Latest news with #Vipassana
Time of India
2 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
Wellness breaks now a vital part of boardroom strategy
Things started to give away for a 48-year-old senior consultant at a Big Four firm who had been pushing through the grind for years, dealing with chronic back pain, gut trouble, and stubborn weight issues. "Between the constant travel, client pressure, internal fire-fighting, and late nights, I could feel my body wearing out," he said. "I finally took a step back and spent a week at a wellness retreat in Kerala-no screens, no junk, no noise. Just rest, clean food, and some space to think." What really pushed him to go? "I kept seeing friends-people in high-pressure roles-suddenly facing major health scares. That fear stayed with me. I didn't want to wait till it was too late," he added. From the global chief technology officer of a retail giant to an aviation CEO, more and more CEOs and CXOs are opting for wellness breaks , vipassana sessions and retreats that lead to improving their mental and physical wellbeing. Kairali Ayurvedic Group has seen an estimated 25-30% increase in visits from CXOs, business founders, and senior professionals to its wellness village in Kerala over the past 18-24 months, said executive director Abhilash K Ramesh. "Today's high-performing professionals often navigate relentless schedules, chronic stress, and lifestyle-related imbalances. Many are turning to Ayurveda not just for recovery, but to sustain performance, build resilience, and prevent long-term health issues," he added. Mridula Jose, vice president, for product development and marketing at CGH Earth Wellness, said CEOs and CXOs average 8-9 individuals in a month at each clinic. Medical and wellness programmes offered at CGH Earth Ayurveda start at 14 days with most people on a 21-day programme. At Prakriti Shakti, clinic of Natural Medicine by CGH Earth in Kerala, wellness programmes start at 7 days and medical programmes start at 10 days. Most executives are on a 14-day programme. Leaders are also turning to Vipassana. Nikhil Sharma, MD and COO of South Asia at Radisson Hotel Group, said he began practicing Vipassana a few years ago for greater clarity and balance. "In an industry like ours where agility and empathy must go hand in hand, Vipassana has reinforced the importance of being fully present, making decisions with calm objectivity, and connecting with people more authentically. It's not about stepping away from the business, but about showing up with heightened awareness," he added.
Time of India
02-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Dhananjay Munde has chosen right path of meditation for peace of mind: Pankaja
Maharashtra minister Pankaja Munde has supported her cousin and NCP leader Dhananjay Munde , who was forced to resign amid a political firestorm over the murder of Beed sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh, for choosing the "right path" of Vipassana meditation . Dhananjay Munde was attending a meditation course for the last eight days at Igatpuri. "Dhananjay Munde has chosen the right option. If it brings him peace of mind, it is the right step," Pankaja told reporters in Pune recently. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Never Put Eggs In The Refrigerator. Here's Why... Car Novels Undo He resigned from the Maharashtra cabinet in February amid serious allegations regarding his links with Walmik Karad, an accused in the Deshmukh murder case. He is also battling a personal crisis following claims by his estranged partner who claimed to be his first wife. Live Events Following his resignation, the portfolio previously held by him was handed over to senior NCP leader Chhagan Bhujbal.
New Indian Express
31-05-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Rahul soothes frayed tempers in Mumbai Congress
No end to grand old party's electoral woes After losing the assembly elections, Congress in Maharashtra is trying to bounce back, but its half-hearted efforts under the leadership of political light-weight Harshvardhan Sapkal are not paying off. Therefore, the party cadre is looking at credible secular options either close to power or in power. Several senior Congress leaders and their supporters are in talks with the NCP, led by Deputy CM Ajit Pawar. Most party leaders do not see their future with the Congress, as it has slipped below a 10% vote share. It has been observed in several states, such as UP, Bihar and Tamil Nadu, that it is nearly impossible to bounce back once the Congress' vote share dips below 10%. Munde's search for solace continues Silence is the best option when everything is chaos around you. This is concerning NCP MLA and former minister Dhanjay Munde. He had to resign after his close aide Walmik Karad was found to have been the mastermind in the Massajog sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh murder case. Since then, Munde has been seeking solace. Having lost the ministership, he also holds no key position in the party. He reportedly joined a fortnight-long Vipassana course at Igatpuri near Nashik, where he has to do something challenging for politicians to achieve: maintain silence for 8-10 hours during daily meditation and eat only Satvik food. Sudhir Suryawanshi Our correspondent in Maharashtra
