Striking a fine balance

German scholar Max Mueller once said, "If I were asked under what sky the human mind has most fully developed some of its choicest gifts, has most deeply pondered on the greatest problems of life, and has found solutions, I should point to India."

Over the centuries, the subcontinent has found answers and often developed entire sciences around most issues that concern life — yes, even modern life. We all know that the ‘quiet Beatle', George Harrison, was fascinated by Indian mysticism and found peace in India. Other converts include model Christy Turlington and pop singer Madonna.

Here are some ways to usher in holistic changes in your own life.

Food

The accusations are many: Indians use a lot of spices. Indian food is fattening. Indians add gallons of oil and ghee to their curries. Granted, many of these are true. However, the demand for Indian food is growing as people around the world acquire a taste for it and begin to appreciate the rationale behind the recipes.

Indian cuisine is based on the principle that ailments are linked to lifestyles so someone who makes the right choices with regards to food, spices and nutrition can keep illness in check and create a sense of harmony between body and mind.

A balanced Indian meal incorporates six tastes — astringent, bitter, pungent, sweet, sour and salty — to meet dietary requirements, apart from satiating taste buds. Ever wonder why chutneys are so widely enjoyed as an accompaniment to any Indian main course? A well prepared chutney contains at least five of these six tastes.

From Indian meals you can get your regular supply of carbohydrates (from bread and rice), fat (from oil and clarified butter) and proteins (from fish, lamb, meat, lentils and dairy).

Indian food is already popular in the UAE, largely because of the diaspora, but in nations such as the UK, it has been a firm favourite for decades. In fact, curry is now recognised as the country's national dish. History documents the benefits of Indian spices and how centuries ago the Dutch, British and French established a lucrative spice trade route with India, but recent findings show the Indian food industry in the UK contributes between £2.5 billion (about Dh14 billion) to £4.2 billion to the nation's economy, depending on whose estimate you go by.

Of late, Indian cuisine has found popularity on the other side of the Atlantic as well. One need only walk into any local grocery to see Indian chutneys, ready-to-eat meals and spices jostling for attention with Thai curry pastes, Mexican guacamole and Chinese sauces. As Americans change their preference for food and enthusiastically embrace spice, the demand for Indian food is poised to swell further.

Indian cuisine has also evolved over time and absorbed influences from other cultures. Today, chefs have mastered the art of cooking with little oil and using low heat. This extracts the oil contained in ingredients. Besides, India also boasts a list of traditional oil-free and steamed recipes, particularly in areas such as eastern and north-eastern India.

Try it: Indian restaurants in the UAE are aplenty. In Dubai, try TV chef Sanjeev Kapoor's Khazana, Michelin-star-chef Vineet Bhatia's Indego, or Asha's. In Abu Dhabi, Zari Zardozi is a popular favourite, while in Sharjah, head to Masala Craft.

Ayurveda

A traditional system of health and healing, Ayurveda seeks to create a balance between body, mind and soul. Its focus is always on helping prevent illnesses, cure disease and preserve intrinsic equilibrium.

Asha Jones, an Ayurvedic practitioner at Dubai Herbal and Treatment Centre, explains that Ayurveda analyses an individual as a unique composite of the three doshas or types of energy, which control the body, and thereby designs treatment protocols to address his/her specific health challenges.

Ayurveda also believes that a person can naturally be predisposed to a particular type of energy and only when the three energies are balanced can he/she enjoy perfect health. Dr Suni Paul, consultant and manager of Softouch Ayurvedic Centre at the Kempinski Hotel, Ajman, says, "What distinguishes Ayurveda from other disciplines in medicine are its guidelines about daily regime, seasonal regime and ethical code of conduct. Daily regime and seasonal regime aim at improving one's immunity and vigour to fight against diseases."

Dr Paul goes on to explain that high stress levels and environmental imbalances often make it difficult to stay healthy and keep calm and positive, which in the long run has deep-seated effects at the cellular level and lead to the build-up of toxins in the body.

"The key to optimal health is to help your body eliminate toxins and re-establish the constitutional balance. Panchakarma in Ayurveda, for instance, is a cleansing and rejuvenation programme that helps one get rid of all accumulated toxins and improves the immunity power," she adds.

Since Ayurveda is a holistic discipline, patience and self-responsibility are often considered critical for any successful outcome. Food forms the basis of Ayurveda, and its practitioners always insist on a proper diet, apart from suggesting necessary lifestyle changes. Balanced nutrition, herbs and therapies are used to treat a condition while yoga is often suggested to help eliminate any tension in the body or mind.

Try it: Dubai Herbal and Treatment Centre, Royal Ayurveda at Dubai Healthcare City; Softtouch Ayurvedic Centre at the Kempinski Ajman; Kairali Ayurvedic Health Centre at Mourouj Hotel Apartments, Abu Dhabi; and Harmony Ayurveda Centre, Golden Tulip Khatt Spring, Ras Al Khaimah.

Yoga

Yoga and meditation help you connect with your inner self and deal with your qualms, anxieties, despair and concerns. They help you understand your subconscious mind and identify your deepest desires, thereby making it easier for you to control your mind.

Through a series of exercises and postures, yoga helps balance different systems such as the nervous, endocrine and digestive systems. It also calms the mind and relieves tension. As a result you are able to relax, focus on important issues and connect better with your thoughts.

Through regular practice of meditation and yoga, you can slowly develop an awareness of the subtle nuances of your existence and build an understanding about your emotional, intellectual and physical states. "Practise yoga and improve your physical, mental and emotional wellbeing," says Sunita Bhalla, founder and CEO of Gems of Yoga. "It helps cultivate clarity in mind, serenity in daily life and develop inner wisdom. A simple, regular practice routine is the key to a perfectly stable life," Bhalla adds.

Yoga also helps you achieve a red-carpet-ready body, as demonstrated by Hollywood fans Gwyneth Paltrow and Madonna.

Try it: Friends of Yoga runs free yoga sessions in Dubai, Sharjah and Abu Dhabi. In Dubai you can also attend classes at Zen Yoga, Gems of Yoga, Siddha Samadhi Yoga and Bharat Thakur's Artistic Yoga.

Vastu

Vastu is the traditional science of architecture that helps one live in harmony with nature by harnessing the benefits of the five elements — sky, earth, water, fire and wind. Indian philosophy believes that a human body is derived from natural elements which is why it is important to synchronise these with where one lives, works and socialises, to enjoy growth and prosperity.

Padmaja Yadav, a Dubai-based vastu consultant with Vastu for Art of Living, explains that vastu taps positive cosmic energy, which brings about an overall sense of well-being. "Simple and practical changes around us can ensure a boost in health, wealth and happiness," she says.

The principles of vastu are seeped in the belief that each direction (east, west, north, south, south-east, south-west, north-east and north-west) is ruled by a particular planet and exerts an influence on different sectors of growth and prosperity. By modifying houses as per vastu guidelines, both in terms of structure and interiors, one can harness this energy and make the environment work in one's favour.

You can ask your interior designer to help you make the changes in your house following vastu norms. Since the science is closely linked with astrology, you can also check with an astrologer in India for vastu advice.

Try it: For more information, visit www.vaastuforartofliving.com.