The other day, when i was in Manipal, i was little reluctant to use the shower in the guest house and i used the bucket with mug, to bathe. To my surprise, i ended up doing 25 squats at least in the process!!There used to be days, where we used to sit on the floor cross legged and do the Indian squats.,which till recently our allopathy medicine discourages to do it..We need a foreigner to research and to tell us the Indian squat position is great for bowel movement .
Then we have this thoppukaranam., our teachers used to make us do as punishment if we come late to school..again we need a outsider to tell is its brain yoga.We used to run and play barefoot, when we were kids.,now the newly born baby has socks and mitts!! Thanks to western influence. Now the whole world says, walk / run barefoot!!
Well water pulley and rope, Carrying pots on the head and waist, pounding rice (ulakkai), the ammi kal (Hand Grinder stone), Chakki and kulavi & aatukal (stone grinder ), mortar and pestle have been traditionally great functional work., solagu or muram and pan grinder are great relaxing exercises, Now they are all near oblivion since everyone has moved towards electrical grinders. Incidentally my physio saranya, accounted how all these were greatly useful during the power cut in the flooding days in Chennai. 
I also see all of them taking place in fitness in the form of functional exercise in recent times.,which were part of our day today life till about 20 years back!!
Cycling / walking to school great cardio exercise.,we used to do doubles and triples on the cycle.,playing on the streets in the hot sun (talk about vitamin D). My 8 year old nephew was recently jumping on the stair case from 4-5 steps.,didn’t feel like stopping him.,as i recently read jumping and plyometrics are great for fascial fitness!!
Growing up, we were less protected.,allowed to fall and rise, get hurt.,today i feel children are too protected within the confines of the wall. The whole world is realizing what we as india has offered to the world.,yoga, varma, ayurveda…its time we realized what we have in store!!
Growing up, we were less protected.,allowed to fall and rise, get hurt.,today i feel children are too protected within the confines of the wall. The whole world is realizing what we as india has offered to the world.,yoga, varma, ayurveda…its time we realized what we have in store!!