NDTV
21-05-2025
- NDTV
7 Best Pre-Monsoon Weekend Getaways Near Mumbai
Before the rains set in in all their glory, the pre-monsoon season is the ideal time for an escape from the madness in Mumbai. Cool weather, greenery slowly reviving, fewer tourists, and the perfect amount of mist to give your Instagram post a dreamy look — just for you. Whether you're in the mood for trekking, in the mood for tranquillity in the hills, or just want to drink chai in the company of breathtaking views, we've handpicked seven stunning locations you can get to in under six hours from the city. 1. Malshej Ghat Roughly 130 km from Mumbai, Malshej Ghat in the Western Ghats is an all-time favourite for nature lovers. Pre-monsoon is when the hills start blushing green, waterfalls begin to trickle down cliffs, and the skies are moody in the best way. It's also a quiet window before the main tourist wave hits in June. You'll spot pink flamingos near Pimpalgaon Joga Dam if you're lucky — though they're more common between July and September. For a real visual treat, drive down early morning or late evening as fog rolls in. Drive time: 3.5 hours What to do: Hike to Harishchandragad, click photos at the ghat viewpoints, stop for vada pav at a local stall. 2. Lonavala Yes, it's touristy. But here's the trick: book a homestay or boutique stay slightly away from the main market (think Khandala or Tungarli). With the first pre-monsoon showers, the air feels fresher, and iconic spots like Tiger Point and Bhushi Dam aren't yet choked with people. Lonavala's chikki stalls, foggy views, and long drives through cloud-kissed roads make it a classic for a reason. Drive time: 2 hours What to do: Visit Lohagad Fort, grab a chikki -and-coffee combo, watch the sky turn silver at Lion's Point. 3. Igatpuri About 120 km from Mumbai, Igatpuri is a hill station that still feels somewhat under the radar. It's particularly dreamy during the pre-monsoon days when temperatures dip and the Sahyadri peaks begin to green. It's also home to the world-renowned Vipassana meditation centre, if your idea of a break is digital detox and silence. Drive time: 2.5 hours What to do: Stay in a nature resort, trek to Kalsubai (Maharashtra's highest peak), or chill by Bhatsa River Valley. 4. Karnala Only 60 km from Mumbai, Karnala is a quick escape for those who don't want to spend hours on the road. The Karnala Fort trek is perfect before the full monsoon hits, as the trails are still manageable and not too slippery. Plus, you get panoramic views of the Western Ghats from the top. Drive time: 1.5 hours What to do: Climb up to Karnala Fort, visit the Karnala Bird Sanctuary, pack a picnic. 5. Bhandardara This serene village near Igatpuri is all about waterfalls, lakes, and laid-back energy. Arthur Lake starts to shimmer in different hues as pre-monsoon clouds float overhead, and Randha Falls begins to come alive. It's a lesser-known gem that gives you hill station feels without the usual crowds. Drive time: 4 hours What to do: Boat on Arthur Lake, check out Umbrella Falls, stargaze at night. 6. Alibaug Just across the water, Alibaug offers a coastal change from hill stations. With slightly cooler weather and winds picking up, this beach town is a great pre-monsoon pick. Ferries from Mumbai's Gateway of India are back in full swing, and you can beat the weekend crowd by heading out early Friday. Travel time: 1.5 hours via ferry + auto What to do: Sunset at Varsoli Beach, lunch at a local seafood shack, visit Kolaba Fort during low tide. 7. Tamhini Ghat If you love monsoon road trips, you'll want to catch Tamhini Ghat just before the heavy downpours. The roads here are flanked by forests, and little waterfalls start popping up as soon as the pre-monsoon clouds roll in. It's ideal for those who just want to cruise with the windows down and the playlist up. Drive time: 4.5 hours What to do: Go waterfall-spotting, drive through Mulshi Dam area, sip tea at a roadside dhaba.
