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News18
2 days ago
- Health
- News18
Why Willpower Fails Against Digital Addiction—And How Yoga Can Help
Last Updated: Yoga offers a three-fold path to fight the digital onslaught: Adopting a Yogic outlook towards priorities and the meaning of life, practices of Yoga, and lifestyle changes You promise yourself you won't check your phone. But five minutes later, you're back to scrolling and checking for notifications. You realise your willpower is no match for the beast of digital addiction. 'The mind cannot be controlled by the mind. Willpower may work only for short durations—and that too, not always," says Yoga guru and scholar Dr N Ganesh Rao, founder of ACT (Authentic, Classical, Traditional) Yoga. In Yoga, stress is seen as the uncontrolled speed of the mind. Since the mind is made of the constantly shifting gunas or qualities—sattva, rajas, and tamas—its instability is natural. If the mind cannot be controlled by itself, what then is the way out? Dr Rao says Yoga offers a threefold path to fight the digital onslaught: 1. Adopting a Yogic outlook towards priorities and the meaning of life, 2. Practices of Yoga, and 3. Lifestyle changes Last week, we examined the dangers posed by digital media through a Yogic lens (read here). 'This already problematic mind, which by its very nature is diseased, is made even more disordered by the deluge of information," said Dr Rao. In this follow-up article, he details the tools Yoga offers to tackle the growing crisis. Here are edited excerpts from an interview. The mind can be advantageously controlled by a) Breathing Practices, and b) Developing Awareness. Through Breathing. There are two ways to do this: • When the mind is disturbed, simply witness your breathing — without interfering with it. Because mind and breathing are linked, any disturbance in the mind disturbs the breathing. Just watching the breathing helps eliminate the disturbance in breathing. When the breathing becomes normal, the mind also regains its calm. • The slower the breathing, the calmer the mind. A few minutes of daily Pranayama, done as slowly as possible—with gradual lengthening of inhalation and exhalation—can go a long way in calming the mind. Through Awareness. This is the most effective way to bring about samatvam (equanimity) in the mind. All Yogic practices, in fact, aim to develop awareness. All of us are wiser in retrospect—'I shouldn't have done that, or said that". The question is: where were you when you were doing or saying it? You're not aware! Awareness means knowing what you're doing—or what's happening within—as it happens. Adopting the sakshi bhav or the witnessing attitude — and, real-time witnessing. PRATYAHARA—TO TURN SENSES INWARDS Pratyahara is, in fact, a product of maturity and experiential wisdom rather than a particular practice. When we realise the external world is not ultimately fulfilling, we turn inward. This is Pratyahara, the beginning of the inward-going process. From living at the body-mind level, we are now on the path of energy and consciousness. Our sense organs are naturally externally oriented—eyes see outside, ears hear outside, nose smells outside, etc. This is why it's easy to get distracted by the external world. In Yoga, Pratyahara is the inward withdrawal of these five jnanendriyas (sense organs). It is the bridge between Bahiranga Yoga or 'Preparatory Yoga' (Yama, Niyama, Asana, Pranayama, Pratyahara) and Antaranga Yoga (Dharana, Dhyana, Samadhi). In Patanjali's Ashtanga Yoga, Samadhi is meditation. Two examples of Pratyahara: • Shanmukhi Mudra — where closing the six doors on the face 'symbolises' Pratyahara. • Pranayamic Pratyahara or Vayu Pratyahara (mentioned in Yoga Yagnavalkya)—where, in the Kumbhaka phase, the breath is held at vital points in the body. Meditation begins with restraining the tamasic (lethargic) and rajasic (restless) tendencies of the mind—thereby increasing its sattvic (concentration) nature. Once the mind attains concentration, we resort to either: • concentrative meditation — where you choose an object to visualise and focus upon, or • mindfulness meditation — where you observe the contents of the mind without reacting or responding. The goal of meditation is to reach the 'No-mind state' and finally to attain Reality, which is beyond the mind. Bahiranga Yoga (lifestyle) prepares the mind by making it free of distractions and disturbances. In Patanjali's Yoga, meditation begins with Dharana or concentration, develops into Dhyana and progresses to various states of Samadhi. During Dharana and Dhyana, the mind gets purified of its suppressions, repressions, conflicts, and conditionings. From being a normal mind, which is like a torch, it now becomes a laser beam. REDUCING RESTLESSNESS In Classical Yoga, Asanas are done as slowly as possible, which curbs restlessness and enhances concentration. Pranayama is the best antidote to stress and anxiety. Mantra japa is also an effective tool against restlessness and anxiety. Use these simple suggestions not just to counter digital urges but also lead a richer life. Could you: 1. Revive the joy of reading — by holding a real book and reading for just 15 minutes a day? 2. Replace passive screen time — with a physical activity like gardening, walking, or cleaning the house? 