decide how your body gonna respond
in your day to day
life.

Remember your
body is the only
permanent address
where You live.

What your body
wants is…,
Love
Care
Respect
Politeness
Honesty

Your body is your
responsibility.
Because…
You are Your real
life partner.

Sharing this above message as they certainly are words to remember!

The Body has always been at the receiving end.
Then there are always issues with the body we have , too thin too fat too muscular too lean too angular too buffed to wiry … sad for we are what we feed ourselves .

Instead of gratitude for the gift of life that gives us our body we focus on actual nonissues, without being able to be content and add to our stress levels ourselves.

Nurture your body.Value the residing space of our living spirit.

Respect the body

Our body is not a machine it needs more than regular fuel in the form of food .
Because we are a web of interconnected cells we thrive in the integration and interdependence of the body mind and spirit .
We need to think well to feel well
We need to eat well to be well
We need to choose well to live well
We need to behave well to thrive in wellness
This is the strength of the interdependence that keeps us going.

Feed the body with love:
Take care to eat right and respect its state of being
Be polite and honest in your ways. Every body can be listening . You are responsible for you can be influencing the apace around you. You are emitting your intentions and thoughts outwards subconsciously
You must remember to rest and care for your body whenever needed.

For whatever way and however you can, it is certainly like turning back the clock into a more productive you!

Savvy


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In Striking A Balance!

Ego matters!

Ego is a sense of self-identity

Between being an asset and liability the ego drives our being.

Unmindful and ungrateful often times as such is its way!

It can interfere just as much as it can be indifferent to the being

It can alter goodwill and stall humility from expressing itself

It can change the words we were meaning to speak

It can halt a chance to commune with others

It can steer a dialogue to a monologue

It can become a bone of contention

It can rob us of cooperation and collaboration

And yet all this while a sense of ego can be a source of self-esteem

It can help a person from crumbling in a crisis

It can create a curiosity to know and acquire

It can be a strength of support in times of dire need

It can propel us to do more & achieve more

Your Ego can be your trusted aide

For it knows you more than you ever can.

It is born with you from your first breath

And plays on its course till your very last.

So the question is not about banishing but of balancing.

In striking a chord of balance between the states of being.

Mindful words from a heart full of grace,

Can be a precursor of changing ways.

A respect and regard for another’s perspective

Appreciation and value for others much as one’s own!

A few reflections on striking a balance

Accept that your ego is like your shadow

It follows where ever you go

It creates hurdles in your deeds

It can doubt and induce fear

Simply trust with your loving self

For it’s your internal guide

That leads from the heart

To let you see and know

Who you truly are!

Let your love meet your fears

It will understand the power of love

Choose to be loving and considerate

Change your track to being compassionate

Choose to avoid loose talk

Choose the virtue of generosity

Choose to be inclusive and expansive

Choose to admit your mistakes

Choose to see the world beyond the self

Choose to take your self lightly

Choose the freedom of laughter

It unshackles the chains of self-restraint

Let the self, express and entertain itself!

So allow the ego to a little space but make sure it knows its space.

Allow it to be a part of you but don’t allow it take the whole of you.

Transcending the Ego is the aspiration,

For every religion speaks of this very transcendence…

From trivial and baseline pursuits to higher consciousness.

Ego can be a tool for survival but it can be a weapon of mass destruction!

Transform it into self-improvement manoeuvre it to reconstruction.

In every deed of Giving the ego cannot be far behind for, to give itself seems so full of itself. The Giving means there is something to give an upper hand a stake a superiority if nothing else a contentment of a fulfilment. So to give seems a little egotistical in all its glorious ways.

Yet there is a transformation in every act of giving, that finds its path in the journey towards transcendence .