Mint
29-04-2025
- Health
- Mint
How to unlock the power of breathwork to gain mind-body balance
From my earliest memories, my breath has been my closest companion, even before I made real friends. My mother's remedy for all of life's challenges was simple: 'Bring awareness to your breath." Whether it concerned my fear of the dark, frustration with math problems, a tummy ache, or even the whims of a child's imagination, her advice was always the same. Through her, I discovered a world of healing and emotional processing long before I understood those concepts. And remember how, on the 10-day silent Vipassana meditation retreat that I went on when I was a teenager, we spent 13 hours each day simply becoming present with our breath? By the third day, my awareness had sharpened to the point where I could detect which nostril was active, even in my sleep. This experience was transformative and ignited a lifelong exploration of the breath. Over the years, I have explored various practices, from holotropic breathwork to becoming a certified pranayama instructor. Pranayama is a branch of yoga that focuses on manipulating the breath to enhance prana , or life force. This mastery allowed me to deliver both my babies in a state of complete calm, without uttering a single shriek, as I used my breath to disconnect from my body yet stay anchored in my consciousness. I will be encouraging you to embark on your own journey with the breath and let it take you to places that you could have never imagined, but first let's revisit some key insights. The nose is for breathing and the mouth is for eating, so the ideal is to breathe through the nose. Our nostrils act like filters, preventing dust, allergens, and microbes from making it into our respiratory system. Moreover, nasal breathing warms and moistens the air before it reaches the lungs, thereby improving lung function and our overall respiratory health. Ooh! How warm and moist! Our nasal passages also produce nitric oxide, which has antimicrobial properties and helps to enhance oxygen uptake in the lungs. Nasal breathing also promotes better use of the diaphragm, leading to deeper, more efficient breaths and supporting better oxygen exchange and circulation throughout the body. In addition to this, our breath tells us about our current state of mind. When we feel triggered or panic, the breath becomes short and rapid. Just becoming present with it changes its course and, as a result, resets the nervous system. When we are rested and relaxed, the breath deepens. And if you were to fall into a subconscious state, the breath would become very subtle, almost absent. You can use your breath to detect the onset of an emotional trigger and use awareness to bring it back into a state of calm without getting sucked into the trigger vortex. I personally avoid making major decisions when my breathing is short and rapid. Decisions from that intense place feel strong and intuitive, but are impulsive since the nervous system is not in equilibrium. I wait for the breath to regulate and to return as a whole to a warm and moist state. I have found that decisions made in this manner feel clear, organic, and intuitive. This is also a good time to pick up our earlier conversation and explore the shifts the body experiences with each inhale and exhale. Each inhale puts the body in a sympathetic state. For our purposes, let's call this the solar or 'doing" mode. In contrast, each exhalation puts the body in the parasympathetic, lunar or 'being" mode. Ideally, we want to balance our doing with being and our solar with lunar. However, when we are constantly in a doing mode, we shorten our exhalations, and as a result, our breath dysregulates. When the body has had enough, it forces out a sigh, which is nothing but a long exhale. But by bringing awareness to our breath and actively expanding the exhales while we are busy, we can keep the mind in a state of flow–in a state of 'being" while we are also 'doing." Pretty incredible! You may also recall that our left and right nostrils also have unique energies. Even though our bodies may look perfectly symmetrical externally, the world inside us is quite divided. The right and left brains have unique abilities; the right-side organs (such as the liver, gallbladder, and appendix) have more metabolic abilities than the left (e.g. the heart and spleen). Similarly, the right nostril carries solar energies, and the left nostril carries lunar energies. When they are balanced, the body is in the perfect place, warm and moist. Balancing our inhalations and exhalations tends to restore warmth and moisture in the mind, while the balance of the right and left nostrils has a little more to do with the state of the body and the circadian rhythm. For example, it is natural for most people to have a more active right nostril during the peak of the day. Download the free Breathing App created by (author, lecturer and researcher) Eddie Stern at and get ready to play with your breath. Actively bring your awareness to the natural flow of your breath several times a day. If you can catch yourself at the start of a trigger vortex and notice the shifts in your breath, continue to observe it till it feels settled. In addition to this, pick at least one of the two following practices to add to your morning routine. If you can do both, even better: Resonance Breath: Using the Breathing App, set an inhale–exhale ratio, and follow along with the gong for four minutes. Make sure that you're breathing through your nose. This breathing practice balances the inhalations and exhalations, expands your breath, relaxes your being, and increases prana . Sometimes, I like to use the app even while I am working. My subconscious mind takes cues from the gong and enhances my exhales, allowing me to think more clearly and be more efficient without burning out. Alternate Nostril Breathing: This is a restorative practice, and you can feel the immediate benefits of the calm it brings. While the original practice requires the fingers to be in a specific position or mudra , I will simplify this and break it down so you can at least get started. As you read this, try to practice it at the same time to familiarize yourself with the practice. Read these instructions and practice the breath once more to internalize it. Bring the practice to your morning routine; do four complete rounds with your eyes closed every day. You can repeat the practice again at night or anytime during the day you need a reset, as long as you aren't carrying the fresh weight of a meal in your tummy. Excerpted from Your Body Already Knows: Reset Your Gut, Hormones, Sleep and Mood in 21 Days, with permission from Harper Collins India.
