# Holistic Education # Life &Living | Savvy Raj

January 8, 2020
by Savvy Raj 3 Comments

Tall trees…

A photograph by Savvy Raj @France

Umpteen number of years gone by
Though I lost the count,
Nature got it etched on my trunk.
I can’t remember when I was a seed or sapling.
Today I stand tall being a witness to the passing seasons.
I wither and flourish,
With each passing year
My branches multiply tall and wide.
Though my hands try to reach the passing clouds…

My roots stand firmly grounded on the earth.
My secret of longevity
I adapt to Nature
Withering in Autumn
Clad in the snow in Winter
Rising to be alive with Rains
Flourishing in Spring.
Though I may look barren at times
My creeper friends cloth me in green
Till my canopy is filled with greens.
To nurture and nourish withstanding Time.

Anjana

I am truly happy to share the above verses for this is one of my mother’s impromptu poems written in a flow, just a while ago, after I shared the above photo of a tree that I was drawn to capture with her.

Tall trees that seem to touch the sky …
devoid of leaves and blue skies with silver puffs of clouds floating by…

I am currently in France and while sitting in a bus stand admiring a tree at a distance, I decided to take this photo as I found myself drawn to capturing the vision of the sky from the ground below through the branches as a canopy of sorts.

Every manifestation of life is beautiful and significant in its own way. We often assume that a tree devoid of leaves is barren and ignore it. Yet there is so much to see and learn, respect & reflect from it.

I loved the above poem by her for many reasons one of which is because, it reflects the wisdom of nature, that flows through us all maintaining balance and sustaining us in life and living.

Savvy

January 6, 2020
by Savvy Raj 2 Comments

Art of Management

Here are 5 R’s of Coaching

& Conflict Resolution.

Recognize
The whole is greater than the sum of its parts. So a team or an organization is more than just the number of individual members put together.

Reframe

To bring different factions into consideration and consensus it is necessary to reframe the issues in a more inclusive way that speaks for one and all. It is important to validate the needs and apprehensions of all to find common ground.

Reconcile:
All are parts of an interdependent system.
So every move impacting one will impact one and all.

Remember :
The strength is in the interconnects.

So think beyond the immediate self and work towards envisioning & understanding the larger picture.

Resolve :

Be inclusive and expansive.

Be mindful to be positively impactful.

In every organization whenever there is a need to examine the pressing issues of individual human nature and/ or behavior in a team and come to a resolution, it is mindful to be aware of the surfacing of hidden dynamics at play in communication and its impact on personal /professional relationships.

Any mediation is, after all, a process of balancing the ways of engaging, managing and productively finding resolutions that can help make a positive difference towards peace and goodwill.

Savvy

January 2, 2020
by Savvy Raj 5 Comments

The Gift of Life…

Had shared it earlier in 2016 but will share this again as I believe it is relevant always.

The Gift of Life …

“When I was a little girl I often have witnessed my dear father see and give great value & acknowledge every little good that is or happens, however small they may seem to others. It could be a with a gentle word, a tiny appreciation or a little compliment.

He taught me one of the most important lesson for a lifetime…to notice, respect and reflect on the good in and around us … and to live positively and think of life always as Plus++++es.

Life is beautiful as it is and it is in us to see it so.”

Savvy Raj

November 30, 2019
by Savvy Raj 2 Comments

Art of Management

Dancing and Management

What’s dancing got to do with management
Everything!
Oh, she is a dance teacher!
What will she know about managing a business?

This is the common perception of people in business setups. They have a dismissive attitude towards anyone who comes from a non-aligned field like arts for example.

Personally speaking, as a dance professional for more than two decades, I can certainly say that the experience trains you into a lot more than dancing. It helps develop & cultivate people skills, culture and mindsets, and the ability to empathetically understand attitudes that can be observed in life and living.

Besides, there are common skills that go beyond business management and enter life skills that one needs to navigate life effectively.
Here are a few skills that come to mind immediately…

Time Management
Code of conduct
Space management
Body language awareness
Self Expression
Discernment
Discipline and Focus
Alertness
Respect
Collaboration
Teamwork
Mindfulness
Authenticity
Precision
Adaptability
Planning
Creativity

Dancing movements can open channels of flow which translates into greater energy optimization.