Savvy


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On Learning Spaces

My reflections after a chance visit to Swadhaa A Waldorf School in Pune.
In my spare time as a hobby, I enjoy visiting offbeat places and interacting with people from all walks of life to broaden my perspectives. To envision the world through the eyes of another is always an insightful experience.
When I visited Auroville in Pondicherry last year amongst the many inspirational insights I came across a bit about how Waldorf Schools started by Rudolf Steiner who was inspired by Sir Aurobindo, stands for holistic education that speaks to the soul and strives for human goodwill and integrity and instilling a sense of creativity and wonder through its unconventional schooling methods.
Besides that, I also had come across words of praise for her schooling and education received from the well-known actress Jennifer Anniston an alumnus of a Waldorf School herself.

Jennifer Aniston, Actress, former Waldorf student:

“I was always fascinated by acting, but my experience at Rudolf Steiner [school] encouraged me to pursue it as a career.” “Steiner was a free-spirited school that encouraged creativity and individualism.”

As a dance educator myself I have always felt schooling at conventional schools can be rather stifling for it focuses more on procedure and protocol than allowing freedom to explore. The root of our individuality and personal expression is often stubbed in the process of conforming to the norms and practices unless it is balanced out when there is a gateway to open communication and positive support on the homefront.

Recently having shifted my residence in Pune City and in my foray into understanding what my area had on offer as a creative educator myself, I came across. SWADHA Learning Centre. My interest was piqued that it was based on the principles of a Waldorf school.
I decided to experience the place on my own. Luckily for me the day I visited the school it turned out to be their Annual Day and there were elaborate festivities planned out for the entire day by the school for one and all.

There were workshops galore… I attended a few out of curiosity and came away heartened by the immense enthusiasm and support from the parents and children alike for this schools annual activity. I took my time to interact with some of the parents.

What I was immediately drawn to was the amount of openness that was there reflected in so many ways from children who were learning life skills experientially to how parents were so beautifully integrated into the educational activities of the children.

The pictures speak for themselves I must say!
In an era of grades and marks that decides destinies of children as future adults,
the learning concepts observed here come as a breath of fresh air. Like the lack of grading systems and adding only an individual assessment by the educator annually to ensure that each child is addressed and understood for their unique potential. And the breakdown of hierarchy which makes everyone an involved collaborator working towards positive transformations. And I believe they also help and guide a child gradually, who wants to integrate into conventional schooling system if they wish or need to for whatever reasons. The question is would we want to?
Perhaps the varied schools under the Waldorf umbrella are as unique as the people collectively managing them, but the fact remains that there is a happier learning space we can co-create for our future children if we have the willingness to come together and contribute our time and resources.

” A space that’s open yet bounded with a focus can be conducive to learning as when the process of exploration begins it is helped by a structured approach. But while boundaries may be reminding of a journey having a destination, it is the openness that reflects the never-ending source of creative possibilities.”

Savvy

An excerpt from my reflections on Learning spaces…. (read more )

https://savvyraj.com/2016/10/03/learning-spaces-2/


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What choice would you make?

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Be a lamp or a lifeboat or a ladder

Help someone’s soul heal

Walk out of your house like a shepherd

Rumi

Precious words from Rumi which are empowering, to say the least, awakening in us to respect the innate potential we all possess to reach out to help another …

To help is to empower the mind body and spirit of another.

Empowerment is a powerful factor in building lives. Given the choice of transforming lives with the abilities, you own…if you are ready to help another…
What would you choose to be?

Being a Lamp :

A lamp lights up itself to light the way for another It is selfless and expansive . The light of a lamp lets you envision the strengths within the self as much as the others For to enable sight is to allow the envisionment. Being a light enables and empowers, as it throws light without fear or favour.
It is simply the quality of light to shine graciously!

Being a lifeboat:

It is the very purpose of a lifeboat to help save lives to allow another to hold on, to never fail in protecting from drowning in the voyage of life.

The lifeboat is a survival tool and is built to weather the storms without giving way. It floats on relentlessly without giving up to reach to safety.
Being a life boat in an emergency is like a godsend!. To save a life is to value its preciousness of the being.

Being a ladder:

Allowing the self to be utilized for another is the very nature of a ladder. In fact to be a ladder is to allow another to reach and aim higher to develop and evolve further.
A ladder is constructive in its very core essence, to build up another towards a goal.