3. Pick up a sport like badminton or swimming — because sweating is one of the most effective antidotes to mental ill-health? 4. Participate in Nature — by going on treks, hikes, or long walks in jungles? 5. Engage with music — by learning to play an instrument or sing, rather than just listening passively? 6. Help someone else — instead of being addicted to oneself? When going through mental health issues, try helping someone else. Their 'thank you" can shift something inside you and your loneliness, depression often disappear. top videos View all 7. Seek out Satsang — the company of like-minded people? But don't just discuss issues; do things together. The author is a journalist, cancer survivor and certified yoga teacher. She can be reached at swatikamal@ The News18 Lifestyle section brings you the latest on health, fashion, travel, food, and culture — with wellness tips, celebrity style, travel inspiration, and recipes. Also Download the News18 App to stay updated! view comments Location : New Delhi, India, India First Published: July 19, 2025, 10:19 IST News lifestyle YogMantra | Why Willpower Fails Against Digital Addiction—And How Yoga Can Help Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. 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The Advertiser
2 days ago
- The Advertiser
This ancient thermal wonder is a sole-stirring experience
The guard looks at me, points to my feet, and barks: "Shoes off!" The guard at Pamukkale looks at me, points to my feet, and barks: "Shoes off!" Subscribe now for unlimited access. or signup to continue reading All articles from our website The digital version of Today's Paper All other in your area I look ahead - a long and wide pathway of white lies before me, filled with visitors with their shoes in their hands. I take mine off and step onto the strange-looking surface. The monumental gateway to the city of Aphrodisias. Picture by Michael Turtle From my research, I know the white surface is calcium that's been washed down in the water for centuries, deposited here and hardened. But before arriving, I had no idea of how it would actually feel. Although everyone is being ordered to remove their shoes to protect this natural wonder, the rule has the unintended benefit of making the experience tactile. Now my feet can touch the white path - chalky but smooth, solid but a bit slippery where the water runs over, naturally chilled but warmed by the sun. This is Pamukkale in Trkiye, a natural wonder and World Heritage Site that's been created by the thermal spring water flowing down the hill. Natural terraces down the slope have been formed by the minerals, along them are hundreds of pools with reflective water and calcified edges. The calcium terraces of Pamukkale are a World Heritage Site. Picture by Michael Turtle Pool upon pool cascade into each other. Some are now unfortunately empty because overuse by tourists over the years has tampered with the natural flow (even now, despite rules not to go into the water, I see some children splashing around). But when I get to the top of the track and put my shoes back on, I can look back down across the dozens of layers of these travertines and get the full effect. I've arrived at Pamukkale just before sunset and the changing light creates an animated spectacle as the colours morph in front of me. From bright turquoise blue, hints of yellow appear, before the rich oranges fill the pools. The white calcium carbonate glows at first, before turning into dark black borders between the water. At one point, a strong wind picks up and the water comes alive, jumping out of the travertines and blowing across the cliff into my face. The water is said to have heath benefits. Picture by Michael Turtle For thousands of years, the pools and the water within them have been considered to have health benefits. The overuse that has damaged them is not a new phenomenon. To manage their popularity in Classical times, the spa city of Hierapolis was built at the top of the cliffs more than 2000 years ago by the Ancient Greeks and then adapted by the Roman. Once stretching for more than a kilometre along the top of the hill, it would've been an elegant resort with colonnaded streets, public baths, a theatre, and temples dedicated to healing gods. There is still enough to see of the ruins of Hierapolis today to get a sense of how it might once have felt when the streets were busy with pilgrims and health-seekers. But the next morning, I set off from Pamukkale to explore a much larger and more impressive Ancient Greek city that once stood here in this part of Trkiye. Aphrodisias is about an hour's drive from Pamukkale. As you might be able to tell from the name, this city was once all about love. Although it was a large regional capital with a population of about 15,000 people, it would've attracted a lot of visitors for its central focus, the temple dedicated to the love goddess Aphrodite. Aphrodisias was famous for its marble