With proper exercise and a nutritious diet, you can generate enough energy to perform myriad tasks every day — and keep yourself happy

We women are multi-taskers by nature. We survive on a hidden energy that gives us that rush of adrenaline to fulfill a dozen tasks to perfection.We are known as nurturers but we also need the most nurturing. And this will come from the right nutrition and exercise.

“Yogasanas, especially Surya Namaskar, works out every limb and muscle in your body, stretching them and sending oxygen to your whole being,” says yoga teacher Nischint Singh. “Patanjali said that if we could just watch our breath at every second we would conquer every disease possible.” Wake up looking forward to a beautiful day, no matter how tough the going looks. A brisk early morning walk, that whiff of fresh air does wonders to the overworked mind and the fatigued muscles.

However, many of us just don’t seem to get those 10 minutes in 24 hours to spend on breathing in to our fullest. Remember, Pranayam is the most neglected but yet the most needed part of yoga.

To enjoy life and face the challenges life throws at you every day, you also need proper nutrition. This is essential for wellbeing.

Daljeet Kaur, Chief Clinical Nutritionist at Fortis Escorts Heart Institute, gives Patriot readers the following tips to maintain a healthy lifestyle:

1. Eat a balanced diet which includes a proper amount of carbohydrates, fat, protein, vitamins and minerals.

2. Eat at least six meals a day, out of which three should be minor meals(like mid-morning snacks, evening tea and bedtime snacks.

3. Food should contain all the food groups like cereals, pulses, vegetables, fruits, fat and oils, sugar, milk & milk products and nonveg (egg, fish and chicken).

4. Fibre is also very necessary for the body, so have whole pulses and cereals to get fiber and B complex vitamins.

5. Maintain your ideal body weight. Being overweight can cause obesity, diabetes, hyper lipidemia, high cholesterol and coronary diseases. Being underweight can cause nutritional deficiencies like weak eyes, early hair greying, aging symptoms, weakness of bones, anemia and lethargy.

6. Never skip meals. If you skip breakfast, then the body fasts for too long. That can lead to low glucose level, acidity and weakness.

7. Consume a colourful plate or variety of food groups to meet nutrient requirement and fight against disease. So include 4-5 servings of vegetables and two servings of fruit in your diet/day.

8. Some fats are also necessary. So eat nuts and seed (15 gram) to get Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids.

Today, all over the world, we hear that we can change our lives just by focusing on ourselves. Make your task of the day or your job your meditation. “Love every bit of what you are doing and you liberate yourself from that anxiety accumulated in every cell within you which is only growing into a form of illness,” says Nischint Singh.

There is a reason why there has never been so much emphasis on yoga and meditation in the past as there is now. The social pressures with the mental and emotional stresses we have taken on are only making us more ill and negative. Today we have the capacity to change our lives with the oldest approach which is: `Be in touch with yourself.’ It’s a strong statement. How many of you actually sit back and just breathe and just love each moment you are witnessing? This is where we need to reconnect.

It could be just a walk, listening to music, dancing, breathing, any form of exercise. Now is the time to go back to yourself. Love yourself. Life is beautiful only if you make it so…

Dr Reshma is an advocate of wellness, prevention and holistic health. Instagram handle: dr.reshmakhattarbhagat