Being a builder of another’s dreams and helping propel another to a cause greater than the self is the sign and strength of being a ladder. Being unmindful of the treading over of another in their attempt to reach their aspirations is a tall order indeed. The ladder provides the way without any personal gain.

Here are 3 beautiful sayings worth remembering always…

HANDS THAT HELP ARE HOLIER THAN LIPS THAT PRAY!

HELP EVER HURT NEVER.

ACTION SPEAKS LOUDER THAN WORDS!

Self-empowerment &healing :

To help transform lives is to empower from the heart and make a difference!

However, it is about healing the self-first enough to let light in that helps others to see!

A friend in need is a friend indeed! ;
Whatever is your way to reach out and help, what is truly significant is the one who helps in time and need. For such a help is a hand of God in divine grace.

So make a choice to reach out to the world in your own unique way for it needs all the help it can get!


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Let go! 

Sharing a beautiful story that will make us sense and acknowledge our inner feelings and help channelize its expression in a more evolved way with deeper understanding.

*The Empty Boat -A Story of Anger.*

A monk decides to meditate alone, away from his monastery. He takes his boat out to the middle of the lake, moors it there, closes his eyes and begins his meditation. After a few hours of undisturbed silence, he suddenly feels the bump of another boat colliding with his own.
With his eyes still closed, he senses his anger rising, and by the time he opens his eyes, he is ready to scream at the boatman who dared disturb his meditation. But when he opens his eyes, he sees it is an empty boat that had probably got untethered and floated to the middle of the lake.
At that moment, the monk achieves self-realization, and understands that the anger is within him; it merely needs the bump of an external object to provoke it out of him.

From then on, whenever he came across someone who irritated him or provoked him to anger, he reminded himself: ”The other person is merely an empty boat. The anger is within me……”
In reality, we all have the anger within us, all the time, All it needs is someone, like the empty boat, to provoke it.

 

This story makes us think on many levels especially so on anger management.

Is our anger innate?How deep does it delve?

How much is our responsibility in acknowledging our true selves.

 

Acknowledgement is a step towards a response than reaction .

Acceptance leads to  greater self-awareness.

Savvy

 

The question is not only why feel provoked with anger but how to manage it. How can it be circumvented? Is there a way to do so?

Every time we recognize where the anger resides we will learn to accept the source is the self than others. And then make an effort to not suppress or repress but channelize it in more productive ways.

In our wheel of human behaviour and emotions, Anger sits in the opposite spectrum of joyousness. It is a negative emotion that propels further negative thoughts. There arises the backlash of discontent and disorientation in various degrees depending on the level of anger that manifests.

Anger truly serves no purpose than destruction

For true peace, it can be a bone of  contention

So let go of all anger and false pretensions

And value the calm that you actually are.

Savvy

 

 

 

 

On a lighter note here are a few reflections towards channelling arising negative emotions in awareness

and some amazing quotes from the great souls  to go with it !:))

 

Think Humorously:’ If red is the colour of anger it is the colour of love too!’

Think Happy: ‘For every minute of anger you are losing 60 seconds of happiness ..’.Ralph Waldo Emerson 

Think Creatively:’The Greatest remedy for anger is delay!’

Think  Practically: ‘He who angers you conquers you’.

Think Logically: ‘You will not be punished for your anger but by your anger…’ Buddha

Think Peacefully: ‘Anger is the ultimate destroyer of your own peace of mind’. Dalai Lama

Think Kindly: ‘Bless those who curse you and pray for those who mistreat you…’ Bible 

Think of changing the wavelengths:’ Anger  makes you smaller while forgiveness forces you to grow

 beyond what you are!’ 

 

Paying attention to your breath: Breath in the now…to  release resentment 

In the inhale and exhale.:  Pause to respond  and  delay a  reaction 

Express Positivism: Let your past make you better, not bitter

Express  Humility: ‘Angry people are not always wise…’ Jane Austen

Express Gratitude: ‘ Anger won’t make your problems easier but gratitude will make you stronger.’