sculptures. Picture by Michael Turtle When it comes to the ancient ruins of Trkiye, most people think of the most famous of them, Ephesus. But Aphrodisias also has much to offer. The site stretches out over a large area and has been well preserved or restored. It also generally doesn't have large tourist crowds, allowing you to lose yourself in the moment. Many of the houses that would once have filled the suburbs have yet to be excavated, but you can see some of the larger ones (often taking up a whole city block) that reveal a wealthy and prosperous community. The traditional-style baths take a prominent place in the city's layout and would have been the epicentre of the gossip trade, while a beautiful amphitheatre shows a dedication to celebrating the arts. The amphitheatre of Aphrodisias. Picture by Michael Turtle But one of the main attractions is the remains of the enormous open-air stadium, described on the information plaque as "the largest ancient stadium in the world and one of the best preserved". Standing at one end, the other seems so far away - 270 metres, to be exact. And there would've been times when 30,000 people from across the whole region would've filled every seat along that length, shouting and cheering in the blazing sun. Of course, all of this revolves around the Temple of Aphrodite, with many of its mighty marble columns still standing. Although there was probably a sanctuary here from about the 6th century BC, this building is from about 500 years later. Some marble statues that once might have adorned the building have been found nearby, while other pieces of the structure lie amongst grass and flowers. Ruins of the city surround the Temple of Aphrodite. Picture by Michael Turtle And while the temple is the highlight, I find myself drawn to a much smaller monument - a marble headstone above a patch of grass marking a grave. It's here that Turkish archaeologist Kenan Erim was buried when he died in 1990 after 30 years leading the work to uncover Aphrodisias. If it wasn't for his passion, we probably wouldn't be able to see all the wonders that have been discovered here. While the love of Pamukkale over the centuries has led to some damage to the travertines that only time will be able to heal, Kenan Erim's love of Aphrodisias has brought this once bustling centre back to life. Words by Michael Turtle Michael Turtle is an Australian journalist who left his job in televisionto travel the world forever. He'll show you how to find the lesser-knownplaces, get involved in the culture, learn the history, and meet locals along the way.
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First Post
3 days ago
- Sport
- First Post
Heartbreak for Praggnanandhaa as Caruana wins thrilling tie-breaker at Freestyle Chess Las Vegas; Erigaisi impresses
Arjun Erigaisi was the only Indian Grandmaster to reach the semi-finals of the Freestyle Chess Las Vegas after in-form R Praggnanandhaa suffered a crushing defeat against Fabiano Caruana despite stretching the match to seven games. Magnus Carlsen also won his match. read more Indian chess sensation R Praggnanandhaa suffered a heartbreaking defeat to American Grandmaster Fabiano Caruana in an Armageddon game as he was knocked out of the Freestyle Chess Las Vegas Grand Slam title race on Thursday, while his compatriot Arjun Erigaisi became the only Indian to reach the semi-final. Coming from the high of dismantling Magnus Carlsen in just 39 moves and sparking his exit from the tournament, Praggnanandhaa was in inspired form as he went toe to toe against world No.3 and one of the best players on the circuit, Caruana. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Praggnanandhaa loses thrilling contest vs Caruana The first Armageddon tie-breaker of the tournament was played after there was nothing to separate Praggnanandhaa and Caruana following six matches, as they were tied 3-3. The two players won a Classical game each at the start of their quarter-finals, played with a time control of 30 minutes + 30 seconds per move. They remain tied even after the two Rapid games (10+10) and the two Blitz games (5+2), forcing the match into an Armageddon tie-breaker. In an Armageddon game, the player with Black pieces only needs a draw while White has to register a clear and has more time on the clock. Nonetheless, Caruana outwitted Praggnanandhaa with Black in the Armageddon game after 72 moves as the 32-year-old American chess star progressed to the semi-finals, setting up a match against fellow compatriot Hans Niemann, who reached the last four stage by beating Uzbek Javokhir Sindarov 4-2. An electrifying finish as 🇺🇸Fabiano advances to the Semifinals! — Take Take Take (@TakeTakeTakeApp) July 18, 2025 India's Erigaisi had the easiest of outings in the quarter-finals as he thumped Nodirbek Abdusattorov of Uzbekistan 1.5-.5 in the first two Classical games. He will be up against Levon Aronian in the semi-finals. Arnonian has been in top form in the Las Vegas leg of the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam, having eliminated Carlsen on Day 1 and defeated world No.2 Hikaru Nakamura 2.5-1.5 in the quarter-finals.