And each dancer may have explored the art of dancing in different forms and its application would have the potential to create a greater depth of understandings.

The value of art may be high, yet the possibilities and the potential application of art are yet undervalued and undermined.

There is so much scope in the art of movement that we can realize. It’s high time to accept that dance education and application has much to offer the world beyond just a stage performance. Great to see radical shifts in the way dance is being perceived across certain parts of the world. But it has to percolate to where all it can matter.

Time to think beyond and open up to these yet underutilized but valuable life management skills.

Savvy

November 10, 2019
by Savvy Raj

Help Sustain the World

A few facts and figures

Recycling Plastic

Do you know that

1 ton of plastic trash can save 5774 kWh of electricity, 3114 litres of oil, and 3000 litres of water!! Plastic recycling has the potential of unthinkable benefits.

Just don’t throw your used plastic bottles away – causing environmental pollution!

Reducing water wastage

Turn off the tap while brushing your teeth. …
Turn off the tap while washing your hands. …
Fix your leaking taps. …
Water
Head to the car wash.

Reuse

One example of conventional reuse is the doorstep delivery of milk in reuseable bottles; other examples include the retreading of tires and the use of returnable/reusable plastic boxes, shipping containers, instead of single-use corrugated fiberboard boxes.

Here is a very relevant and simple test to check your environmental awareness and learn about how we go green…

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/global-warming/green-lifestyle-quiz/

November 6, 2019
by Savvy Raj 11 Comments

Life is…

Life is both simple and sufficient
Simplicity is hidden
In the clutter and complexity
Sufficiency is hidden
In the grace of gratitude.

Life is strengthened in stability and flexibility.

Stability is hidden
In the chaos and confusion
Flexibility is hidden
In the flow of the structure.

Life is nourished in empathy and compassion.
Empathy is hidden
In the sensing and understanding
Compassion is hidden
In the actions from the heart.

Life is nurtured in Care

Caring is hidden
In love & in goodwill.

Life is a maze of the mysterious
Life is challenging yet resilient.

Life is full of wisdom in the challenges
But wisdom is hidden
In the very truth of life and living.

Life is a puzzle that awaits solution. The solution is found in simply living it.

Savvy

November 2, 2019
by Savvy Raj

Realms of the heart

Beyond words… are the realms of the heart!

Our cellular awareness is trained to transmit messages through feelings that convey where words fail. It is embedded within our conscious awareness to guide us from inside out. Many of our beliefs in trust, faith and hope are powered in and from this core of our consciousness.

In this understanding is the reason for the purpose of why we do what we do, why we feel the way we feel, have an instinctual sensation of the direction of where a path leads to. In the confluence of creativity in connection & compassion, there is confidence emanating through our deeds.

When we lead from here, many of our so-called equations held through by analysis often fail to make much sense.

When we follow in faith we move in synchrony with ourselves as we are not just in a flow, we are the flow.

Savvy

October 28, 2019
by Savvy Raj

Walk on…

October 26, 2019
by Savvy Raj 13 Comments

Writing : A healing practice

WordPress says I have crossed 400 days of continuous writing and publishing now.

And it is a great motivation personally to me. As sometimes a few words are hard to come by and then there are times when a river of words flow…

There is so much learning in simply putting thoughts down in a structure.

In the way, they flow

In the way they arrange themselves

From our thoughts to the words

The choices of perspectives

As they appear and form

To convey what we want to say.

As I continued to write

Early every morning

I found myself creating a space for me

A time that stands still

In the silence of thoughts

And in the dance of reflections.

This time has been a dedication

For the writer in me

In unravelling and understanding

The power of love for writing

And the potential of possibilities

In patience and perseverance.

And coming away with the realization

That to write a few words every day

Whether in a poem or prose

Is truly a beautiful healing

For our mind heart and body.

Creating anything takes energy

And in expression is a release.

In contentment and intention.

In gratitude for the inspirations.

And ever grateful for the support

Extended here by my readers

And a special mention

Goes to the WordPress family

Whose encouraging likes & responses

Paved this journey of words.

Thank you🙏

Savvy

October 6, 2019
by Savvy Raj 8 Comments

Circle of Love

As you go through daily life just care to remind yourself that you are being watched over and cared for …this will bring you immense peace and transmit universal love 🙂

Savvy

October 3, 2019
by Savvy Raj 3 Comments

Passion Speaks

When passion speaks with positivity

Passion spreads the inspiration.