Whenever you can …

Because you always can!

 


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Art of Management : Commitment

Art of Responsible Commitment.

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Tip 5: Art of Management.

Don’t bite more than you can chew!

Years ago when I was in the university doing my masters, I have a distinct memory of our Head of the Department carrying a book which read. ‘Don’t bite more than you can chew ‘ written in bold on the cover. A diminutive bespectacled gentleman every day he would carry it along with him to his lectures. And habitually as he reached his table he would carefully place it towards him and then start to speak.

The words on the book always intrigued me for its significance in our life and living.

Today as we discuss the art of management I see how this applies so beautifully.  Commitment is an art of management.  To manage your ability, capacity and resources at hand optimally and sustain it successfully learning to avoid overcommitment is a necessary skill.

A few Tips On the Art of Responsible Commitment.

  • Avoid over-commitment. To fulfil any commitment, before committing, simply make sure to clarify and define your own abilities and capacities to yourself. And communicate that in your actions as it will steer you clear from falling short of expectation from others.
  •  Be wary of over-compensating Remember every time you are over-committing somewhere you are weakening the very relationships you are trying to strengthen either your family or with your self by trying to overcompensate.
  • Respect your need for well-being as over-commitment is stressful and creates opportunities for health issues gradually.
  • Strive to bring a sense of balance. You know your abilities best. If you wish to expand your horizons and venture beyond your comfort zone, trust your intuitive intellect it certainly will not let you down.
  • Inculcate integrity in your approach to commitment at home and work for a balanced life and living.

Savvy Raj

About me : 

Wellness Mentor, Dance Educator & Trainer, Motivational Speaker, Writer, Freelance Designer 

 http://www.savvyraj.com

A few related Links

ART OF MANAGEMENT : Managing Self

ART OF MANAGEMENT : Managing Thoughts.

ART OF MANAGEMENT : Managing People

ART OF MANAGEMENT : Managing Conflicts


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Energy Matters!

Feed the Soul with love

Fire the Spirit with enthusiasm

For the body never lies!

Savvy


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Ease Into Alignment

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A life lived well…

Is more about being and doing well

Than about doing much

& finding no time to be you

& all that you actually are.

 

Resonate with your own reserves

Reach out in the knowing

That you are enough for you.

Align your posture, let go tension.

Acknowledge your needs at this moment.

 

Sense the potential in this now

To alter the reality of this moment.

To make a positive difference in your ways.

To pursue your passions,

To love well, to enjoy life.

 

You need to create a balance between

What you can do and what you are doing.

Sometimes the tilts are unavoidable

And then life takes care of itself.

 

But it always helps to not tilt the balance

By overdoing, over-controlling, overindulging

Overstepping and overshadowing your own self.

Aim to balance the holding back & the letting go

With discretion and discerning

Of conscious intention in awareness.

 

Modern maladies are mostly self-inflicted

Due to excess of thought, action and deed.

With awareness, your own free will

Can be your best ally in the understanding

That freedom and responsibility go hand in hand.

 

And soon you will reach a level

Where you feel grounded

And yet light as a feather in flight.

Make sense of the choices you make in every now

Every now matters after all!

 

You have one life

Live it well

Because you can!

Savvy 

 

About me : 

Wellness Mentor, Dance Educator & Trainer, Motivational Speaker, Writer, Freelance Designer

Creativity stems from the acceptance of your authentic self. It is a never-ending journey of endless possibilities that is much beyond the pursuit of a hobby or craft and can be a habit of a lifetime. So besides being a Dance Educator as a Wellness coach, I offer a variety of Personal Effectiveness Programs for Self-development. 

Being a Writer and a Designer creating art gives me immense satisfaction with the infinite ways of expressing myself as I believe in enjoying the journey as much as the destination.

Savvy 

http://www.savvyraj.com


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ART OF MANAGEMENT : Managing People

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Art of People Management  

 Tip 3: Take the lead! 