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First Post
3 days ago
- Sport
- First Post
FIDE Women's World Cup: Divya Deshmukh loses to Zhu Jiner as all 4 Indians reach tiebreaks in pre-quarterfinals
All four Indian players including Divya Deshmukh, R Vaishali, Koneru Humpy and Harika Dronavalli have been forced into the tiebreakers of the pre-quarterfinals at the FIDE Women's World Cup 2025. We take a look at how the tiebreakers will be played. read more Divya Deshmukh still have a chance to reach the quarter-finals of FIDE Women's World Cup 2025. Image: FIDE on X They would have preferred to finish the job in Classical play, but all four Indian women chess players remain in contention as their pre-quarterfinal matches at the FIDE Women's World Cup 2025 head into tiebreakers. Divya Deshmukh was pushed into faster time-control tiebreaks after losing to world No. 6 Zhu Jiner in the second Classical game on Thursday in Batumi, Georgia, a day after she had stunned the Chinese Grandmaster in the first game. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Other Indians in the tiebreakers are R Vaishali, Koneru Humpy, and Harika Dronavalli, who played out two draws respectively in their pre-quarterfinals. Koneru Humpy faces the Russian-Swiss chess grandmaster Alexandra Kosteniuk, Harika Dronavalli will take on Kateryna Lagno of Russia and Vaishali Rameshbabu will be up against Kazakhstan's Meruert Kamalidenova. Deshmukh succumbs to Jiner in second Classical game The 19-year-old Divya Deshmukh from Nagpur needed just a draw against Jiner to qualify for the quarter-finals, but the second seed hit back by forcing the Indian to resign after 57 moves. 'I needed to win, so I did not play my main opening,' Jiner said after beating Deshmukh. 'I think she made mistakes…I am very happy to win in the end. After today's game, I feel a bit confident, so tomorrow I will just try to focus on chess and enjoy my game.' Meanwhile, China's GM Lei Tingjie, GM Tan Zhongyi and IM Song Yuxin have also qualified for the quarter-finals with draws in their respective second Classical games, while GM Nana Dzagnidze advanced after beating former World Champion GM Mariya Muzychuk. What's the format for tiebreakers? A tiebreaker in the FIDE Women's World Cup 2025 is played if there's no clear winner after two classical games. In the tiebreakers, which will be played over a single day, the time control will keep reducing with every game. The players will begin with two games using the 15+10 time control format. They will start with 15 minutes on the clock, and for each move they make, 10 seconds will be added to their remaining time. If there's no clear winner after the first two games in tiebreakers, then both players will play two games with 10 minutes + 10 seconds (10+10) time control, followed by two more games of five minutes + three seconds (5+3) time control, if needed. If the match remains levelled after six tiebreaker games, then the winner will be decided through sudden death, in which players will be required to play a single game with 3 minutes + 2 seconds (3+2) time control. They will keep playing the 3+2 game as long as a winner is not found.
Express Tribune
4 days ago
- Sport
- Express Tribune
Magnus Carlsen stunned as R Praggnanandhaa forces resignation at Freestyle Chess Grand Slam
Magnus Carlsen was left stunned after resigning against India's R Praggnanandhaa during the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Tour in Las Vegas. The 19-year-old Grandmaster outplayed Carlsen in 39 moves, leading the commentator to state, 'Magnus about to he does.' Praggnanandhaa, who has secured three tournament victories this year, now holds a joint lead in Group White with 4.5 points, having defeated Carlsen across Classical, Rapid, and Blitz formats in 2025. Earlier in the event, he drew with Nodirbek Abdusattorov, defeated Bibisara Assaubayeva, and won against Vincent Keymer before facing Carlsen. Carlsen, who won the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam events in Paris and Karlsruhe, was eliminated from title contention in Las Vegas following the loss. After initial wins, Carlsen experienced defeats against Praggnanandhaa and Wesley So, alongside two draws, which left him needing a final-round win to enter the playoffs. Although he defeated Assaubayeva, Carlsen lost both playoff games against Levon Aronian, dropping him into the lower bracket. The tournament at the Wynn Las Vegas featured two eight-player groups, with the top players advancing towards the USD 200,000 prize. Hikaru Nakamura led the Black Group, while Hans Niemann, Fabiano Caruana, and Arjun Erigaisi also progressed. The next stage will see quarterfinal matches, with players in the lower bracket, including Carlsen, competing for final placements.
