YOUNG IN MIND AND BODY: Yoga keeps Sajan, 49, fit and fine.
Yoga is my saviour: Anis SajanDanube Group's managing director talks about the therapeutic benefits of yoga on his mind and body
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Published: Sun 21 Jun 2020, 7:23 AM
Last updated: Sun 21 Jun 2020, 10:39 AM
In the last few months, the Covid-19 crisis has impacted a lot of people, and Anis Sajan, managing director of Danube Group, has not been immune to its aftermath. Business is not as usual for Danube, says Sajan, but he is not letting the pandemic hamper his physical, emotional and mental health. Instead, he dedicates two hours of his mornings to yoga religiously, which helps keep his body fit and mind alert. This, in turn, helps him stay in top form for work. His yoga regime includes 75 minutes of different asanas, 20 minutes of meditation and 20 minutes of pranayam - a form of breathing exercise. The asanas keep his body in shape; meditation helps him take control of his mind and sharpens the brain; while pranayam energises him and keeps him fresh throughout the day. According to Sajan, practising pranayam daily for 20 minutes is "most beneficial in fighting Covid-19 as it helps pass good oxygen to the lungs and makes your immunity strong". In fact, many studies also suggest that pranayam can benefit the body at the cellular level, thus boosting immunity and flighting the flu. With benefits that include helping you focus better, Sajan said: "If you look good, you feel good and if you feel good it makes you confident; if you are confident, you can take on any challenge and adversity. Yoga is a powerful tool to deal with the stress of uncertainty and isolation, as well as to maintain physical well-being. The World Health Organisation mentions yoga as a means to improve health, in its global action plan on physical activity 2018-2030: More active people for a healthier world. On the occasion of International Yoga Day today, Sajan reaffirms his faith in yoga, which has not only helped strengthen his mental attitude but also given him a better body image. "I look and feel much younger than I did a decade ago." Sajan discovered the benefits of yoga by chance while looking for a cure for his migraine a few years ago. Advised to visit a naturotherapy institute in India called Jindal for a cure, he is thankful to the institute as his migraine is under control. "It was at this crossroad when I discovered the world of yoga at the Jindal Naturecure in Bengaluru, India. I make it a point to go every year with my family to Jindal for 10 days. I do yoga for two hours daily and this makes me refreshed, energetic, youthful and full of life," Sajan reiterates. Apart from exercise, Sajan also follows a strict diet regime that includes greens and consuming warm water to build immunity. Drinking minimum three litres of warm water is also part of his daily routine. He maintains that equal weightage to both mind and body is the key to a healthy life. Today, yoga is much more than just a physical activity for Sajan. "Yoga helps provide a work-life balance that has made me and my family much happier today." He concludes by saying that everybody in his family practices yoga and leads a healthy life.