Leadership is a quality that is the backbone of  People Management skills. An ability to lead well is an asset to any organisation. To be able to take the lead and lead well there must a deeper understanding of people and their needs besides being a quick thinker and a whole lot of self-confidence. A positive inclination, an assertive approach, determination with a focused attitude to life can be a tool for a successful stint at sustained leadership.

 


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The Mystical Path

A beautiful morning and a fine day to all my readers.

Savvy

 


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On Nurturing 5

Nurturing Hope & Care

Hope is here to stay!’

Nurturing is a life affirming process ….rooted in bettering care and creating hope for a better life. There are many experiments conducted to support how even an exposure to nature like being amidst trees and tranquil places, hearing birdsongs and watching the sky , the sea and the sand can be extremely nurturing for ones health and wellbeing. The healing element associated with nature, is in the nurture it provides to replenish the soul.

The very nature of nurturing is both very inclusive and expansive in the same breath.The scope of positive outcomes of good nurturing is deeply significant to humanity at large . For that is what is truly important to sustain our planet . Every being’s effort in nurturing the world in and around him to thrive.

At the root of Creativity is a nurtured thought process. To nurture is to nourish the being with appropriate care.
Speaking of care giving, it is often a part of nurturing which can be rather challenging to say the least. In case of elders there can be a lot of unexplained resentment the care giver has to deal with for many seniors may take a while to come to terms with the many aspects of growing old.

Patience can have its limits too and with growing intolerance in a world which is more about the sense of self importance, the need to achieve much can stifle any thoughts of pursuing time consuming and almost never ending aspects of nurturing .

It is true the world is getting a little too self centered . However the realization of the impacts of an uncaring and indifferent citizens of the world is also hitting home and that too right from the modern changes of family systems in place.

The concern for global warming and carbon imprints is touching an all time high for the world now is slowly realizing how much it needs to nurture its own living spaces to ensure it has a world left to live at all. And thus thankfully hope is here to stay!

Contd

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ART OF MANAGEMENT : Managing Thoughts.

Art of Thought management.

Tip 2 : Choose to think well

Our thoughts can make or break us in every now.. and our life seems like a hell or a blessing in the way our thoughts unfold . Every life has a unique purpose and a perseveres on with the thoughts to fulfill its being .

A transition in thoughts is an expansive phenomenona. It courses on even in attempted conquering of thoughts through control or manipulation of its meanderings into an intentional channeling in consciousness.

Transcending thoughts is a choice as thoughts come and go ..the patterns we choose to create with, through and in them, makes one consciously or subconsciously a sculptor of one’s life. And through every exercise of such a choice we can leave a poised mark in time.

That said, yet, when we choose to make our presence felt and how we emerge will all figure out along the way in the strength of an interrelation of thoughts in interdependence. So truly choices we make matters a great deal . Think well!


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ART OF MANAGEMENT : Managing Self

Art of Self Management 

I am starting a short post series on Balancing Life & Work from today.. I invite your share of thoughts and  personal tips from  your life experiences here…

Life and work balance is truly important to ensure you are able to live better and lead meaningful lives.

Tip 1 Take a Break! :

Take short break off from your job to refocus.

Even if you are the most excited about a new project that you are working on, taking short breaks to revitalize regenerate and renew yourself will bring a huge difference to the way you work and live.

Only when you learn to unplug will you know what you have been missing all along .Our body needs timely rest to function its optimum best.  After all we are humans and not machines … so dont stretch it too far! Take a break!

Savvy 



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Thriving In The Winds of Change

In a world of kneejerk reactions

And sense gratifications

It is no wonder that most of us are lost

In finding our sense of being. 

In fact this very cluelessness 

Is what the media manipulates

As we grapple with trust, faith

And a whole lot of values and emotions

That seem to get all juggled around

As per the  conveniences of the moment.

We are living in the crosswinds of time 

Where we are unable to flow in trust

As the winds of change blow hot and cold.

Life takes on a different meaning 

Sometimes in path u cant identify your being.

In such moments of chaos and confusions 

Put Your inner compass to test in trust 

It will never lead you astray!

Savvy