Along with patience and perseverance

Creating and sending goodwill all over.

How truly wonderful is that?

So as passion pulls the cart, patience and perseverance carries it through to its destination.

Savvy

October 1, 2019
by Savvy Raj 5 Comments

Infinity

Truth of life

Every horizon once reached

Reveals another beckoning at a distance

There is always something more…

Across and beyond the goals you reach.

The horizon beckons as it unfolds.

The magnitude of space & possibilities

To discover and understand

To explore and learn

That life is a journey

Of infinite horizons!

Savvy

September 30, 2019
by Savvy Raj Leave a comment

Joy’s of Stretching

Reaching across just a little more
Every extension is inclusive
To move beyond in space
To explore in a trustful knowing

A dare into the unknown
To find a new space and be expansive
To forsee the connection with faith
In spaces beyond the limited.

Discover your truths
Root the self and stretch
Savvy

September 27, 2019
by Savvy Raj 11 Comments

5 Tips on Anger Management

A story share on Anger Management

There was a saint, who was never affected or angry at anyone, how much ever anyone ill treated or insulted him.

His disciple was intrigued by this nature and wanted to know the secret of his calmth.

When he asked the saint, the saint patiently explains how he conquered his anger.

“I had this long time habit of meditating while sitting in an empty boat on a lake. While doing so, once when I was in deep meditation suddenly another boat hit my boat . I was so angry to know who was so careless to disturb my meditation. But when I opened my eyes in anger I saw an empty boat which was moved by the blowing wind and hit my boat. I realised my anger was unaimed as it was an empty boat .

So when ever I get angry I remembered it n think this is an empty boat too and became quiet.

Our anger affects us in 3 ways.

1.It affects our wisdom
2.It affects our body
3.It affects our behavior.

Now you know the secret of my calm nature.”

The truly strong person is not the one who controls others by physical strength, but the one who can control himself from his anger.

This simple story elucidates the necessity of self reflection and awareness of the negative effects of anger on oneself as much as others.
Anger is often a result of frustration and feeling blocked . The reactions can escalate out of control in time.

Uncontrolled Anger ruins life and living.

Anger is damaging and destructive.

It is important to break free from its vicious cycle.

Here are 5 tips for breaking free of Anger cycle.

1. Taking some ‘ me time out ‘ everyday.

2.Thinking before Speaking

3 Practicing Forgiveness & Letting go.

4 Using Humor to Diffuse Tension

5 Using Relaxation Methods for Calming

There is a need to acknowledge anger patterns and work on the triggers that affect. So more than prevention by suppression it is better to understand the loss of control of words and actions and channelize it well.
Like a little time out for self could be about engaging in physical exercise, dancing , music gardening, any hobby or reading a book, regular meditation or simply witnessing nature .
All are very helpful in bringing back a sense of balance in our perspectives of thinking and creating a space between our steps.🙂

Always remember, it is important to know it is completely ok to seek professional help to manage anger when it is affecting our life and the lives around us.

Savvy

September 19, 2019
by Savvy Raj 3 Comments

The path of the heart!

Dance the path of the heart

You are an energy field and possess unique energy. What is learning to dance going to do to you?

Dancing regularly opens blockages that were and channelizes your energy and brings your rational emotional and physical self to alignment gradually. Nothing is ever achieved in a hurry similarly the effects and impact movements can have to our mental makeup is a gradual process. Change albeit a certainty, it remains to be experienced, how focused learning and shifts of perspectives through training happen, and where and what the positive changes evolve into.

Often learning to dance is looked at very superficially as a means to entertainment. It depends on the individual desire for fulfilment, as much as the wants and needs to steer and shift the energy to focus.

An artistic expression of movements has the power to engage audiences as much as empower them with feelings from excitement to ecstasy bringing the emotions to surface and evolve the spirit.

There is then a greater responsibility in imparting holistic education in art. There is the need to clarify the content and channelize art with care as it has the capacity to mould the impressionable, pliable adaptable, receptive, flexible mind and body of an interested and eager learner.

The path of traversing through the heart of movements unfolds lessons to reach the connectedness between the spirit and soul. A journey in patience, with passionate perseverance.